August 2004 - Transpo - list.sfgreens.org

[susan_e_vaughan@juno.com: Re: [Transpo] [susan_e_vaughan@yahoo.com: letter re. bike plan update, can you post this for more feedback?]]
by John-Marc Chandonia 25 Aug '04

25 Aug '04

For anyone who needs their password, the list page can send you your password by email... just follow the directions at the bottom of the page. Thanks for posting the info on the bike plan; I'll look at this again when I have a chance. JMC ----- Forwarded message from "susan_e_vaughan(a)juno.com" <susan_e_vaughan(a)juno.com> ----- From: "susan_e_vaughan(a)juno.com" <susan_e_vaughan(a)juno.com> Date: Wed, 25 Aug 2004 04:12:09 GMT To: jmc(a)sfgreens.org Subject: Re: [Transpo] [susan_e_vaughan(a)yahoo.com: letter re. bike plan update, can you post this for more feedback?] Go to the San Francisco Bicycle Coalition, hit current actions, then hit Bike Plan Update in the column on the left and scroll down to Upper Market. The removal of a right turn lane is discussed under "Design" in the body of the explanation for Upper Market. As it is now, vehicles travel down Duboce or ???_____??? to get to the Central Freeway. I can't remember the second street. The original plan for the Central Freeway rebuild did not include a right turn from Market onto the Central Freeway if I got all the testimony I have heard right (August 9, Land Use Committee). You could check with Matt's office. Also, vehicles will be traveling straight from Octavia across Market onto the Central Freeway. JMC, I know I'm subscribed to the transportation list serve, but I can't access it because I don't seem to have a password. When I typed in a password, the response was that I was already subscribed. Can you help? Thanks Sue On Tue, Aug 24, 2004 at 09:14:11PM +0000, susan_e_vaughan(a)juno.com wrote: > In particular, we support the desire of the bicylce coalition to see the prohibition of right turns onto the Central Freeway from Market Street as there is currently a heavily-used bicycle lane that carries bicycle traffic from the Castro, Noe Valley and other neighborhoods into downtown San Francisco along this route. Can you point to where in the plan this is addressed? I thought I looked through the Market Street part of the plan fairly well, but missed this. I wouldn't support this unless there's no alternative, since I think Upper Market is the major route for cars from west of Twin Peaks: if they couldn't turn right, most would continue to drive downtown until they hit 10th St or 8th St (and then turn right at those corners). A better strategy would be to get them all to turn down Duboce (closing Market Street to cars past this turnoff), or create special signals at the turn (e.g., separate red and green lights for bikes and cars, and no turn on red). JMC -- John-Marc Chandonia (jmc(a)sfgreens.org) http://www.dolorespark.org/ ----- End forwarded message ----- -- John-Marc Chandonia (jmc(a)sfgreens.org) http://www.dolorespark.org/

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Re: [Transpo] [susan_e_vaughan@yahoo.com: letter re. bike plan update, can you post this for more feedback?]
by susan_e_vaughan＠juno.com 24 Aug '04

24 Aug '04

Actually I'm wrong -- the no right turn IS a part of the bike plan update. Here is a more detailed letter (but not much more detailed): Transportation Working Group San Francisco Green Party 1028A Howard Street San Francisco, California 941__ August 24, 2004 The San Francisco Bicycle Coalition 1095 Market Street, #215 San Francisco, California 94103 Sustainability is one of the ten key values of the Green Party. The current reliance of many San Franciscans on personal vehicles for transportation is not sustainable in the long run. For this reason, the Transportation Working Group of the San Francisco Green Party believes bicycles are a key element in transitioning San Francisco residents from to more environmentally friendly means of transportation. The Transportation Working Group of the San Francisco Green Party thus endorses all elements of the Bike Plan Update. In particular, we support the desire of the bicylce coalition to see the prohibition of right turns onto the Central Freeway from Market Street as there is currently a heavily-used bicycle lane that carries bicycle traffic from the Castro, Noe Valley and other neighborhoods into downtown San Francisco along this route. We also encourage the bicycle coalition to work on better routes for bicyclists traveling across the Mission from east to west. While the proposed east-west route along Cesar Chavez and/or 26th Street will serve bicyclists near the edge of the Mission and Bernal Heights, it will not adequately serve bicyclists who use 14th Street to travel east -- but have no pathway nearby for going west. Sue Vaughan John-Marc Chandonia Co-Chairs, the Transportation Working Group of the San Francisco Green Party _______________________________________________ Transpo mailing list Transpo(a)sfgreens.org https://list.sfgreens.org/mailman/listinfo/transpo

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Re: Fwd: Say Goodby to High Speed Rail 1-2
by Norman Rolfe 23 Aug '04

