On-campus parking will cost $20

by Janah Valenzuela
Staff Writer

Beginning this fall, the Campus Safety and Transportation Department will be issuing parking permits with a new fee of $10 per semester, $20 per year.

John Lentz, director of Campus Safety and Transportation, said the main reason for this fee is to meet the requirements of the Air Quality Management District, to cut down on vehicles and encourage rideshare.

Charging a fee for parking permits would be an incentive for people to carpool, Lentz said.

"I don't think $20 is a lot of money," said junior Andi Nuñez.

"If it is because they are trying to encourage rideshare, it's not going to do it," she said.

"It's (ridiculous) that we have to pay money to drive around for 20 minutes looking for parking," said junior Jason Cortez. "It's frustrating enough without the fee."

However, Cortez and other students said they might be OK with this if it meant easier parking overall.

"If they expect us to pay, we should have an ensured spot," said freshman Josh Martin.

"I think we pay enough to go here, especially being a commuter and having to pay for gas," said junior Rachel Aquino.

Lentz said the money from the parking permit fee would fund a position that will monitor rideshare issues and programs.

The programs will attempt to keep the University of La Verne up to date with Air Quality Management District's requirements.

In response to the idea of rideshares, many students did not think it would work well.

"Students can't carpool because no one has the same schedule," said junior Josh Horwitz. "And they would have to live very close to you."

Sophomore Natalie Caruso added to Horowitz' comment, "Twenty dollars is not going to stop people from driving their own cars."

To bring good news to the subject, John Lentz said Campus Safety is also working to solve the immediate parking problem on campus.

"Right now we're trying to work with the city (of La Verne) for off-campus parking at the Fairplex," Lentz said.

"We would like to start a shuttle service from there, if students are willing to accept a shuttle," he said.