Is Your Time worth the Money

Running to class, she trips scraps her knee and hobbles into class late. “Sorry I couldn’t find a parking spot,” she apologizes and takes her seat. This type of situation happens all too frequently at Mt. Sac. Many students complain of the parking situation, but how can we improve the parking? One solution, that is alreading in the works, is to build a parking structure. This is a great idea but it will not be complete until most of us have already completed our education at Mt. Sac. I propose that there should be a premium parking pass, for reserved parking. Close off several of the smaller parking lots, and requiring the premium pass to park in these designated lots. These permits can be issued to the first students who purchase permits or at an increased price. A price increase would raise permits from the current $35, a fraction of the university price.

There are down falls with this proposed parking reassignment, students with improper passes will park in these newly designated stalls. The students who violate the parking laws would be subject to ticketing and/or towing. More importantly, additional revenue would be generated, these funds could restore courses that were cancelled due to budget cuts. In addition, the guarantee of a parking space would increase study time for many students.

Students arrive hours before class not to study but to find a parking space. Annabel Velasquez, an interior design major at Mt. Sac, mentioned she would gladly pay $45 or even $50 if she would be guaranteed a space close to building 28. Nearly all the students questioned gave similar answers. One student who opposed the idea of a premium pass said, “I don’t mind waiting, if I have to, I usually have good luck, and on Monday and Wednesday I have an early class, so I beat all the traffic.” This student who happens to be my brother continued, “Well, if you bought me the pass I would use it.” With this in mind I suggest that the school devise a system that would allow student to purchase the passes for designated premium parking stalls.