San Benito County supervisors reversed course this week on their support of changing the name of Airline Highway to Pinnacles National Park Highway in an effort to spur tourism in the county for the recently upgraded national park.
Supervisors initially had signed a resolution in support of changing the roadway – historically known as Bolsa Road, Airline Highway and Highway 25 in different parts of the county – to reflect the new national park status, a change that would need to come from the state Legislature. The Council of San Benito County Governments, which includes representatives from the county as well as the cities of Hollister and San Juan Bautista, sent a request to state Sen. Anthony Cannella’s office asking the senator to support legislation to change the name of the state highway. Cannella put forward SB 35, which is moving through committee now.
“It’s been a great idea,” said Supervisor Jerry Muenzer at Tuesday’s meeting. “But we got ahead of it a little bit too much and I want to slow the process down.”
He said after the initial resolution, he received a backlash from residents in south county who mistakenly believed the supervisors already had voted on and approved the name change to the highway.
“Out of respect to them, I want to slow down,” he said.
Muenzer suggested that he and Supervisor Margie Barrios speak with constituents and explore other options. Barrios said she had received one call from a resident in north county who was not happy about a potential change.
Supervisor Anthony Botelho said he had gotten complaints from residents in his district as well.
“I appreciate Supervisor Muenzer’s position,” Supervisor Jaime De La Cruz said. “He’s probably right. At least we tried to get more people to San Benito County. I heard a lot who said we don’t need any more tourists. All I can say is at least we tried.”
Supervisor Robert Rivas was the sole supervisor who was against pulling support of the name change.
“I don’t understand and I am frustrated,” he said. “We didn’t get elected to walk on eggshells. Everything we decide makes some people happy and some people angry. This is part of the solution.”
He stressed the increase in tourism is part of the solution to righting the slow economic development in San Benito County.
“We have a national park here and it’s one single way to help attract people, but we can’t get past this first step,” he said. “We are taking 10 steps back.”
Lisa Rheinheimer, the COG executive director, told supervisors they could ask Cannella to pull the legislation at any time if they need more time to talk with local residents. She suggested because the request for the bill came through COG, the request to pull it should also come from COG.
“The state looks for no local opposition,” she said. “It’s my advice to withdraw the legislation. I don’t want to give Senator Cannella a can of worms in Sacramento. I don’t think it would be an issue to get it back on next year.”
At the meeting, two south county residents spoke on the issue. One expressed concerns that residents would have to get new driver’s licenses, update checking account information and business addresses if the name is changed.
“A sign on 101 highway would do the same thing,” said Joe Spencer. “You can publicize it in other ways.”
Kathy Spencer said she was against increasing tourism in the south county region.
“All due respect to the supervisors, but you have no clue what is happening out there,” she said.
She said the area is seeing increased traffic since the national monument was upgraded to a national park this year.
“What we’ve had is increased traffic, litter and trespassers,” she said. “We don’t need more tourism.”
The supervisors supported directing COG to reopen the issue at its next meeting to discuss asking Cannella to pull the legislation. They also agreed to have Barrios and Muenzer meet with residents to hear the pros and cons of a name change while also researching alternative ways to promote tourism at the park, with plans for an update in August.
“We should have taken more time and input,” Botelho said. “I’m not willing to sell out San Benito County residents. I want to find ways we can coexist. Ranchers are equally as important as tourism dollars.”
