Last year San Luis Obispo was named the 'Happiest City in America' by National Geographic and Oprah Winfrey. This year San Luis Obispo needs your help to be named the 'friendliest' town in America.   

For the second year in a row, Rand McNally and USA Today have teamed up to find the best towns in the US as part of their 'Best of the Road' competition. Through online voting that took place between April and May of this year, people were encouraged to vote for their favorite towns across America. Categories include most beautiful, best food, friendliest, most patriotic, and most fun.

SLO qualified for one of the six top spots for friendly towns through the online voting portion of the competition. As a top online vote getter, SLO will now play host to the judges for three days.

Five teams of two have been selected as judges and have set out from the East Coast, each with a mission to check out the qualifying towns. Team 'Rogue Riders' has been selected to visit all six 'friendly' spots.

Jennifer and Bob, the 'Rogue Riders' will be visiting SLO July 6-9th. Lots of behind the scenes planning is underway for their visit and how best to show off SLO's 'friendliness'.

How to help?

First off, definitely being on your 'friendliest' behavior the weekend they visit. Not that anyone needs to be reminded. But just remembering to smile at each other will go a long way.

Next, participate in the events the judges will be at.

-        Friday night Concerts in the Plaza

-        Art After Dark

-        Saturday morning's Farmers Market

-        Saturday's Blues baseball game

Look forward to seeing everyone and hoping that you will help encourage others what is already known - how very special San Luis Obispo really is and that the people make the place.  Information provided by the SLO Chamber of Commerce.

  The SLO Downtown Association has a limited quantity of tickets for the July 7th game which begins at  6:00 pm. Come cheer on the first place BLUES baseball team and watch our own DOWNTOWN BROWN toss out the first pitch.  All games are played at Sinshiemer Stadium.  

If you are interested in attending the baseball game, stop by the Downtown Association office at 1108  Garden St, Suite 210 between 9:00 and 5:00 pm or call Joey Chavez at 541-0286 for more information.  Hope to see at the ballgame! 

In an effort to reduce the problems associated with transient activity and graffiti, the Downtown Association is asking members and the public to notify police when aggressive, threatening or dangerous acts or behaviors are observed-and to stick around to file a complaint-and to call the Graffiti Hot Line whenever graffiti is seen. By doing so, you are calling attention to the issue and providing documentation that will ultimately justify the need for more police presence and protection.

Graffiti is a particularly frustrating problem because typically the act itself is not witnessed, though the "artists" themselves appear to be getting bolder. Shown here, visitors to the restrooms inside Jamba Juice evidently answered not only nature's call but the call to damage and destroy property. Owner Jeff Olds says the problem "is on the rise for me and probably other merchants as well."

The numbers to call (and keep handy) are:

SLOPD Emergency .......... 911

Dispatch................ 781-7312

Graffiti................... 783-7867

Downtown Private Security ....... 458-5153

Working together and remaining diligent, we can make a difference!

The San Luis Obispo Downtown Association is continually searching for opportunities to benefit our Downtown.  We are asking all or our members to take this brief survey so that we can better assist your needs and help us develop topics for discussion at our "State of Downtown" breakfast on Wednesday, August 15th.   

Click on the the icon and you will be forwarded to the link to complete our survey.  All responses must be completed by 5:00 pm on Tuesday, July 3, 2012.  If you have any questions or concerns please call the Downtown Association at 541-0286 or email at sloda@downtownslo.com.