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Articles by Gianna Patchen
Environmental laws are not your enemy
Remember the Cayucos Viewshed? You don’t have to remember it because it’s still there—all 47,000 acres of green rolling hills, oak woodlands, creeks, hiking trails, and occasional farms between highways 41 and 46, with Morro Bay and Cambria at one end and Paso Robles and Atascadero at the other. It is one of SLO County’s signature landscapes.
The Trump administration’s destroying national forests
On Aug. 24, commemorating the annual observation of National Park Week, President Trump proclaimed,“My administration is committed to protecting every acre of our lands.” Four days later, it became clear that this is not true. That’s when the news broke that the Trump administration has been secretly negotiating to give a chunk of Yosemite National Park to a developer (coincidentally a Trump donor) so he can punch a private road through the park to increase the value of his adjacent property.
September 24 – October 1, 2026 - Santa Maria Sun
September 24 – October 1, 2026 Sept 24-Oct 1, 2026 / Vol. 27 / No. 31 About 30 Solvang city employees went on strike starting Sept. 15, protesting the “last, best, and final” contract offer from the city, which includes a 4 percent annual raise over the next three consecutive years. The union representing those employees said it had asked the city for 6 percent. It’s also accusing city officials of […]
The Trump administration’s forest wrecking crew
On Aug. 24, commemorating the annual observation of National Park Week, President Trump proclaimed, “My administration is committed to protecting every acre of our lands.” Four days later, it became clear that this is not true. That’s when the news broke that the Trump administration has been secretly negotiating to give a chunk of Yosemite National Park to a developer (coincidentally a Trump donor) so he can punch a private road through the park to increase the value of his adjacent property.
Trump is coming for California’s coast
The same administration that is slashing funding for climate research and the Environmental Protection Agency, propping up the coal industry, gutting the Endangered Species Act and planning to open the entire California coast to offshore oil drilling is now taking aim at the California Coastal Commission.
Trump is coming for California’s coast
The same administration that is slashing funding for climate research and the Environmental Protection Agency, propping up the coal industry, gutting the Endangered Species Act, and planning to open the entire California coast to offshore oil drilling is now taking aim at the California Coastal Commission.
SLO’s next generation of environmental leaders
Expanding the reach of environmental education and motivating people to take action for the Earth has long been in the Sierra Club’s mission. Joining in this mission is a team of 12 Cal Poly students leading the brand-new student committee within the Santa Lucia Chapter of the Sierra Club.
July 16-23, 2026
If you’re looking to buy an election, maybe it’s time to move to Cambria. The coastal elites who live there think that money is what it takes to win, and they are unanimous in that! Before you agree with me under false pretenses and start talking smack about the Cambria Community Services District and its…
Local communities defend Los Padres National Forest against federal attacks
It’s rare that 95 percent of people support anything, especially when it comes to environmental laws, but the Roadless Rule is a special case. After 600 public meetings and 1.6 million people submitting comments, 95 percent of commenters supported this landmark environmental law to protect areas of our national forests from logging. This public democratic process was the most extensive public review ever conducted by a federal agency.
Oceano and endangered species deserve a peaceful safe beach
It doesn’t happen often, but it happened recently: The Oceano Dunes State Vehicular Recreation Area (ODSVRA) south of Arroyo Grande Creek was closed to off-highway vehicles and became a safe place for pedestrians. But the closure was temporary. The Oceano Dunes re-opened May 21 to off-road vehicles. Why was the Oceano Dunes closed to vehicles? Because State Parks was finally being held accountable for violating federal law for 30 years.
Oceano and endangered species deserve a permanently safe beach
It doesn’t happen often, but it’s happening now: The Oceano Dunes State Vehicular Recreation Area (ODSVRA) south of Arroyo Grande Creek is closed to off-highway vehicles and has become a safe place for pedestrians. But the closure is temporary. A few days after you read this, the Oceano Dunes may or may not have re-opened to off-road vehicles. Why is the Oceano Dunes closed to vehicles right now? Because State Parks is finally being held accountable for violating federal law for 30 years.
Sticker shock at Diablo Canyon
Four years ago, nuclear power enthusiasts were high-fiving each other: They had forced a sudden U-turn in California energy policy by extending the operations of Diablo Canyon Power Plant. The true price of this decision is now rising to the surface. California’s last nuclear power plant was originally slated to close in 2025.
Don’t let Diablo Canyon jump the guardrails
The Diablo Canyon Power Plant was supposed to close last year. Now the five-year extension that kept the plant open may become a 20-year extension. Over the past few months, the San Luis Obispo County Board of Supervisors and several local city councils with an eye on tax revenues have been urging state legislators to extend Diablo’s life all the way to 2045. Now would be a good time to revisit the serious questions about Diablo Canyon’s continued operation.
Community action is our antidote
“Action is the antidote to despair.” —Joan Baez On the evening of Nov. 5, 2024, the sound of clinking dishes lingered in our typically bustling six-person San Luis Obispo rental house. Slowly the conversation picked up, emotions poured out, and one thing was certain—holding the grief of the election results was better together.
