Posted by Capdiamont, a resident of another community, on Dec 14, 2009 at 7:02 am

By MELODIE HILTON

Dear Senator, I called your office, but you were unavailable to talk. So, I thought it might be appropriate to express my concerns in writing. I was shocked to hear that people high up in Washington think that the Napa Valley Wine Train received

$54 million in stimulus money — which, of course, we didn’t.

I, and a number of other people, have read your Stimulus Checkup — a report outlining poor government spending. Page 14 (number 11 on list) is titled “All Aboard the Wine Train ($54 million).”

I realize you are very busy. It must be difficult to talk to everyone that wants to bend your ear. But, that is exactly what I was calling about: No one at the Napa Valley Wine Train received a call from you or your office researching the Stimulus Checkup that you just released.

In fact, I couldn’t determine if anyone at the flood control offices in Napa, or even the city of Napa spoke to you about this project. And, it doesn’t appear that you talked to your co-worker (of sorts), Rep. Mike Thompson, D - St. Helena. He spends a bit of time in Washington, knows a lot about this project, and I am sure, would make time to talk about something this important.

It worries me that no calls were made before we were held up to the entire American public — a small business in Northern California — as an enormous source of government waste.

If you had spoken with us, or even project officials, you might have asked: Why would the Napa Valley Wine Train need, or take,

$54 million in taxpayer money to move a small section of rail line 33 feet? The answer is: We didn’t!

So, who does? Napa County has an award-winning flood control project and design; one that was proposed, and approved by voters, many years ago. This is the project that is being funded. That design has impacted a lot of businesses. It has necessitated the movement of several rights-of-way, and at my last count four or five bridges (including the Wine Train’s). The goal of this project is to protect the city of Napa from continued flooding, period, not enhance specific companies.

Sen. McCain, like many businesses across this nation, we believe in investing in our community. We have received several awards for our waste-reduction efforts; we have programs to reward volunteerism; we support non-profits with a generous donation program and partnership program; we are a good-sized employer for the small county of Napa and we have provided health insurance benefits to all our employees for 20 years. We are a great and happy place to work. Our business preserves an important transportation corridor. Yes, we are instrumental in bringing people (tourists) to Napa; but we are also a community asset for our locals. Frankly, we just didn’t deserve this.

The horrible economy was a terrible hit this year for a lot of Napa businesses — ours included. Add to it Swine Flu, TARP, the state of California’s grievous problems and unemployment. And now one of the people who have applied for the position of leader of the free world is wrongly holding us up as an example of waste. Your report makes it look like our business is enhanced by a civic improvement project. With wrong information, this report becomes a detriment to us and the American public, and not the righteous instrument it was meant to be.

Since you have thrown down the gauntlet, and made accusations, I would like to demand satisfaction! No, that does not come in the form of a retraction or apology. You are invited to come to Napa. Talk to the officials behind this project; learn what is really going on. It is your right and your responsibility.

And, while you are here — We hope you take a ride on the Napa Valley Wine Train. Merry Christmas.

(Hilton is director of marketing and public relations for Napa Valley Wine Train.)

Posted by Charducci, a resident of the Muir Beach neighborhood, on Dec 14, 2009 at 10:39 am

It sounds like she is upset about the news. I saw it on channel 2 news and a spokesman from the wine train also said the report was unfounded. But then they went downtown and interviewed some merchants. One woman was mad because she said the flooding problems in Napa are caused by the Napa Creek, not the Napa river. She said that the people of Napa would have much rather have seen the $54 million go to fixing the flooding problems in Napa caused by the creek. Now the wine train might high and dry, but Napa will still have big flooding problems until it is fixed. I did not vote for McCain but maybe he is not that bad to call this waste of our tax money on a whino train "silly and shortsighted".

Posted by Marcy, a resident of the San Rafael neighborhood, on Dec 14, 2009 at 9:38 pm

My friend and I share a common birth date and went on the wine train for the first time. All I can say is that in my 70 years I have rarely been so delighted. It took us back to a time when railroads were the mode of travel and I must say, if it was anything like the time on the Napa Wine Train then I wish that the train would get a ton of money. And, no, we did not get drunk.

Posted by Napkin, a resident of another community, on Dec 15, 2009 at 9:25 am

This is a about a senator from Oklahoma and a senator from Arizona trying to score political points about lots of things they know very little about and have probably never seen. Unfortunately, the truth gets lost somewhere along the way. This needed flood control project has been in process for many years with considerable federal funding. The fact that the wine train happens to go along the river and be located in a part of the flood area is incidental.

Web Link

Posted by anon, a resident of the Mill Valley neighborhood, on Dec 15, 2009 at 10:45 am

I don't understand why Melodie Hilton is so perturbed. It sounds like they did get the stimulus money for the wine train route.

The train travels through the area where the wine train goes, right?

So why aren't they thankful? If it came across as the wine train needing the money and they're mad because they didn't like the sound of that statement, then I say big deal.

If you got your money, then be thankful for it. It will help clear up the flooding problem, hopefully, and then business will be okay.

The problem with people in Napa and Napa Valley in general is an inherent sense of snobbery. Used to be a time when people could go up and taste wine for free. I bet the economy thrived back then.

Now it's $10 to even pick up a wine glass. And then on top of that there's the snootiness that comes with wine tasting. I say bring the fun back people! If you want business to pick back up again, then lower prices and see how many people pour into Napa.

Your wine train will do better business also.

Posted by Broke, a resident of another community, on Jan 30, 2010 at 9:31 pm

A word to the anonymous Mill Valley poster. There are two types of people in Napa: those with money - and those without. Speaking as one of the 'withouts' I would say that your opinion is borne of interaction with winery staff, some of whom seem to very easily slip into 'snob mode' with visitors. We are not all so fortunate: there are many (I mean a lot) of people who live under the bridges that cross the Napa river... for them, having to move out and find another bridge to call home is going to be a real bitch. Still, I s'pose we can then say that the stimulus money created some new homes...

Posted by Sam, a resident of the Fairfax neighborhood, on Feb 3, 2010 at 5:04 pm

If the government came and knocked down your place of business for a public works project wouldn't you want the government to remberse you full for reloacateing your business.