Dave Romero, Mayor – San Luis Obispo

Dear Friends:

I have lived and worked in San Luis Obispo for the majority of my life, and I love this town.  Our people – including our college students – are creative and spirited, and special events have been a big part of our community life.  The annual Mardi Gras celebration was one such event, growing over the years from a tiny one block celebration into a huge parade.  Unfortunately, something else grew along with the parade:  Hoards of out-of control and destructive partiers, many from outside the community, who drink excessively and cause major problems.  In 2004, this destructive and violent behavior resulted in a riot, which cost our taxpayers almost a half million dollars.

This is not what San Luis Obispo is about, and as much as we like special events, our City Council concluded that Mardi Gras in San Luis Obispo must stop – completely.  And we have backed up our commitment with the resources necessary to create huge consequences for those who choose to disrespect our town. 

As your Mayor, I ask that those of you who live in San Luis Obispo help us protect our community from such destructive behavior.  Please don’t invite out-of-town guests to San Luis Obispo to party over Mardi Gras weekend (February 4 – 8, 2005).  Encourage your friends who live here to enjoy the weekend in a safe and helpful way.

If you don’t live in San Luis Obispo, please don’t visit us for Mardi Gras.  MARDI GRAS IN SAN LUIS OBISPO IS OVER.
 

Dave Romero

Mayor  

Welcome back to Cal Poly.  I hope you enjoyed your holidays and have returned to campus refreshed and eager to start winter quarter.

This month you have probably been hearing about the City of San Luis Obispo's intention to bring an end to public celebrations of Mardi Gras.  Cal Poly supports the City's plans for strongly discouraging such celebrations and maintaining the peace this year.

For more information on these plans, please take a look at www.MardiGrasSLO.com.

It is broadly recognized that Cal Poly students are good citizens and contribute much to the community.  And all but a small number of Cal Poly students avoided involvement in the serious disturbances in the community associated with last year's Mardi Gras celebrations. We wish to commend you for that.

I urge you to heed the City's call for cessation of public Mardi Gras celebrations in the streets of San Luis Obispo and to encourage others to join with you in continuing the Cal Poly traditions of civility and respect for the law.

Thank you for your support and cooperation.

Sincerely,

Warren J. Baker

President
 

Cuesta College Students

RE: Mardi Gras in San Luis Obispo

Dear Students,

We are pleased to welcome new and returning Cuesta College students to the Spring 2005 semester. For many of you it will be your first time living away from home and your first time experiencing the excitement, fulfillment, and increased sense of responsibility that the college environment fosters.

At the same time that you are experiencing wonderful opportunities for personal growth and increased knowledge, you are also encountering more opportunities to socialize. As you might be aware, Mardi Gras weekend is a particularly social period in San Luis Obispo. Unfortunately, Mardi Gras in San Luis Obispo has evolved into an out-of-control party scene that culminated last year in a large-scale, violent riot, which involved a few Cuesta and Cal Poly students as well as out-of-area visitors.

Because of those issues, the City of San Luis Obispo is working in conjunction with Cuesta College and Cal Poly San Luis Obispo University to communicate new plans to discourage public Mardi Gras celebrations. These efforts are made in the interest of maintaining peace throughout the city during the Mardi Gras weekend beginning February 4. Higher fines, an increased police presence on the streets of San Luis Obispo, and a more stringent prosecution of offenders are just a few of the ramifications you could face this year if you choose to attend or host Mardi Gras parties.

It is always important for you to make safe and responsible decisions, on campus and off. As a Cuesta College student, please join us in reinforcing the need to comply with the City’s call to discontinue public Mardi Gras celebrations in the streets of San Luis Obispo. I urge you to avoid participating in any disorderly public Mardi Gras parties and to discourage out-of-area friends from visiting during that weekend.

Please do not drink and drive. Thank you for your support and consideration of this important matter.

Sincerely,

Marie E. Rosenwasser, Ph.D.

Superintendent/President
 

I view Mardi Gras as a night where my Emergency Department is overwhelmed with drunken brawlers, whose bleeding and scarred faces are devoid of fun or frolic.  I view Mardi Gras as a succession of somber women who face the day-after consequences of unwanted or unremembered sexual activity, complete with very real worries about pregnancy, HIV and STD's.  I view Mardi Gras as a time when any behavior is deemed acceptable—even if it risks the health and welfare of both police and public—all in the name of "fun". 

As a career emergency physician, I dread Mardi Gras like no other event.

Dr. Steve Sainbury