Jan 29 – Feb 5, 2026 - New Times San Luis Obispo
“Action is the antidote to despair.” —Joan Baez On the evening of Nov. 5, 2024, the sound of clinking dishes lingered in our typically bustling six-person San Luis Obispo rental house. Slowly the conversation picked up, emotions poured out, and one thing was certain—holding the grief of the election results was better together. We began… By Gianna Patchen And Cate Armstrong
Why are we still running over plovers?
On March 18, 2021, the California Coastal Commission made the historic decision that off-road vehicles must be removed from Oceano Dunes because off-road vehicle use jeopardizes one of the world’s rarest coastal ecosystems and endangered wildlife (not to mention harming local public health and air quality). Four years later, the court struck down the Coastal Commission’s ruling—overturning the historic win for protecting Oceano Dunes and local communities.
Gianna Patchen, Author at Santa Maria Sun
It is all too clear that California’s communities and environment are not immune to the Trump administration—and that state and local leaders’ pushback is powerful and necessary. Having already moved to open public lands to mining and drilling, the Trump administration is now making its presence known off the Central Coast. On April 30, the […]
Why are we still running over plovers?
On March 18, 2021, the California Coastal Commission made the historic decision that off-road vehicles must be removed from Oceano Dunes, because off-road vehicle use jeopardizes one of the world’s rarest coastal ecosystems and endangered wildlife (not to mention harming local public health and air quality). Four years later, the court struck down the Coastal Commission’s ruling—overturning the historic win for protecting Oceano Dunes and local communities.
New Times San Luis Obispo
Paso Robles yoga studio blends fitness and emotional well-being After confronting the emotional limits of her work as a trauma therapist, Victoria Hamilton chose a different approach to helping others. The result was The Well Studio, a yoga and wellness studio in Paso Robles designed around movement, regulation, and community. Opened in August 2024, the studio combines fitness and mental health principles. Founded by…
Diablo Canyon still owes us land and conservation
OK, we were wrong. Last time we wrote this column, we said that on Nov. 6 the California Coastal Commission was deciding if PG&E would get its permit to extend Diablo Canyon nuclear plant to 2030. This hasn’t happened, yet. Action was almost—but not quite—taken. After a 10-hour commission meeting, the decision was postponed to Dec. 11. In the meantime, commission staff and PG&E are reworking the permit conditions because the commissioners were not happy with the initial proposal.
Diablo Canyon owes the public land conservation
For more than 40 years, Diablo Canyon Power Plant has conserved Central Coast landscapes and wildlife habitat (while simultaneously decimating the offshore marine environment). The plant is surrounded by 12,000 acres of prime coastal land owned by PG&E and its subsidiaries.
A fabricated “emergency” aims to reduce environmental protections
Do you know about the Conservation and Landscape Health Rule? It prioritizes the health and resilience of ecosystems on public lands. The rule, legally binding on the actions and decisions of the Bureau of Land Management (BLM), requires them to “protect intact landscapes, restore degraded habitat, and make informed management decisions based on science and data.” Conservation must be on an equal footing with other uses on our public lands in resource management planning.
A fabricated 'emergency' aims to reduce environmental protections
Do you know about the Conservation and Landscape Health Rule? It prioritizes the health and resilience of ecosystems on public lands. The rule, legally binding on the actions and decisions of the Bureau of Land Management (BLM), requires them to "protect intact landscapes, restore degraded habitat, and make informed management decisions based on science and data." Conservation must be on an equal footing with other uses on our public lands in resource management planning.
The state's new CEQA reforms will not fix California's housing crisis
In 1970, the California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA) was passed to "create and maintain conditions under which man and nature can exist in productive harmony to fulfill the social and economic requirements of present and future generations." It was signed into law by Gov. Ronald Reagan.
This administration threatens our land, sea, and air
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This administration threatens our land, sea, and air
It is all too clear that California's communities and environment are not immune to the Trump administration—and that state and local leaders' pushback is powerful and necessary. Having already moved to open public lands to mining and drilling, the Trump administration is now making its presence known off the Central Coast.
Now is the time to defend our public lands
“Action is the best antidote to despair.” –Joan Baez Public lands and waters are our country’s most popular areas for exploring nature while conserving landscapes, cultural areas, clean water, and wildlife, including the Central Coast’s very own Carrizo Plain National Monument, Los Padres National Forest, and Chumash Heritage National Marine Sanctuary.
Now is the time to defend our public lands
"Action is the best antidote to despair." – Joan Baez Eleven years after the San Luis Obispo County Board of Supervisors passed a resolution commemorating the 50th anniversary of the Wilderness Act, it's time to act on that commitment—now more than ever.
The Sierra Club is pushing back
Welcome to the debut of Down to Earth! Once a month, the San Luis Obispo Chapter of the Sierra Club will highlight what's being done to protect the Central Coast and beyond. When Andrew Christie retired from the Sierra Club, he also retired from his New Times contributions, and many of you asked about it. So, we're co-authoring this column. We think this is particularly timely given the national administration's threats to people and the planet.
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