23 Aug '04

Contact any and all Supervisors and tell them to support Daly's Resolution of Necessity, in other words, start eminent domain proceedings on 80 Natoma Street. Also show up at the Building Inspection Commission meeting on Monday, August 30, 9:00 AM in City Hall, Room 400. Urge them to revoke 80 Natoma's permits. Another big problem is the SFCTA staff. They have come out with a report that supposedly shows how to tunnel under 80 Natoma Street, but most people not connected with the SFCTA or its consultants agree it's not feasible. Norm Rolfe On Mon, 23 Aug 2004 10:43:34 -0700 (PDT) susan vaughan <susan_e_vaughan(a)yahoo.com> writes: > Hi Norm, > > All of a sudden, high-speed rail and the Transbay > Terminal are sounding do dleazy. Can you tell me what > I should be supporting? What the Transportation > Working Group of the SF Green Party should be > supporting? > > Thanks, > > Sue Vaughan > > --- RicSilver(a)aol.com wrote: > > > From: RicSilver(a)aol.com > > Date: Mon, 23 Aug 2004 12:08:38 EDT > > Subject: Say Goodby to High Speed Rail 1-2 > > > > To: RicSilver(a)aol.com > > > > > > > > Say Goodby to High Speed Rail > > > > > > > > > > Any Comments? Ideas? > > > > > > Published Sunday, August 22, 2004, in the Oakland > > Tribune > > > > High-speed collision with conflicting interests > > > > Plans to link trains to Transbay Terminal run into > > intransigent > > developer and rail officials who appear to back him > > > > By Sean Holstege > > Staff Writer > > > > Plans for a California bullet train network and > > conveniently linked Bay Area > > transit are joined at the hip in downtown San > > Francisco. > > > > Yet top California High Speed Rail Authority > > officials appear more > > supportive of a downtown developer than either > > public transportation project. > > > > A 51-story condominium development at 80 Natoma > > Street stands in the path of > > proposed bullet train lines into the new Transbay > > Terminal's basement. > > Attempts at diffusing a political collision course > > there have raised questions > > about conflicts of interest and new doubts > > bullet trains will ever reach downtown San > > Francisco. > > > > In May, Mayor Gavin Newsom invited Rail Authority > > Chairman Joseph Petrillo > > to intervene, Petrillo said. But city records show > > that Petrillo's employer, > > international law firm Paul, Hastings, Janofsky & > Walker, had helped 80 Natoma > > developer Jack Myers execute > > financial deals two months earlier. > > > > Myers' firm took title on March 25 for $10, plus > > other undisclosed > > "considerations," and then took out a $124 million > > construction loan, city records > > show. > > > > An attorney in Petrillo's division of the law firm > > told Petrillo that he had > > represented Myers, the rail chairman said in an > > interview. > > > > Myers built the office complex where Petrillo's > > firm is headquartered a > > block away from 80 Natoma. Petrillo convened bullet > > train contractors at that > > office for a fund-raiser, also in May. > > > > San Francisco Supervisor Chris Daly said 80 Natoma > > and the terminal can't > > co-exist, describing the collision course as "a > > pretty significant conflict." > > Last week he voted against a new plan that some in > > San Francisco believe would > > allow both projects to proceed. > > > > At stake is a downtown San Francisco terminal that > > would allow people to > > transfer between major Bay Area transit systems > > under one roof while using one > > fare. From the basement, bullet trains would carry > > people to downtown Los > > Angeles in 2-1/2 hours. > > > > The glittering $1 billion terminal could > > revolutionize the region's > > disjointed transit network. Sponsors envision one > > of the world's great rail stations, > > to rival New York's Grand Central, London's > > Victoria and Paris' Gare du > > Nord. > > > > Several state laws and voter-backed measures pay for > > the terminal and > > require rail platforms in the basement for Caltrain > > and bullet train alike. > > > > The Rail Authority's environmental report projects > > the future Transbay > > Terminal as the busiest station in the entire > > 700-mile network. > > > > Without trains, the Transbay Terminal would -- as > > critics have called it -- > > become the world's most expensive bus stop. > > Independent engineers found no > > option for tracks other than under Myers' property. > > But while Rail Authority > > Executive Director Mehdi Morshed was telling people > > he didn't care if his > > trains ever reach the terminal, Petrillo's actions > > seemed to bolster Myers' > > negotiating position. > > > > The public agency developing the terminal needs > > Myers to suspend work until > > it can tunnel under it. Myers refuses, and the > > agency has begun an eminent > > domain proceeding to buy the property. "Every dollar > > going into that high-rise > > is one-for-one coming out of the public's pocket," > > said San Francisco transit > > advocate Michael Kiesling. "I believe Myers is > > trying to scam public money > > out of this." > > > > Daly put it more politely, calling Myers effective > > at "trying to better his > > negotiating position." > > > > Myers said that's nonsense. "I don't want > > condemnation, and I'm going to > > fight it all the way," he said. He sued to overturn > > the Transbay Terminal's > > environmental study. > > > > In a May 4 meeting Petrillo tried to resolve the > > dispute. "Petrillo was > > acting like Myers' man, barking out stuff. He hasn't > > been a friend of the > > Transbay Terminal," said Jerry Cauthen, an engineer > > on the terminal project. > > > > The Transbay Terminal authority paid two consultants > > to assess whether > > tracks could reach the terminal without tunneling > > under Myers' project. They said > > no. > > > > "Petrillo was involved on the phone. He was trying > > to muzzle the > > consultants," said Tony Bruzzone, AC Transit's > > point-man on the terminal. > > > > The same two consultants are retained by the Rail > > Authority and helped > > prepare its environmental study. Petrillo > > acknowledged they were placed in the > > awkward position of serving two masters. > > > > Petrillo said he was merely trying to cut to the > > chase to see if 80 Natoma > > and the terminal could co-exist. "They were > > debating numbers that didn't > > communicate to me the basics I needed to know: > > whether there were any fatal > > flaws," Petrillo explained. > > > > AC Transit fired off a letter to San Francisco > > officials two weeks later, > > arguing: "Failure to acquire this parcel will cause > > the entire Transbay program > > to collapse." > > > > > > Published Sunday, August 22, 2004, in the Oakland > > Tribune > > > > Truth may have come off the tracks > > > > Rail Authority efforts leave some legislators > > questioning if > > proposed high-speed rail project is 'a fraud' > > > > By Sean Holstege > > Staff Writer > > > > Lawmakers say California High Speed Rail Authority > > work is not just sloppy, > > but misleading. > > > > Sloppiness was evident: a business plan that never > > mentioned an Oakland > > track, a $20 million environmental plan describing > > a future BART station six > > months after it opened. > > > > The route into the Bay Area is one of the biggest > > controversies in the plan > > for the 700-mile system. The Rail Authority dropped > > an Altamont Pass route in > > favor of two South Bay alternatives. > > > > On Feb. 17, Rail Authority Executive Director Mehdi > > Morshed told the state > > Senate Transportation Committee that years ago > > French, German and Japanese > > rail experts had blessed the plan to run tracks > > through San Jose rather than > > over the Altamont Pass. > > > > Morshed couldn't document the claim. > > > > The Train Riders Association of California filed a > > public records request > > for all communications with the French, German and > > Japanese consultants. > > Morshed provided what he described as a full, > > unedited set of documents. > > > > "None of the documents we were provided contained > > any information to support > > Mr. Morshed's statement," TRAC's Oakland lawyer > > Stuart Flashman wrote > > lawmakers. > > > > In a rebuttal letter, Morshed reasserted the > > documents that led to the > > Altamont decision "were peer reviewed by German, > > French and Japanese experts," > > adding the reviews marked "general agreement." > > > > But a month after Morshed's testimony, Rail > > Authority Deputy Director Dan > > Leavitt wrote a Japanese rail expert, asking for "a > > brief analysis" of the > > environmental study's conclusion that an Altamont > > Pass route would be > > "impractical." > > > > On March 16, Leavitt wrote "the task should take no > > more than $10,000." > > > > On April 23, the Japanese expert duly complied with > > a three-page report, > > finding "it is reasonable to eliminate the > > (Altamont) option." On May 10, came > > the bill. "Cost for the review task: $10,000," the > > Japanese expert wrote. > > > > Morshed said the letters stemmed from a U.S. > > Environmental Protection Agency > > request. A Feb. 27 EPA letter copied to Morshed > > noted concern that the > > Altamont route "appears to have been prematurely > > eliminated." Morshed said his > > Senate appearance was all > > a misunderstanding. > > > > "The question was 'Why didn't you study it?' and I > > said we did," Morshed > > said. He said he only intended to imply that foreign > > consultants reviewed the > > whole plan and "did not find fault with our > > assumptions," including the > > Altamont. > > > > "How they construe that to be misleading, I don't > > know," he said. > > > > But lawmakers on the committee had no doubts. "It > > sounds like Mehdi said he > > had a study that predated their decision and it > > informed their decision. Now > > it looks like they are making it up as they go > > along," said Sen. Tom > > McClintock, R-Thousand Oaks, who sat on the > > committee hearing. > > > > "I am not surprised that phantom studies are being > > waved before the > > Legislature," McClintock added. "I think this entire > > project has been a fraud since > > the day it was proposed." > > > > "I don't know how you could interpret it any other > > way," said Brian Perkins, > > transportation adviser to Sen. Jackie Speier, > > D-Hillsborough, who also sat > > on the committee. > > > > More troubling to Perkins, who called Morshed's > > actions "not intellectually > > honest," was a document missing in his public > > records disclosure. > > Correspondence between Leavitt and the Japanese > > expert refers to an e-mail dated Feb. 17 > > -- the same day Morshed testified. > > > > "It's like the missing 17-1/2 minutes," Perkins > > said, referring to the > > erased gap in the Oval Office tapes that helped > > force Richard Nixon from the > > presidency. "They apparently learned from Mr. Nixon > > that you burn the evidence." > > > > French consultants, working under a High Speed Rail > > Authority contract, also > > had offered an opinion to the authority. They noted > > an Altamont route "would > > not be practical," and they peer-reviewed the > > agency's work in 2000 and > > found it "sound and reliable." > > > > The Feb. 11 letter was written by engineers at SNCF, > > parent company to > > Systra Consulting. Systra is one of three firms > > picked for the "Project > > Implementation Team," which stands to make $10 > > million a year if California's rail bond > > passes. > > > > Flashman said Morshed's team "got back what they > > wanted" from a firm with an > > incentive to deliver. > > > > Veteran San Diego lawmaker James Mills, who quit > > the California High Speed > > Rail Authority board, is not surprised. > > > > "One of the reasons I left is I couldn't get the > > truth out of Mehdi Morshed. > > Mehdi is one of those people who has a hidden agenda > > on everything," Mills > > said, "He would only tell the truth when it was > > convenient." > > > > Mills described the entire project as "based on a > > fallacy" of wildly > > exaggerated ridership projections. It stems, he > > said, "from hiring a consulting firm > > (and) letting them know what you want them to say." > > > > Morshed said Mills is "full of (it)," describing him > > as someone who used his > > position on the board to help California's intercity > > Amtrak service and > > undermine the bullet train. > > > > But some Central Valley politicians involved in the > > rail issue side with > > Mills. > > > > "Their story changes depending on their audience," > > Kings County Supervisor > > Alene Taylor said. "They have not been honest with > > the public. It's how they > > do business." > > > > Published Sunday, August 22, 2004, in the Oakland > > Tribune > > > > Bullet Train to Nowhere > > > > Critics say politics and back-room deals cast > > serious doubt on whether a > > proposed $37 billion high-speed rail system will > > ever be built > > > > By Sean Holstege > > Staff Writer > > > > The marbled conference hall buzzed with that potent > > mix of money, power and > > anticipation. > > > > It was May 11, 10:40 a.m. Willie Brown was late to > > his own meeting, well > > under way in the 24th floor boardroom of an > > international law firm's downtown > > San Francisco office. > > > > Around the U-shaped, polished wood table assembled > > heavyweights in the rail > > engineering and construction world, including the > > CEO of Parsons Brinkerhoff, > > one of the country's biggest transportation firms. > > They came to the private > > meeting to throw money and political > > clout behind a proposed $37 billion bullet train > > network. Big deals were > > afoot. > > > > As the dozen or so guests waited, they schmoozed > > for 40 minutes with three > > top officials from the California High Speed Rail > > Authority, the public agency > > planning the 700-mile rail network, ultimately > > stretching from San Diego to > > San Francisco, Oakland and Sacramento. > > > > Without asking for it directly, Rail Authority > > chiefs told industry leaders > > -- including those with authority contracts -- that > > the rail agency needed > > money and political backing to carry on. > > > > Brown took his place at the head of the table. His > > resume as powerful San > > Francisco mayor and Assembly speaker well known to > > everyone in the room, Brown > > now markets his influence in the private sector. He > > looked over the group and > > explained that he and former state lawmakers > > Richard Katz and Terry Goggin > > wanted a fee of $1 million. > > > > In return, they would steer a favorable budget into > > law by lobbying all the > > key state politicians. Then they'd launch a campaign > > to convince California > > voters to pass a $10 billion rail bond. > > > > The author of California's political reforms and > > good-government watchdogs > > said -- absent any overt coercion -- such > > fund-raisers are legal, but raise > > doubts about appearance and propriety. > > > > "How can the public be confident that decisions > > would be based on merit and > > not undue influence?" asked Andy Draheim of Common > > Cause, a government > > watchdog group. > > > > That's exactly how several industry sources took > > it. In describing the > > meeting and events surrounding it, they portrayed a > > below-the-radar state agency > > run amok with a history of back-room dealing, > > conflicts of interest and > > secretive money-gathering. One called the > > meeting a "classic shakedown" -- and not the first. > > > > Industry sources spoke on condition of anonymity > > because their employers > > prohibit media interviews. In the close-knit world > > of transportation > > engineering, sources fear their firms would be > > blackballed or they would earn > > career-ending reputations by talking openly. > > > > They say the Rail Authority's cavalier tactics raise > > serious doubts about > > whether the Golden State can ever build a "bullet > > train" network, which could > > relieve Californians of congested in-state air > > travel. > > > > Three days after the San Francisco gathering, > > Brown, Goggin and Katz wrote a > > follow-up memo to invited donors, detailing the > > first and only meeting of > > Friends of California High Speed Rail. > > > > 'Substantial retainer' > > > > The memo, obtained by ANG Newspapers, confirms a > > picture that emerges from > > interviews with more than half of the participants > > and dozens of > > transportation sources familiar with high-speed > > rail. > > > > "Over the next 60 days we propose to concentrate > > our considerable political > > resources and campaign experience," the memo states. > > "This will require a > > substantial initial consultant retainer for our fees > > and expenses of $400,000." > > > > Another $600,000 was needed to start the bond > > campaign, the memo said. > > Overall, Brown would get half of the $1 million, > > while Katz and Goggin would split > > the rest. > > > > Public agencies, including BART and AC Transit, > > often ask consultants and > > vendors for big political checks, officials at each > > agency, and others, say. > > > > "If you say, 'Give me a campaign contribution and > > I'll give you contracts,' > > that's a bribe. If you say, 'You won't get a > > contract unless the bond > > passes,' that's OK. That's just normal politics -- > > getting contributions from those > > that benefit," said Robert Stern, a UCLA professor > > who helped write > > California's Political Reform Act. > > > > He found no transgressions in the Brown letter. > > > > Top Rail Authority officials say concerns about > > influence-peddling are > > misplaced, because the appointed governing board > > will be almost entirely replaced > > before it votes on contracts. > > > > "Any competitive bid at the High Speed Rail > > Authority will be based on > > merit, as it always has been," authority board > > member Rod Diridon said. > > > > "The people who benefit from high-speed rail should > > organize themselves, > > because otherwise it may very well remain > > unaccomplished," Rail Authority > > Chairman Joseph Petrillo said. > > > > Petrillo, Diridon and Rail Authority Executive > > Director Mehdi Morshed "were > > very careful not to cross a line that might exist," > > said one industry player > > who attended the May 11 meeting. > > > > Questions of influence > > > > But Common Cause's Draheim said the public should > > naturally ask "if future > > decisions on public policy will be unduly > > influenced by the position these > > officials put themselves in." > > > > Morshed and Diridon said they felt no such qualms, > > because, they said, it > > was Willie Brown's meeting. > > > > Petrillo, whose law firm hosted it, apparently was > > less comfortable. Not > > long before Brown arrived Petrillo told the group > > "I shouldn't be here," and he > > recused himself. Diridon and Morshed remained. > > > > No contributions were reportedly made, and a > > follow-up telephone conference > > call was canceled. No public records for the > > political group are on file with > > the Secretary of State's office, and Brown, Goggin > > and Katz are not > > registered lobbyists. > > > > Brown and Goggin did not return calls to their law > > firms made over several > > weeks. > > > > Sources familiar with their request for money > > called it premature amid > > persistent doubts that California's dream of a > > European-style rail system will > > bear fruit. > > > > Funding for the Rail Authority was -- and remains > > -- uncertain. A lengthy > > environmental study is under review and significant > > challenges are expected. > > > > The Legislature passed a bill, which Gov. Arnold > > Schwarzenegger signed, > > delaying a November bond vote by two years. Later > > he trimmed the rail agency's > > budget and his reform advisers recommended > > scrapping the Rail Authority > > entirely. > > > > Its plans assume America's first