Should SLO mayor be censured for leaking Grand Jury report? | Opinion

Grand Jury leak

I have heard suggestions that the San Luis Obispo City Council is too heavily weighted toward Cal Poly, and less responsive to permanent residents. Two council members are employed by Cal Poly.

The county Grand Jury looked at the continuing unruly and unlawful behavior of fraternities in neighborhoods. In the last few years, Cal Poly and the city have bent over backwards and together spent hundreds of thousands of taxpayer dollars trying to contain, then support, partying on a made-up holiday, St. Fratty’s.

I am appalled that the mayor has broken the law by releasing to Cal Poly a confidential draft copy of the county Grand Jury report. And even worse, saying she would do it again.

This is a violation of the law, and there is no excuse, especially since the report included a warning not to share it. Cal Poly is a state agency and has no business with the county Grand Jury.

I believe there needs to be some consequences. This is not a small thing in a time when integrity is sadly lacking among public officials at all levels of government. We deserve better in our town.

The mayor has lost trust. Perhaps the City Council should censure the mayor. At the very least, she must give a heartfelt apology to the Grand Jury and the residents of the city. She must be held accountable.

Christine Mulholland

San Luis Obispo

Editor’s note: Christine Mulholland is a former member of the San Luis Obispo City Council.

Praise for A.G. Hotshots

WatchDuty, the wildfire information app, posted a message late Tuesday afternoon on their site. It mentions the great fire-fighting efforts by the Arroyo Grande Hotshots on the Ferris Fire in Colorado. Are they your local firefighters?

Sounds like they are doing fantastic work!

Ann Kennedy

Santa Rosa

Editor’s note: Yes, the Arroyo Grande Hotshots are indeed fighting the Ferris Fire. We join in commending their hard work. Stay safe, hotshots.

Supervisors should advocate for Diablo

The Tribune is right that SLO County should fight for its fair share if Diablo Canyon operates beyond 2030. But that is precisely why the Board of Supervisors should be at the table, not standing outside with a whistle.

Calling support for Diablo Canyon “cheerleading” dismisses what is at stake for this county. Diablo is one of our largest employers, a source of reliable low-emission electricity and the reason thousands of acres of coastal land have remained protected from the kind of development The Tribune itself has criticized. Its continued operation is not a favor to PG&E; it is a question of jobs, grid reliability, climate goals and local revenue.

Of course the county should demand clear answers on taxes, spent fuel, safety and ratepayer impacts. But advocacy and oversight are not mutually exclusive. In fact, refusing to join the conversation would make it harder to secure the very protections the Editorial Board says it wants.

If The Tribune believes an extension to 2045 is nearly inevitable, then the practical question is not whether supervisors should sit on their hands. It is how SLO County can use its influence to secure the best outcome for residents, schools, workers and ratepayers.

Jennifer Klay

San Luis Obispo

Transgender ruling ‘a win for fairness’

The U.S. Supreme Court delivered a major win for fairness, upholding West Virginia and Idaho laws that protect womens and girls sports by keeping competition based on biological sex. As a mom, former athlete and founder of Save Girls’ Sports Central Coast, I’ve fought alongside parents because biological males in girls sports steal scholarships, titles, records and safety from our daughters. I built a grassroots organization, led Title IX resolutions, and advocated in San Luis Obispo County for protected locker rooms and athletic categories for biological females.

This ruling reaffirms Title IX and common sense. States can — and should — preserve womens sports for biological females. In contrast, my opponent, incumbent Assemblymember Dawn Addis, has authored bills like AB 1876 redefining “sex” to include gender identity and supported measures like AB 1955 that limit parental notification.

On Nov. 3, Central Coast voters have a clear choice: Continue policies that harm girls, or elect a proven defender of our daughters. Fairness isn’t hate — it’s justice. Our daughters deserve a level playing field.

Shannon Kessler

Arroyo Grande

Anything being done?

The Tribune frequently reports on fatal automobile accidents occurring within SLO County. Are the relevant authorities implementing any measures to mitigate these accidents? It appears that Highway 101, particularly over the Cuesta Grade, poses an exceptionally high level of danger.

Michael Rashkin

Paso Robles