End PCH Parking for Safety Reasons

It was “deja vu all over again” as I read your article about removing parking during the afternoon rush hour in Hermosa Beach (Times, Oct. 14). The pathetic posturing by the City Council, staff and Caltrans was lame beyond excuse.

As a former member of the Hermosa Beach City Council, a decade ago, we did remove the parking for several weeks on a trial basis. Accidents did decrease, driving time did improve, fewer commuters snaked their way through our narrow residential streets, and the “chicken littles” were proven wrong--the sky did not fall on the local businesses. A subsequent City Council reinstituted that parking, and Caltrans, without a whimper, meekly folded its tent and skulked into the sunset.

As to the current discussions: Where is the current City Council’s concern for the residents who must confront the daily intrusion of commuter traffic (that should be on PCH) into our neighborhoods? Should a literal handful of businesses cloud your vision of the safety and sanity of all Hermosans? To ignore the proven safety and environmental risks of your “do-nothing” approach is blatant malfeasance of your public trust.

How many potential customers is the Chamber of Commerce sacrificing by its position? Do you honestly believe that consumers will stop at a local business during rush hour when they fear the all-too-frequent sideswipe while trying to park, or return on the weekend to patronize a business after sweating five days of absurd gridlock?

Why is the Hermosa School Board’s voice mute concerning the safety of our children trying to return home while competing with irate commuters? With crossing guards providing safe passage across PCH, why your silence about the safety of our kids along Valley Drive, Ardmore Avenue, Hermosa Avenue, Prospect Avenue, etc?

Since Caltrans knows the safety, liability and environmental realities, where’s its guts? Since Hermosa Beach officials and staff lack the fortitude, torque your own courage and do what needs to be done.

With heads firmly placed in the sand, I fear the current charade will only continue. Parking along PCH during the afternoon rush hour should be removed, not because it is the answer to traffic congestion, but because it is a necessary and reasonable local response to the regional traffic congestion puzzle and to the peace of mind that we deserve in Hermosa Beach.

LANCE WIDMAN

Hermosa Beach