Where is all that private cash for high-speed rail?

One of the more blatant, airy campaign pledges back then involved a much-ballyhooed, lofty vision of future significant private investment in the project. Oops.

As with other factors that have impacted the ambitious project over the past 17 years, private cash of any real substance (if any) has been starkly MIA. That should not be a surprise.

Recently, HSR tub-thumpers were at it again, predicting that eager private investors were poised to flock to the project. Sure they are. The notion that the HSR route could actually be profitable on a bottom-line business basis at any point is a pipe dream.

No public transit expert worth his or her salt outside the project’s administrative/lobbying HQ harbors any delusions of actual HSR profit at any time. It’s a taxpayers’ money pit pure and simple.

As a footnote, the state’s governor and policy makers last week decided to pump another $20 billion over the next 20 years into the HSR black hole in an attempt to finish construction on an initial Merced-to-Bakersfield stretch of tracks in the Central Valley, a segment that figures to have minimal ridership at best even in boom times.

Again, there was nary a peep from any major private investors even remotely interested in helping to finance this ongoing and blatant boondoggle which mocks the tenets of fiscally prudent government.

NO MORE PRETENDING HERE: The charade is over. The flimsy masks are off. We’re not talking about federal immigration enforcement agents or anarchists roaming American streets. We’re referring to the majority members of the San Mateo County Board of Supervisors.

Last week, they finally dropped any pretense of being nonpartisan as an elected group, a historic posture touted by this body for generations — until now. They endorsed passage of Proposition 50 in the November election on a 4-0 vote, with Ray Mueller abstaining.

That state measure, if approved, is designed to alter certain congressional districts to provide Democrats with additional seats at the expense of Republicans.

The board majority naturally claimed that they were on a mission to “save democracy” by attempting to counter similar GOP moves elsewhere.

As if we didn’t have strong clues already, this board has now revealed itself to be clearly biased and tilted heavily in one leftist direction.

It is officially on record as an unabashed, dedicated arm of the Democratic Party. Any hint of apolitical balance is toast. Any credibility and goodwill the board may have had in that regard is gone.

This partisan outfit does not represent the views of a significant portion of the community. Good to know heading into an uncertain future.

AGELESS LEFTY THROWS STRIKES: At the tender age of 70, John Yandle is still going strong. The Menlo Park resident, a real estate agent by trade, doesn’t just deal in Silicon Valley properties. No, indeed.

He’s been a batting practice pitcher for the San Francisco Giants for more than half his life. It’s 41 seasons and counting. The left-hander is a specialist in his craft.

He employs a mix of precise control, a mix of off-speed selections on demand, a durable throwing arm and consistent strike-tossing staying power.

His offerings, particularly for left-handed hitters, have become an integral part of the Giants’ hitting preparations, at home and, sometimes, on the road. He is available on call.

Yandle’s unique senior citizen sporting exploits, which have been well-chronicled in the past, are featured in the latest edition of AARP’s magazine.

PRICE ADJUSTMENTS COMMON: Home sales are not especially robust right now. The overall market has been slowing. Asking prices for Peninsula properties have been dropping a bit as the economy shows signs of weakness. A favorite real estate euphemism for dealing with that circumstance is what the industry dubs a “price adjustment.” Adjustment indeed.