by Alicia Gibson
Assistant News Editor
Finding a place to park during various times of the day at the University of La Verne has become almost impossible. Students have begun parking their cars on B, First and Second streets. This has made some residents of those areas very upset.
According to Geri Silveira, a resident on B Street, “often, we cannot find a place to park, and even our gardener has had to park down the street. The University is using our neighborhood for a parking lot, and that is totally unacceptable.”
Silveira says that First and Second streets are known as gang areas, where murders, shootings, and robberies have taken place, and it is a very dangerous area for students to park.
In a letter from Silveira sent to Brian Bowcock, director of public works for the City of La Verne, she stated “I talked with you [Bowcock] about two years ago, and you told me that the University was building a parking structure that would be completed in March 1997.”
Bowcock said in response, “I can’t remember ever talking to her, and I never would have said that.”
According to President Stephen Morgan, “There have never been any specific plans for a structure, and never a timetable.”
The residents said they feel nothing is being done to solve this problem.
“We [residents] know you’re doing nothing to solve our problem, and you’re letting a dangerous situation to the University students continue,” said Silveira.
The University does understand that there is a parking problem and are trying to cooperate and help in any way possible.
“It is a goal to continue to increase on campus parking, but it is a slow process,” said Dr. Morgan.
