This was discussed at some length on the Northern California in Review program on SF PBS station KQED this afternoon. What was most interesting to me was that yes, the money is going to the Napa flood control program to move the rails and bridge which captures the garbage and makes for the flooding etc. and the money is not going to the wine train which just happens to use the tracks and which business, the train, brings beaucoup dollars to Napa and etc. so let's get this track/bridge situation cleaned up so we won't flood and yes, it happens to affect the Wine Train but etc. etc. and we want to keep it running for the $$$ it brings to us here in Napa. (I'm paraphrasing what they are saying)
What is most fascinating about this is that for all sorts of interesting reasons having to do with awarding contracts under these federal stimulus packages, the only company which qualifies to do the work is an ALASKAN company owned by native Americans in Alaska who can bid on contracts------well, it gets really complicated, thanks to Ted Stevens, but the owner of this Alaskan company is a retired dot.com entrepreneur who lives in South or North carolina and etc. etc. The Napa people say it might provide 12 jobs. $54 million. Yes, they may subcontract jobs to the locals in Napa, but $54 million???
C.