My Opponent’s Light Rail Dream Is California's Nightmare
California got a hard lesson in what happens when politicians promise a train they can't pay for.
The Trump Administration pulled nearly $4 billion in federal funding from California's high-speed rail project this year.
The reason was simple: After 16 years and $15 billion spent, the state hasn't laid a single mile of track.
Governor Gavin Newsom called it “a political stunt.”
But the Committee to Unleash Prosperity reports the funding was pulled for a much simpler reason: failure to deliver.
Even CBS News is now reporting on the mess.
California's rail authority sued the federal government to try to get the money back. Then it turned around and asked Washington for nearly $400 million more.
That's the state my opponent, Vinny Spotleson, wants Nevada to copy.
Spotleson has said his top priority in the Legislature is bringing light rail to Las Vegas within the next seven to 10 years.
He's pointed to Paris as his model, saying our valley should follow their example of cutting car use and building out rail.
Here's what he's not telling Assembly District 41 voters.
Nevada's own transit agency already studied this. Twice.
Back in 2019, the RTC looked at building just 8.7 miles of light rail on Maryland Parkway.
The price tag started at $750 million and jumped to over $1 billion before a single shovel hit the ground.
RTC commissioners voted it down. Unanimously. Because of the cost.
A broader look at light rail for the whole valley put the number even higher: between $7 billion and $12 billion.
That's not a typo. That's billion. With a B.
Clark County doesn't have that money sitting around. Nevada doesn't either.
And if Sacramento's experience is any guide, whatever number gets promised at the start is never the number taxpayers end up paying.
California proved that for 16 years running.
Vinny Spotleson wants Nevada families to roll the dice on the same bet. And unlike me, he's already told voters he won't sign the Taxpayer Protection Pledge.
So when his light rail dream needs a new funding source, guess who pays?
AD41 needs a representative who looks at what already failed and says no thanks. Not one who wants a front-row seat to Nevada's own version of California's train wreck.
I'm running because Nevada families can't afford my opponent's wild-eyed imagination.
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