Passengers riding Amtrak through Bakersfield aren’t buying California’s long-delayed high-speed rail dream — with many saying the multibillion-dollar project has already done more harm than good.
Steve Laird, a lifelong Bakersfield resident who recently moved to San Marcos, called the project unnecessary and deeply flawed.
California Post speaks to Bakersfield, CA, resident Steve Laird about the cost of Newsom’s rail project. Andy Johnstone for CA Post
Rail passengers getting off the Amtrak train at the station in Bakersfield. Andy Johnstone for CA Post“The whole premise of the high-speed train is wrong,” Laird said. “The way they take the land is wrong. California land is very expensive, so I am against that part.”
“It’s money misappropriated,” he added. “It’s very expensive, and I don’t think their timelines are ever going to come to fruition. This should have started years ago. Now they’re doing it, and they’ve accumulated lots of money.”
Passengers exited the train in Bakersfield. Andy Johnstone for CA PostLaird said the project has hit close to home: roughly 4,000 acres of farmland his family has worked for four generations were taken for the planned rail route.
“They built a massive mound for whatever reason,” he said. “I think it’s going to be an overpass. We don’t know.”
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Laird said the land had been used to grow onions, garlic, and almonds — and will no longer be passed down to future generations.
“It’s just irresponsible,” he said. “They should dissolve it, give the money back to the taxpayers, and give the landowners their land back.”
Christi Brannon of Bakersfield talking about the high speed rail project being a waste of money. Andy Johnstone for CA PostChristi Brannon, who has lived in Bakersfield for 50 years, also blasted Gov. Gavin Newsom’s pet project as “ridiculous.”
“I think it’s a joke,” Brannon said. “It costs too much money for Californians. Where is it? What is it?”
“People work hard for their money, and they don’t want to see it squandered away on nothing,” she added. “There’s nothing to show for it, and it’s been years.”
Bakersfield resident and business owner Gino Valpredo on the high speed rail project. Andy Johnstone for CA PostLongtime Bakersfield resident and business owner Gino Valpredo, 55, who owns Luigi’s Restaurant and Delicatessen, said the state has far bigger problems than high-speed rail.
“No one wants to go to Bakersfield or Merced,” Valpredo said. “There’s not going to be business travel on it, and it’s not going to make the state any money.”
Los Angeles resident Tamisha Sampson in Bakersfield at the train station. Andy Johnstone for CA Post
California Governor Gavin Newsom at a news conference about the high speed rail project. X/@CAgovernor“The cost of it is absolutely insane,” he said.
Valpredo said funds poured into the rail project would be better spent tackling California’s homelessness crisis.
“There’s nobody happy about it,” he added. “The only people who are happy are the ones profiting from it.”
His message to Newsom: “Just stop now and lick your wounds.”
