More press pointing out the obvious Maloofs' attempt at sabotage

[Jose]

http://probasketballtalk.nbcsports....-of-governors-meeting-in-kings-arena-dispute/

"The most recent letter from Maloof attorney Scott Zolke doubles as a how-to manual on fighting the arena project, writing that the Maloofs are concerned about the project being completed on time while they simultaneously cause a delay by refusing to pay for pre-development costs they had already agreed to conceptually."

 

[Section 101]

HAHAHAHA. Best quote of the article.

The reason the Maloofs’ move doesn’t make sense is that it doesn’t make sense. It’s like explaining JaVale McGee – it just is.

 

[Section 101]

Quote from KJ that says it all.

With that said, the commissioner said to me and insured me that the NBA governing board, the commissioner of the NBA, the relocation committee, the advisory financial committee – they all know what the facts are.

 

[hrdboild]

Has anyone looked into the folks behind the STOP campaign? Considering how prominently and thoroughly it was discussed in the Scott Zolke letter, it wouldn't surprise me at this point if they were on the Maloof payroll. Half the commenters on the Sacbee website might be too for that matter. Some of their arguments are so ridiculous, it reads like poll stuffing.

EDIT: The only contact listed on the STOP Website (http://www.stoparenasubsidy.com/stoparenasubsidy.com/Contact.html) is Richard Tolmach. A short search turned up a whole series of articles written by Richard Tolmach critisizing the currently state-run high speed rail plan for California. He's identified as the President of the "California Rail Foundation" (link)

Here's one of those articles: (link) which includes the following relevant comments:

The California Rail Foundation fervently believes high-speed rail must be part of California's future. We are equally convinced that the High-Speed Rail Authority is incapable of delivering a viable project. The time has come to shut down this agency and seek competitive proposals from private industry.

Instead of letting bureaucrats design a fantasy project based on a wish for $98 billion, a better formula, one followed by Texas and Florida, is to ask successful high-speed rail operating companies to demonstrate what could be built, matching the existing $12 billion of public funding with private capital.

The impression I get from all of this is that Richard Tolmach is a lobbyist employed by the private sector to torpedo any kind of state-run high speed rail (specifically the California High Speed Rail Authority). It can't just be a coincidence that he's now organizing an initiative to stop a new arena development deal in the Sacramento Railyards (which of course is also the site of a major rail hub proposed by the High Speed Rail Authority -- link)

I'll keep reading...

 

[Larry David]

Has anyone looked into the folks behind the STOP campaign? Considering how prominently and thoroughly it was discussed in the Scott Zolke letter, it wouldn't surprise me at this point if they were on the Maloof payroll. Half the commenters on the Sacbee website might be too for that matter. Some of their arguments are so ridiculous, it reads like poll stuffing.

There is no way the Maloofs would be that stupid and reckl .... never mind.

 

[hrdboild]

UPDATE: This is interesting, it's an article on the High Speed Rail Blog refuting some comments made by Richard Tolmach in Dec. of 2009 (link)

This article is rather long. If you don't want to read all of it, basically it calls into question Richard Tolmach's credibility since most of the claims he made against the CHSRA (High-Speed Rail Authority) in his press release are not accurate.

EDIT: And here's another one (link)

This week the Reason Foundation folks have been joined by another group of longtime HSR deniers - Richard Tolmach and his "California Rail Foundation." The CRF is a fancy name for Tolmach and two friends, who comprise the entirety of the organization. It has no website, no phone number, no members, no email list. It's basically Tolmach's effort to look like something other than a gadfly.

He shows up again in opposition to Prop. 1a on the 2008 Ballot (link). I'm not seeing any obvious evidence of a Maloof connection. Also he's made a campaign contribution to MoveOn in the past -- amazing what you can find online huh? (link). Perhaps I've just underestimated how much time and resources a person would commit to the CAVE cause.

More on the Railyards site:

Moving Sacramento's train station and tracks will be a curse for transit... (link)
Response on a 2007 Railyards article (link) -- can't find a link to the original article, just these posted excerpts

Rail advocate Richard Tolmach said the railyard "could easily become the
next major embarrassment for Sacramento."

Grand Jury Pans Sac Railyards Deals by Richard Tolmach (link) -- it's a pdf

And I thought this was funny:
R Street Construction article (link)

Not everyone is happy, however, as Richard Tolmach, who lives near 13th and R streets, said he would like to see trees planted in the area.

“The net effect is it’s going to be ugly and uninhabitable in the summer,” he said.

Trees that had historically been on R Street were removed in the 1960s, he said.

He added that the concrete areas have become popular with skateboarders.

Richard Tolmach also added "Get off my lawn!" ... wait, sorry. No he didn't. That was me.

 

[The Hammer]

Best article yet.

 

[ParniValjak]

HAHAHAHA. Best quote of the article.

By Far!

JaVale copping it from all angles!