Intersection Action

To The Editor,

Following a recent traffic accident at the intersection of Atherton and Chatwin, which ended with a tragedy, my office received a high volume of calls and e-mails from residents concerned about the safety of the intersection and the tragic loss of life.

I live near this intersection. As a parent of young children, a teacher, and a Council member, I understand the concerns of nearby residents and those who use the park.

The intersection at Atherton and Chatwin received a crosswalk installation several years ago. The crosswalk connects two preschools to both sides of Whaley Park. It is also near an elementary school and is subject to the heavy traffic flows from California State University, Long Beach.

We recently upgraded the pedestrian crossing light. However, residents still found it worrisome to cross the street. In light of these long-standing concerns, I called together the Department of Public Works and the Police Department, asking for an immediate response to the worries of our neighbors. They responded almost immediately with a proposal to install a full traffic signal. It is my understanding that a work order has been issued and the project will be expedited. I will continue to monitor this project until installation is complete.

In addition, we need to examine traffic patterns, speeding and parking issues on Atherton. I am asking CSULB to play a role in identifying ways to address these safety issues. I am pleased that we have made a great stride in increasing safety with this new traffic light. My heart goes out to the victim and the victim’s family in their period of loss.

I am looking forward to working with our community to increase safety and ensure the well being of our children and families.

Patrick O’Donnell

Councilman, Fourth District

Navy Sonar

To The Editor,

I am pleased to see the Grunion Gazette is covering the Navy’s public hearing regarding the Southern California Range Complex Draft Environmental Impact Statement/Overseas Environmental Impact Statement.

The EIS process provides an important avenue for sharing information with the public, and we appreciate the help. In that regard, I’d like to share some additional information with your readers.

U.S. Navy sailors and marines do not want whales or other marine mammals to die for the sake of military training. We are doing everything we can to avoid harming marine mammals by employing protective measures that were developed with, and are supported by, the National Marine Fisheries Service. Such measures include scanning for animals via passive sonar, trained shipboard lookouts, and the use of search aircraft when available. If a marine mammal is detected, the Navy will reduce or shut down sonar power, depending on the distance of the marine mammal from the sonar source.

We have also increased marine mammal research funding to more than $18 million to better understand possible effects of sonar on marine mammals. These efforts are paying off: worldwide, no marine mammal strandings have been linked to U.S. Navy sonar since employing these measures. Furthermore, there has never been a marine mammal stranding or death due to Navy’s use of active sonar in the waters off of the coast of Southern California for the more than 40 years we have trained there. The ocean serves as a second home to the Navy’s young sailors and marines, and we will continue to do everything we can to treat it as such.

For more information regarding this EIS, go to www.socalrangecomplexeis.com.

Tracey B. Moriarty

Public Affairs Officer

Goodwill Week

To The Editor,

You might think — as many do — that Goodwill Industries is simply a place to donate those blue jeans you can’t squeeze into any more or the books your children have outgrown.

You figure it’s a worthy place to donate your gently used things so that others might be able to buy them at an affordable price — and you’re right. But that doesn’t begin to scratch the surface of how Goodwill is changing lives here in Southern Los Angeles County.

Goodwill sells your donations and uses the proceeds to fund job training programs for people who live in poverty, are homeless, or lack education and experience, as well as those with disabilities. Last year, nearly 5,000 individuals benefited from Goodwill’s career programs. In this area alone

As we celebrate Goodwill Industries Week 2008, we want to say thank you to the thousands of people in Southern Los Angeles County whose continued support allows us to help people find and keep good jobs and enjoy the dignity and independence that work brings.

Janet McCarthy-Wilson, President, CEO

Larry DeJarnett,

Board Chair

Goodwill Serving The People of Southern LA County

Pleading No Help

To The Editor,

In response to last week’s “Spit & Argue Club” entry:

Pleading with people to be nice and responsible gets nowhere. The nice, responsible people are already respecting the speed limit.

It’s the self-absorbed pigs driving the 6,000-pound monster trucks and SUVs who are breaking the laws, and pleading isn’t going to help. I’m not sure what “incremental engineering and enforcement measures” Mr. Creech is referring to, but all I can tell is that it seems to get worse all the time, with no enforcement to be seen.

I understand that the police have their hands full babysitting the gang-bangers, so why not put up some speed detection cameras? They have proven effective and highly profitable in other communities. Speeding ticket fines could also be based on the weight of the vehicle, so these people could begin paying the true costs they incur onto society and the environment.

Nah, that would make too much sense.

Tom Gallo

Belmont Heights

Parking Blues

To The Editor,

I’ve lived here for seven years and parking’s been a nightmare and a real issue with we who reside here for a long time.

You’d think there’s no more room for anyone to live here, but it seems the sky’s the limit. If there is room for people to live once again, why isn’t there parking?

Singing the same old song again with no answers ever. Love those race cars — what do they get, 2 miles to the gallon?

Jon Wolslau

Long Beach