Politics & Government
City Says No to High Speed Train
Keep spending on high speed rail? Not a good idea, says Mission Viejo's city council.
The City Council Monday night voted to support a proposed assembly bill that would cut much of the funding for the state's high speed rail plan.
Assemblywoman Diane Harkey spoke before the council in favor of her legislation, Assembly Bill 1455.
Also called the “High Speed Rail Lemon Law,” the bill would halt state debt funding for the project, which could link San Francisco to San Diego.
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“Now I don’t do this lightly because it is a voter approved bond, but the voters were deceived,” Harkey said. “The voters were not told there was going to be $100 to $200 billion in construction costs. “
Councilmember Cathy Schlicht said that Orange County never wanted the high speed rail system, voting against Prop 1A.
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“People in Orange County voted no by 56 percent,” Schlicht said. “What we’re doing for our voters in Mission Viejo is confirming that we don’t want this.”
“We need to stop this train wreck."
The council approved the motion 5-0.
Other business
—Chief of Police Services Lt. Mike Gavin recognized Orange County Sheriff’s deputies Rich Castro, John Popp, Justin Osterfield and Ronald Rhodes for their work in keeping drunk drivers off the streets. For their efforts, the four officers, who serve in Mission Viejo, were honored by Mothers Against Drunk Driving. The MADD representatives and Castro were unable to attend.
—During public comments, three people spoke in support of Oxford Prep, the charter school on the site of Barcelona Hills Elementary School. The two schools had been sharing a site, but the Capistrano Unified School District voted to shutter Barcelona Hills.
—Officials approved a $71,193 purchase order for three replacement motorcycles for city police services from Huntington Beach Honda.
—Councilmembers decided to meet with CUSD officials about the new trustee area boundaries maps. Originally Schlicht proposed a motion condemning the new boundaries, but after advice from the city attorney, Schlicht tabled her motion pending future discussion with the CUSD.
The next city council meeting takes place March 5 at 6 p.m. in Council Chambers in City Hall 200 Civic Center
