For those who are interested in knowing what is going on with the High Speed Rail and Caltrain upgrades, the Community Coalition is a group of area residents that have been following and working to ensure that the high speed rail is done in ways that do not disrupt our communities. You can sign up to get their periodic updates and news by going to their website at "www.cc-hsr.org" and clicking the "Email Alerts" button.
Begin forwarded message:
Hey, thanks, Valerie, for keeping everyone engaged!
ReplyDeleteI've been wondering why everything regarding HSR suddenly went from loud, and daily info to only a dull roar. I can't imagine this ever reaching our area , given the current, outrageous, budget. However, if it does, HSR had better be aware that
they are up for a fight if they still attempt to plow thru our collective neighborhoods.
Do you happen to know if we still have attorneys working on our behalf? Funds must be getting low, if so. Perhaps we should get additional awareness going to keep the lawyers working? Would appreciate your view on the current situation regarding legal counsel.
Take care!
Christine David
From: Valerie Gardner
ReplyDeleteSent: Tuesday, January 29, 2013 10:22 AM
To: christine david
Cc: Alain Enthoven; Kevyn Allard; jerry carlson
Subject: Fwd: [Athertonians] Community Coalition on High Speed Rail
Christine,
I do not actually know much about the current status of the HSR litigation other than what I read in the below update but I am copying a few others who do know more and maybe one of them will fill you in.
—Valerie
From: jjanz@sideman.com
ReplyDeleteSubject:Community Coalition on High Speed Rail
Date: January 29, 2013 2:28:47 PM PST
To: cedavid26@yahoo.com
Cc: valerie@tiemann.net, raljer@ix.netcom.com, charles_voltz@yahoo.com, gapatton@wittwerparkin.com, jjanz@sideman.com, hansenjulie@yahoo.com, katham3@gmail.com, kevyn@cc-hsr.org, mbrady@ropers.com, mike@mikecobbcreative.com, patboett@gmail.com, rrrp67@yahoo.com
Christine,
Valerie’s email with your inquiry, wondering "why everything regarding HSR suddenly went from loud, and daily info to only a dull roar?" was passed on to me.
I am president of the Community Coalition on High-Speed Rail (CC-HSR), and we are alive and well and still fighting along with many other people to keep HSR from destroying the Peninsula, California’s farmlands, and the State budget.
Gary Patton is an environmental attorney who serves as the Executive Director of CC-HSR. Here’s his description of the situation:
1. The California High-Speed Rail Authority remains totally committed to the project they propose, which includes high-speed trains, an expanded Caltrain right of way, and aerial structures on the Peninsula.
2. The Legislature has "signed off" on this plan, by one vote, and of course the Governor supports it.
3. The reason that the "loud ... daily info" has become a more attenuated "dull roar" is that there is now no longer much action in the Legislature, a venue where the direct participation of ordinary citizens can make a difference. The Legislature has voted, and citizen advocacy in the legislature will now have pretty much zero impact.
4. In view of that Legislative vote last summer, we can now say, with confidence, that the plan will proceed, unless the courts say "no."
In view of this, the opposition, including CC-HSR, has moved into the courts. Essentially, three major lawsuits are active (with another opposition lawsuit on the horizon): First, a lawsuit challenging the "program" EIR for the Bay Area to Central Valley connection is underway. CC-HSR and the cities of Palo Alto, Menlo Park, and Atherton are parties to that litigation, which actually involves two separate lawsuits, with the same subject matter; Second, a lawsuit is pending which challenges the Authority's plan on the basis of its incompatibility with Proposition 1A. CC-HSR is directly working to support that litigation, and Mike Brady, a member of the CC-HSR Board of Directors is handling the litigation for the plaintiffs, all of whom reside in Kings County. (Mike has indicated he’d be happy to discuss this suit with you. He can be reached at 650-780-1724. Mike is handling that suit pro bono, and CC-HSR is trying to help raise money for the ancillary costs of that suit.) Third, there is a lawsuit challenging the "project level" EIR for the Merced to Fresno segment of the proposed project. Finally, it is likely that there will also be litigation over the EIR for the Fresno to Bakersfield section.
5. It is VITAL that we win one or more of the currently-pending lawsuits. Financial support for CC-HSR is definitely needed.
6. Make no mistake, while there are short term problems in bringing this project to the Peninsula, the state will never stop trying to bring their plan to the Peninsula (and that does, currently, include an expanded right of way and aerial structures).
7. If Peninsula residents don't stop the project now, it will be immensely more difficult to stop it later.
In short, if CC-HSR had its way, everyone on the Peninsula would be hearing a "MIGHTY ROAR," not a "dull roar." The stakes are very high, and winning the current litigation is top priority. The next most important step will be to make sure that the Caltrain electrification project is not used as a way to gain "pre-approval" for the widened right of way and aerial structures that the Authority wants to build. That is a real danger.
Your support for CC-HSR is deeply appreciated. Please get the word out!
Jim Janz