A broad-based committee of youth sports advocates, environmentalists, neighborhood activists and business interest supporters (including the SLO Chamber) has been formed to fight Measure H, the November ballot measure that, if passed, would forever prevent the extension of Prado Road to Broad Street.

The “No on Measure H Committee” will be led by three highly respected community leaders. One of the two co-chairs is Youth Sports Association leader, long-time school board and AYSO board member John Spatafore. The other co-chair is teacher, architect and environmental leader Stacey White. The treasurer is Softec chair and CASA President Hillary Trout.

The City of San Luis Obispo Public Works’ Tree Division is sponsoring a woodchip and firewood giveaway at 25 Prado Road, City of San Luis Obispo Corporation Yard, on July 24 from 8 a.m. to 2 p.m. or until wood chips are gone.

The wood rounds and rough wood chips are generated from various tree trimming activities within the City of San Luis Obispo. This green waste recycling program is for residential use only — please, no contractors or retailers.

City staff will be on site to assist with loading of pickup trucks and small trailers. Residents are encouraged to bring smaller containers to fill themselves and are asked to follow the directional signs at 25 Prado Road to the loading area.  

Donations will be accepted to help cover future Arbor Day activities and tree plantings within San Luis Obispo’s Urban Forest.

For more information, contact Urban Forester, Ron Combs at (805) 781-7023 or Maintenance Supervisor, Keith Pellemeier at (805) 781-7022.

The San Luis Obispo Chamber of Commerce Board of Directors voted to oppose an initiative that seeks to prevent the planned extension of Prado Road.

The initiative, which will be discussed at the San Luis Obispo City Council tonight, is expected to be placed on the November ballot for voters to decide.

The Chamber believes that the initiative – if passed – will have significant adverse effects on traffic circulation, neighborhood safety, areas already zoned for affordable housing, and local businesses.

“This type of ballot box governance not only provides no alternative solution to the extension of Prado Road, but it creates many foreseeable problems, including increased traffic congestion at Tank Farm Road and South Street, creating unnecessary hazards for the existing neighborhoods on those roads,” said John Ewan, chairman of the SLO Chamber’s Board of Directors. “The last thing San Luis Obispo needs now is another road to nowhere.”

Vallejo residents recently went to the polls and revoked the city’s binding arbitration out of its charter – 40 years after the city had become the first California city to let arbitrators settle pay and benefit disputes with its unionized work force.

The closely watched Measure A narrowly passed with about 51 percent of the vote despite heavy opposition from police and firefighter groups around the state, which reportedly outspent the measures’ backers 10-1. One county and 22 cities in California – including San Luis Obispo – still have binding arbitration.

Vallejo city officials had previously tried twice to remove binding arbitration from its books but it apparently took the city’s 2008 bankruptcy filing and public scrutiny of pay and benefits to change voters’ minds.

A new book called “Thrive…Finding Happiness the Blue Zones Way” will be published this fall by National Geographic and Random House and will feature San Luis Obispo as one of its “vitality cities” defined as “…a city of strength, energy and vigor where it all seems to work because its leaders and citizens share a bond of great purpose.”

The book’s preview says, “In the first book to identify demographically proven ‘happiness hotspots’ worldwide, researcher and explorer Dan Buettner documents the happiest people on earth and reveals how we can create our own happy zones.”

The SLO Chamber has been working with the author for several months and provided photography by Chamber President/CEO Dave Garth.

Click here for more information or to purchase the book. 

Traffic volume at SLO County airport continues to rebound as the economy improves. May's departing passenger traffic rose 13.2 percent compared to last year – the first double-digit increase in almost two years.

Meanwhile, SkyWest has reduced its SLO fares, some by more than 50 percent; one-way tickets to L.A. are now being offered for as low as $109.

U.S. Airways will soon begin a new 50-seat 9 a.m. Sunday flight to Phoenix. According to the USA Today, airline capacity is down nationwide by 1.1 percent. 

However, San Luis Obispo has 12.8 percent more outbound seats, or an additional 538 seats daily, this July than it did in July 2009.

In a major reorganization of its staff of 15, the San Luis Obispo Chamber of Commerce recently promoted Ermina Karim to vice president of governmental affairs and economic development. This is only the second time in 105 years that the Chamber has had a vice president position.

The change will allow the non-profit organization to be more responsive to external economic development issues as well as focus on its six-point economic strategy as illustrated in its latest Economic Vision document.

“We’re expanding our economic development efforts to create an atmosphere where people will start and expand businesses here, and Ermina will lead the way,” said David Garth, SLO Chamber president/CEO. “This effort is critical because without future-oriented, head-of-household jobs, the local economy will be stagnant.”

In addition to her role as a representative for the local business community, Karim will share in Chamber personnel responsibilities and lead the Chamber in its economic development strategies, something she already knows a great deal about.

What do you think about proposed fare increases to cover the costs of transit service and deficiencies?

A public hearing will be held on Wednesday, July 14 to gauge public opinion and solicit comments on the fee increases, pursuant to the adopted SLO Transit Fare Increase Policy.

The public hearing will be held at the City Council Hearing Room in SLO City Hall, 990 Palm St., San Luis Obispo. 

For additional information or questions concerning this public hearing, please contact Transit Manager John Webster at (805) 781-7121.

The summer season is here, which means local businesses can expect an influx of tourists – both good and bad. Panhandlers can be a problem in summer months for local businesses, but now business people have new tools to help better handle problem behaviors. 

The City of San Luis Obispo, in partnership with the San Luis Obispo Chamber of Commerce and the San Luis Obispo Downtown Association, is distributing a Reference Guide to Laws Regarding Aggressive Panhandling.