Sunday, September 28, 2003

How old is the gown? 

Is there any town-and-gown issue more potent for argument than parking? The St. Cloud City Council has instituted permits for "street" parking on streets closest to the campus. Fees are $225 per year, vs. $175 for campus lots (administered by the university) or $100 (about a half-mile off campus, with free shuttle.) There are 133 slots of city street parking but only 93 bought so far. I wonder who set the price? Two quotes illustrate the town/gown problem:
The city's move, which took place in the summer when most students are away, was underhanded, said Cory Lawrence, student government president.

"It'll become a revenue-generating thing for the city," he said. "I think that's wrong. The city shouldn't be out to make money off students."
The city, of course, has a city sales tax, so it already is making money off students.
South Side residents are frustrated with the parking situation, resident Jerry Middelstadt said.

"Students need to have respect for the people that live here," he said. "This is not a college neighborhood. It's a neighborhood near the college."
SCSU was instituted in its present location in 1869.

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