Debbie Arnold’s final legacy: Killing the dream of a bike path from SLO to the sea | Opinion

Debbie Arnold has an uncanny knack for repeatedly doing the wrong thing for the good of all San Luis Obispo County residents, and with one foot out the door, she used the other to crush the hopes and hard work of everyone who wanted to one day see a completed Bob Jones Pathway from SLO to the sea.

In one of the most damaging decisions of her career as supervisor — one that will likely be remembered long after she leaves office at the end the year — she all but killed the project Tuesday.

She refused, as a matter of principle, to supply the fourth vote needed to begin condemnation proceedings against a single stubborn property owner who refuses to part with a sliver of land along the route.

Absent a miracle, it means the county will lose an $18 million grant from the state and it could jeopardize applications for future funding, given the county’s failure to complete the project.

In explaining her decision, Arnold elevated private property rights above all else.

“Property rights is, to me, the cornerstone of our republic,” she said. “I mean, everything you work for, your life’s work is work probably invested in your home or your property.”

Except in this case, the property in question isn’t a beloved home or a thriving business. It’s a small piece of land next to a busy highway, for which the county is prepared to offer ample compensation. There’s even been talk of exchanging a small piece of county-owned land for the sliver the owner is being asked to give up.

And here’s the kicker: The property owner, Ray Bunnell, doesn’t even live there, according to county Supervisor Dawn Ortiz-Legg, whose district includes the land in question.

A history of bad decisions

While bitterly disappointing, Arnold’s decision was not unexpected.

She is the most conservative member of the board and has repeatedly and myopically aligned herself with one far-right position after another.

She’s indulged conspiracy theorists and favored the hand-counting of ballots, while failing to offer strong support for a clerk-recorder under attack.

She was part of the trio who audaciously tried to gerrymander the county’s district map to ensure their hold on the Board of Supervisors.

And she humored a bunch of haters who fear-mongered and demonized the LBGTQ+ community by turning a public meeting into a peep show.

Now, she refuses to apply a legitimate governmental function because she believes private property rights are sacrosanct above all else.

Her fellow conservative on the board, Supervisor John Peschong, has at times been more open to siding with the the three liberal-leaning supervisors, but he was absent from Tuesday’s meeting. That really didn’t matter; had he been present, he still would not have voted on the eminent domain proceeding due to a conflict of interest.

Peschong accepted multiple campaign donations from Bunnell, one as recently as Sept. 27, 2023, and under a state law that took effect last year, local officials are not allowed to deliberate or cast a vote in a proceeding involving “a license, permit, contract, or entitlement for use” if they’ve accepted more than $250 from the applicant within the previous 12 months.

Peschong told The Tribune Editorial Board that even if wasn’t legally prohibited from voting, he still would have recused himself in order to avoid even the perception of a conflict of interest.

“There’s an appearance of a conflict,” he said, “so it’s better to be safe than sorry.”

That left Arnold as the only hope.

Multiple attempts were made to sway her opinion, both by members of the public and the other three supervisors.

Cyclists pointed out how dangerous — even deadly — it is to ride on unprotected roads, and how welcome the Bob Jones extension would be.

Other speakers noted that, with the advent of electric bikes, workers are increasingly using those to commute to work, and the extension would provide a safe route between San Luis Obispo and South County.

SLO County staff pointed out the advantages of having the segment completed, including providing access to emergency vehicles and having more people on the path, which should discourage homeless encampments.

Project’s future looks dim

But it was clear Arnold’s mind had already been made up, and there was no budging her.

Her willingness to stand by her principles in the face of tremendous pressure would have been admirable if it weren’t so misguided and didn’t have such terrible repercussions.

In supporting one property’s owners dubious “right” to hold on to a small piece of land, Arnold ignored the obvious: Eminent domain proceedings were intended for exactly these types of situations — to prevent a single property owner from standing in the way of a necessary civic project that serves the greater good.

Why even have the ability to do this if not for a situation just like this one?

Arnold had the opportunity to be a hero, to end her career on a positive note.

Now, she’ll be remembered not for the service she gave to her county, but for yet another example of her lack of vision, creativity and, dare we say it, courage.

Perhaps there will be another way to move this project forward, but that’s looking doubtful.

It will again be up to others to try to imagine into reality what Debbie Arnold could not.

Otherwise, the dream of a Bob Jones city-to-sea pathway will have to remain just that: a dream, only one that will never be realized.

This story was originally published August 21, 2024 at 5:00 AM.