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Commentator's Facebook post accuses California officials of misusing disaster and housing funds
Summary
Public Affairs TV read a Facebook post by attorney and commentator Ashton Cohen alleging corruption in state projects—naming high-speed rail, homelessness spending and fire response as examples—and calling California a 'laughingstock.'
Terry Martin read a Facebook post from commentator Ashton Cohen that accused California officials and contractors of misusing taxpayer funds for projects including high-speed rail, homelessness programs and fire relief. The post contended large sums were spent with little to show for it and accused contractors and NGOs of pocketing money: "In 2008, they told us it would cost $8,000,000,000...It's now 2026. They burned through $20,000,000,000 and there's not a single mile of track late. All of it stolen," the excerpt read as presented on air.
Martin identified the item as Cohen's Facebook post and said he found the commentary 'interesting' and aligned with some criticisms of state projects. Berkowitz and Martin discussed the post as illustrative of voter frustration in California and used it as a launching point to criticize state management of large projects and homelessness spending. The broadcast did not present evidence to substantiate the allegations; the segment relayed the commentator's opinion as posted on social media.
The on-air reading preserves the post as a commentary item and attribution to Ashton Cohen; it did not include a response from California officials or contractors named in the post.
