California Projects That Burned Billions — and Delivered Nothing
🧵 High-speed trains. Hydrogen highways. Billion-dollar homelessness solutions.
California promised the future — but delivered half-finished projects, vanished funds, and broken trust.
Here are the biggest failures (you paid for):
🧵 High-speed trains. Hydrogen highways. Billion-dollar homelessness solutions.
California promised the future — but delivered half-finished projects, vanished funds, and broken trust.
Here are the biggest failures (you paid for):
1.
🚄 California High-Speed Rail
Started: 2008
Original cost: $33 billion
Now: Over $128 billion — and counting
Promised to connect LA and SF in under 3 hours.
After 16 years, not a single mile of passenger track is in service.
Still no completion date.
🚄 California High-Speed Rail
Started: 2008
Original cost: $33 billion
Now: Over $128 billion — and counting
Promised to connect LA and SF in under 3 hours.
After 16 years, not a single mile of passenger track is in service.
Still no completion date.
2.
🏙️ Skid Row Housing Trust
The LA nonprofit raised hundreds of millions in tax dollars to manage housing for the homeless.
By 2023, it collapsed — leaving 1,500+ tenants in buildings without repairs, security, or management.
Lawsuits, mismanagement, and zero accountability.
🏙️ Skid Row Housing Trust
The LA nonprofit raised hundreds of millions in tax dollars to manage housing for the homeless.
By 2023, it collapsed — leaving 1,500+ tenants in buildings without repairs, security, or management.
Lawsuits, mismanagement, and zero accountability.
3.
🧪 California COVID Lab Scandal
In 2020, CA signed a $1.7 billion contract with PerkinElmer to run a state mega-lab in Valencia.
The lab was plagued by test result failures, staffing issues, and underuse.
It quietly shut down in 2022 after operating at just 30% capacity.
🧪 California COVID Lab Scandal
In 2020, CA signed a $1.7 billion contract with PerkinElmer to run a state mega-lab in Valencia.
The lab was plagued by test result failures, staffing issues, and underuse.
It quietly shut down in 2022 after operating at just 30% capacity.
4.
🛣️ The Hydrogen Highway
In 2004, Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger announced a “Hydrogen Highway” to fuel the future.
20 years later?
Just 55 working hydrogen stations — and Toyota paused car shipments due to fuel shortages.
Billions invested. No mainstream use.
🛣️ The Hydrogen Highway
In 2004, Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger announced a “Hydrogen Highway” to fuel the future.
20 years later?
Just 55 working hydrogen stations — and Toyota paused car shipments due to fuel shortages.
Billions invested. No mainstream use.
5.
🏗️ Inside Safe (LA Mayor’s Homeless Hotel Program)
Mayor Karen Bass launched this with fanfare in 2023.
Motel placements cost up to $6,700/month per person.
Thousands placed — but no permanent housing built.
No data on how many exited homelessness.
And hotel owners profited handsomely.
🏗️ Inside Safe (LA Mayor’s Homeless Hotel Program)
Mayor Karen Bass launched this with fanfare in 2023.
Motel placements cost up to $6,700/month per person.
Thousands placed — but no permanent housing built.
No data on how many exited homelessness.
And hotel owners profited handsomely.
6.
🏘️ Project Homekey
CA bought up motels & hotels during COVID to convert into housing.
Over $3.4 billion spent.
Some sites sat vacant for months. Others cost $800,000 per unit — more than many single-family homes.
Many remain only partially occupied.
🏘️ Project Homekey
CA bought up motels & hotels during COVID to convert into housing.
Over $3.4 billion spent.
Some sites sat vacant for months. Others cost $800,000 per unit — more than many single-family homes.
Many remain only partially occupied.
7.
🚔 LAPD Body Camera Expansion
LA spent $57 million to expand body cams across the force.
But a 2023 audit found missing footage, broken upload systems, and zero disciplinary action for failure to record.
The cameras are on — but oversight is off.
🚔 LAPD Body Camera Expansion
LA spent $57 million to expand body cams across the force.
But a 2023 audit found missing footage, broken upload systems, and zero disciplinary action for failure to record.
The cameras are on — but oversight is off.
8.
📡 Broadband for All
In 2021, Newsom announced $6 billion to expand high-speed internet statewide.
But as of 2024, the fiber hasn’t reached most rural areas.
Local permits, labor issues, and planning delays have stalled progress.
Billions allocated. Results? Minimal.
📡 Broadband for All
In 2021, Newsom announced $6 billion to expand high-speed internet statewide.
But as of 2024, the fiber hasn’t reached most rural areas.
Local permits, labor issues, and planning delays have stalled progress.
Billions allocated. Results? Minimal.
9.
🧠 Mental Health “Beds” That Never Got Built
California passed laws and bonds to create psychiatric beds — including Prop 63 and CARE Court investments.
But waitlists remain months long, and many regions report no new capacity added in years.
Money spent. Beds not delivered.
🧠 Mental Health “Beds” That Never Got Built
California passed laws and bonds to create psychiatric beds — including Prop 63 and CARE Court investments.
But waitlists remain months long, and many regions report no new capacity added in years.
Money spent. Beds not delivered.
10.
Why does this happen?
Because California:
•Funds projects before they’re ready
•Avoids audits
•Uses no-bid contracts
•Faces no penalties for delay
•Politicizes outcomes instead of tracking results
The public pays. The insiders stay.
Why does this happen?
Because California:
•Funds projects before they’re ready
•Avoids audits
•Uses no-bid contracts
•Faces no penalties for delay
•Politicizes outcomes instead of tracking results
The public pays. The insiders stay.
11.
Altogether, these failed or stalled projects represent tens of billions in taxpayer money.
And what they delivered:
•Few homes
•No trains
•Empty buildings
•Press releases
•Excuses
Altogether, these failed or stalled projects represent tens of billions in taxpayer money.
And what they delivered:
•Few homes
•No trains
•Empty buildings
•Press releases
•Excuses
12.
California isn’t broke.
It’s mismanaged.
The real crisis isn’t money — it’s accountability.
🧵
—
It is for informational purposes only, not legal or financial advice.
California isn’t broke.
It’s mismanaged.
The real crisis isn’t money — it’s accountability.
🧵
—
It is for informational purposes only, not legal or financial advice.
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