Bay News 9/3/2015

Volume 28

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Issue 5

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September 3 - 16 , 2015

YOUR COMMUNITY IN YOUR HANDS

LOS OSOS

MORRO BAY

CAYUCOS

CAMBRIA

Morro Bay High’s Josh Skiffington breaks free off a block by Frankie Michel (No. 79) for a big gain in last week’s season opening 3421 loss at home to Viewpoint High of Calabasas. The Pirates are in action again this Friday traveling to Atascadero for a 7 p.m. kickoff. Photo by Christopher Gardner

Short Run for Haggen in Los Osos

MB Contractors Want Inspector Fired

By Neil Farrell

By Neil Farrell

G

rocery store chain Haggen’s explosive, supernova growth spurt is shrinking back like a dwarf star, as the company announced the closure of 27 stores across four states, some 16 in California alone. The company released a list of initial store closures that included 16 in California, five in Arizona, five in Oregon and one in Seattle, Wash., it will close just one of six in SLO County that it bought in the Albertsons, LLC-Safeway sale of 146 stores. Back in early April, Haggen (pronounced — hay-gun) also bought two Albertsons in SLO, and one each in Atascadero and Arroyo Grande, plus Vons Markets in Los Osos and Paso Ro-

tolosapress.com

bles. And while the official list of closing stores from the company reads, “Los Osos — Los Osos Valley Rd., Santa Barbara,” the erecting of “STORE CLOSING!” and “EVERYTHING MUST GO!” banners across the façade of the Los Osos building on Wednesday morning (Aug. 26) tells a different story. A store employee said the store would stay open until everything was sold, which will include the fixtures, coolers and freezer units, which Haggen is taking bids on (information sheets are available in the store). As of Wednesday merchandise was marked 10%-20% See Haggen, page 10

Beautiful Music at Boatzart Page 8

Ditch Day Reunion Page 52

A

n angry group of local contractors met with City officials last week to voice complaints about a new building inspector, in the end demanding that he be let go immediately. The meeting, which was presided over by Community Development Director, Scot Graham with Mayor Jamie Irons sitting in, was held in the Community Center’s Studio Room, tables arrayed in a rectangle ringed by 17 local businessmen, which they said was just a fraction of the total who’ve had bad experiences. Many others, sub-contractors and craftsmen included, they said, were afraid to speak out for fear of retaliation.

That alarmed Irons, who said it was “very concerning” to him that they thought there could be retaliation. He mentioned two previous meetings the contractors held at the Dutchman’s Restaurant, where a sort-of movement had begun to gel, even mentioning the possibility of a “contractor’s revolt.” Two recent jobs seem to have helped trigger this talk of rebellion — the Brickhouse BBQ Downtown and the hovering house on Zanzibar Street that Bay News recently reported on. Each had work stopped more than once, delaying completion and in the case on Zanzibar, extending what was an inherently See Inspector, page 49