Editor,
In your recent publication (“Gov. Brown boosts California, warns of threats in address” in the Jan. 25 edition of the Daily Journal) you reported a rather rosy picture of California under the astute leadership of Gov. Brown, with a supposed surplus and future well-being for all.
Perhaps a little more insight into the subject should include these facts: more Californians are on some kind of public assistance than are employed (Forbes); California has unfunded benefits and government debt of approximately $1.3 trillion that will forever be a burden on our future generations (California Policy Center); we have an educational system ranked 42nd in the nation (ABC) and the largest homeless population in the nation (U.S. Council of Homelessness); the bullet train to nowhere is already over budget. Not to mention there’s a new 12 cents a gallon gasoline tax and potential bridge tolls set for $9. Crumbling infrastructure? (Think Oroville Dam).
I could go on and on but there is not enough space to cover the sexual predators infecting Hollywood and apparently our political system with the recent disclosure of $25 million paid out over the last three years to cover the sexual exploitation of our politicians and government hierarchy. Another good use of taxpayer funds.
Still feeling comfortable? (By the way, I am a native Californian, just not the indigenous kind).
Ron Marlin
San Mateo
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(9) comments
Yes, well said Mr. Marlin. The tragic truth.
Very misleading comment. Just because someone is on some sort of public assistance doesn't mean they aren't also employed. There are many people throughout this country who work full time at jobs that don't provide medical insurance. And the "train to nowhere" is a stupid cliche. Since when are San Francisco/San Jose/ Los Angeles nowhere?
Don't forget the $300 billion in unfunded pension liabilities to CalPers and CalSters.
Also, we have the highest rate of poverty than any other state (fact). There will be a monument to our great governor, a portion of track in our central valley that connects nothing to nothing and will never have a high speed train run on it.
Please note:" Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger. In January 2006, the Governor omitted the initial funds for the project from his $222.6 billion Public Works Bond for the next 10 years. The Governor did include $14.3 million in the 2006-07 budget for the California High-Speed Rail Authority, enough for it to begin some preliminary engineering and detailed study.[1] The proposition was delayed again from 2006 to 2008 to avoid competition with a large infrastructure bond, Proposition 1B, which passed in 2006."
PS:
The CAHSRA was established by an act of the California State Legislature and tasked with presenting a high-speed rail plan to the voters. This plan, Proposition 1A, was presented to and approved by voters in 2008 and included a $9 billion bond to begin construction on the initial leg of the network
HSR was a classic bait and switch to get the project going. Then when the public was given the true cost, it was too late to stop it. Classic large public project MO. We should be putting that money into a border wall.
Lou: thank you for the opposing view on Governor Brown's legacy. It is always helpful to see the good with the bad when trying to evaluate Mr. Brown's legacy. He has done somethings well, some not so well, and failed at others.
45+ years of Republican banter of "No New Taxes" and Prop. 13 malarky. California shot itself in the foot when that Prop. passed. Greed on Wall Street cost billions of pension fund money to vanish. After 9/11 city, county, state workers, cops, firefighters were all heros! 2008-2009 after Wall Street it was "their pensions" that caused the collapse of our financial institutions. Right....do your homework.
The irony of decrying the gas and bridge taxes and subsequently whining about crumbling infrastructure in your next breath is astounding, even by the usual Daily Journal comment standards. Utterly ridiculous.
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