News Briefs 7-15-2021

Written by Theresa-Marie Wilson

Theresa-Maria Wilson has been a journalist covering the North Coast and South County area for over 20 years. She is also the founder of Cat Noir CC and is currently working on a novel.

July 15, 2021

Moon Jelly Washes up on Pismo Beach


Pismo State Beach posted an interesting find on their Instagram page. A moon jelly washed up along the shoreline on July 7, and it isn’t the first one.
“Jellies are known as drifters of the sea and their bodies are designed to float along with the ocean currents,” the post said. “When jellies wash up onshore, it may be from strong currents, high winds or high tides.
Their short clear tentacles are covered with stinging cells, called nematocysts, which help the animal capture their plankton prey.
While the moon jelly doesn’t have a particularly strong sting compared to other jelly species, it’s best to not touch any jellies because even after they wash up dead on the beach they can still sting humans!”
Watch where you are walking.

County Jail is ADACompliant

San Luis Obispo County and the Department of Justice (DOJ) have reached an agreement regarding Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) improvements to the County Jail.
The DOJ found the jail was not in compliance with current ADA regulations. As a result the Sheriff’s Office took immediate action to remedy the situation. The County and the Sheriff’s Office fully cooperated with the DOJ to ensure all inmates have equal access to accommodations, activities and programs. In fact, many of the improvements listed in the agreement have already been made to the jail or are in the process.
“The Sheriff’s Office worked cooperatively with the Department of Justice to determine improvements needed to make sure our jail facility is accessible to all people,” said Sheriff Parkinson. “We are pleased with our results so far with our goal to be in full compliance with the Americans with Disabilities Act.”

Climate Change Workshop in SLO

Community members are invited to provide input on the City of San Luis Obispo’s strategies to adapt to an increasingly unpredictable climate.
The City will host a free community workshop online called Adapting to a Changing Climate – Strategies for a More Resilient SLO on Thursday, July 22 from 6 to 7:30 p.m. Anyone interested in attending can register at www.slocity.org.
“We are seeking community input on how we respond and build resilience to extreme weather events, such as last summer’s record-breaking heat wave and wildfire smoke,” said Teresa McClish, special projects manager with the City’s Community Development Department. “Join us for this interactive webinar, which will include a short presentation on anticipated climate change impacts specific to San Luis Obispo, collaborative visioning for the community’s future, and a community discussion of potential adaptation strategies to address risks.”
This workshop is part of the Resilient SLO event series and will include updates on t project. Resilient SLO, an initiative to better prepare the community for the impacts of climate change, is funded through a Caltrans Adaptation Planning Grant and led by the City of San Luis Obispo, Ascent Environmental, and the Local Government Commission.
The project will assess the extent of potential physical hazards, such as floods, extreme heat, and wildfires that are made worse by climate change, identify the best ways to develop community resilience, and update the Safety Element of the General Plan.
“Community engagement and input is an integral part of the project, and the upcoming workshop will provide an opportunity for community members to become more involved,” said McClish.
Community members can register in advance for this free virtual workshop at https://bit.ly/2TiHKHs, or by visiting the Resilient SLO website.
For more information on the project and/or upcoming workshop visit the project website https://www.lgc.org/resilient-slo/ or contact Special Projects Manager Teresa McClish at tmcclish@slocity.org.

Help for Rent

Following the State of California’s extension of its COVID-19 eviction moratorium and rent relief program, the County of San Luis Obispo is encouraging tenants and landlords who have fallen behind on rent during the pandemic to apply for assistance.
The state’s Rent Relief Program allows eligible tenants and landlords to now receive up to 100% of past due rent and utilities dating back to April 1, 2020. The online application process has been streamlined to encourage claims and local application assistance is now available through Five Cities Homeless Coalition, Salvation Army, and United Way.
“This assistance can help renters and landlords stay on top of their bills and in their homes as our community recovers from the pandemic,” said Assistant County Administrative Officer Rebecca Campbell. “We have local organizations here in SLO County ready to help with the application process. If you or your renters have fallen behind on rent during the pandemic, now is the time to look into this program and apply if you are eligible.”
Residents are eligible to receive assistance for current or past due rent and utilities if their annual 2020 income was less than 80% of SLO County’s median income. Landlords may also apply for financial assistance to support income loss if their renters are income-eligible and payments are used toward payment relief dating back to April 1, 2020.
Eligible renters may also receive assistance for past due utilities even if they do not receive assistance for rent. This includes utilities and home energy costs that are billed separately (not included in rent) such as electricity, gas, water/sewer, trash removal, Internet service and fuel oil.
Currently, 38% of residents in SLO County rent their home (2020 American Community Census). While over $8.4 million in federal financial assistance and another $9.2 million in State financial assistance has been available for SLO County renters and landlords to claim since March 2021, only 242 applications have been submitted in SLO County, requesting just over $4.5 million in rent and utility recovery.
Residents may apply for rent and/or utility relief online at housingiskey.com or schedule an application appointment by calling (833) 687-0967. Applications will be accepted on an ongoing basis until September 30, 2021 and priority assistance will be given to income eligible households most at risk of eviction.
For information on the Rental Relief Program and COVID-19 assistance in SLO County, visit www.RecoverSLO.org/RentRelief. ###

PG&E Offers Alert Notifications for Power Shutoffs

Pacific Gas & Electric customers and non-account holders can sign up for notifications for any address they care about to stay informed about Public Safety Power Shutoff (PSPS) events. High winds can cause tree branches and debris to contact energized lines, damage our equipment and cause wildfires. As a result, the utility may need to turn off power during severe weather to prevent wildfires.
Address Alerts might be right for you if:
• You want to know about a PSPS at your home, work, school or other important location
• You are a tenant and do not have a PG&E account
• You need to stay informed about a PSPS affecting a friend or loved one
• Multiple members of your household want to be notified
To sign up for alerts for any address that is important to you or a loved one, visit www.pge.com/addressalert. Alerts are accessible in multiple languages by call and text.
Customers and non-account holders interested in receiving updates on PSPS events for an address where they do not receive a bill can submit one or more addresses. Note, PG&E customers will automatically be enrolled to receive PSPS notifications for any home or business they have an account for. Customers are encouraged to keep their contact information up to date with PG&E so they can be notified if their specific location will be impacted.
Send your news, community and business briefs to Editor@EsteroBayNews.com. Be sure to include the who, what, why, where and when information along with a contact person.

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