Who won 2024? Here’s a recap of some of SLO County’s best (and worst) moments | Opinion

We’ve been through a lot over the past 12 months — a tumultuous election, scandals both foreign and domestic, crazy weather, pain at the gas pump and the grocery aisle and, as fitting coda, a freakout over drones. And yet, there were plenty of bright spots along the way.

Here’s a month-by-month look back at some of San Luis Obispo County’s highlights — but to balance things out, we included some lowlights as well.

Happy New Year and, as always, thanks for reading!

January

Best: Tuti and Nour, together again

Nour Makhoul, a young Syrian refugee who relocated to San Luis Obispo County, was reunited with Tuti, a fluffy Bichon Frise she had to leave behind when she fled Syria. With the help of some good-hearted SLO folks who helped raise funds to transport Tuti to the United States, Nour had a joyous January reunion with her pooch.

“I will remember this moment to the end of my life,” Nour said.

Worst: Grover Beach water war

Grover H2O, a group of South County residents led by former Mayor Debbie Peterson, issued its first official news release in January.

Sure, members had every right to protest water and sewer rate increases. But they went overboard when they launched a vindictive effort to recall three council members — including the mayor — for supporting the rate increases.

February

Best: What a leap!

At least nine babies were born at hospitals in SLO County and Santa Maria (where many SLO County moms give birth) on Feb. 29. Their next official birthday will be on Feb. 29, 2028.

Worst: Hand in the till

An information technology supervisor who worked for SLO County was arrested on suspicion of embezzling what was later calculated to be $500,000 over a six-year period.

Norman Hibble used a county credit card to buy items for himself, including a crossbow, DJ equipment, a telescope, camera gear and an electric scooter. He eventually pleaded no contest to seven felony counts and was sentenced to six years in prison. He also lost his job.

March

Best: Whew! St. Fratty’s Day did not descend into a riot

Here’s how reporter Chloe Jones set the scene: “St. Fratty’s Day brought thousands of college-aged partiers to the streets of San Luis Obispo on March 16 — the majority packed into one neighborhood near Cal Poly on Hathway Avenue. What it didn’t bring was lines of police officers in riot gear and armed for a fight. ...”

Police Chief Rick Scott was credited for his leadership, which basically came down to this: When it comes to policing large crowds, sometimes less can be more.

Worst: But partiers did do some serious damage

Vandalism and thefts were reported at some on-campus buildings. Damage was especially bad at the Muir Hall dorm, where 300 students had to be evacuated while fire suppression and alarm systems were restored.

April

Best: SLO County supervisors approve Dana Reserve

It will take down more than 3,000 oak trees, increase South County traffic and anger some neighbors, but the Dana Reserve development will add 1,470 homes, including some in the low= and mid-range price categories, and that’s not nothing.

Worst: 3 local cities join “million-dollar club”

In news that highlighted the unaffordability of SLO County housing — and the need for more residential development — a Zillow analysis found that median home prices in SLO, Arroyo Grande and Cambria had passed the $1 million mark.

May

Best: SLO County ranch the size of S.F. is preserved forever

The 32,000-acre Camatta Ranch east of Santa Margarita was declared off-limits to future development thanks to an agreement between The Land Conservancy and the Morrison family, which owns and manages the ranch.

Runner-up: Woo hoo! SLO drops parking rates. Paso returns to free parking.

Following a public outcry in two cities, officials buckled. The SLO City Council reduced rates — and apologized to citizens — and the Paso Robles Council canceled fees altogether. Power to the people!

Worst (with a caveat) Necklace is in trouble!

A elephant seal with plastic strap wrapped around her neck — hence the name “Necklace” — was facing death by strangulation. But then the Marine Mammal Center and Friends of the Elephant Seal teamed up on an operation to remove the plastic strap. Not a happy situation for Necklace, but good Samaritans managed to turn a worst into a best.

June

Best: Welcome aboard

Cal State announced a plan to bring the financially struggling Cal Maritime Academy based in Vallejo under Cal Poly’s umbrella. The program will remain in Vallejo, but Poly will take on administrative and marketing duties and provide fundraising assistance, while expanding its “learn by doing” brand.

Worst: Atascadero Zoombombing

Hecklers spewed homophobic hate during a discussion of a Pride Month resolution. Not only that, the City Council decided to stick with its “no proclamations” policy and declined to formally recognize Pride Month. This was one of those times when the spirit of the law should have won out over the letter

July

Best: Christmas is saved!

