Today is a sad day for Madera County Taxpayers. Madera County, along with our friends from the Madera Farm Bureau and Preserve Our Heritage vowed, just a few short months ago, to stand up to the goliath California High Speed Rail Authority and hold them accountable for the destruction they will do to our community and their failure to consider the future of Madera County. Today, three of my colleagues, whom I respect, abandon our friends by walking away from a lawsuit that sought to protect taxpayers, farmers and our children from the devastating effects of High Speed Rail. I want to thank Supervisor David Rogers for joining me in opposing the withdrawal and his willingness to stand up, even in the face of adversity.
The High Speed Rail project has been flawed from the beginning and despite the County abandoning a meritorious lawsuit, I will continue to oppose this project, educate the public on the consequences of moving forward and fight to protect the hard working taxpayers of Madera County and the State of California.
I am deeply concerned that businesses right here in Madera County will be closed, jobs will be lost, agriculture will suffer and our way of life forgotten as a result of High Speed Rail. I refuse to stand by and watch as our future is compromised for the benefit of Southern California and the Bay Area. I cannot, in good conscience, give away the farm on the false hopes that maybe, one day, a maintenance facility might land on our doorstep. The truth is, we will give up more than we will ever gain from High Speed Rail and the maintenance facility that so many are hanging their hats on, is likely going to one of our bigger neighbors to the South, leaving Madera County with nothing.
From a larger perspective, High Speed Rail is a loser for our entire state. The true costs of this project are unknown. Just last week we learned that former High Speed Rail Authority Chairman and long time supporter of high speed rail, Quentin Kopp is suing to stop this train wreck in the making. I agree with Mr. Kopp that the project as it is being proposed now is not what Californians supported when they voted for the bond measure. If this project is going to continue, the voters of California deserve an opportunity to vote on the real project and the real costs.
It is for these reasons that I joined Supervisor Rogers in opposition to withdrawing the lawsuit. It is for these reasons that I refuse to go quietly. It is for these reasons that I will continue to oppose High Speed Rail at every crossing, every turn and every route through Madera County.
