2022 is flying by. The new school year has started, and downtown Atascadero afternoons are bustling again with activity. The mornings and evenings have cooled as fall approaches, and I know many of you are as happy as I am to have a break from the high temperatures we experienced over the summer.
I look forward to celebrating Atascadero’s heritage with everyone at the Colony Days celebration. Colony Days has always been one of my favorite fall events. My hat goes off to all volunteers who come together yearly to organize the annual Colony Day festivities. It is always a highlight starting with the parade and continuing with activities in and around the Sunken Gardens and historic City Hall.
With the opening of the La Plaza project on El Camino Real, across from the Sunken Garden, the La Plaza was recently celebrated with food and fanfare. It was a labor of love envisioned by the Zappos family and took five years to develop. Mike Zappas took great care when designing this downtown project to incorporate Atascadero’s history, and La Plaza perfectly complements the Rotunda and the Atascadero Colony era. The project was named after a mercantile area popular when the Atascadero Colony began over a century ago. The project includes restaurants, retail, office, and housing in the heart of downtown. It is a beautiful addition to Atascadero and an excellent pairing of history and growth.
The County has been working over the last few months to identify projects to receive ARPA (American Relief Plan Act) dollars to help offset the loss of funding for County and non-profit organizations from Covid lockdowns. The County received approximately 54 million dollars in federal funding to cover the costs of services provided during the Covid emergency and restore funding for services to help citizens dealing with homelessness, addiction, and mental illness.
Please get in touch with me with questions or concerns regarding County services at (805) 781-4339.
It is an honor to serve as your 5th District Supervisor.
Debbie Arnold
5th District Supervisor
5th District Supervisor, Debbie Arnold
Debbie Arnold moved to San Luis Obispo County in 1973 to attend Cal Poly, she fell in love with both her husband, Steve, and the farming and ranching values that had been a part of the Arnold family way of life for more than 5 generations. While raising two children, she owned and operated a small business in Atascadero for more than 17 years. She then had the privilege of advocating for local families as a Legislative Aide at the County Supervisor’s office and as a San Luis Obispo District Representative for the State Senate. During these years, she worked with a broad range of community groups and interests, bringing people together to solve problems. Debbie Arnold now serves as the 5th District Supervisor for San Luis Obispo County.
