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For those without the time to read - there is literally nothing in this article suggesting or alleging any corrupt dealings on the part of former governor Jerry Brown or anyone else. It is about the difficulty and expensive of purchasing all the parcels needed for the right of way, but, again, literally nothing in the article that ties into the parent comments assertion

> Because Moonbeam's buddies could buy 1000's of acres of worthless desert for pennies and then sell it back for a nice little profit

IIRC, the valley-first alignment was part of the application for federal funds made when Arnold Schwarzenegger was governor, so it's unlikely it was motivated by concern for friends of the (at the time) once-and-future Governor Brown.

For those who don't know (I didn't) - Governor Moonbeam is a nickname for Jerry Brown, former governor of California:

https://www.nytimes.com/2010/03/07/weekinreview/07mckinley.h...

How Jerry Brown Became ‘Governor Moonbeam’? [0]

[0] https://www.nytimes.com/2010/03/07/weekinreview/07mckinley.h...