bullet train will > > carry 68 million > > passengers a year, enough to cover costs and debt, > > with spare money to finance an > > expansion beyond the first San Francisco-to-Los > > Angeles track. > > > > No bullet train system in the world, nor any large > > U.S. transit system, is > > self-sufficient, let alone profitable. > > > > But believers say tactics, not merits, threaten to > > kill bullet train > > prospects in California. > > > > "They are going to screw high-speed rail all up if > > they keep playing around > > like this. It's already radioactive," one industry > > leader said. Union Pacific > > lobbyist Wayne Horiuchi skipped the Willie Brown > > fund-raiser and others by > > rail commissioner Rod Diridon. > > > > One, at Diridon's South Bay home, raised re-election > > campaign money for Gov. > > Gray Davis one day after Davis signed the $10 > > billion rail bond bill. > > > > Davis challenger Bill Simon showed up with the > > media, raising allegations of > > payback. > > > > Diridon said the fund-raiser had been planned weeks > > beforehand and the > > timing was "an unfortunate coincidence." > > > > 'Pay-to-play' > > > > "Rod Diridon called me personally and wanted me to > > contribute to Gray > > Davis," said Horiuchi, who declined the offer > > because "we didn't want to get into > > the political sensitivity of pay-to-play." > > > > Said another rail industry source: "Rod Diridon is a > > one-trick-pony. All he > > knows is shaking people down." > > > > "I can't control that (perception),"said Diridon, > > adding the Rail Authority > > is "gun-shy of pay-to-play accusations." > > > > But several rail sources said they felt compelled > > to donate to scholarship > > dinners at the Mineta Transportation Institute, > > which pays Diridon $138,834 > > annually to be executive director. Engineers, > > consultants and rail firms fear > > losing favor at the High Speed Rail > > Authority if they don't support the foundation at > > the government- funded San > > Jose State University think tank, some said. > > > > "No one has ever discussed it with me, and if they > > were honorable and > > seriously concerned, they should. I'm not going to > > turn down scholarships because I > > recently became a member of the High Speed Rail > > Authority, " Diridon said. > > "Unnamed sources don't have much > > credibility with me." > > > > Diridon said he's been at the Mineta Institute > > since 1992 and has invited > > the same donors to the scholarship dinner for > > years. Davis appointed him to the > > High Speed Rail Authority in 2001. > > > > Diridon said two firms with Rail Authority contracts > > -- French rail company > > Systra and political consultants Townsend Raimundo > > Besler & Usher -- never > > gave money to the Mineta Institute. Other firms have > > donated and never received > > Rail Authority contracts, he said. > > > > But the institute's brochures list Bechtel Corp. > > and Parsons Brinkerhoff > > Quade & Douglas as big donors in 2002 and 2003. > > > > Both firms are part of the Rail Authority's Project > > Implementation Team, > > which is paid $10 million a year to steer the > > project from plans to > > construction. Tax law exempts the foundation from > > disclosing contributors, but an > > institute brochure listing sponsors reads like a > > who's who of high-speed rail > > wannabes. It includes at least seven attendees of > > Willie Brown's May 11 meeting and > > at least two no-shows. > > > > One no-show was LTK Engineering Services, which is > > represented in Northern > > California by former Sacramento transit director > > Tom Matoff. He said Willie > > Brown's $1 million request -- $100,000 per donor -- > > was out of his league, but > > he buys $2,000 tickets every > > year to the Mineta Institute fund-raiser. > > > > Although he said he's never felt pressured, he > > added, "We want to be viewed, > > like everybody else, as a friend of the project." > > > > He said there's no clear connection between > > contributions and work, but his > > firm doesn't leave it to chance. > > > > "It's the way it's done, and everybody does it," > > Matoff said. > > > > Critics of the High Speed Rail Authority's work have > > long suspected Diridon > > had an overlapping role between the Mineta Institute > > and the rail board. Last > > year the institute sponsored a discussion of the > > bullet train proposal at > > the Commonwealth Club of California. > > Diridon was the featured speaker. > > > > Diridon also introduced himself at the Willie Brown > > fund-raisers > > representing the Mineta Institute. > > > > "Over the past two years the lines of distinction > > between the authority and > > institute have been blurred," wrote Ken Gosting, > > executive director of > > Transportation Involves Everyone, in a letter > > to Diridon. > > > > Similar questions of overlapping interest and > > hidden political influence > > also hover over a community campaign that's sprouted > > in Merced. > > > > Lee Boese Jr., an orthodontist, chairs the Merced > > group, whose literature > > advocates high-speed rail somewhere in Merced > > County. The area is a key > > battleground because that's where the route would > > split into the Bay Area -- one of > > the plan's hottest controversies. > > > > Boese says bullet trains will boost the Central > > Valley's tepid economy and > > help clean its smog-heavy air. > > > > The Merced County High-Speed Rail Committee, has 24 > > active members from all > > walks of life, Boese said. A spring fundraiser > > raised $25,000, and all > > donations were tax-deductible, Boese and group > > literature said. > > > > Questionable filing > > > > But the group's filing with the Secretary of > > State's office describe it as a > > 501(c)4 nonprofit, a charitable civic organization. > > > > Tax laws allow such groups to conduct "unlimited" > > political lobbying without > > disclosing contributors, according to IRS > > advisories. > > > > The IRS also says that contributions to civic > > charities are not > > tax-deductible. > > > > The money, Boese said, pays for the help of > > Sacramento political consultant > > Elaine Trevino, who lobbies local governments and > > organizations. > > > > Trevino is not a registered lobbyist. Neither she > > nor Boese explained the > > discrepancy in the organization's filing and its > > pitch for tax-free > > contributions. Nor did they explain why the group > > didn't organize as a simple political organization. > > > > Boese and Trevino attended the Willie Brown > > meeting, representing themselves > > as Merced real estate interests. Several members of > > the group have business > > interests in the Los Banos area, one of the > > preferred sites for a station. > > > > "I thought it was totally inappropriate for real > > estate people to be > > involved at this stage, when they are deciding the > > route," one witness said. > > > > Gosting, who wants to see bullet trains zooming > > down California tracks > > someday, said that vision is destroyed if the Rail > > Authority and its allies such > > as the Merced group continue down the current > > track. > > > > "You end up with something that benefits land > > speculators and promotes > > sprawl, that decreases ag land instead of protects > > it," he said. "We end up with a > > debacle. We spend billions and billions of dollars > > for something that won't > > work." > > > > ETHICS TROUBLES > > > > Participants at the May 11 bullet train fund-raiser > > are no strangers to > > ethics probes. > > > > * Willie Brown had been investigated by the FBI in > > a 1980s undercover sting > > while he was Assembly speaker. His name surfaced at > > the FBI again when he was > > mayor, after questions of favoritism arose in > > airport construction > > contracts. Brown always denied any wrongdoing and > > has never been indicted or censured, > > either as a lawyer or a politician. > > > > * Terry Goggin fared worse. The Fair Political > > Practices Commission fined > > the then-assemblyman $13,500 in 1984 after he > > carried a bill to require > > telephones for the deaf. Only one firm could provide > > the devices, a firm owned by a > > close friend of Goggin, according to > > published press reports. > > > > * Richard Katz, who had a reputation as an effective > > state lawmaker, was > > fined $4,000 in 1997 after failing to disclose > > campaign expenses in a Los > > Angeles mayoral race. Questions surfaced again > > during the state energy crisis when > > he advised Gov. Gray Davis, while taking > > consulting fees from firms lobbying the governor. > > > > * Michael Bernick was one of the potential donors > > present and is now with > > HNTB, an engineering design firm. When he was an > > elected BART board member, an > > FBI wiretap caught him soliciting contributions > > from a firm after ensuring > > that the firm would get a BART contract. "We've got > > to keep it real clean," > > Bernick was taped saying in 1992. > > "You know, so there is nothing linking the two of > > us." > > > > Later Bernick told the media, "I'd do it again." He > > was taped as part of a > > bribery investigation that forced the resignation > > of BART board member > > Margaret Pryor. Current board member Dan Richard > > served at the time and said > > Bernick, who was never indicted, simply made a > > judgment error. > > > > This information is being provided to you as a > > service by the Rail Passenger > > Association of California (RailPAC), California's > > largest and oldest rail > > advocacy membership organization. > > > > If you would like information about RailPAC, simple > > send us your postal > > mailing address by return e-mail. > > > > Richard L. Silver, Executive Director > > Rail Passenger Association of California > > www.RailPAC.org > > 888-508-2640 > > > > > > > > > > > > > _______________________________ > Do you Yahoo!? > Win 1 of 4,000 free domain names from Yahoo! Enter now. > http://promotions.yahoo.com/goldrush > >

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Fwd: Say Goodby to High Speed Rail 1-2
by susan vaughan 23 Aug '04

23 Aug '04

Hi Norm, All of a sudden, high-speed rail and the Transbay Terminal are sounding do dleazy. Can you tell me what I should be supporting? What the Transportation Working Group of the SF Green Party should be supporting? Thanks, Sue Vaughan --- RicSilver(a)aol.com wrote: > From: RicSilver(a)aol.com > Date: Mon, 23 Aug 2004 12:08:38 EDT > Subject: Say Goodby to High Speed Rail 1-2 > > To: RicSilver(a)aol.com > > > > Say Goodby to High Speed Rail > > > > > Any Comments? Ideas? > > > Published Sunday, August 22, 2004, in the Oakland > Tribune > > High-speed collision with conflicting interests > > Plans to link trains to Transbay Terminal run into > intransigent > developer and rail officials who appear to back him > > By Sean Holstege > Staff Writer > > Plans for a California bullet train network and > conveniently linked Bay Area > transit are joined at the hip in downtown San > Francisco. > > Yet top California High Speed Rail Authority > officials appear more > supportive of a downtown developer than either > public transportation project. > > A 51-story condominium development at 80 Natoma > Street stands in the path of > proposed bullet train lines into the new Transbay > Terminal's basement. > Attempts at diffusing a political collision course > there have raised questions > about conflicts of interest and new doubts > bullet trains will ever reach downtown San > Francisco. > > In May, Mayor Gavin Newsom invited Rail Authority > Chairman Joseph Petrillo > to intervene, Petrillo said. But city records show > that Petrillo's employer, > international law firm Paul, Hastings, Janofsky & > Walker, had helped 80 Natoma > developer Jack Myers execute > financial deals two months earlier. > > Myers' firm took title on March 25 for $10, plus > other undisclosed > "considerations," and then took out a $124 million > construction loan, city records > show. > > An attorney in Petrillo's division of the law firm > told Petrillo that he had > represented Myers, the rail chairman said in an > interview. > > Myers built the office complex where Petrillo's > firm is headquartered a > block away from 80 Natoma. Petrillo convened bullet > train contractors at that > office for a fund-raiser, also in May. > > San Francisco Supervisor Chris Daly said 80 Natoma > and the terminal can't > co-exist, describing the collision course as "a > pretty significant conflict." > Last week he voted against a new plan that some in > San Francisco believe would > allow both projects to proceed. > > At stake is a downtown San Francisco terminal that > would allow people to > transfer between major Bay Area transit systems > under one roof while using one > fare. From the basement, bullet trains would carry > people to downtown Los > Angeles in 2-1/2 hours. > > The glittering $1 billion terminal could > revolutionize the region's > disjointed transit network. Sponsors envision one > of the world's great rail stations, > to rival New York's Grand Central, London's > Victoria and Paris' Gare du > Nord. > > Several state laws and voter-backed measures pay for > the terminal and > require rail platforms in the basement for Caltrain > and bullet train alike. > > The Rail Authority's environmental report projects > the future Transbay > Terminal as the busiest station in the entire > 700-mile network. > > Without trains, the Transbay Terminal would -- as > critics have called it -- > become the world's most expensive bus stop. > Independent engineers found no > option for tracks other than under Myers' property. > But while Rail Authority > Executive Director Mehdi Morshed was telling people > he didn't care if his > trains ever reach the terminal, Petrillo's actions > seemed to bolster Myers' > negotiating position. > > The public agency developing the terminal needs > Myers to suspend work until > it can tunnel under it. Myers refuses, and the > agency has begun an eminent > domain proceeding to buy the property. "Every dollar > going into that high-rise > is one-for-one coming out of the public's pocket," > said San Francisco transit > advocate Michael Kiesling. "I believe Myers is > trying to scam public money > out of this." > > Daly put it more politely, calling Myers effective > at "trying to better his > negotiating position." > > Myers said that's nonsense. "I don't want > condemnation, and I'm going to > fight it all the way," he said. He sued to overturn > the Transbay Terminal's > environmental study. > > In a May 4 meeting Petrillo tried to resolve the > dispute. "Petrillo was > acting like Myers' man, barking out stuff. He hasn't > been a friend of the > Transbay Terminal," said Jerry Cauthen, an engineer > on the terminal project. > > The Transbay Terminal authority paid two consultants > to assess whether > tracks could reach the terminal without tunneling > under Myers' project. They said > no. > > "Petrillo was involved on the phone. He was trying > to muzzle the > consultants," said Tony Bruzzone, AC Transit's > point-man on the terminal. > > The same two consultants are retained by the Rail > Authority and helped > prepare its environmental study. Petrillo > acknowledged they were placed in the > awkward position of serving two masters. > > Petrillo said he was merely trying to cut to the > chase to see if 80 Natoma > and the terminal could co-exist. "They were > debating numbers that didn't > communicate to me the basics I needed to know: > whether there were any fatal > flaws," Petrillo explained. > > AC Transit fired off a letter to San Francisco > officials two weeks later, > arguing: "Failure to acquire this parcel will cause > the entire Transbay program > to collapse." > > > Published Sunday, August 22, 2004, in the Oakland > Tribune > > Truth may have come off the tracks > > Rail Authority efforts leave some legislators > questioning if > proposed high-speed rail project is 'a fraud' > > By Sean Holstege > Staff Writer > > Lawmakers say California High Speed Rail Authority > work is not just sloppy, > but misleading. > > Sloppiness was evident: a business plan that never > mentioned an Oakland > track, a $20 million environmental plan describing > a future BART station six > months after it opened. > > The route into the Bay Area is one of the biggest > controversies in the plan > for the 700-mile system. The Rail Authority dropped > an Altamont Pass route in > favor of two South Bay alternatives. > > On Feb. 17, Rail Authority Executive Director Mehdi > Morshed told the state > Senate Transportation Committee that years ago > French, German and Japanese > rail experts had blessed the plan to run tracks > through San Jose rather than > over the Altamont Pass. > > Morshed couldn't document the claim. > > The Train Riders Association of California filed a > public records request > for all communications with the French, German and > Japanese consultants. > Morshed provided what he described as a full, > unedited set of documents. > > "None of the documents we were provided contained > any information to support > Mr. Morshed's statement," TRAC's Oakland lawyer > Stuart Flashman wrote > lawmakers. > > In a rebuttal letter, Morshed reasserted the > documents that led to the > Altamont decision "were peer reviewed by German, > French and Japanese experts," > adding the reviews marked "general agreement." > > But a month after Morshed's testimony, Rail > Authority Deputy Director Dan > Leavitt wrote a Japanese rail expert, asking for "a > brief analysis" of the > environmental study's conclusion that an Altamont > Pass route would be > "impractical." > > On March 16, Leavitt wrote "the task should take no > more than $10,000." > > On April 23, the Japanese expert duly complied with > a three-page report, > finding "it is reasonable to eliminate the > (Altamont) option." On May 10, came > the bill. "Cost for the review task: $10,000," the > Japanese expert wrote. > > Morshed said the letters stemmed from a U.S. > Environmental Protection Agency > request. A Feb. 27 EPA letter copied to Morshed > noted concern that the > Altamont route "appears to have been prematurely > eliminated." Morshed said his > Senate appearance was all > a misunderstanding. > > "The question was 'Why didn't you study it?' and I > said we did," Morshed > said. He said he only intended to imply that foreign > consultants reviewed the > whole plan and "did not find fault with our > assumptions," including the > Altamont. > > "How they construe that to be misleading, I don't > know," he said. > > But lawmakers on the committee had no doubts. "It > sounds like Mehdi said he > had a study that predated their decision and it > informed their decision. Now > it looks like they are making it up as they go > along," said Sen. Tom > McClintock, R-Thousand Oaks, who sat on the > committee hearing. > > "I am not surprised that phantom studies are being > waved before the > Legislature," McClintock added. "I think this entire > project has been a fraud since > the day it was proposed." > > "I don't know how you could interpret it any other > way," said Brian Perkins, > transportation adviser to Sen. Jackie