Guttenberg’s Message: Put People First!

Palisades Honorary Mayor Steve Guttenberg didn’t have to look far for a meaningful New Year’s resolution. He decided it was finally time to tackle something that had been bothering him for a long time: the speeding traffic on Palisades Drive, or more specifically, how it affects pedestrians, joggers and cyclists. His proposed solution: guardrails up and down the road, from Sunset to the Highlands. “I see the guardrails as a deterrent,” said Guttenberg, a 15-year resident of the Highlands. “People have taken to using this roadway as a raceway. They think they’re at a Grand Prix or something. It’s a great place to race your car, see what it can do. And because there are four lanes, people drive like they’re on the freeway. As far as I can see, it’s only a matter of time before someone else gets hit.” Guttenberg is referring to the accident (April 2001) in which cyclist Debra Goldsmith was killed. She was pedaling north on Palisades Drive towards her home in the Highlands when she was struck from behind by a Range Rover, thrown up onto the hood of the vehicle and then onto the roadway. The impact forced her helmet off, and she died from severe head trauma. The accident took place at a notorious wide stretch of road halfway up the canyon, a known “blind spot,” where the speed limit is 45 mph. “The fact is, people simply ignore the speed limit, whatever it is,” noted Guttenberg, standing behind the memorial bench in Goldsmith’s honor near the scene of the accident. “Motorists drive twice as fast, whether they’re going up or down this road.” To illustrate his point, Guttenberg invited the Palisadian-Post along for a “test” drive last Thursday morning. Accompanied by Monique Ford (a deputy to Councilwoman Cindy Miscikowski), Arnie Wishnick (executive director of the Palisades Chamber of Commerce) and two representatives from the Bureau of Street Services, we slowly drove the two miles from Sunset to the Highlands Plaza. We started out at 25 mph, the posted speed limit by Calvary School. Several motorists passed us up, clearly ignoring the sign. When we reached the 45 mph zone, more cars whipped by, even as we reached the “blind spot” in the road where Goldsmith was killed. We made our first pit stop near her memorial bench, and were surprised to find not the usual vendors that sometimes hawk their wares there (selling strawberries, firewood and hot dogs) but an LAPD officer using a radar gun. “In the less than 30 minutes I’ve been here,” Officer Tasha Karandy told the Post at about 10:20 a.m., “I’ve ticketed three motorists.” Before we could take a picture of her in action, she was gone, headed south after another speeding car. “The police should be out here doing this more often,” Guttenberg said, referring to the LAPD’s infrequent radar patrols. “Imagine if one of those cars spun out of control. This is a great canyon to jog, cycle or stroll. But anyone doing that could be killed, the way it is now.” Ferdinand Chan, an engineer with Street Services, pointed out that a guardrail would not have helped Goldsmith, and, in fact, might have hindered her. He detailed how a three-foot high guardrail “will not stop speeding” and probably would not have “withstood the impact, from a technical point of view, even though guardrails are often installed in hilly areas to try and stop cars from going over.” Chan explained that guardrails are “about vehicle safety, really,” and that his department is severely limited in providing the metal protectors, with a total annual budget of only “$120,000 for the entire city. At $100 a linear foot, it doesn’t go very far. We have to establish priorities.” He also suggested other solutions for that area of Palisades Drive, from widening the sidewalk to narrowing the road from two lanes to one. “One lane would force people to slow down,” said Guttenberg, who suggested we then move on to the upper plaza. Once there, he pointed to the curve by the Hidden Cafe and the adjoining offices, one of which he himself rents for his production company. “If a car went out of control,” Guttenberg observed, “it would crash straight into those offices and restaurant.” Chan agreed the curve might be a suitable candidate for a guardrail and offered to look into it. He did caution, however, that if a guardrail were installed on the curb, it would mean losing several parking spaces on the street, as it would be impossible to exit the passenger side of the car. “What are a few parking spaces if it might mean saving lives?” asked Guttenberg to no one in particular. “For me, this is about making this area safe.” At the end of our tour, the honorary mayor agreed that perhaps it was unrealistic to install guardrails up and down both sides of the road (which would cost an estimated $2,000,000 to cover the four miles) and was open to other suggestions. He said he looks forward to meeting with Highlands representatives and residents to discuss the situation. “I don’t care what it takes, as long as it gets people to slow down.” Guttenberg said his concern about the speeding began in earnest a few months ago when he discussed his ongoing concern with Viet Tran, Mayor Hahn’s West L.A. director, at a Chamber of Commerce breakfast meeting. Tran contacted Ford, who arranged for the city representatives from Street Services to meet with her and Guttenberg on Palisades Drive. “I wanted to understand the nature of his [Guttenberg’s] concern and get some knowledge from B.O.S.S. on the feasibility of his request,” said Ford, who is also looking forward to input from the Palisades community. (Editor’s note: In the days following last week’s impromptu tour, the Post received e-mails from Paul Glasgall, chairman of the Highland’s Presidents Council (which represents 17 homeowner associations), and Barry Kurtz, the alternative representative for the Highlands on the Palisades Community Council, objecting to any guardrails being installed. We will publish their comments in next week’s paper.)