Driving out the clunkers
Sinking new car sales in the Tri-Counties could be buoyed by the latest federal incentive to get consumers into more fuel-efficient models. But dealers are divided on whether or not customers will be interested in getting into smaller vehicles, and if participating in a government program is even worth the trouble. Some dealers, like Read More →
Pismo OKs tax
Pismo Beach’s City Council approved a 1 percent tax on overnight stays that will fund tourism, the San Luis Obispo Tribune reported. The council voted 4-1 in favor of the tax, which will go toward promoting the city to tourists, the newspaper said. Other cities in San Luis Obispo County – Morro Bay, Paso Robles Read More →
Oil initiative survives
A Santa Barbara County judge has invalidated a part of Venoco’s ballot initiative to approve slant drilling a site in Carpinteria into a lease offshore. Earlier this year, Venoco filed papers for a Carpinteria ballot initiative for its Paredon project, which would use an onshore rig to tap an estimated 20 million barrels of offshore Read More →
SLO event ordinance a blow to business
A prime example of job-killing regulation is coming to light in San Luis Obispo County. That’s because a group of environmentalists and “buy local” have joined forces to advocate for a countywide ordinance that would ban most private, for-profit activity on agricultural land. In other words, no more weddings, retirement parties, fundraisers, corporate celebrations or Read More →
California budget may just be a short-term fix, after all
California has a budget, but how long will it last? And what will be done about the pension time bomb? Don Facciano of the Ventura County Taxpayers Association believes the legislature will be back considering more cuts in a few months. Others think it may be a mid-year correction. Meanwhile there is the question of Read More →
Brooks teams with film fest
Ojai’s film festival has not rested on the success of last year’s events but has instead spent time making friends with its neighbors in Ventura. The newly named Ojai-Ventura International Film Festival recently announced its partnership with Brooks Institute in Ventura — a collaboration that organizers believe will create more space for moviegoers to watch Read More →
Nonprofits fight to save events
Hearing wedding bells? Not if you’re on agricultural land in San Luis Obispo County. Some of the county’s economic sectors, such as the wedding industry and nonprofits, could receive a lethal blow as officials examine new legislation that would heavily regulate commercial events. The county is considering adopting an events ordinance that would nearly eliminate Read More →
