CA Rail Project Plans Massive Land Grabs

Stealing for the public good. Or something.

Before high-speed rail planners can do anything with the Central Valley route, they are looking at an estimated $360 million to buy out 356 privately-owned land parcels along the route.

According to a recent legal decision, holdouts will be bought out through courts, "whether they like it or not," to use Lt. Gov. Gavin Newsom's infamous 2008 statement on another matter.