Fresno County Board of Supervisors withdraw support of High Speed Rail

FRESNO, Calif. (KFSN) -- Work on the high-speed rail project is well underway and providing jobs in Fresno County, but the project has outspoken enemies, like Fresno County Supervisor Debbie Poochigian, who announced at Tuesdays board meeting:

"I do not support the high-speed rail project," said Poochigian. "I want to make that very clear."

After failing two weeks ago to get her colleagues to immediately withdraw their support for high-speed rail, Poochigian got supervisors Andreas Borgeas and Phil Larson to join her in voting to de-endorse the project.

Poochigian added, "It is symbolic but it's important this board reverses position on high-speed rail, we have taken several positions supporting in the past but it's not what we supported originally."

In addition, the majority voted to file a friend of the court brief, in support a Kings County lawsuit against high-speed rail. The vice chairman of the high-speed rail authority, Fresno businessman Tom Richards was disappointed with Fresno County's new position, but noted.

"Well it doesn't mean anything in terms of moving the project forward," said Richards. "We will continue moving forward."

Supervisors Henry Perea and Judith Case McNairy maintained their support. They fear the actions by Poochigian, Borgeas and Larson will cost Fresno County.

"There's a lot of people who live in LA and San Francisco who would love to see this benefit them directly without the inconvenience of the Central Valley and the need of the people here to get connected," explained McNairy.

Perea is concerned the vote will hurt the county's chances of being the site of a high-speed rail maintenance facility, and up to 2,000 permanent jobs.

"What it does is sends a message to the decision makers when they are talking about a maintenance facility and all the jobs that will come with it, just shows Fresno County is not ready for prime time," said Perea.

It's not clear if the vote by the Fresno County supervisors really means anything but it clearly puts Fresno County at odds with the city of Fresno and Mayor Ashley Swearengin who supports and endorses high-speed rail.