Speier, > D-Hillsborough, who also sat > on the committee. > > More troubling to Perkins, who called Morshed's > actions "not intellectually > honest," was a document missing in his public > records disclosure. > Correspondence between Leavitt and the Japanese > expert refers to an e-mail dated Feb. 17 > -- the same day Morshed testified. > > "It's like the missing 17-1/2 minutes," Perkins > said, referring to the > erased gap in the Oval Office tapes that helped > force Richard Nixon from the > presidency. "They apparently learned from Mr. Nixon > that you burn the evidence." > > French consultants, working under a High Speed Rail > Authority contract, also > had offered an opinion to the authority. They noted > an Altamont route "would > not be practical," and they peer-reviewed the > agency's work in 2000 and > found it "sound and reliable." > > The Feb. 11 letter was written by engineers at SNCF, > parent company to > Systra Consulting. Systra is one of three firms > picked for the "Project > Implementation Team," which stands to make $10 > million a year if California's rail bond > passes. > > Flashman said Morshed's team "got back what they > wanted" from a firm with an > incentive to deliver. > > Veteran San Diego lawmaker James Mills, who quit > the California High Speed > Rail Authority board, is not surprised. > > "One of the reasons I left is I couldn't get the > truth out of Mehdi Morshed. > Mehdi is one of those people who has a hidden agenda > on everything," Mills > said, "He would only tell the truth when it was > convenient." > > Mills described the entire project as "based on a > fallacy" of wildly > exaggerated ridership projections. It stems, he > said, "from hiring a consulting firm > (and) letting them know what you want them to say." > > Morshed said Mills is "full of (it)," describing him > as someone who used his > position on the board to help California's intercity > Amtrak service and > undermine the bullet train. > > But some Central Valley politicians involved in the > rail issue side with > Mills. > > "Their story changes depending on their audience," > Kings County Supervisor > Alene Taylor said. "They have not been honest with > the public. It's how they > do business." > > Published Sunday, August 22, 2004, in the Oakland > Tribune > > Bullet Train to Nowhere > > Critics say politics and back-room deals cast > serious doubt on whether a > proposed $37 billion high-speed rail system will > ever be built > > By Sean Holstege > Staff Writer > > The marbled conference hall buzzed with that potent > mix of money, power and > anticipation. > > It was May 11, 10:40 a.m. Willie Brown was late to > his own meeting, well > under way in the 24th floor boardroom of an > international law firm's downtown > San Francisco office. > > Around the U-shaped, polished wood table assembled > heavyweights in the rail > engineering and construction world, including the > CEO of Parsons Brinkerhoff, > one of the country's biggest transportation firms. > They came to the private > meeting to throw money and political > clout behind a proposed $37 billion bullet train > network. Big deals were > afoot. > > As the dozen or so guests waited, they schmoozed > for 40 minutes with three > top officials from the California High Speed Rail > Authority, the public agency > planning the 700-mile rail network, ultimately > stretching from San Diego to > San Francisco, Oakland and Sacramento. > > Without asking for it directly, Rail Authority > chiefs told industry leaders > -- including those with authority contracts -- that > the rail agency needed > money and political backing to carry on. > > Brown took his place at the head of the table. His > resume as powerful San > Francisco mayor and Assembly speaker well known to > everyone in the room, Brown > now markets his influence in the private sector. He > looked over the group and > explained that he and former state lawmakers > Richard Katz and Terry Goggin > wanted a fee of $1 million. > > In return, they would steer a favorable budget into > law by lobbying all the > key state politicians. Then they'd launch a campaign > to convince California > voters to pass a $10 billion rail bond. > > The author of California's political reforms and > good-government watchdogs > said -- absent any overt coercion -- such > fund-raisers are legal, but raise > doubts about appearance and propriety. > > "How can the public be confident that decisions > would be based on merit and > not undue influence?" asked Andy Draheim of Common > Cause, a government > watchdog group. > > That's exactly how several industry sources took > it. In describing the > meeting and events surrounding it, they portrayed a > below-the-radar state agency > run amok with a history of back-room dealing, > conflicts of interest and > secretive money-gathering. One called the > meeting a "classic shakedown" -- and not the first. > > Industry sources spoke on condition of anonymity > because their employers > prohibit media interviews. In the close-knit world > of transportation > engineering, sources fear their firms would be > blackballed or they would earn > career-ending reputations by talking openly. > > They say the Rail Authority's cavalier tactics raise > serious doubts about > whether the Golden State can ever build a "bullet > train" network, which could > relieve Californians of congested in-state air > travel. > > Three days after the San Francisco gathering, > Brown, Goggin and Katz wrote a > follow-up memo to invited donors, detailing the > first and only meeting of > Friends of California High Speed Rail. > > 'Substantial retainer' > > The memo, obtained by ANG Newspapers, confirms a > picture that emerges from > interviews with more than half of the participants > and dozens of > transportation sources familiar with high-speed > rail. > > "Over the next 60 days we propose to concentrate > our considerable political > resources and campaign experience," the memo states. > "This will require a > substantial initial consultant retainer for our fees > and expenses of $400,000." > > Another $600,000 was needed to start the bond > campaign, the memo said. > Overall, Brown would get half of the $1 million, > while Katz and Goggin would split > the rest. > > Public agencies, including BART and AC Transit, > often ask consultants and > vendors for big political checks, officials at each > agency, and others, say. > > "If you say, 'Give me a campaign contribution and > I'll give you contracts,' > that's a bribe. If you say, 'You won't get a > contract unless the bond > passes,' that's OK. That's just normal politics -- > getting contributions from those > that benefit," said Robert Stern, a UCLA professor > who helped write > California's Political Reform Act. > > He found no transgressions in the Brown letter. > > Top Rail Authority officials say concerns about > influence-peddling are > misplaced, because the appointed governing board > will be almost entirely replaced > before it votes on contracts. > > "Any competitive bid at the High Speed Rail > Authority will be based on > merit, as it always has been," authority board > member Rod Diridon said. > > "The people who benefit from high-speed rail should > organize themselves, > because otherwise it may very well remain > unaccomplished," Rail Authority > Chairman Joseph Petrillo said. > > Petrillo, Diridon and Rail Authority Executive > Director Mehdi Morshed "were > very careful not to cross a line that might exist," > said one industry player > who attended the May 11 meeting. > > Questions of influence > > But Common Cause's Draheim said the public should > naturally ask "if future > decisions on public policy will be unduly > influenced by the position these > officials put themselves in." > > Morshed and Diridon said they felt no such qualms, > because, they said, it > was Willie Brown's meeting. > > Petrillo, whose law firm hosted it, apparently was > less comfortable. Not > long before Brown arrived Petrillo told the group > "I shouldn't be here," and he > recused himself. Diridon and Morshed remained. > > No contributions were reportedly made, and a > follow-up telephone conference > call was canceled. No public records for the > political group are on file with > the Secretary of State's office, and Brown, Goggin > and Katz are not > registered lobbyists. > > Brown and Goggin did not return calls to their law > firms made over several > weeks. > > Sources familiar with their request for money > called it premature amid > persistent doubts that California's dream of a > European-style rail system will > bear fruit. > > Funding for the Rail Authority was -- and remains > -- uncertain. A lengthy > environmental study is under review and significant > challenges are expected. > > The Legislature passed a bill, which Gov. Arnold > Schwarzenegger signed, > delaying a November bond vote by two years. Later > he trimmed the rail agency's > budget and his reform advisers recommended > scrapping the Rail Authority > entirely. > > Its plans assume America's first bullet train will > carry 68 million > passengers a year, enough to cover costs and debt, > with spare money to finance an > expansion beyond the first San Francisco-to-Los > Angeles track. > > No bullet train system in the world, nor any large > U.S. transit system, is > self-sufficient, let alone profitable. > > But believers say tactics, not merits, threaten to > kill bullet train > prospects in California. > > "They are going to screw high-speed rail all up if > they keep playing around > like this. It's already radioactive," one industry > leader said. Union Pacific > lobbyist Wayne Horiuchi skipped the Willie Brown > fund-raiser and others by > rail commissioner Rod Diridon. > > One, at Diridon's South Bay home, raised re-election > campaign money for Gov. > Gray Davis one day after Davis signed the $10 > billion rail bond bill. > > Davis challenger Bill Simon showed up with the > media, raising allegations of > payback. > > Diridon said the fund-raiser had been planned weeks > beforehand and the > timing was "an unfortunate coincidence." > > 'Pay-to-play' > > "Rod Diridon called me personally and wanted me to > contribute to Gray > Davis," said Horiuchi, who declined the offer > because "we didn't want to get into > the political sensitivity of pay-to-play." > > Said another rail industry source: "Rod Diridon is a > one-trick-pony. All he > knows is shaking people down." > > "I can't control that (perception),"said Diridon, > adding the Rail Authority > is "gun-shy of pay-to-play accusations." > > But several rail sources said they felt compelled > to donate to scholarship > dinners at the Mineta Transportation Institute, > which pays Diridon $138,834 > annually to be executive director. Engineers, > consultants and rail firms fear > losing favor at the High Speed Rail > Authority if they don't support the foundation at > the government- funded San > Jose State University think tank, some said. > > "No one has ever discussed it with me, and if they > were honorable and > seriously concerned, they should. I'm not going to > turn down scholarships because I > recently became a member of the High Speed Rail > Authority, " Diridon said. > "Unnamed sources don't have much > credibility with me." > > Diridon said he's been at the Mineta Institute > since 1992 and has invited > the same donors to the scholarship dinner for > years. Davis appointed him to the > High Speed Rail Authority in 2001. > > Diridon said two firms with Rail Authority contracts > -- French rail company > Systra and political consultants Townsend Raimundo > Besler & Usher -- never > gave money to the Mineta Institute. Other firms have > donated and never received > Rail Authority contracts, he said. > > But the institute's brochures list Bechtel Corp. > and Parsons Brinkerhoff > Quade & Douglas as big donors in 2002 and 2003. > > Both firms are part of the Rail Authority's Project > Implementation Team, > which is paid $10 million a year to steer the > project from plans to > construction. Tax law exempts the foundation from > disclosing contributors, but an > institute brochure listing sponsors reads like a > who's who of high-speed rail > wannabes. It includes at least seven attendees of > Willie Brown's May 11 meeting and > at least two no-shows. > > One no-show was LTK Engineering Services, which is > represented in Northern > California by former Sacramento transit director > Tom Matoff. He said Willie > Brown's $1 million request -- $100,000 per donor -- > was out of his league, but > he buys $2,000 tickets every > year to the Mineta Institute fund-raiser. > > Although he said he's never felt pressured, he > added, "We want to be viewed, > like everybody else, as a friend of the project." > > He said there's no clear connection between > contributions and work, but his > firm doesn't leave it to chance. > > "It's the way it's done, and everybody does it," > Matoff said. > > Critics of the High Speed Rail Authority's work have > long suspected Diridon > had an overlapping role between the Mineta Institute > and the rail board. Last > year the institute sponsored a discussion of the > bullet train proposal at > the Commonwealth Club of California. > Diridon was the featured speaker. > > Diridon also introduced himself at the Willie Brown > fund-raisers > representing the Mineta Institute. > > "Over the past two years the lines of distinction > between the authority and > institute have been blurred," wrote Ken Gosting, > executive director of > Transportation Involves Everyone, in a letter > to Diridon. > > Similar questions of overlapping interest and > hidden political influence > also hover over a community campaign that's sprouted > in Merced. > > Lee Boese Jr., an orthodontist, chairs the Merced > group, whose literature > advocates high-speed rail somewhere in Merced > County. The area is a key > battleground because that's where the route would > split into the Bay Area -- one of > the plan's hottest controversies. > > Boese says bullet trains will boost the Central > Valley's tepid economy and > help clean its smog-heavy air. > > The Merced County High-Speed Rail Committee, has 24 > active members from all > walks of life, Boese said. A spring fundraiser > raised $25,000, and all > donations were tax-deductible, Boese and group > literature said. > > Questionable filing > > But the group's filing with the Secretary of > State's office describe it as a > 501(c)4 nonprofit, a charitable civic organization. > > Tax laws allow such groups to conduct "unlimited" > political lobbying without > disclosing contributors, according to IRS > advisories. > > The IRS also says that contributions to civic > charities are not > tax-deductible. > > The money, Boese said, pays for the help of > Sacramento political consultant > Elaine Trevino, who lobbies local governments and > organizations. > > Trevino is not a registered lobbyist. Neither she > nor Boese explained the > discrepancy in the organization's filing and its > pitch for tax-free > contributions. Nor did they explain why the group > didn't organize as a simple political organization. > > Boese and Trevino attended the Willie Brown > meeting, representing themselves > as Merced real estate interests. Several members of > the group have business > interests in the Los Banos area, one of the > preferred sites for a station. > > "I thought it was totally inappropriate for real > estate people to be > involved at this stage, when they are deciding the > route," one witness said. > > Gosting, who wants to see bullet trains zooming > down California tracks > someday, said that vision is destroyed if the Rail > Authority and its allies such > as the Merced group continue down the current > track. > > "You end up with something that benefits land > speculators and promotes > sprawl, that decreases ag land instead of protects > it," he said. "We end up with a > debacle. We spend billions and billions of dollars > for something that won't > work." > > ETHICS TROUBLES > > Participants at the May 11 bullet train fund-raiser > are no strangers to > ethics probes. > > * Willie Brown had been investigated by the FBI in > a 1980s undercover sting > while he was Assembly speaker. His name surfaced at > the FBI again when he was > mayor, after questions of favoritism arose in > airport construction > contracts. Brown always denied any wrongdoing and > has never been indicted or censured, > either as a lawyer or a politician. > > * Terry Goggin fared worse. The Fair Political > Practices Commission fined > the then-assemblyman $13,500 in 1984 after he > carried a bill to require > telephones for the deaf. Only one firm could provide > the devices, a firm owned by a > close friend of Goggin, according to > published press reports. > > * Richard Katz, who had a reputation as an effective > state lawmaker, was > fined $4,000 in 1997 after failing to disclose > campaign expenses in a Los > Angeles mayoral race. Questions surfaced again > during the state energy crisis when > he advised Gov. Gray Davis, while taking > consulting fees from firms lobbying the governor. > > * Michael Bernick was one of the potential donors > present and is now with > HNTB, an engineering design firm. When he was an > elected BART board member, an > FBI wiretap caught him soliciting contributions > from a firm after ensuring > that the firm would get a BART contract. "We've got > to keep it real clean," > Bernick was taped saying in 1992. > "You know, so there is nothing linking the two of > us." > > Later Bernick told the media, "I'd do it again." He > was taped as part of a > bribery investigation that forced the resignation > of BART board member > Margaret Pryor. Current board member Dan Richard > served at the time and said > Bernick, who was never indicted, simply made a > judgment error. > > This information is being provided to you as a > service by the Rail Passenger > Association of California (RailPAC), California's > largest and oldest rail > advocacy membership organization. > > If you would like information about RailPAC, simple > send us your postal > mailing address by return e-mail. > > Richard L. Silver, Executive Director > Rail Passenger Association of California > www.RailPAC.org > 888-508-2640 > > > > _______________________________ Do you Yahoo!? Win 1 of 4,000 free domain names from Yahoo! Enter now. http://promotions.yahoo.com/goldrush

