LETTERS TO THE EDITOR

LETTERS TO THE EDITOR

Left Turn on Chautauqua Examined

I am sure every one of us at some point has had to make a right turn at that hairpin turn up Chautauqua from West Channel Road.

Though there is a streetlight at the corner of West Channel and PCH as well as a sign that warns against making a right turn on the red light onto PCH, many people think it is safe to make a right turn on that red light up Chautauqua, despite the fact it is not safe to do so and there is limited visibility with the cars that speed from PCH up the hill.

Yesterday, (March 23) I was at that hairpin turn and there were at least two impatient women in their cars behind me honking incessantly and rudely at me to make that turn. It is a dangerous turn, because the cars speed up Chautauqua very fast from PCH, and you cannot see them adequately from your position on West Channel.

I am writing to urge everyone to be careful at that turn and to only go on a green light, when it is safe to do so. It may seem reasonable to turn up the hill on a red light, but the cars come fast from PCH out of nowhere and can no doubt cause a potential collision coming up the hill.

Let’s please have more patience with other drivers at that light and know that by honking at them you are creating a very dangerous situation. The light eventually turned green and I made my way safely up the hill, and I urge others to do the same in this situation.

It turned out to be a great teaching moment for my kids—the importance of not always being in such a rush, which could end up having potentially disastrous consequences, and most important, don’t let anyone push or bully you into doing something that isn’t safe, under any circumstances. Let’s all try to work together to keep each other safe and healthy.

Alisa A. Bromberg, MD

Keep the Coverage Objective

When the Palisades News began publication, I wondered why a town of 23,000 people needed two local newspapers. Having read your coverage of the Caruso Swarthmore project, I see that having two newspapers keeps things honest. The Palisades News reporting of the Caruso project is objective, balanced, thorough and interesting.

You provide more in-depth research about events, such as your coverage of the DRB Action, which helped clarify the behavior of the DRB. I also appreciated your editorial (“High School Days Revisited in Caruso Debate”), in which you decried the bullying on NextDoor Palisades that has become so pervasive and threatens our small-town neighborliness. Your editorial reminded us that those with differing opinions still deserve to be treated with respect, even if those opinions impact (or delay) our desires.

The Palisades News’ investigation of the disappearance of $250,000 of Prop. K taxpayer money earmarked for picnic tables in Temescal Canyon Park was also extremely beneficial to our community, and I doubt the new picnic tables would be there if not for your tenacious reporting. Lastly, I found the insert on earthquake preparedness from last year so useful and practical that I keep it in the glove compartment of my car.

It seems to me that rather than having two local newspapers, the Palisades now has ONE leading newspaper, the Palisades News, where you can go to get the real story. Since I don’t have the time to keep up with two newspapers, I’m glad to know I can trust the Palisades News to give me the whole story and help make the Palisades a better place. Keep up the great work!

Lynn Hylen

We Are Not Bullies

I was deeply offended by your March 16 editorial. You chose to scold a group of people who expressed an opinion that was different than the opinion of the Palisades News and call them high school bullies. Since when does expressing a different opinion, even a passionately different opinion qualify as “bullying?” No one is trying to hurt you. We might be expressing our support of the Caruso project, and you might advocate for further investigation, but that hardly makes us bullies. You didn’t find fault with other groups who express their differing opinions, just the pro-Caruso people.

I was appalled by the childish and churlish exhibition of parochialism of the editorial, and I feel that an apology is in order. In this instance, in fact, it is you doing the bullying. I thought newspapers were supposed to open the pathways of communication for all points of view.

Judy Silk