Tribune readers to Donald Trump: Stop messing with our coastline | Opinion
What a folly
The timing could hardly be worse. Our country is facing the strongest growth in electricity demand in decades, driven by AI data centers, electrified vehicles and heating our buildings. Yet just when we need more reliable sources of power, the Department of the Interior is giving $885 million to two offshore wind developers, including Golden State Wind off Morro Bay, to terminate their leases and spend the money drilling for oil.
Golden State Wind was expected to generate enough electricity for about 1.1 million homes. Its cancellation also puts at risk a $30 million investment in Central Coast workforce development and supply chains, along with pre-apprenticeship pathways serving hundreds of students preparing for good-paying local jobs.
Our California families are already worried about energy costs. Offshore wind is not the whole answer, but it should be part of an “all of the above” clean-energy strategy that reduces dependence on fossil fuels vulnerable to global price shocks and Middle Eastern wars.
Paying companies nearly a billion taxpayer dollars to walk away from in-state clean energy makes absolutely no sense. The Central Coast deserves affordable power, local jobs and a serious energy policy— not a billion-dollar step backward.
Don Gaede
San Luis Obispo
Death of a promise
When the offshore wind project planned for Morro Bay was canceled as part of a deal with the Trump administration, something more than a contract died. A promise died. A future died.
Now, instead of clean energy powering California homes, the administration wants to drill for oil off our coast. Not because it solves our energy crisis. Not because it helps working families at the pump. But because it rewards the fossil fuel industry that bankrolled the politicians who killed the wind project in the first place.
Make no mistake: this was not a compromise. This was a surrender.
But here’s what breaks my heart the most. We’re going to have to look our kids and grandkids in the eye when they ask us: What did you do about climate change? When you knew — what did you do? I know what I can tell my grandchildren.
I fought with every bit of strength I had. But those who traded away our wind future for oil leases and political favors? They’ll say nothing — and just offer their thoughts and prayers.
Susan Callery
Arroyo Grande
Who’s more dangerous?
I share a widely held view that President Trump poses a significant threat to our democracy.
But, I believe a more damaging threat comes from the six conservative members of the Supreme Court — appointed for life. A recent example is their decision to uphold the complaint in Louisiana vs. Callais that Louisiana’s current districting map, which created two black majority districts, constituted in Justice Alito’s majority opinion “racial gerrymandering.”
With bizarre logic, this ruling now allows racial gerrymandering, disenfranchising black voters and completes the court’s dismantling of the 1965 voting rights act. This comes after a string of prior decisions vastly expanding executive power.
Realistically, there is little to be done since impeachment is not currently feasible. But I am urging my congressmember to nevertheless introduce Articles of Impeachment to express to the court strong objections to their assault on our democratic Institutions and I urge others to do likewise.
Ray Weymann
Atascadero
Comey indictment
A friend of mine just sent me an AI-created picture showing King Charles using his sword to decapitate our Great Leader. Doesn’t that represent a clear and immediate threat of violence? Should the person responsible for creating the picture, and also my friend, be indicted, convicted, stripped of his/her citizenship, and deported to El Salvador or someplace in Africa?
Jay Devore
Los Osos
Why all the partisanship?
After reading the various responses to reporters’ questions regarding the horrific shooting at the White House Correspondents Dinner, it struck me that the press across all realms are a part of the problem. In every single interview of a member of Congress, when asked about their opinion of the shooting event, the response included not only the name of the member of Congress and their locale of representation, but also their political party affiliation.
Why is it so critical that I know whether official X or Y or Z is identified as an R or a D? Are we to presume that the average citizen can’t form an opinion about the validity of the quoted person unless we know their political party affiliation? I don’t really care if Salud Carbajal is a Republican or Democrat or Independent or Libertarian or whatever when I read his reaction to a shocking event that we commonly see. I don’t care what political party a person ascribes to when I am voting for a school board member, or a county board of supervisor, etc. The press would serve us well deleting party affiliation in these matters.
Rob Rutherford
San Luis Obispo
My vote for District 2
On June 2, the coastal communities have a chance to choose a new county supervisor to represent Los Osos, Harmony, Cayucos, Cambria and unincorporated areas in District 2. Bruce Gibson has held the position for 20 years. Gibson hand-picked his replacement, Jim Dantona, and went so far as to make him his current legislative assistant so he can learn his agenda.
