California Gov. Gavin Newsom answered a question on Wednesday about a New York Times report detailing several sexual abuse allegations against Cesar Chavez.

California taxpayers may be on the hook for a roughly $1 billion detour project as part of the state's new high-speed rail construction meant to prevent disruption of amonumenthonoring the disgraced labor leader Cesar Chavez.

Despite tearing down and vacating memorials for Chavez,top California lawmakersdid not immediately respond when asked if taxpayers in their state should still be on the hook for a roughly billion-dollar detour project meant to prevent the state's new high-speed rail from coming near the monument nestled in the mountains. The detour, according to 2020 estimates from the California High Speed Rail Authority, would cost taxpayers close to $1 billion when accounting for inflation.

California leaders, universities and beyond immediately began stripping honors they had bestowed on the late labor leader after news of him sexually abusing and grooming minors and adults, including one girl who was as young as 13 at the time of the abuse and another who became pregnant twice following their encounters.

CALIFORNIA TO CHANGE CESAR CHAVEZ DAY TO FARMWORKERS DAY AFTER SEXUAL ABUSE SCANDAL

Cesar Chavez, head of the United Farm Workers, makes a point in a press conference in Sacramento.(Getty Images)

The Chavez-founded labor union, United Farm Workers, called the allegations "profoundly shocking" and decided earlier this year to cancel its upcoming annual celebrations honoring him. Meanwhile, the César Chavez Foundation opted to do the same, describing the allegations as "disturbing" and noting they were "deeply shocked and saddened."

The Chavez Foundation, according to the San Francisco Chronicle, successfully lobbied for the roughly $1 billion detour known as the "Refined César E. Chávez National Monument Design Option," which moved the high-speed rail track roughly three-quarters of a mile from the Chavez monument's boundary. The monument, part of the National Park Service, is a sprawling 187 acres and includes Chavez's and his wife's burial spots. It is also reportedly the location where Chavez founded hislabor movement.

The monument already sits along a key transportation corridor with a single track looping around the site that carries dozens of freight trains a day. According to the San Francisco Chronicle, the train creates a constant rumble for those walking around the site.

DEMS FACE RECKONING AFTER PUTTING DECEASED LABOR LEADER ON PEDESTAL AS SEXUAL ABUSE ALLEGATIONS EMERGE

Source: California Post – Breaking California News, Photos & Videos