MAN! If just a fraction of the energy spent on posting on this board about this thread went to writing emails to Ellen Pire at ellen.pirie@co.santa-cruz.ca.us to explain to her the benefits the railroad provides the county, the environment, and the well being of her constituents (whether they know it or not) she might come around. I noted that the article says after she retires from the Board of Supervisors, shes going to Europe or Africa with the Peace Corps where she will certainly discover the rest of the world (the real first world) has very effective railroads running all over them...