Good news today for many residents of Orange County who are unfortunate enough to live next to railroad tracks. The O.C. Register reported that “The Orange County Transportation Authority on Monday gave final approval to a $60 million program to create quiet zones and improve safety measures at 53 railroad crossings.”
This means a lot to folks in my neighborhood, Park Santiago, as we have a railroad track that passes through the eastern border of our area, over by Lincoln Street, running north from the Santa Ana train station.
I have spoken to many residents on this side of the neighborhood, and every last one of them complains about the noise made by trains that pass through during the night and blast their horns – often waking up those who are sleeping.
You would think that Santa Ana Mayor Miguel Pulido, who sits on the OCTA board of directors, would LOVE the fact that the OCTA wants to help pay for the much needed quiet zones. But you would be wrong. As the Register put it, “Miguel A. Pulido, Santa Ana’s mayor, was the lone director to vote against the plan. He wanted OCTA to pay for 100 percent of the improvements, so cities wouldn’t have to dig into their general funds.”
Unbelievable. But it gets worse. It turns out that the OCTA “will pay for 88 percent of the costs, with 12 percent matches from the cities.” What a great deal! But not for Pulido. He will now have less money to waste on his developer friends. Didn’t he recently GIVE AWAY a street to his rich buddy, Mike Harrah? Yes he did.
And how much have Pulido and his corrupt City Manager, Dave Ream, blow on unnecessary street medians and on the Bristol widening project – that so far has only benefited Mater Dei High School?
And they don’t have a measly 12% to help the unfortunate residents who live next to the tracks?
This follows on the heels of Pulido’s disappointing performance during the recent OCTA bus driver’s strike. Pulido, along with Garden Grove’s Mark Rosen, were said to be the most ANTI-UNION members of the OCTA board. They dragged the strike out rather than quickly settle it. Why would they do this when so many of their residents depend on public transit?
If Pulido either will not or cannot make good decisions as a member of the OCTA board, then it is up to his fellow City Councilmembers to toss him off the OCTA board! We simply cannot afford to have him there any longer.
Something else to consider. If Pulido is not willing to pay a lousy 12% to silence our trains, why should we believe that he will find enough funds for his ill-fated Orangeline Maglev train? He says it will be privately funded. To the tune of over $20 BILLION. Does anyone believe him? I sure don’t.
Art,
are you recommending that you and your neighbors who live near the train tracks dig into your collective pockets and pay the 12 percent?
As the beneficiaries of a quiet zone,
Pulido only wants to waste “free” money! OCTA and Measure M funds don’t directly impact his General Fund. This is what is wrong with local Government. They are focused on whats in it for themselves and won’t look beyond their own pile of money.
OCTA Directors need to look beyond their own cities and make sound transportation decisions. That said they also shouldn’t be ignoring the people their decisions affect. Miguel’s train will be zooming through his residents backyards every 10 minutes. A train that his residents can’t even afford to ride. And those that can afford it won’t give up their luxury cars to sit on a train, then god forbid actually walk once they reach a station.
Pulido’s vote just adds emphasis that he doesn’t have a clue when it comes to transportation!
Great post Art.
I too read the story in the Register and was disgusted that Mayor Miguel Pulido voted NO on this issue.
This was one of the things that was an issue in the last election, with Pulido vowing to do all he could to bring quiet crossing to Santa Ana.
I did a little math and found that Santa Ana’s 12% share comes to about 1.35 Million(give or take a few $$$)
If Mayor Pulido takes away the $$$ from the Chamber and cuts back on his generous gifts of our tax dollars to the Bowers and the overpaid city mis-management team, this project could start and complete on time, without cost overruns dues to delays.
Earth to Bloggers…Pulido is one vote..out of 7! Where are the others to get 4 votes to spend city money however they want? Oh I forgot..they already promised all the city money to the Labor Unions who own them. Will someone please go to the Labor Day picnics with a video camera and tape our Santa Ana councilmembers making speeches about how we need to raise wages and beni’s for the employees!!! They won’t be talking about Quiet Zones or potholes..No they will be promises every last cent to the already rich city employees.
Is this for real. Is Larry Gilbert defending Mayor Pulido? Call 911.
Having been involved in many multi million dollar Contract negotiations I cannot fault him for requesting 100 percent funding. If you fail to ask you will never get to see how much more you could have received. As has been pointed out there were, what, seven votes of which he is in the minority. If the majority decision was to provide 88 percent Santa Ana will not receive any less in percentage than the other participants. I do not see him returning the check because he didn’t get his way for once.
Now MagLev is another story. Mayor Pulido. Don’t attempt to turn “your” dream sheet into reality using any public funds.
I live about 4 miles from the tracks, and on these warm summer nights with the windows open I can hear the faint tooting of the train horns during the night. A plasant, distant sound in the otherwise silent night. So, Santa Ana, thanks for keeping this nostalgic nightime sound going!