Tag Archives: Kings County Farm Bureau

Citizens for California High-Speed Rail Accountability (CCHSRA) Express Support for Bill to Freeze Spending of Federal Funds While Courts Stop Bond Sales

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On Monday, March 24, the California Assembly Transportation Committee held a hearing on Assembly Bill 1501, introduced by Assemblyman Jim Patterson of Fresno, that would have prevented the California High-Speed Rail Authority from spending federal grant money on the bullet train while the courts continue to prohibit the state from borrowing money by selling Prop 1A bonds. Assemblyman Patterson noted that the state would be bound to matching any of the federal funding spent on the high-speed rail project.

Aaron Fukuda, co-chairman of the CCHSRA, testified as a key witness in support of AB 1501. A second featured witness in support of AB 1501 was Diane Friend, Executive Director of the Kings County Farm Bureau. In addition, Alan Scott and Frank Oliveira of CCHSRA spoke during public comment in support of AB 1501, along with policy consultant and CCHSRA ally Kevin Dayton of Labor Issues Solutions, LLC.

A California High-Speed Rail Authority representative claimed that Cap and Trade auction allowances (described by some as “taxes”) would match the federal funding. Representatives of the California Labor Federation, the State Building and Construction Trades Council of California, and individual construction trade unions spoke in opposition to AB 1501, along with representatives of high-speed rail interests.

Assemblyman Patterson had hoped the committee would pass his bill to the Assembly Appropriations Committee in order to trigger a fiscal analysis. Instead, the Democrat majority on the committee rejected the bill on an 11-4 party-line vote.

Watch the video of the AB 1501 hearing (starts at 20:50).

Media Fact Sheet from Citizens for California High-Speed Rail Accountability (CCHSRA) and Kings County Farm Bureau (KCFB) – February 20, 2014 Event

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Today (February 20, 2014) a coalition of construction trade unions held a rally outside of the “Protect Agriculture and The Valley” fundraiser in Hanford organized by the Citizens for California High-Speed Rail Accountability (CCHSRA) and Kings County Farm Bureau (KCFB). Here are excerpts from a CCHSRA and KCFB joint media fact sheet distributed at the event.

MEDIA FACT SHEET

• The court ruled in our favor.

“The funding plan failed to comply with the statute.” – Proposition 1A (Part 1 and the Validation Case) ruling by Judge Michael P. Kenny, Superior Court of California, County of Sacramento on August 16, 2013. The Court has ruled that the California High-Speed Rail Authority has been attempting to operate illegally. Read our court victories.

• The economy in Kings County is based on agriculture.

Farming has been the fabric of Kings County since the 1800’s. We want to preserve it for future generations of farmers. We help feed and clothe the world.

• There is more at stake than farmers worried about their livelihood.

California’s Cap-and-Trade funds, education funds and general fund are also negatively impacted by the California High-Speed Rail project.

California High-Speed Rail Authority struggles to pay its bills.

California High-Speed Rail Authority struggles to pay its bills.

• Existing jobs and livelihoods that are directly in the path of the California High-Speed Rail will be destroyed, while job creation promises are tarnished by diminishing funds.

Small businesses and large businesses cannot absorb not getting paid by the California High Speed Rail Authority. Job creation is to create a job that people are actually getting paid for….and not by an entity already behind in its bills.

• The Authority is also having a hard time meeting the travel time requirement of Proposition 1A.

They want to slice through every community in the Central Valley….every city and every downtown in between at 220 mph nonstop. No train should be doing this near people. They are also flying down the Tehachapi Mountains at a high speed with brakes that haven’t yet been invented. See the February 11, 2013 California High-Speed Rail Authority memo “Phase 1 Blended Travel Time.”

•We are looking forward to having our case heard at the appellate level.

• The Kings County Farm Bureau is a non-profit advocacy organization, which represents approximately 800 members of the agricultural community. The mission of KCFB is to provide education, promotion and representation of agriculture.

•Citizens for California High Speed Rail Accountability (CCHSRA) is a nonprofit, nonpartisan advocacy group based in Kings County whose members reside in the city of Hanford and surrounding rural areas, along with other Californians who are affected by the high-speed rail. The group has been in the forefront since June 2011 attempting to get the California High-Speed Rail Authority (CHSRA) and its board to be in full compliance with Proposition 1A which the state’s voters passed in November 2008.

 

Reminder: Citizens for California High Speed Rail Accountability (CCHSRA) and Kings County Farm Bureau (KCFB) Fundraiser – February 20, 2014 in Hanford

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CCHSRA, KCFB Fundraiser to Protect Agriculture and The Valley Slated for February 20 in Hanford

Hanford, CA February 19, 2014 – Citizens for California High Speed Rail Accountability (CCHSRA) and the Kings County Farm Bureau (KCFB) will co-host a fundraising luncheon/reception to “Protect Agriculture and The Valley” on Thursday, February 20th, 2014 at the Civic Auditorium in Hanford, California.

Special guests include Congressman David Valadao, Assemblyman Frank Bigelow, Assemblywoman Shannon Grove, Assemblywoman Diane Harkey and Assemblyman Jim Patterson. Members of the Proposition 1A Legal Team will also be there along with local leaders. Invited guests include Senator Andy Vidak.

Those who attend the fundraiser will have a chance to hear elected officials speak about key issues adversely affecting agriculture in the Central Valley which include California high-speed rail and water. Attendees will also have a chance to personally ask the legislators questions.

“This is an historical event where our legislators will stand shoulder-to-shoulder with Central Valley citizens and agriculture to call on our state to be accountable,” said KCFB Executive Director Diane Friend.

A fundraising sponsor lunch with special guests will be followed by a lunch reception.

Sponsorship and ticket information inquiries should be made via email to CCHSRA Board Members Alan Scott (a_scott1318  [at]  comcast.net) and/or Helen Sullivan (sullypnh  [at]  wildblue.net).

Kings County Farm Bureau is a non-profit advocacy organization, which represents approximately 800 members of the agricultural community. The mission of KCFB is to provide education, promotion and representation of agriculture.

Citizens for California High Speed Rail Accountability (CCHSRA) is a nonprofit, nonpartisan advocacy group based in Kings County whose members reside in the city of Hanford and surrounding rural areas, along with other Californians who are affected by the high-speed rail. The group has been in the forefront since June 2011 attempting to get the California High-Speed Rail Authority (CHSRA) and its board to be in full compliance with Proposition 1A which the state’s voters passed in November 2008.

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For more information, please visit us at https://cchsra.org/ and/or
contact Shelli Andranigian at andranigianmedia7  [at]  att.net. Thank you.