That agenda has included some annoying stances that include denial of the water crisis in Los Osos and a push for new development here, support for offshore wind power and infrastructure, agreement to keep the Diablo Canyon nuclear plant in business beyond its safe operating life and other lack-luster responses to multiple community needs.
Jim Dantona is a close friend and Cayucos neighbor to Bruce Gibson and appears to be able to follow his legacy and seems prepared to continue in his style. Michael Erin Woody brings a fresh energy and understanding of our challenges because of his generational involvement along our coastline. He left the Republican Party six years ago and thinks in a nonpartisan way, looking at issues and solutions in a practical way.
Unlike the rumors being circulated that he’s a Republican in disguise and has a secret agenda to turn the board back to a 3-2 vote, Woody speaks clearly about advocating for our coastal region and its protection. He is experienced and has my vote. Please listen to some of the debates, Google District 2 debates and decide who will best represent our communities into the future!
Linde Owen
Los Osos
I’m with Jimmy
In an era when public trust in government often feels like a lost cause, it’s easy to become cynical. But every now and then you come across a leader who doesn’t just talk about values — they live them. For the last three years, I’ve watched Jimmy Paulding do exactly that.
He’s not chasing headlines. He shows up to clean-up events, walks the neighborhoods, and really listens.
His commitment to older adults led to the county’s first-ever Master Plan on Aging — guiding long-term improvements in healthcare access, senior infrastructure and aging-in-place supports countywide. He didn’t do it for the applause. He did it because people needed it.
Seven years on the SLO County Air Pollution Control District, advocating for cleaner air on the Nipomo Mesa when others had given up — PM10 pollution is now down nearly 40% on high-wind days.
He made behavioral health a county priority because people deserved better. He tackled homelessness with systems — housing, outreach, mental health services — and unsheltered homelessness is down 31%.
Integrity isn’t loud. It shows up, year after year, in the decisions a leader makes when no one is watching.
We need more leaders like Jimmy Paulding. Vote for him June 2nd.
Terry Parry
Arroyo Grande
Who deserves credit for Cecchetti Bridge?
Adam Verdin is trying to take credit for opening Cecchetti Road when those of us who have been denied safe access for the past several years have been thwarted by his efforts and the efforts of his supporters, including members of the Board of Supervisors who have endorsed his candidacy after voting against efforts of Jimmy Paulding.
Jimmy Paulding is the one responsible for tireless efforts to provide safe access for our neighborhood and the Branch Elementary School.
We have followed various proposals, tentative agreements and reneging on agreements, which appear to have been orchestrated to delay replacement of the spillway with a bridge. We know who has been against the bridge, and we know who has fought for it.
It is not Mr. Verdin and his developer friends — never has been.
If Jimmy Paulding is not reelected, we will not have a permanent bridge. Jimmy Paulding has the knowledge, training and experience needed to deal with issues like the Cecchetti Road bridge.
Jimmy Paulding will continue to do what is right for the people of this District 4 and the county of San Luis Obispo.
Stephen Dorsi
Arroyo Grande
Thoughts on returning to the moon
Humanity must remain humble after this achievement, which still seems so incredible to us land-locked earthlings — so incredible that many of us still find it difficult to believe it really happened. To keep this voyage in astronomical perspective, we should realize it is only the equivalent of an inner-city-bound kid discovering the suburbs for the first time. If we ever actually make it to Mars (very questionable), it will be like that same kid then being taken to a neighboring state, thinking that he/she has now seen the world. It is what can be called “delusions of grandeur.”
We, I’m sorry to say, are locked into a microscopic part of the solar system and always will be. (Very sorry, all you sci-fi addicts.) Now let’s finally wake up to the harsh reality that we had better take care of the former Eden we’ve been granted and stop trashing it
Thoughts on returning to the moon Humanity must remain humble after this achievement, which still seems so incredible to us land-locked earthlings — so incredible that many of us still find it difficult to believe it really happened. To keep this voyage in astronomical perspective, we should realize it is only the equivalent of an inner-city-bound kid discovering the suburbs for the first time. If we ever actually make it to Mars (very questionable), it will be like that same kid then being taken to a neighboring state, thinking that he/she has now seen the world. It is what can be called “delusions of grandeur.”
Gene Strohl
San Luis Obispo
This story was originally published May 4, 2026 at 1:22 PM.