Results tagged “proposition1”

Whether you're sitting in front of your absentee ballot or you're readying yourself for voting in person on November, you're looking at national and local elections as well as a slew of California ballot propositions -- 12 to be exact. Well, over the course of this election cycle, LAist writers have posted about 10 of the 12 propositions. We present to you our posts on each proposition, for a more empowered decision on your part. In addition, we provide links to several voter guides put together by California organizations, for your perusal.

The California Chamber of Commerce announced yesterday that they oppose Prop 1a, the November ballot initiative that would authorize a $9.95 billion bond to partially fund the route between Southern to Northern California. A trip from Los Angeles to San Francisco would be under three hours.

Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger signed a piece of legislation on Monday that changes the language in Proposition 1, the high speed rail bond.

In order to get the State Legislature to pass the budget, which was due by July 1st, Schwarzenegger threatened to veto any bill that came across his desk until it passed. But that meant he would have to veto bills that he supported like the bill to update the High Speed Rail proposition (SF to LA in under 3 hours) or his water bond bill. Then today he reversed course... for his pet bills, of course. For those following the Metro sales tax story, Streetsblog LA has some hope that the bill that would allow voters to approve or deny public transit funding will be signed.

On this November's ballot, we will be voting on Proposition 1, a bond that will help fund a high speed rail route that is planned to have a two hour-forty minute train trip between Los Angeles and San Francisco. USA Today columnist David Grossman writes his experiences and why we need it:

Scwharzenegger has given his support of Proposition 1, which would allow over $9 billion in funding for the beginnings of high speed rail in California (whiz between LA and SF in under three hours, they say). But earlier this week, he said he was not going to sign any bills (and some report that he will veto everything or some mix therof) until the legislature finishes the budget.

It's funny, everyone wants to stop the people from getting a chance to choose for themselves this November on the ballot. Yesterday, it was the LA County Board of Supervisors who denied putting a measure on the ballot that would let residents choose if they wanted an increased sales tax to provide massive funding for mostly public transit. Also this week, there was a Senate Bill that sought to take Prop 1, the high speed rail bond, off the ballot. It got voted down in a state transportation committee. So for now, in November, it's up to the voters to authorize a $9 billion bond to help travelers whisk from LA to San Francisco in less than three hours by the earliest projected date of 2018.

This weekend, it was reported that the Sierra Club is still undecided on Proposition 1, which would authorize a $9.95 billion bond for High Speed Rail (as in less than three years to train it from Los Angeles to San Francisco). Sierra, along with the Conservation League, feel that the train's route through the Pacheco Pass between the Central Valley and San Francisco would cause sprawl in the otherwise underdeveloped region. They rather see it go via another route that is already in a developed area.

When state planners completed the last bit of the proposed High Speed Rail route between LA and San Francisco last month, some environmentalists like the Sierra Club and Planning and Conservation League were and and still not sure with that portion, citing that a train from the Central Valley to Northern California through the more undeveloped Pacheco Pass could beget sprawl. The Fresno Bee reports that they rather see it go through the more urban Altamont Pass, which also could bring in more riders and less congestion, they say.

Proposition 1, which seeks high speed rail funding (you know, LA to SF in less than three hours?) on the November ballot, is one of the many proposals that won't go without a fight this political season.