It's the biggest public works project in California history. KTTV Vice President and General Manager Kevin Hale looks at how the success or failure of High Speed Rail… could be Governor Brown's legacy, in this POV.
I'd like to hear your Point of View. Send me an email at POV@fox11.com
Four governors had the good sense and foresight to return federal stimulus money for rail transportation projects. Each decided the projects were too costly and would put too much of a burden on taxpayers. And some looked at the route plans and determined they were essentially useless. Governor Brown on the other hand looked at the federal high speed money like a blank check, showing complete fiscal irresponsibility and no concern for the state's taxpayers.
So why didn't he view high-speed rail with the same clarity that these other governors did? If Ohio, Florida, Wisconsin and New Jersey could determine the federal money being offered was simply a dribble in the overall costs of each project and then reject that money, why then is California about to embark on a train to nowhere with the potential financial disaster, the other states foresaw? Some say Governor Brown has been foolhardy, blindsided by his own arrogance to think he can make miracles happen.
It's hard to make sense of this project.
Those other governors didn't want to burden their taxpayers, by putting them on the hook for billions of dollars. Why does Governor Brown insist on doing just that to California taxpayers. Some say he wants to build high-speed rail as a legacy to his term in office. But this isn't like the legacy his father left behind, which was the California Aqueduct, a project that actually had a huge benefit to the state. High-speed rail, on the other hand, is a boondoggle that's going to stick California taxpayers with a huge bill and no benefit under this current plan. Governor Brown, pull the plug on this project.
What do you think? We want to hear from you on this P.O.V. segment. Share your thoughts in the comments section below or email me directly at POV@fox11.com.
Kevin Hale, Vice President and General Manager KTTV-TV, FOX 11 News
The views expressed are not necessarily those of the station or its employees.
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Kevin Hale, VP/General Manager - KTTV-TV
