Gallons of sewage spilled into SLO creek

Author

Carly Heltzel
February 14, 2025

Good morning. It’s Friday, and I’m watching a video of a kayaker who was briefly swallowed by a humpback whale. Onto the five Cal Poly, San Luis Obispo and California stories you need to know for today.

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1.

About 4,000 gallons of partially treated sewage water spilled into SLO creek yesterday during a storm surge — or about a quarter of your average backyard swimming pool. The city’s initial estimate of the spillage was 50,000 gallons. This prompted officials to close Avila Beach, where the creek empties, until water samples are taken later today and clear public health standards. In other storm news, wind speeds exceeded predictions, with one gust reaching 86 mph. Cal Poly got 3.85 inches of rain.

2.

A new county-wide mass alert system is in place. As of its launch on Jan. 15, SLO County residents can receive notifications about severe weather, road closures, public health information and planned power outages via AlertSLO. The system has sent four alerts since it began, and users can choose to be alerted by text, email or, in extreme cases, voice call. Over 4,000 residents spread across the county have registered already, about 1.5% of the total population. “That way community members will get the right information that impacts them at the right time,” a county spokesperson said.

3.

California joined more than a dozen states in a lawsuit against Elon Musk’s unchecked power in the federal government. The lawsuit compared him, a powerful, unelected individual, to the 18th century monarchs that elections, checks and balances were meant to guard against. The suit argues his role as President Trump’s personal budget advisor thus violates the constitution. The states began the lawsuit by saying “there is no greater threat to democracy” than immense government power in the hands of an unelected person.

4.

Yosemite National Park appears to be on the brink of disaster. During a “catastrophic” staffing crisis fueled by federal budget cuts, the park workers anticipate over 20,000 visitors each day during the summer months. Yosemite’s officials have tried hiring multiple rounds of seasonal workers to meet demand, but the Trump administration sent emails rescinding the job offers at every turn. Even hires for public safety positions such as law enforcement rangers, wildland firefighters and EMTs were blocked, all of which are supposed to be exempt from federal hiring freezes. “This is honestly terrifying,” one Yosemite tour operator said.

5.

At an SF startup incubator’s happy hour they didn’t serve alcohol. Why? Because the average age of company founders was so young that people couldn’t drink anyways. Amidst the AI boom it’s more and more common for founders to lack formal education too, heralding in an era of college — and even high school — dropouts at the forefront of cutting edge technology. The trend echoes a trickle-turned-pipeline kicked off by Mark Zuckerburg’s billionaire success with Facebook. “It’s normal in this city to be a dropout,” one dropout said.