HomeMy WebLinkAbout9/16/2025 Item 7b, Cross
Brett Cross <
To:E-mail Council Website
Subject:SUBJECT: RESPONSE TO GRAND JURY REPORT - ROUND AND ROUND WITH TOWN
AND GOWN
Dear Mayor and Council Members,
I don't know if some of you are familiar with the concept of Radical Honesty that was coined by psychologist Brad Blanton
in his best selling book by the same name in 1996. The premise is that practicing complete transparency frees individuals
from self-imposed suffering caused by lies, half-truths, and social pretenses. Now, there are drawbacks, as I believe his
children didn't speak to him for years. However, being honest in most cases is probably something that we should all
strive for.
Now having said that. I think it's time to tell the residents in the Alta Vista and lower Monterey Heights neighborhoods that
there is no rescue mission coming to save them like in the movie "The Martian" starring Matt Damon and a few other
folks. They are on their own.
The City apparently isn't going to hire another code enforcement officer, even on a contract employee basis, to investigate
the illegal (Yes, I said illegal. More on that later) satellite fraternity and sorority houses in the R-1 and R-2 zones. They
are illegal because that use is not allowed in those zones. It's the definition of illegal- "Not according to or authorized by
law".
I don't think staff is recommending that Community Service Officers write citations for Party Noise violations. I don't think
staff is recommending elimination of properties that are placed on the "Premise List" after some self-reported complete
turnover in occupants. You might want to ask staff about San Diego's Community Assisted Party Program (CAPP)
which aims to curb nuisance behavior at chronic party houses.
And you're certainly not seeking legal means to compel Cal Poly to provide AB 524
addresses. The Campus-Recognized Sorority and Fraternity Transparency Act.
So where does that leave residents in these neighborhoods? And don't think these issues, especially with illegal satellite
fraternity and sorority houses isn't going to spread to other neighborhoods either.
So let's talk a little about F3 in the staff report.
"F3. The city has failed to effectively enforce municipal codes that prohibit fraternity and sorority activity in R-1/R-2 zones
in part due to the difficulty in identifying houses that are hosting fraternity-type events, such as rush events and repeated
parties. This inaction has resulted in an increase of illegal fraternities holding events in residential neighborhoods making
these areas almost unlivable for most residents."
There's a response about the word, "Illegal". I've already talked about that. But you know what isn't addressed? The last
sentence. "This inaction has resulted in an increase of illegal fraternities holding events in residential neighborhoods
making these areas almost unlivable for most residents."
What are you, as the Mayor and Council members, going to do about the unlivability (I made that word up) for most
residents in these areas?
You focus on that and come up with solutions.
Sincerely,
Brett Cross
San Luis Obispo
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