Readers Take Issue With Freeway Link as a Solution

I take issue with George Ristic’s letter (Times, Aug. 10): I wish every city in the San Gabriel Valley had the guts South Pasadena has, to challenge the pork-barrel politics of Caltrans.

When will the freeway junkies of Southern California wake up and smell the monoxide? A freeway has never opened in this town that was not terminally clogged within a year. Reason: As soon as the travel time is cut down, people move that much further from their workplace. Result: The same wait in traffic, but with more miles driven, more oil wasted, more smog spewed out. This isn’t progress, it’s madness. Who benefits? The freeway lobby--real estate developers, construction firms, oil companies, car makers. Who loses? Taxpayers, and everyone who breathes the filth we laughingly call air in this valley.

Regarding cost-effectiveness: The Pasadena-to-downtown rail line, among others, will render the 710 redundant and inefficient within a few years. And don’t forget to figure in increased cancer, lead levels and other health-related costs of longer distances driven, thanks to the 710. I urge everyone to support Mayor (Evelyn) Fierro, and oppose this costly dinosaur.

South Pasadena values things like history and quality of life, which no doubt seems like arrogance to surrounding cities infected with greed and stupidity. Like it or not, local democracy, not corporate fiat or imposed state/federal bureaucracy, will be the wave of the next century.

As for those who resent the long drive to their brand-new suburbs in the far valley, I have two simple solutions: Take public transport, or live where you work.

DOUG MOLITOR

Altadena