Merced Boys & Girls Club asks High‑Speed Rail Authority for relocation support

At the California High‑Speed Rail Authority’s May 1 meeting, the CEO of the Boys & Girls Club of Merced County asked the board to provide resources and support to relocate the club after disruption from project activities.

Cee Lee said the organization served 3,713 children and families last year, the highest number since the club’s founding in 1993, and described the relocation work as a significant disruption: “I am asking you to provide us with resources and support to relocate our boys and girls club.” She told the board the club had spent internal funds on relocation efforts and appealed to the authority’s ability to negotiate and make decisions to address the group’s needs.

Why it matters: The club serves several thousand local youth and families; relocation or disruption of its site could affect after‑school services in Merced County. Lee asked the authority to negotiate on the organization’s behalf and to provide resources rather than force legal action or public protest.

Board response and follow-up: The board acknowledged the comment; there was no formal action recorded during the meeting on the request. Staff did not provide a timeline or commitment at the time of the public comment. The speaker said she hoped the board would “make the right decision” and avoid litigation or mass protest by residents.

Public-comment context: The request came during the meeting’s public comment period and was one of several public remarks about project impacts and consultant performance. The club’s request was the only public comment at the meeting asking directly for relocation assistance from the authority.