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High Cost Rail – Part 27 Taking off the Gloves

This week's announcement by the High Cost Rail poobahs that the Peninsula can go  !#%*& itself–"we're putting in 4 tracks of aerial pollution whether you like it or not"–caused John Horgan to suggest we "take off the gloves":

Caltrain's public governing group, the Peninsula Corridor Joint Powers Board, is little more than a rubber stamp for whatever the High-Speed Rail Authority wants, no matter how disruptive and damaging it might be. That's because Caltrain needs the High-Speed Rail Authority to help electrify and upgrade the local commute-rail system.

Any thoughts of making tough demands on the rail authority for the good of San Mateo County communities are quickly shoved aside as visions of previously unavailable funds become possibilities.

In any event, it's time to forget about the Mr. Good Guy routine. It doesn't work. Last week's events proved that beyond a shadow of a doubt. Take off the gloves.

Let's use this thread to brainstorm on how to do that.  I'll start.  Anyone know where Quentin "Screwball" Kopp's office is located these days?  I feel like a picket line is in order.  My sign would read "We'll be paying for this long after you're dead!"

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11 responses to “High Cost Rail – Part 27 Taking off the Gloves”

  1. pat giorni

    According to the return address on the letter he sent me, Judge Kopp resides at 68 Country Club Drive, San Francisco, 94132. I believe a meeting was held about 10 days ago in his office, and I know that some of the CARRD folks, and a member of CBB ware there…perhaps they can give you that address.

  2. Mom

    That’s a nice neighborhood right next to Merced. I’d love to spend a morning picketing there! When do we start?

  3. jennifer

    It’s nice and quiet until the start shooting at the firing range. Maybe he’s completely lost his hearing. That would at least explain a thing or two.

  4. jennifer

    Kudos to the SM Daily Journal’s Bill and Jon, for two days of thoughtful journalism highlighting HSR on the Peninsula:
    Today:
    http://www.smdailyjournal.com/article_preview.php?id=138382
    Yesterday:
    http://www.smdailyjournal.com/article_preview.php?type=opinions&title=With%20high-speed%20rail,%20we%20must%20help%20ourselves&id=138252&eddate=08/11/2010

  5. chianglo

    i love the gun club!!!!

  6. JF

    Will Jackie Speier be taking any questions when she comes to Bgame to celebrate Social Security’s 75th Anniv? The irony of celebrating a gov’t run program like SS which uses borrowed money to pay its recipients, and Jackie’s support for a gov’t run railroad which also will have ot borrow money to stay afloat.

  7. Disgusted with Government

    I hope she gets a lot of questions. . . But questioning isn’t enough. . .you also have to vote (and vote for someone who opposes her). Otherwise, the politicians simply want to “hear your pain” (and tolerate your grumbling) and then they smile and say “thank you for sharing your concerns” and then they go back and do what they want.
    We have to have the politicians realize that they are going to lose votes over this — if you aren’t willing to do that, then you can expect more of the same.

  8. jennifer

    (Doty Damage Control)
    Column on Rail Came to False Conclusion
    SM County Times, Aug. 13, 2010
    “It’s unfortunate that John Horgan (“No more Mr. Good Guy: Let’s fight rail authority,” Page B1, Aug. 10) didn’t contact the California High-Speed Rail Authority before leaping to the false conclusion that its recent application for additional federal funding specifies how the project will be built.
    Nothing could be further from the truth. The application required the authority to include a “typical alignment,” but it has no bearing whatsoever on the actual design options selected for the project. To suggest otherwise is simply wrong.
    California has a rigorous environmental review process that guides the design of major projects. We’re working hard to encourage communities to participate in that process — and more than 1,500 Peninsula residents have done so. Discouraging that feedback does your readers a disservice.
    Californians, including Peninsula residents, continue to support high-speed rail — for the jobs it will create, the reduction in air pollution it will bring, and the fast, affordable and convenient way to travel it will provide.”
    Robert Doty
    Director, Peninsula Rail Program

  9. jennifer

    AUTHORITY CLARIFICATION ON FEDERAL FUNDING APPLICATION FOR HIGH-SPEED RAIL
    “On August 6, 2010, The California High Speed Rail Authority submitted an application for additional federal funding. This application, which included a request for $1 billion in additional funds for the San Francisco-San Jose section, was a request for funds only and did not specify the design of the high-speed train project.
    The application did establish the cost of building a useable section of the high-speed train network between San Francisco and San Jose. A “typical alignment” including aerial configurations was used because such structures are neither the most expensive approach nor the least expensive.
    Please note, the application has no bearing whatsoever on the actual design options selected for the project. The function of the application is to capitalize on an opportunity to win needed federal dollars and bring this transportation project to the Peninsula.
    California’s rigorous environmental review process will determine the ultimate alignment and design options. Consistent with the direction from the Authority Board at their meeting on August 5, 2010, the environmental process has identified three alignment options to carry forward for further study. These alternatives include a combination of at-grade, below grade, and above grade options. Further study and environmental review is proceeding and the findings will be included in the environmental impact report. The draft environmental impact report is scheduled to be presented for public review and comment beginning in December 2010.”
    ___________________

  10. Clifford

    Nice back-pedaling, Doty. So this exact quote from the Federal Stimulus application means nothing?
    “New infrastructure providing four tracks between Brisbane and Redwood junctions is proposed based on the more economical Aerial Structure cross-section as opposed to the Trench solution in some areas such as Burlingame, San Mateo which would be more expensive (see figure 2).”

  11. jennifer

    It looks as if San Mateo is starting to see what’s headed their way with HSR: (SM County Times-Rosenberg Aug 24,2010)
    http://www.mercurynews.com/ci_15885959
    “I think all hell will break loose if anything different” than underground tracks are built, said Anna Kuhre, president of the San Mateo United Homeowners Association, a collaborative of neighborhood groups across the city. “This is our downtown. It’s sacred to the citizens. I think people will take to the streets.”
    (However, Cinemark 12 seems to be strangely unaware…..
    With a 50ft. row, I’d guess they are in at least as bad a shape as Putnam in Burlingame, probably worse.)
    “But the Cinemark 12 movie theater adjacent to the tracks — which some consider to be the cornerstone of downtown — does not appear to be affected by the project, company officials said Tuesday. They are in a “wait-and-see mode” as more details on the project emerge.”

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