Via Valmonte Route Should Remain Open

Regarding the article by Ronald B. Taylor on the possible closure of Via Valmonte (Times, Aug. 23).

Via Valmonte should not be referred to as a shortcut. Since the 1920s it has been the main southerly exit/entrance. After all, when a piece of land is surrounded on three sides by water, there have to be a couple of land routes.

Someone needs to ask how these 17 or so Torrance residents requesting the closure can exert such enormous pressure on the city of Torrance. Some of these houses recently built are empty. Would they be sold if Valmonte were closed to through traffic?

The major reason for these 17 or so homeowners requesting that Via Valmonte become their private cul de sac is greed! They knew where and what they were buying; these few people want to increase the value of their homes at the expense of the many.

And the many include the merchants of Torrance, who are certainly supported financially by Peninsula residents rather than a handful of 17!

Someone needs to ask why Torrance INCREASED the speed limit on Via Valmonte from a logical 15 m.p.h. to 25 m.p.h.?

The Automobile Club of Southern California needs to put in its two-cents’ worth since it is concerned with free and steady flow of traffic, the conserving of gasoline and air pollution reduction.

Hasn’t the city of Torrance and these 17 or so homeowners even thought about all the lawsuits that will arise if they redirect traffic to one of the most dangerous intersections around here? There will be accidents, injuries and deaths. Will anyone want that on his conscience? Adding 15 to 20 minutes for hospital emergencies will also cause Torrance some problems.

There are no gated, locked areas in P.V.E. that I know of.

It seems the city of Torrance has something to hide.

CYNTHIA H. SARMANIAN

Palos Verdes Estates