RE: Parking permits as hunting license

["Steve Cooke" <scooke@uidaho.edu>]

Dear Visionaries,

            Many utilities have peak load problems associated w/ them. The question is whether you build to the peak demand or something less. Building to the peak is expensive while building something less leads to shortages from time to time, i.e., at the peak demand periods. For example, New York City reported a water shortage during the half time of the Superbowl as millions of beer drinking fans headed for the bathrooms at the same time. Should NYC build its infrastucture for the avg. peak or the Superbowl peak load? