Lt. Gov. Gavin Newsom: Stop Calif. bullet train, redirect money

[antiquie]

SACRAMENTO, Calif. -- Lt. Gov. Gavin Newsom, once a strong supporter of California's high-speed rail project, told a conservative radio show host Friday that he no longer backs the bullet train and would like to see the money diverted to other projects.

"We don't have the federal dollars that we were hoping for - only about $3 billion has come forward. The private sector hasn't stepped up," he said. "That said, the governor is hell bent on doing the first phase of this in that area you just referenced, the central part of the state."

A Sacramento County Superior Court judge last year threw out the state's funding plan, ordering it to write a new one, and prevented the sale of high-speed rail bonds.

Late Friday, the 3rd District Court of Appeal agreed to hear an expedited appeal from Brown's administration, which said the decisions could cause serious delays and set a bad precedent for other public works projects in the state.

[Agnosticsherbet]

1. I fundamentally disagree with Lt. Gov. Newsom.

We need to develop these other means of transportation. This type of infrastructure is critical to our future.

[antiquie]

2. We do need a fast, state-wide rail system

but I think the current plan needs a lot of tweaking.

[Tikki]

5. I agree with you…it is going to happen and now is the best time…it will create jobs and..

the land needed can still be purchased and developed at a lower cost now.

Those who are against it seem to think the transportation monies will go elsewhere…not
necessarily so.

Plus what you said about needing this type of transportation.
Tikki

[Bennyboy]

3. He wrong....

I know that he is trying to placate the moderates here, but he is wrong.

[Merlot]

7. Agreed. Newsom is wrong on this one.

[SunSeeker]

12. +1

[roody]

4. We need some serious water catchment

projects in NoCal. Every building should have a system.

[Merlot]

6. Newsom just lost my vote! Very short sighted to stop bullet train

We've been waiting for this train for way to long. The only thing that would be better is to change the route to go straight up the 5, which would make the train less expensive and quicker to build. But to many smaller towns will complain if that happens, so we do a long, convoluted route with stops (so much for the "bullet&quot but that's still better than not having a train connecting the two largest cities on the west coast.

Have any of these people making these decisions ever been to Japan? Europe? Our infrastructure is laughable…if it weren't so sad.

[elzenmahn]

8. Note that he goes on a conservative radio show to make this statement...

...I wonder what would have happened if he were to get on a left-leaning show like Stephanie Miller and make this same statement.

"Other projects" - what other projects?

I'm wondering as to whose favor he's trying to curry? When I put on my tin-foil hat, I think about the potential revenue losses that the airlines would experience should the high speed rail line get built. SF/SJ/OAK/SAC to the LA area is a big revenue generator for them, and 2 hours from those areas by train, when you factor in the delays brought by the TSA/Security regimes in the airports, is a pretty good deal - and more scenic, too.

If high speed rail gets built in California, I'll be one of the first people in line to take it.

And Gavin Newsom can kiss my a**.

[pothos]

9. he's a sleaze...

changes his position by seeing which way the wind is blowing...

[Auggie]

11. I agree he's a sleaze, but I also agree with him on this

I didn't vote for the bullet train citing greater need for improved regional transporation projects: in the North that would include BART upgrade and expansion, additional funding for San Francisco MUNI, East Bay AC Transit, Ferry service, Capital Corrider, etc.

[Le Taz Hot]

10. And I'm guessing he would be all for it had it been

planned in the non-"cesspool" part of the state. It would have been good for about 25,000 jobs in an area of the state that DESPERATELY needs it. Considering our water is about to be cut off and there will be areas that will, again, be suffering 50%+ unemployment, it would have been really nice to have those jobs here.

[Iwillnevergiveup]

13. The appeal of trains

is that you're dropped right in town - no airport traffic to contend with, no 3-across seating, no shoe removal, and door to door, about the same time between L.A. and Frisco.

If not now, when???