'Gavin’s runaway train' by Vincent

 
In an era where financial responsibility is paramount, California has once again found itself barreling down a one-way track towards one of the most egregious examples of government waste in American history. Gavin Newsome’s now infamous “Train to Nowhere,” originally billed as a transformative project for the Golden State, has become a 100-billion-dollar fiasco, creating a boondoggle of epic proportions.       
 
For those of you not up to light rail speed, the California high-speed rail initiative (SRI) was envisioned as a grand project, connecting major urban hubs throughout southern California.  Cities like San Francisco and Los Angeles, Bakersfield and Merced, would be linked with an eco-friendly mode of transportation.  But instead, it appears the tax-paying public has been taken for a different type of ride altogether.
 
To understand the depth of this debacle, one must look at the timeline.  Over a decade has passed since construction began, and in that timeframe, less than a mile of track has been laid.  The original budget for this project was estimated at roughly 33 billion, but that number has since ballooned into a staggering 100 billion and counting.  At this juncture, one must ask, how do taxpayers continuously allow all their money to be squandered without consequences? 
 
What’s even more infuriating is how Gavin Newsom, an adamant supporter of this boondoggle, is now attempting to distance himself from the oncoming train that he helped create.  To be fair, when Newsom took office, he inherited the project from then Governor Jerry Brown.  During Browns tenure, costs had skyrocketed, and the timeline extended way beyond reason.  It was clear from the very beginning that 33 billion dollars was simply a down payment for deception.   
 
Yet, instead of pumping the brakes and calling for a thorough investigation and reevaluation, Newsom decided to double down on the 100-billion-dollar fiasco.  Any rationale leader would have cut their losses and redirected funds toward more pressing infrastructure needs, like fire prevention, repairing crumbling roads and bridges, and addressing California’s perilous water crisis.  Instead, Newsom chose to stick to this doomed plan and ride it all the way to the end of the proverbial line.  This is simply political ambition cloaked in progressive ideology. 
 
Common sense dictates we cannot allow this doomed train to continue chugging down the tracks.  Sadly, for those who were duped into believing the grand vision of speedy trains whisking passengers from San Fran to L.A. in a matter of hours, the disappointment is palpable.  The truth is, the only thing speeding down the tracks, is freight cars of taxpayer money disappearing down a labyrinth of bureaucratic pockets.   
 
The sheer audacity of this government sanctioned robbery should make every tax paying citizen furious.  As we dig deeper into this quagmire, numerous questions arise regarding the motives behind this project.  Was this an altruistic endeavor aimed at improving public transportation?  Or was it simply a pet project money grab aimed at fleecing the public, while lining the pockets of developers and contractors at the expense of hard-working citizens.  I happen to think the latter applies; and the complete lack of transparency only fuels my assertions. 
 
Environmental reviews, land acquisitions, legal challenges, budgetary mismanagement, and lack of oversight have all created the perfect storm for negligence and blatant exploitation.  Meanwhile, California residents will continue to face the long-term financial consequences of abysmal planning and poor leadership; and will subsequently bear the burden alone.  Trump’s Department of Transportation has rightfully pulled all federal funding from the “Train to Nowhere” project. 
 
Going forward, this soulless stretch of barren land should serve as a reminder of broken promises and trampled dreams; brought to you by the Democrat establishment.  The worst part of all of this, is that no one will be held accountable for this complete derailment of what could have been a monumental achievement.  
 
In the broader context, this train wreck serves as a microcosm of what’s wrong with the state of California and Democrat leadership.  Currently, there’s a destructive blend of political ambition, misplaced priorities, and a glaring disregard for fiscal responsibility which has culminated in a disaster that will be felt by the taxpayers for decades. 
 
Editorial comments expressed in this column are the sole opinion of the writer.