Read the full story here Web Link posted Thursday, January 12, 2012, 4:38 PM
https://n2v.paloaltoonline.com/square/print/2012/01/12/rail-authority-ceo-to-resign
Town Square
Rail authority CEO to resign
Original post made on Jan 12, 2012
Read the full story here Web Link posted Thursday, January 12, 2012, 4:38 PM
Comments
Posted by Paul Losch
a resident of Community Center
on Jan 12, 2012 at 5:43 pm
a resident of Community Center
on Jan 12, 2012 at 5:43 pm
Another nail in the proverbial coffin.
I cannot understand why Jerry Brown, as spartan as he is, continues to support this effort.
It clearly is in a downward spiral, and rightly so.
How much onger should this thing be kept on life support before we let it go?
Posted by Dave
a resident of Duveneck/St. Francis
on Jan 12, 2012 at 5:47 pm
a resident of Duveneck/St. Francis
on Jan 12, 2012 at 5:47 pm
"I cannot understand why Jerry Brown, as spartan as he is, continues to support this effort."
Oh come on, Paul. Jerry Brown is in the pocket of the labor unions. You know this, as well as I do. Why pretend?
Posted by Resident
a resident of Another Palo Alto neighborhood
on Jan 12, 2012 at 6:04 pm
a resident of Another Palo Alto neighborhood
on Jan 12, 2012 at 6:04 pm
I can perfectly understand why Van Ark, a European rail expert, can't be bothered with trying to work out Californian political and local NIMBYism any more. He tried, but California doesn't make sensible moves to bring any type of rail up to worldwide standards.
Pathetic, we have lost the best chance we had.
Posted by John
a resident of Fairmeadow
on Jan 12, 2012 at 6:53 pm
a resident of Fairmeadow
on Jan 12, 2012 at 6:53 pm
Cashing out.
This was never going to be. All it is a pay check for out of work connected politicians and union cronies.
Blaming "nimby" whatever that means, deflects from the con.
Posted by glad im out of cali
a resident of another community
on Jan 13, 2012 at 2:31 am
a resident of another community
on Jan 13, 2012 at 2:31 am
And when war in the middle east raises the price of oil and subsequently gasoline, your all gonna wish you had a way to travel around the state at a fairly affordable price.
Posted by Crescent Park Dad
a resident of Crescent Park
on Jan 13, 2012 at 5:35 am
a resident of Crescent Park
on Jan 13, 2012 at 5:35 am
Natural gas vehicles are on the near horizon.
Posted by Crescent Park Dad
a resident of Crescent Park
on Jan 13, 2012 at 5:37 am
a resident of Crescent Park
on Jan 13, 2012 at 5:37 am
And at the current price tag, HSR is hardly affordable!!!
Posted by Crescent Park Dad
a resident of Crescent Park
on Jan 13, 2012 at 5:51 am
a resident of Crescent Park
on Jan 13, 2012 at 5:51 am
Sorry for the multiple posts - but one last point:
$100 Billion & climbing, plus a guarantee of an endless need for taxpayer supplemental funding to support operating costs is not what anyone would call affordable.
Posted by Perspective
a resident of Adobe-Meadow
on Jan 13, 2012 at 6:18 am
a resident of Adobe-Meadow
on Jan 13, 2012 at 6:18 am
I suspect Van Ark now gets pension and health care for the rest of his life from his one year stint.
Does anyone know?
Posted by peninsula commuter
a resident of another community
on Jan 13, 2012 at 8:28 am
a resident of another community
on Jan 13, 2012 at 8:28 am
The *Boondoggle* claims another, high-profile victim. The reality is that HSR will never be built in its present form, because the state, federal and local governments can not afford it. The voters do not want to sacrifice education or basic government services to build this pipe dream.
Posted by Scott
a resident of Old Palo Alto
on Jan 13, 2012 at 9:52 am
a resident of Old Palo Alto
on Jan 13, 2012 at 9:52 am
Shut down the whole boondoggle. How many $$ have been wasted to date?
California can't afford it. California doesn't need it. Write your state assembly person and senator today.
Posted by Scholar
a resident of Menlo Park
on Jan 13, 2012 at 10:15 am
a resident of Menlo Park
on Jan 13, 2012 at 10:15 am
When the going gets tough....
Posted by George
a resident of Leland Manor/Garland Drive
on Jan 13, 2012 at 1:23 pm
a resident of Leland Manor/Garland Drive
on Jan 13, 2012 at 1:23 pm
Like rats off a sinking HSR ship, CEO Roelof van Ark and Board Chair Thomas Umberg BOTH announced their resignations.
A ticket out of town should be your parting gift for no credibility. God knows, the High Speed Rail Authority has earned its reputation for no credibility in report after report, in spin statement after spin statement.
HSR is heading down that dark siding to nowhere. Good riddance.
Posted by music
a resident of Southgate
on Jan 13, 2012 at 1:25 pm
a resident of Southgate
on Jan 13, 2012 at 1:25 pm
Kick this thing out our town.Senator,be brave.
Posted by Stan Hutchings
a resident of Old Palo Alto
on Jan 13, 2012 at 7:04 pm
a resident of Old Palo Alto
on Jan 13, 2012 at 7:04 pm
Has anyone started collection signatures for a proposition to halt the HSR? I'd like to sign it...
There are already better, faster, cheaper ways to get around the State and Country. The HSR is too limited in destinations for the high cost.
Posted by Wilt
a resident of Community Center
on Jan 13, 2012 at 7:58 pm
a resident of Community Center
on Jan 13, 2012 at 7:58 pm
And another high profile resignation from the CA HSR Authority. Van Ark extracted what, $200,000 to $300,000 each year he was there, and as pointed out, may have a generous life time pension as his reward for steering the state into a fiscal hole,all at the tax payers expense. No doubt a global search will be announced soon. Qualifications:
A great poker face, must be able to repeatedly lie to the citizens, tax payers, and all levels of local, state, and Federal govt.
No particular expertise other than the poker face is required. Since no actual credible engineering, land use planning, economic analysis or planning, budgeting, or anything what so ever of value to anyone or anything has, or ever will be done by the CA HSR, no useful skills are required!
A bank account where your pay check can be deposited.
Politically well connected is a plus, termed out has-been politicians especially encouraged to apply.
Posted by galen
a resident of Ventura
on Jan 14, 2012 at 10:57 am
a resident of Ventura
on Jan 14, 2012 at 10:57 am
This travesty has got to end. Van Ark has milked the taxpayers for millions and will continue to suckle at the public teat for the rest of his life. We can't afford to educate our children because we need to line the pockets of labor unions and politicos. This is disgusting.
