Reading the story, and then reading the comments, the first question might be "how many" commenters actually "read" it, and how many commenters actually know anything about the statutory authority or origins of each agency?

Neither ABAG, nor SCAG, nor SanDAG, or any of the other MPOs' have much authority over land use.... that either the delusional do gooders, or the jack booted conspiracy theorists fantasize about.... ABAG has never had the statutory power that MTC has had due to the transportation funding roles, and never will.

All of these "un-elected" but politically "representatives" "association" of "governments" agencies lack political accountability, including MTA, SCAG, ABAG, MTC....

SanDAG is a better model of accountability since it is one County Transportation Commission, one Metropolitan Planning Organization, and one Council of Governments, covering one County, and it shows is a more coherent consensus, from one broadly representative Board.

All of the other "regional" "governments" lack both real power and much accountability, and the level of dysfunctionality, depends on the power imbalances, internal divisions, and the quality of leadership.

Poor governance structures, imbalances, in focus, mission, political power, and funding, and lack of accountability affect regional and intercity rail operators, as well.

And, the one thing I can guarantee, is that nothing that's been said in this thread, mostly of conspiratorial nonsense and ranting, will do anything to change it.