Neither side liked "Peace in the Middle East" dialogue

Author

Carly Heltzel
April 17, 2025

Good morning. It’s Thursday, and I’m watching the first ever video captured of the “beautiful and unusual” colossal squid. Onto the five Cal Poly, San Luis Obispo and California stories you need to know for today.

1.

Cal Poly hosted a dialogue on the Israel-Hamas war from two opposing negotiators to show people how to foster discussion. Neither side liked it. One attendee who’s the daughter of Holocaust survivors calls the event triggering and removed from the reality of the “each other’s pain.” Students for Justice in Palestine posted soon after the event that the dialogue “deliberately distracts from and obscures the ongoing genocidal crimes of the Zionist regime.” “I’m not exactly sure of who these lukewarm takes are supposed to pander to,” an attendee said.

2.

Here’s a quick, sloppy summary of your ASI presidential candidates: A business major who wants you to get the most value for your money. A well-established agricultural engineer who wants to prioritize student “rights, resources and relationships.” Another agricultural engineer, this time first-generation, whose big thing is club funding and a bus route straight to downtown. And lastly an industrial technology major who wants to uplift student organizations. The debate is today, from 11 a.m. to noon in the UU Plaza.

3.

Spring break is bringing tourists to Pismo Beach. In the last couple of days, business had picked up at out-of-towner oriented businesses, such as e-bike rentals. Many families and individuals made the haul out from other parts of California, mostly Bakersfield and Fresno. And the gloomy weather this week didn’t deter them from having fun along the coast. “It's spring break, why wouldn't you want to go?" asked one student from Visalia. 

4.

California is losing millions per year to license plate covers — be it evading bridge tolls or the police, lawmakers are looking to put a stop to the practice. Hoping to cut it off at the supply, a new bill could fine manufacturers $10,000 for each cover sold. The covers slide up and down on command to hide the license plate numbers and typically cost $50 to $200. It’s already illegal to obscure a license plate, with law enforcement handing out 1,300 citations for it last year. Officials called it a “tool for lawbreakers.”

5.

Pea Soup Andersen’s was a must-stop iconic roadside restaurant for over a century before abruptly shutting its doors last year. Now, its historic building in Buellton could be demolished and replaced with a mega-developer’s vision of a mixed-use development that would “play off the historic origins” of the restaurant by giving it a space once again. Locals are hopeful that the new development could revitalize Buellton’s downtown. “I think everyone is waiting to see what’s next,” one local said.