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Health & Fitness

David versus Goliath

Most of us know the story of David and Goliath. However, many of us would not think of our duly elected officials as Goliath. Until, that is, you have to confront them and stand up for your rights as citizens of a community.

The Preserve, as some of us know our community, is one of the communities next to the golf course just off Winchester Road and was built about 10 years ago. . Those who were among the first to move into the new homes remember that it was a quiet neighborhood. Until, that is, the city of Murrieta decided to put a traffic light on Via Princesa and Murrieta Hot Springs Road that opened up a can of worms for our neighborhood. It wasn't just the traffic light that caused the problem. The city (or county) also decided to open a street that had heretofore been closed. There was no notice to the residents. This allowed drivers to “cut through” our neighborhood and access Murrieta Hot Springs Road and thereby save themselves a few seconds or maybe minutes. (Think of a funnel with our neighborhood at the bottom.) Not necessarily bad you say. Until you realize that, according to a traffic study conducted by the city, nearly 5,000 cars are passing through some portion of our streets everyday. There are only two streets that are used for access and egress for our community (Clearbrook at the bottom of the funnel and Members Club Drive at the top). These in turn feed onto two other streets (Branwin and Woodbridge) to complete the transit.

The volume of traffic is only half the issue. The other side of the coin, so to speak, is speed. It seems as though drivers are in a hurry to get through our streets. Average speeds are over 31 miles per hour with top speed approaching 40+ miles per hour. Don't be surprised if a driver passes you on a residential street. Would you like to have your children play outside in such traffic?

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Beginning in 2005, we met with the Traffic and Safety Commission to outline our concerns and seek some form of assistance. We ran into a brick wall. And, after several meetings, we were told that the Commission had already spent enough time on this issue and nothing more was to be done. We did receive some help. One speed limit sign and one flashing radar sign to indicate your speed. Drivers ignored both.

We tried again in 2013. Same brick wall. Goliath knocked us out right off the bat.

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Now, the Golden Eagle Development Corporation wants to build a 112 unit apartment complex on Murrieta Hot Springs Road (next to the Jewish Temple) and Via Princesa that could add even more traffic and problems for our neighborhood.

We have to make a stand at some point and fight Goliath. We, as a neighborhood, must demand that our streets and community be made safe once again. The Murrieta Community Values Organization was formed to spearhead this effort. We are holding community garage sales on September 7, to help raise funds to defray expenses and are seeking others who have some experience in fighting their own Goliath. We are opposed to the Golden Eagle development and will seek remedies our traffic prblems.

More information is available at Facebook.com/MCVO2013 or from Josh Bergere (bergere.joshua @gmail.com) or Don Christensen (dawnpatrol44@yahoo.com).

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