In Los Angeles a new poll finds California voters are experiencing voters’ remorse over a proposed $68 billion bullet train project, as the number of lawsuits against the rail system continues to grow.
According to the USC Dornsife/Los Angeles Times survey (lat.ms/N9tTcm) published Saturday 55% of voters want to see the high-speed rail bond issue that was approved in 2008 back on the ballot, and 59% say they will now vote against it,.
According to The Times, since the $9 billion borrowing plan was passed, the projected cost of the bullet train between Los Angeles and San Francisco has doubled. Also, in some areas it will now share tracks with slower commuter and freight trains.
As a result, a majority of voters has now turned against the ambitious undertaking. Meanwhile, Governor Jerry Brown is pushing lawmakers to approve the start of construction in the Central Valley later this year.
However, powerful agriculture groups and freight railroads maintain that proposed routes will damage their interests and compromise safety. Also, schools, churches, businesses and homeowners are now opposed to the project.
On Friday, Central Valley farm groups filed a major environmental lawsuit in Sacramento County Superior Court, asking for a preliminary injunction to block rail construction. Plaintiffs include the Madera and Merced county farm bureaus and Madera County. The suit is one of several already on the books, and still more agricultural interests in the Central Valley are threatening to sue.
Anja Raudabaugh, executive director of the Madera County Farm Bureau, told The Times. "We think a preliminary injunction against construction will occur because there were so many violations in the authority's environmental impact report. The plaintiffs say the rail project will affect approximately 1,500 acres of prime farm land and 150 agribusinesses in their region.
The poll found that concerns about the project extend across regions, ethnic groups, income brackets and even political affiliations, according to the Times. Among Democrats, initially the strongest supporters of the plan, only 43% will support the bond in a new vote, while 47% will oppose it. Seventy-six percent of Republicans would vote against it.
Voters have reconsidered their support for high-speed rail as lawmakers slash public programs to cope with a widening budget gap, said Dan Schnur, director of the poll and head of the Unruh Institute of Politics at USC.
Unruh said, "the growing budget deficit has caused Californians to be hesitant about spending so much money on a project like this one when they're seeing cuts to public education and law enforcement. Also, they seem to be wary as to whether state government can run a big speed rail system effectively."
Predicated on information received, in Southern California, 67% of voters said if given another opportunity they will reject issuing high-speed rail bonds and vote against it.
Additionally, if the bullet train system is built, 69% said they will never or hardly ever ride it. No respondents zero percent said they will use it more than once a week. Nonetheless, at times voters tend to become very emotional or irrational about issues that are not going as proposed. There are those who believe that if the system is built eventually rider ship will extremely good.
Written By;
Ishton W. Morton
Source: www.examiner.com
California American Water to Participate in the 2012 Coronado Promenade Summer Concert Series - StreetInsider.com
Company representatives will be on hand to promote water wise practices and conservation programs
SAN DIEGO--(BUSINESS WIRE)-- California American Water will participate in the 2012 Coronado Promenade Summer Concert Series on Sunday, June 10, 2012 at Spreckels Park, Coronado, CA. The Coronado summer concert series offers a fun and stress-free way to enjoy a summer evening in the company of family and friends. The 2012 concert sponsored by California American Water will feature entertainment by Wild Child, a Doors Tribute Band that recreates the madness and magic of a live Doors concert.
California American Water will host a water conservation booth during the concert. Concert-goers are encouraged to stop by California American Water’s booth to speak with company representatives, ask questions regarding their water service, discuss water conservation tips, and pick up information regarding the company’s rebate and home water survey programs.
| WHO: | California American Water | |||||
| WHAT: | 2012 Coronado Promenade Summer Concert Series | |||||
| WHERE: | Spreckels Park | |||||
| 601 Orange Avenue, Coronado, CA 92178 | ||||||
| WHEN: | Sunday, June 10, 2012 from 6:00 p.m. – 7:45 p.m. | |||||
California American Water, a wholly owned subsidiary of American Water (NYSE: AWK), provides high-quality and reliable water and/or wastewater services to approximately 600,000 people. California American Water’s San Diego County service district includes approximately 21,000 households and businesses and serves a population of about 95,000 people in the cities of Coronado, Imperial Beach, south Chula Vista, and parts of south San Diego.
Founded in 1886, American Water is the largest publicly traded U.S. water and wastewater utility company. With headquarters in Voorhees, N.J., the company employs approximately 7,000 dedicated professionals who provide drinking water, wastewater and other related services to an estimated 15 million people in more than 30 states and parts of Canada. More information can be found by visiting www.amwater.com.
California American WaterBrian A. BarretoOffice: 626-614-2542Mobile: 626-388-7484Brian.Barreto@amwater.comwww.californiaamwater.com
Source: California American Water
Source: www.streetinsider.com
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