this was posted also in http://la.indymedia.org/news/2010/01/233728.php
UCLA increases parking fees some more
UCLA has instituted a $3/ parking fee on Disabled Placard holders everywhere on campus after years of following Calif State free parking for legitimate blue zoned areas, starts Jan 1, 2010, but.....
Sad news of the UC system taking from the less- employable and indigent handicapped-disabled folks now.
After years of following the California code for allowing those who are often not able to be fully employed and earning like 'ordinary folks', like those with legitimate disabilities, even those not visible medical conditions... i.e. not stumbling in wheel chair or drooping on a cane... but still limited in their abilities to move and be fully mobile, Now those few spots where there was disabled parking was at no cost, is no more.
But big signs went up everywhere to only announcing that as of Jan 1,2010 a $3 visitor fee for Disabled Parking will apply to all who enter these sacred grounds.
Why complain ? Because the University of California, i.e. UCLA, system is trying to increase it's income on the backs of all those who enter the university premises - even who can ill afford these increases. Yes. but yet, the $3 is less than the ordinary $10 entry daily fees for sure !
The lack of adequate or clear & presentable communications to it's loyal public has led to many disabled non-students, and non-staff folks,to react with ill-will.
Lack of acceptance of these increases in the cost of visiting OUR university, sp that even alumni, the elderly, or those actually often unable to earn equally or fairly in the work world, and also those who do not use their dead grandma's handicap plaques are jolted into surprise thus dismay at this sudden decree.
The sidewalk signs are all that tell the public of what comes without any adequate advance notices nor any explanations. Just pay up or else..... No questions allowed.
This is poor public relations - creating ill will and resentments - not just because of the cash now required but more so because there is no consideration for the visiting public in giving clear and courteous notice of what is happening,. "Why ?" is not a question obviously, and this immediate change is made without even a mild pretense of an apology for the sudden rise in rates. Not a glimmer of caring about public reactions, and no place for public comments either.
To communicate with the Transportation / Parking Dept of UCLA that handles all parking is very convoluted, difficult and requires much effort, patience, perseverance and wasted personal time. There is no one to ask questions of what is going on. There is no answer if one tries. And even tho their employees are salary-paid-still also to answer questions and handle responses to their sudden actions, apparently they are not paid well enough to have a Q&A response system. Just pay up...or else ! Because we said so..... hmmmmmmm
The set-up street signs announcing the $3 Handicap Parking went up in December 2009 and for the 3 weeks the Univ. was fully shut down for the holidays is assumed to be time-enough for 'everyone' to be informed, conform and silently agree. But no one was around to see these signs before Jan 4, when UCLA opened up again. And the student parking workers know hardly anything when asked.
Oh well, let them take the guff and be frontline casualties.
The Parking dept can sit in offices further away and be safe from public reactions and opinions and questions.
However, there are no flyers are handed out at parking kiosks, so the poor student workers there have no information other than "you have to pay now" and they will be getting the ire and fury of those visitors daily that suddenly are confronted with an unexplained cost increase Is this the way to "do business".
By our state-paid employees at UCLA ?
This is a sign of the times, but not just economic ones. It is the times of the "We Dont Care because We Have Power to Do as We wish", acted out by those who are paid by the California STATE funds, which are taxpayer supplied, of course. Instead of helping the UC system show consideration and caring to all concerned in times when good-will is hard to come by anyway - e.g. with the recent announcement of fee increases for students whose families earn over $70,000, now the Transportation Dept did not think ahead or do proper PR.
It was not planned well enough to make ADVANCE information available, with more than the easy demand and set up of a New Rule. "Pay UP or get an expensive parking ticket !" is the abrupt message. We dont care about anyone but getting our money. From any every one who comes near here....our campuses.
The Jan 4, 2010 issue of the New Yorker Magazine has an excellent article about the recent UC systems' problems and reactions to the student fee increases announced last fall. Check it out online or at library copy.
Reading of this well-written story brought up other questions of why the UC students - who are trying to re-enact the motions of rebellions of the 1960's Anti War protests, tho they do not apply now - when these youth are reacting not to war...not to death of Americans and Vietnamese and others... who are not to being drafted, maimed and maybe killed in far off wars as young men/ women ...who are not concerned as a social movement that cares about what the government does 'not in our name'... no, not these protests....these are different times and different students than what they model their chants and parades and graffiti on....
The students currently at the UC systems have feebly enacted scenes - trying to look powerful -but for their own MONETARY SELF-INTERESTS. That is not a social good, not a government public policy issue, not about caring about the world and others, but these apparently are only concerned about their own money, costs and their entitlements. About 1/3 of grants & aid are paid for by those same student fees, so the poorer students and those incoming ones will lose out because fees should not be shifted up. IWho wants to pay more even if some portion of that cost goes to help less-able-others also get into UC also ? No free rides for anyone but the ones that want to get for their own only. Who wants to pay more anywhere anyhow ?
Strange world that has emerged -when what is important is one's self only and not more social-public-citizens' welfare and their good too. But, that's where 2009 has come to from the times when more socially-conscious students and faculty of the Vietnam anti-war days were doing here.
Nothing similar to ANTI WAR protests was anywhere visible at UCLA campus for years now, no one showed up when a protest was announced .... about Iraq or Afghanistan... nor will it be attended if about Yemen, Russia, Bolivia or anywhere else way-over-there - where it is not the students' own money and lifestyle that is directly involved. The era of selfish individualism is on full display. oh well... "me. me, me and mine is all that is important now."
oh well..... So if anyone cares besides those whose own costs go up calling, writing, contacting the sources of cost increases would be a good idea. Whether it is the student tuition costs, the Disabled Persons Parking, whether it is the cost of daily living as inflation soon will emerge in other areas without decent jobs to pay for all these increases, take action in some way. Or tell others you will, then do it !
(c) Maryjanie 2010