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Re: [Transpo] [susan_e_vaughan@yahoo.com: letter re. bike plan update, can you post this for more feedback?]
by susan_e_vaughan＠juno.com 23 Aug '04

23 Aug '04

I'll make it more detailed; however, though I've looked over most of the items, I find it difficult, without more expert guidance, to object to any of the elements. The Central Freeway item is not in there because technically it isn't part of the bike plan update. There is already a bike lane along that stretch of Market -- peds and bikers want right turns prohibted from Market onto the Central Freeway, and they want a bulbout there to make illegal right turns more difficult. Sue Anybody on this list can send messages to the list; it's "transpo(a)sfgreens.org". I shut down the Yahoo group because I was only getting spam from them. I think the letter should be a little more detailed (i.e., say we like "all elements" of the update if we do). Has anybody else read them? I've only followed the Market street updates closely, as I was trying to figure out what they wanted to do about the proposed expressway touchdown (it wasn't in there as far as I could tell). JMC ----- Forwarded message from susan vaughan <susan_e_vaughan(a)yahoo.com> ----- Date: Fri, 20 Aug 2004 08:02:50 -0700 (PDT) From: susan vaughan <susan_e_vaughan(a)yahoo.com> Subject: letter re. bike plan update, can you post this for more feedback? To: John-Marc Chandonia <jmc(a)sfgreens.org> Transportation Working Group San Francisco Green Party 1028A Howard Street San Francisco, California 941__ August 20, 2004 The San Francisco Bicycle Coalition 1095 Market Street, #215 San Francisco, California 94103 Sustainability is one of the ten key values of the Green Party. The current reliance of many San Franciscans on personal vehicles for transportation is not sustainable in the long run. For this reason, the Transportation Working Group of the San Francisco Green Party believes bicycles are a key element in transitioning the nation ? and eventually the rest of the world ? to more environmentally friendly means of transportation. The Transportation Working Group of the San Francisco Green Party thus endorses the Bike Plan Update. Sue Vaughan John-Marc Chandonia Co-Chairs, the Transportation Working Group of the San Francisco Green Party

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Re: [Transpo] Call the Governor TODAY to save regional transit projec ts.
by susan_e_vaughan＠juno.com 23 Aug '04

23 Aug '04

Is it kosher to forward something from a WG list to the staff list? Don't know, but probably not. However, the TALC e-mail is meant to be forwarded far and wide. Sue

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[susan_e_vaughan@yahoo.com: letter re. bike plan update, can you post this for more feedback?]
by John-Marc Chandonia 20 Aug '04

20 Aug '04

Anybody on this list can send messages to the list; it's "transpo(a)sfgreens.org". I shut down the Yahoo group because I was only getting spam from them. I think the letter should be a little more detailed (i.e., say we like "all elements" of the update if we do). Has anybody else read them? I've only followed the Market street updates closely, as I was trying to figure out what they wanted to do about the proposed expressway touchdown (it wasn't in there as far as I could tell). JMC ----- Forwarded message from susan vaughan <susan_e_vaughan(a)yahoo.com> ----- Date: Fri, 20 Aug 2004 08:02:50 -0700 (PDT) From: susan vaughan <susan_e_vaughan(a)yahoo.com> Subject: letter re. bike plan update, can you post this for more feedback? To: John-Marc Chandonia <jmc(a)sfgreens.org> Transportation Working Group San Francisco Green Party 1028A Howard Street San Francisco, California 941__ August 20, 2004 The San Francisco Bicycle Coalition 1095 Market Street, #215 San Francisco, California 94103 Sustainability is one of the ten key values of the Green Party. The current reliance of many San Franciscans on personal vehicles for transportation is not sustainable in the long run. For this reason, the Transportation Working Group of the San Francisco Green Party believes bicycles are a key element in transitioning the nation ? and eventually the rest of the world ? to more environmentally friendly means of transportation. The Transportation Working Group of the San Francisco Green Party thus endorses the Bike Plan Update. Sue Vaughan John-Marc Chandonia Co-Chairs, the Transportation Working Group of the San Francisco Green Party -- John-Marc Chandonia (jmc(a)sfgreens.org) http://www.dolorespark.org/

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Call the Governor TODAY to save regional transit projects.
by Jym Dyer 20 Aug '04

20 Aug '04

[From TALC] Transportation and Land Use Coalition Action Alert Urgent Action Needed-Tell Governor Schwarzenegger Hands Off Regional Measure 2! NOTE: This is URGENT! Please CALL TODAY and forward this email to your lists. We have a very short time to weigh in on this issue! The Governor has put forward a proposal to use the proceeds of Regional Measure 2 to pay for the cost overruns on the east span of the Bay Bridge. Regional Measure 2, the $1 bridge toll increase approved by Bay Area voters in March 2004, was a comprehensive safety and congestion relief package that included the seismic retrofit of BARTs Transbay Tube and projects to improve mobility for Bay Area commuters by expanding and improving bus, rail, and ferry service. This bill will have to be passed within one week to put this matter on the November ballot, so we must let the Governor know that he cannot force us to choose between safety and mobility, and that he needs to keep his hands off Regional Measure 2. 1-Join TALCs phone campaign by calling the Governors office: We are a ``Hot Item'' on the Governors system, so weighing in on this issue takes about 15 seconds! Dial 916-445-2841, and press 5 to access the ``Hot Items'' Press 1 to comment on the Governors Bay Bridge funding solution Press 2 to DISAGREE with the Governors solution and to save Regional Measure 2. 2-Spread the word through email or by word of mouth-send this action alert to your email list and get everyone you know to call! 3-If you have something specific to say to the Governor about his proposal, please send him a fax or email: Email: Compose and send through http://www.govmail.ca.gov/ Fax: 916-445-4633 4-Contact your state legislators and thank them for fighting so hard to protect Regional Measure 2. You can find their contact information here: http://www.assembly.ca.gov/acs/acsframeset9text.htm Talking points on why Governor Schwarzenegger should keep his hands off Regional Measure 2: * Bay Area residents shouldnt have to choose between safety and mobility. Without the projects funded by Regional Measure 2, the Bay Area will have poor transportation alternatives and face unbearable congestion on our roads and bridges in the future. * Regional Measure 2 partially funds the seismic retrofit of BARTs Transbay Tube. Does the Governor really think it is fair to improve the safety of Bay Bridge travelers at the expense of the safety of BART riders? * Reallocating the funds from Regional Measure 2 breaks faith with Bay Area voters, who overwhelmingly approved spending that bridge toll increase on congestion relief projects. * The State and the region have historically shared costs associated with retrofitting or replacing state-owned toll bridges, particularly when they are damaged by a natural disaster. By demanding that the Bay Area foot the entire bill for the east span cost overruns, the Governor is setting a dangerous precedent. The next time there is an earthquake or a fire in Southern California, is the state going to turn their back on those Californians as well? Transportation and Land Use Coalition (TALC) _______________________________________________________ TALC is a partnership of over 90 groups working for a sustainable and socially just Bay Area. We envision a region with healthy, walkable communities that provide all residents with transportation choices and affordable housing. The coalition analyzes county and regional policies, works with community groups to develop alternatives, and coordinates grassroots campaigns. TALC List Instructions: You received this email because you gave TALC your email address, or someone forwarded this message to you. - to SUBSCRIBE, send an email to: info(a)transcoalition.org. Be sure to include your full mailing address and organization name, phone and fax numbers, and indicate what alert you are responding to. - to LIMIT to 1-2 emails per month, which includes meeting announcements and general newsletters, reply with "Public list only" in the subject line - to UNSUBSCRIBE, reply with "No E-mail" in the subject line - to be fully REMOVED from our database, reply with "Remove from TALC" in the subject line (and please let us know why). ct Stuart Cohen at stuart(a)transcoalition.org

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meeting canceled
by John-Marc Chandonia 13 Aug '04

13 Aug '04

After talking with Sue, we're cancelling tonight's meeting, due to many other events tonight. We can work on the plank and letter online. JMC -- John-Marc Chandonia (jmc(a)sfgreens.org) http://www.dolorespark.org/

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meeting agenda updated
by John-Marc Chandonia 12 Aug '04

12 Aug '04

Hi, I've updated the agenda for tonight to add Sue's item about the Central Freeway; see the website. Sue, can you bring details? What would the intersection look like? I'd like this to be a short meeting since we won't have time to bring back the plank to the GM until at least September; we should get out of there by 8. JMC -- John-Marc Chandonia (jmc(a)sfgreens.org) http://www.dolorespark.org/

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