In letters: Mike Brown doesn’t deserve praise from SLO County supervisors | Opinion
‘Profoundly disappointed’
I was profoundly disappointed by Supervisor Dawn Ortiz-Legg’s comments in support of a resolution honoring Mike Brown. She defended the resolution in the context of “free speech,” and I found this to be either disingenuous or ill-informed.
No one suggested that Mike Brown should have been silenced. He has been offered full latitude at board meetings going back to when I was a department head, when he routinely would stand and offer the most ridiculous and divisive comments that exposed his world-view as profoundly at odds with any semblance of reality. He called people names, insulted their intelligence, ridiculed decent and hard-working public servants, and pushed an anti-democratic agenda that shocked any notion of decency.
Should he have been “allowed” to do so? Of course, although he frequently violated the code of civility adopted by the board which, as I recall, he opposed. It is not a question of whether his speech was constrained in any way; it was not.
I appreciate that Supervisor Ortiz-Legg feels the need to walk a line that respects all sides of her district. I also believe, however, that a key part of her role is to model decency and integrity, and to recognize decency when it is exhibited, and to condemn it when it is violated.
Lee Collins
Atascadero
Editor’s note: The author is the former head of the county Department of Social Services.
Trump’s B-Day parade
I hope we can all control our excitement about the news. I’m referring to the four-mile military parade in Washington, D.C., on June 14 to honor a man who has done nothing to deserve it. It will include tanks, other military vehicles, helicopters, etc. and will cost millions that could be spent to feed starving children depending on U.S. aid. Furthermore, June 14 may be designated as a national holiday, as it is Trump’s birthday. All this celebration should be for people who have been heroes or at least done something worthwhile for our culture. Trump has done just the opposite — destroy our democracy. As I said, I hope we can contain our excitement, or more importantly prevent it from happening. Write your lawmakers and ask them to prevent this travesty.
Janet F. Langton
Templeton
Don’t forget custodians
Look on any website for any school in the San Luis Coastal district and you will see smiling members of the staffs of many of our local schools. These are the people responsible for shaping the lives of our children for 12 years and many work very hard and dedicate their lives to that goal.
Many of these folks are support staff: psychologists, counselors, food service, custodians. Wait. Custodians? Yes, the people who clean up after our students are included too — only they aren’t.
Only the day people are listed, not the people who work nights. I can safely say that the lion’s share of work done at a school site cleaning up is done by night custodians, yet these thankless jobs are rarely seen or celebrated by any school. Or at least they weren’t in my 17 years with the district. Indeed, having a night person listed on any site was rare even back then.
So, for the sake of the people who clean our schools, let’s list everyone.
William Johnston
San Luis Obispo
Congrats to SLO FilmFest
Congratulations to the SLO FilmFest team on an incredible 31st season. This year’s lineup featured some of the most compelling, thought-provoking and beautifully crafted films ever seen. From international premieres to local storytelling gems, the festival was a vibrant celebration of creativity that sparked conversation and connection at every venue across our city.
But beyond the red carpets and sold-out screenings lies a more profound impact. The SLO FilmFest has become an essential cultural and economic engine for San Luis Obispo. Each year, it draws thousands of visitors — filmmakers, critics, artists and film lovers — who dine in our restaurants, stay in our hotels, shop in our stores and experience the best of what our region has to offer. Local businesses thrive during festival week, and the energy the event brings reverberates long after the final credits roll.
Just as important is the festival’s spotlight on San Luis Obispo as a destination for arts, culture, and innovation. It reminds us — and tells the world — that wonderful things happen in this community when we invest in creativity and come together in celebration. Thank you to Skye McLennan, the staff, volunteers, sponsors and partners who made the 2025 season a resounding success.
Lloyd Tanner
Los Osos
Ed Board ‘doesn’t know squat’
I find it amazing how The Tribune Editorial Board thinks everyone should listen to them. They don’t know squat. They seem to think they know more than the cities and city councils they talk about. I can’t imagine that anyone at The Tribune has ever visited the intersection at Highway 1 and Main Street in Morro Bay when hundreds of students are walking through crosswalks and crossing numerous intersections. There is a four-way stop, two highway on-ramps and two highway off-ramps.
They should also try to get through the intersection on a three-day weekend. If you’re getting off at Highway 1 you may sit there for 15+ minutes to get onto Highway 41 or Main Street.
There is not enough room for a roundabout. The city would be better served by signals. The Tribune says studies show reduced fatalities in roundabouts but I seriously doubt those studies included hundreds of high school students walking through them while looking at their cell phones.
Just because the city may lose a grant, I’d rather a lost grant than a more dangerous intersection. Councilmember Jeff Eckles is right. The likelihood of a student being killed or injured in a roundabout is of great concern.
David A. Ion
Morro Bay
Where does Carbajal stand?
In “Here are 10 ways Donald Trump failed us in his first 100 days in office” (April 29, 2025), the McClatchy California Editorial Boards all but lay out the case for Trump’s impeachment and removal from office. Interestingly, just the day before (April 28, 2025), House Resolution 353 was filed in the 119th Congress for this very purpose. The time for diagnosing the problem is over. It is time for the remedy. I would like to see Congressmember Salud Carbajal go on the record as to whether he will support impeaching Trump. We will know soon enough when an up-or-down vote is triggered on the House floor.
Ken Smithson
Arroyo Grande
Mangioni should not be celebrated
In a recent article about Luigi Mangioni, it’s reported he is “a symbol for some critics of the American health insurance industry” and “has drawn support from donors who see his prosecution as politically motivated.” Really?
It is documented this man casually walked up behind Brian Thompson, CEO of UnitedHealthcare and shot him in the back of the head. I am appalled Mr. Mangioni can draw sympathy, much less be given donations toward his defense.
Cynthia Logan
Cayucos