2008 Woodie Awards
Permits don't promise parking
another semester starts off with full parking lots
Karina Gonzalez
Issue date: 2/13/08 Section: Campus
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University Police Department Chief Thomas Dewey noticed a lot more cars in the parking lots during the first week of school, and said the weather is partly to blame.
"People are not ready to walk home with the temperature being cold, the days shorter, and it raining," Dewey said.
He also credits the increase in parking congestion to the fact that half of the Harry Griffith Hall parking lot and the parking lot at the intersection of 17th Street and Union Street are closed.
"Parking is in more demand," Dewey said.
Lianne Montano, a Degree Audit Reporting for Students Programmer at Humboldt State, said there has been a decline in the struggle for parking over the past few semesters but noticed an increase this semester since construction began.
However, this temporary problem has no temporary solution.
Dewey said that by law parking has to pay for itself. The only money that can be used to build, light or repair a parking lot is permit revenue.
Montano said although she is a staff member, she too has to pay for parking.
She said it doesn't bother her that every semester $60 automatically gets taken out of her pay check.
"It's hard enough to come by for everybody," she said.
Moreover, Dewey said parking should be enforced 24 hours a day and seven days a week and added that in the next several years the department will try to enforce 24/7 parking requirements.
"Because wear and tear of a parking lot doesn't depend on the time of day it takes place," said Dewey.
Many other California State campuses have enforced 24/7 parking restrictions.
One example is California State University Channel Islands, which has enforced parking fees since it opened five years ago.
Christopher Jetton, a parking officer at the Channel Islands campus, said they got the idea for their 24/7 regulations from other campuses like California State University Northridge.
He said that they are very lucky in regards to not having many problems with parking, excluding the fact that their parking facilities are maxed out and their campus is still growing.
Viewing Comments 1 - 3 of 3
Ron Kuhnel
posted 2/14/08 @ 9:06 PM PST
I note that it is not until the very end of the article on parking ?A License to Hunt? we get to casual mention of alternative transportation, including the Jack Pass (incorrectly called the Jack 'Pack' in the article). (Continued…)
Suellen Lowry
posted 2/15/08 @ 12:45 PM PST
This article explains why parking has been particularly difficult recently. Thanks. One way for the HSU administration to show sensitivity to this difficult situation and promote learning would be to make sure all parking meters on campus are atleast 90 minutes long. (Continued…)
Sean Sanders
posted 2/19/08 @ 2:36 PM PST
One way to lessen the impact on the limited parking situation is to ride a motorbike. According to the office of student affairs, "As an alternative to the auto, motorcycles and mopeds are convenient, fuel efficient, and relatively inexpensive to maintain and operate. (Continued…)
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