This is becoming tedious as a distinct air of blissful unreality continues to surround the hierarchy that governs the financial details of the state’s long-delayed and grossly expensive high-speed rail project.
That’s the California fiscal folly that got its start in 2008 when unwitting voters gave the OK (via a narrow margin) to about $10 billion worth of bonds, seed money for a project that is now so far over budget one wonders if it can ever be built as promised.
That said, the latest declaration emanating from HSR’s executive suite proclaimed that, hence forth, the grand plan to extend a rail line from San Francisco/Silicon Valley to Los Angeles/Orange County (with extensions to Sacramento and San Diego to follow at some point in the far distant future) would not count on any more cash from federal taxpayers. Good news.
Instead, the bold announcement stated that the focus would be, at least in part, on private investment. Good luck. Thus far, over the last 18 years, any hint of significant private dollars for HSR has been strictly MIA, a mirage.
But you never know. Maybe “private” funding sources can be found outside the United States, in China or Saudi Arabia, for example (assuming massive portfolio losses don’t really matter when it comes to the byzantine nature of geopolitics).
Still, it has been telling that the HSR poobahs have not spent time urging consideration of another bond measure to bail out their bloated project. Why not? Why the obvious hesitancy? What’s the problem?
If HSR is really a godsend for the Golden State’s overall transportation system as its boosters contend, a second bond package would only make logical sense. But no. The public now is skeptical. And rightly so. The available evidence isn’t pretty.
It’s been crystal clear for years: HSR is not financially viable. All the proof we need is right there in front of us — with more evidence certain to be forthcoming.
HOW WILL THE COURT RULE?: The U.S. Supreme Court is taking a hard look at the sensitive issue of biological males competing with and against females in competitive athletics. The matter has some local relevance.
In the fall of 2024, a boy who identified as a girl competed on the Half Moon Bay varsity volleyball team. There were protests. Social media, along with TV and newspapers, latched onto the story. There was considerable angst.
Critics remain displeased. There have been complaints that there is more than one similar athletic situation ongoing today along the Peninsula. But any gripes have been muted.
Supporters of this transgender issue continue to lobby in favor of permitting biological males to involve themselves in female athletics.
California, courtesy of the state legislature, permits the controversial practice. Most other states do not. The Supreme Court is examining specific cases involving Idaho and West Virginia bans on boys competing against girls.
It is entirely possible that a majority of the justices will rule narrowly in this matter, allowing each state to enact its own regulations. That would leave California’s rules intact. We’ll have to wait and see.
CELEBRATION OF LIFE ON FEB. 21: Family, friends and former students and colleagues of Marlene Wuest, a much-loved language arts teacher who died last month and spent many years inspiring youngsters at Bowditch Middle School in Foster City, are invited to a celebration of her life next month. The event, including a buffet lunch, is set for Feb. 21 from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. at the San Mateo Elks Club. Those wishing to attend can contact Craig Tompkins at (650) 464-5098.
IT’S TIME FOR A BREATH MINT: Memories of Sam’s Italian Sandwiches, a downtown Burlingame eatery for nearly a half-century until it closed six years ago, were posted on Facebook late last month. One witty gent responded with a personal reflection that revealed a lot: “Sam’s helped me become the man I am today, a 265-pound Italian with garlic breath.” And he’s apparently proud of it.
THESE HENS ARE ECO-FRIENDLY: Here at Sustainable Living Central, we have a new favorite culinary option for the eco-friendly among us. It’s eggs that are advertised as being produced by chickens that are “cage-free and vegetarian.” They may still end up for sale in a heated supermarket display enclosure.
John Horgan began writing a neighborhood diary at the tender age of 9 in San Mateo. He’s been doing much the same thing as a Peninsula journalist for decades ever since. You can contact him by email at johnhorganmedia@gmail.com.
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(3) comments
There is a simple solution. Stop "school sports" as a competition, it's basically just exploitation anyways.
Go back to simple PE and running around during recess. And then go back doing Math and ELA and science. High schools and universities could go back to their core task - teaching and raising smart Americans. Something we desperately need.
If the NFL needs a "minors league" let them set it up and pay for it themselves. If the US of A wants to win olympic medals, go back to having public swimming pools in every city and promote public and private clubs to run sports.
Thanks for your column today, Mr. Horgan. Since MichKosk has ably remarked on boys in girls sports, I’ll address the union labor giveaway known as the train-to-nowhere. Most of us knew from the beginning, and even more so now, that the HSR is a grift. HSR was never financially viable and was always meant to reward union labor who contributed to Democrat and governor campaigns. I imagine Democrats are hoping to continue indirectly receiving kickbacks, for lack of a better word, for supporting union labor. I bet most of us alive today will never see the completion of the HSR as it was envisioned. In fact, some may not be alive to see any tracks being laid.
Thanks for reporting on the Supreme Court case John! While I expect a ruling in favor of fairness and safety for girls and women in sports, that sadly won't affect California, yet, since as you mentioned CA Democrats believe that the rights of confused boys and men trump those of women and girls.
Your hint that there is a boy or boys currently competing in girls' sports on the Peninsula doesn't surprise me either. The boy in HMB is not playing this year, opening up a spot on the team for a girl who would otherwise have been cut. There was also a boy playing girls lacrosse at Woodside last year, who flew under the radar despite the fact that outside of school he played boys club volleyball. I dare even the most ardent trans rights activists to defend that - did his "gender" change depending on the sport? Lunacy.
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