LETTER TO THE EDITOR: Stop Speeding on La Ronda

By Diane Dokos

Regarding the article of “,” Mike Johnson refers to only a few homes that front the street of Camino La Ronda. As if they don’t matter.

[Editor's Note: In fairness, Patch Editor Penny Arevalo included the information that relatively few homes front La Ronda compared to the density of an average residential neighborhood. You can watch Mike Johnson's address to the City Council here.]

Actually there are 10 homes that face the street and 15 homes with front yards that are adjacent to the street.

He says that the street was built to accommodate speeds faster than 30 mph. He continues to say that it is a waste of city resources to try to curb an activity that’s safe.” An activity? Yeah, well I guess driving fast is an activity for some.

Mike Johnson has told some of us that the road is boring to drive, that driving the speed limit is a waste of his time. He says that when he is late for work and he still needs to get the kids to school, he cannot bother to go the posted speed limit. These are the reasons Mike Johnson will give to increasing the speed limit.

The street of La Ronda is only 3,500 feet (0.66 miles) long from the La Novia entrance to the entrance of his community. Once Mr. Johnson opens the gates to his neighborhood he has to drive 17 mph to his house. Since the road of La Ronda continues another 2,100 feet (0.44 miles) behind his gated community does that mean he wants to raise the speed limit of La Ronda to 40 mph through his neighborhood?

The 30 mph speed limit and the stop signs were here long before his neighborhood was ever built. Why would those who are breaking the law by going over the speed limit and running the stop signs be so arrogant to think that because so many are breaking the law the city should entitle them to “special privileges” by raising the speed limit to accommodate their needs, at the expense of the rest of us.

Diane Dokos is a resident of the Los Corrales neighborhood.