May 5,2018-
HSR argues Kings appeal designed to delay
An attorney for the California High Speed Rail Authority has filed a response to an appeal to the CPUC by Kings County that complained that the rail Authority’s designs for overpasses were unsafe.The matter is to be heard May 3 by an administrative law judge with the California Public Utilities Commission. The County alleges that the overpasses should be designed for higher vehicle speeds and larger truck loads.
In his brief to the judge,HSR attorney Donald Odell fires back that the County’s opposition against all federal funding or support for the project is what this is all about and that the County strategy is simply to delay and obstruct any progress to move it forward. He calls the County appeal, filed April 11, comes from an “openly hostile opponent “ of the project who has over recent years filed multiple legal actions to challenge it.
Odell continues that this vehement opposition has led to the “recusal of the entire Bench of the Kings County Superior Court from all Authority cases filed in the County.”
“This mass recusal required the Judicial Council to appoint Los Angeles County Superior Court Judge Edward Ross to the bench, this on a two-day per month schedule, to the Authority’s condemnation cases in Kings County, causing significant delays to the Authority’s condemnation actions and in turn, the Project itself.”
To acquire the property they need to build the rail, HSR has to go through the court to settle the legality of acquisition of many parcels, any mitigation and the matter of price.
The HSR brief says that the delay forced the Authority to “exercise the State’s sovereign right over sections of the County’s roads needed for the project.” Odell says the County brief is “not a good faith concern “ over safety. HSR spends several pages in their brief defending the standards they used to design the overpasses.
The County did not hold back either on their criticism arguing that high speed rail wants to ”save time and money, but not life and limb.”
Now it is up to the judge to decide if the Authority can use the existing construction plans and begin the building of several overpasses along the rail alignment this summer, already about a year later or more than they had anticipated. Ironically, delays to the project and cost overruns are often cited by critics as reasons to oppose it.
Another high profile dairy set for auction
Another high profile but economically challenged local dairy is set for complete dispersal in May; this time it is the Triple V Dairy, auctioning off both their herd and equipment at Hanford’s A&M Livestock Auction May 15. The dairy is high profile in that it is owned in part, by area congressman David Valadao who is a general partner. Earlier, Triple V was sued over money owed to lender Rabobank.
The dispersal will happen in the same month that another local dairy owned by Greg TeVelde, faces the sale of some 11,000 cows at their Tipton/ Corcoran area ranch May 5. Te Velde is also embroiled in what could be a forced sale of his large Oregon dairy
In recent days TeVelde declared bankruptcy according to published reports, delaying a Rabobank-forced auctioning Oregon that had been scheduled. Here is one press report.
“Oregon’s newest large dairy has filed for bankruptcy a day before thousands of its cattle was set to be sold to repay a major creditor.” TeVelde’s bankruptcy petition was filed April 26.
Capital Press reported the bank was looking to foreclose in his assets ” which serve as collateral for $60 million in defaulted loans.”
Kings County has 10,845 acres of almonds including 3133 acres non-bearing.Tulare County has 32663 acre including 4904 acres non-bearing.
Kings County opposes gas tax repeal
While some 5000 County residents have signed a petition to repeal the new 12-cent state gas tax with signatures submitted this week – the people who repair our local roads say they need the money to fill all those potholes.This week opponents turned in enough signatures to put the matter to a vote in November.
Earlier this year a top county official sounded off. “Over a 10-year period it will mean an extra $36 million to maintain and improve our roads here,” said Kevin McAlister, Kings County Public Works Director. He adds that protecting Senate Bill 1 that authorized the increase “is a priority for Kings County.” Of course the county may be asked to change their position.
Gas prices this year are indeed way up. Californians were paying an average of $3.12 a gallon before a 12-cent tax was imposed November 1, 2017. Today, California’s gas price average is $3.62 says AAA. That is 50 cents higher you are paying at the pump after 6 months. So the tax increase amounts to about quarter of the increase.
Statewide diesel prices are around $3.83 this week according to AAA. November 1, 2017 they were $3.11. That is an increase of 72 cents of which 20 cents are a tax increase.
Despite that,local Senator Andy Vidak speaks for many when he says “This regressive tax is hurting local family budgets and has resulted in Californians paying the highest gas prices in the continental United States. Our Valley can’t afford it.”