Put CA High Speed Rail to Death Paul Losch's Community Blog, posted by Paul Losch, a resident of Palo Alto, on Aug 13, 2010 at 3:55 pm Paul Losch is a member (registered user) of Palo Alto Online
I think it is too late, unfornately, for a ballot measure to be part of this November's election, but we need ASAP need to put this High Speed Rail in California to sleep.
I don't like the death penalty when it comes to people, for a variety of reasons.
I do like the death penalty when it comes to bad animals and equally bad ideas.
We need to get a fork into CHSRA as soon as we can. I am not sure that there is a State-wide organization that is set up to deal with the detailed advocacies of the CHRSA, such as bogus market research and preliminary above grade design concepts. Even if there is, we need to kill the beast, not the specifics.
I know that leadership in Menlo Park, Atherton, with some back-up from Palo Alto are challenging this thing legally and also trying to work with CHSRA leadership.
It is a waste of time.
Take a Sand Hill Road view of this thing: exciting concept, partial funding from elsewhere (USG), has not provided substantial returns where it has been attmempted previously (Europe,) not clear it will create new markets or replace existing ones, especially road and air travel.
What I think is needed is an organized effort at the State level to get this effort ended before it takes on more money and blather.
Posted by John, a resident of the College Terrace neighborhood, on Aug 13, 2010 at 4:37 pm
"What I think is needed is an organized effort at the State level to get this effort ended "
Be specific, Paul. Are you saying that voting for Meg Whitman is the way to go. Or shall we nominate someone like Mike Cobb to lead a grassroots campaign? Another state proposition to rescind?
The quickest way I can think of is with Whitman, even though I am not such a big fan of her, because she talks out of both sides of her mouth. But she may be the best bet.
Posted by Walter_E_Wallis, a resident of the Midtown neighborhood, on Aug 14, 2010 at 4:47 am Walter_E_Wallis is a member (registered user) of Palo Alto Online
We all know where we in Palo Alto thinks the sun rises, but the rest of California may not share that view. HSR is the law! You no like, you can either mount a campaign to get the electorate to reverse itself or, more to your liking, find some compliant judge to yet again flip the people the bird.
Ventura resident, The compensation for the taking will be, as mandated by the Constitution, adequate.
Posted by senior blogger, a resident of the Palo Verde neighborhood, on Aug 18, 2010 at 10:20 am
Paul,
Where have you been for the last eleven years. That's how long (at least) that the HSR has been having board meetings and studying the Program. You (and the paper's) kind of thinking is the same as San Mateo's was when they nixed a sales tax to extend BART to the peninsula many years ago, thus depriving the rest of the peninsula of reliable, green, inexpensive and forward thinking transportation alternatives to the gas eating modes.
Posted by The Real Sharon, a resident of the Midtown neighborhood, on Aug 18, 2010 at 10:40 am
"more to your liking, find some compliant judge to yet again flip the people the bird."
Walter is still bitter over the Prop 8 ruling--despite the fact that ballot measures have been overturned in the past on issues on constitutionality. I do not think the HSR vote is a constitutional issue, since it involved a tax matter. [Portion removed by Palo Alto Online staff.]
Posted by Walter_E_Wallis, a resident of the Midtown neighborhood, on Aug 19, 2010 at 11:05 am Walter_E_Wallis is a member (registered user) of Palo Alto Online
I am not a bitter person. I have faith in representative government in the long run and understanding of its weakness in the short run. The Mickey Mouse judiciary that denies standing in appeals as when 187 was dismembered when the Governor defended it to death and as is in the works for 8 must forgive my lack of reverence for their disdain for those who finally empower them. [Forgive that long sentence but the timer on response gives little time for elegant composition.]
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I think it is too late, unfornately, for a ballot measure to be part of this November's election, but we need ASAP need to put this High Speed Rail in California to sleep.