The Board of Supervisors upheld a 15-year permit for the popular Cambria Christmas market when it unanimously denied an appeal filed by a neighbor. We don’t doubt that it’s annoying to live next to the market, which recently ranked as the 14th most overcrowded Christmas markets in the U.S., but it’s great for the local economy. Besides, Christmas only comes once a year.

Worst: ‘Porn’ at the Board of Supervisors

In a deluded effort to persuade the Board of Supervisors to oppose passage of a Pride resolution, a group of public commenters showed a video taken at a San Francisco street festival that included full frontal male nudity and oral sex — a warning of what could happen in SLO County. The resolution passed anyway, on a 3-1 vote with one abstention.

August

Best: SLO County goes independent

Elected politicians — in this case, the Board of Supervisors — will no longer be in charge of redistricting, which should put an end to gerrymandering. A bill sponsored by local State Sen. John Laird easily passed in both houses, putting the power in the hands of an 11-member commission of private citizens who, incidentally, will not be chosen by the Board of Supervisors.

Worst: Bob Jones Trail in jeopardy

A years-long effort to complete the Bob Jones city-to-sea bicycle trail appeared doomed when the Board of Supervisors voted against using eminent domain to secure property from an unwilling owner once described by a former neighbor as “the most difficult man in the county, if not the state of California.”

Four votes were needed to move forward with eminent domain. Supervisor Debbie Arnold voted no, and Supervisor John Peschong abstained because he had accepted campaign contributions from the aforementioned difficult man.

September

Best: The SLO County District Attorney’s Office prosecutes voter fraud

DA Dan Dow sent a message to anyone contemplating a run for public office. (See below)

Worst: A candidate fudges (AKA lies) about where she lives

A write-in candidate who challenged county Supervisor Dawn-Ortiz Legg in the March primary was charged with voter fraud, perjury and filing false papers to run for office. Michelle Marie Morrow, 55, of Grover Beach claimed to live in District 3 when she actually lived in District 4.

Morrow would go on to plead no contest to filing a false declaration of candidacy and fraudulent attempts to vote; she is scheduled to be sentenced on Jan. 6.

October

Best: It’s alive!

November

Best: SLO County voters open their wallets

All eight local tax and bond measures passed: sales tax measures were approved in Atascadero, Arroyo Grande, Paso Robles, Pismo Beach and bond measures passed n the Atascadero, Lucia Mar and Templeton school districts and the Cambria healthcare district.

Runners up: There were several notable wins, but we were especially pleased that Grover Beach voters picked Kassi Dee over Debbie Peterson, and San Luis Coastal voters overwhelmingly chose Erica Flores Baltodano.

Worst: Conspiracy theories live on

They got what they wanted: TFG (the former guy) is back in power and even California went conservative on some issues (Proposition 36, for example). Yet some members of the far-right are still spreading conspiracy theories, including our own Darcia Stebbens. She went on talk radio and among other wild allegations, accused County Clerk-Recorder Elaina Cano of deliberately delaying the tabulation of ballots cast in person so that liberal candidates would take an early lead.

Runners-up: There were some disappointing results in local races, but two stand out: Grover Beach voters recalled Councilmember Dan Rushing (see January) and Atascadero school board Trustee Matt Pennon, one of the most well-qualified school board candidates we’ve ever met, was defeated by two candidates with zero experience.

December

Best: It’s finally official!

After decades of discussion, the Chumash Heritage National Marine Sanctuary became a reality. The sanctuary protects more than 4,500 square miles of the Pacific Ocean off the coasts of San Luis Obispo and Santa Barbara counties from oil drilling and other sea floor disturbances.

Runner-up: It’s finally, finally official!

The Los Osos building moratorium was lifted after 35 years. Enough said.

Worst: Paso Robles mess gets messier

City Manager Ty Lewis filed a police report alleging that Cal Coast News reporter Karen Velie and her associate, Glenn O’Hagan, tried to extort him. And Cal Coast News published a series called “Eye on Ty” that is heavy on accusations but light on proof.

The scandal has been brewing for months, ever since it was revealed that Lewis had taken an extended leave of absence due to stress associated with run-ins with Councilmember Chris Bausch, a notorious bully who, as we’ve said in an editorial, is unfit for office.

It’s been further alleged that Bausch has colluded with Cal Coast News to force Ty out of office.

This isn’t over. Stay tuned in 2025.