Wealthy Sonoma County developers quietly bankrolled a new anti-train book that landed in mailboxes across the North Bay this week, just as voters get ready to decide whether to renew the sales tax that keeps the SMART commuter rail running. The unsolicited mailers arrived at the same time the rail agency is touting record ridership and a planned schedule expansion ahead of the June 2 ballot measure.
"The Great Train Heist," by Michael J. Coffino, is published by Skyhorse and is listed at major retailers with a subtitle that frames the project as a taxpayer rip-off. Barnes & Noble and other listings show the book's release date and publisher details.
Who Paid To Get The Book On Your Doorstep?
According to The Press Democrat, members of the Gallaher family picked up the tab to print roughly 15,000 copies, then had them distributed unsolicited to North Bay addresses in recent days. Cindy Gallaher told reporters the mailing "will not sway the June referendum" and argued that public funds should be spent on other priorities instead of SMART.
SMART Counters With Ridership Records
SMART officials pushed back, pointing to a record year. The agency reported 1,123,686 passenger trips in fiscal year 2025 and says it will roll out an expanded schedule in mid-April 2026 to meet growing demand. In a recent press release, SMART credited new stations in Windsor and Petaluma and said it expects further ridership growth as the service expansion is implemented. SMART reported the FY25 totals and the timing of the service changes.
How The June Vote Will Work
The renewal question is set to appear on the June 2 ballot in Marin and Sonoma counties, with ballots scheduled to begin mailing in early May, according to the Marin County elections office. Marin County Elections lists the election date and timeline. A 2024 legislative change authored by Sen. Bill Dodd created a path for a voter-led initiative and clarified that a reauthorization placed on the ballot by voters could pass with a simple majority, as detailed in the legislative hearing transcript, as per CalMatters.
Old Fights, New Money
The Gallaher family has been a major player in past SMART fights, with local reporting documenting nearly $2 million spent to defeat the 2020 renewal effort. The Press Democrat previously reported on that 2020 spending. The latest book mailer push signals that money will again be a central factor in 2026, as both sides gear up for a high-stakes campaign of mailers, ads and outreach leading into the June 2 vote.
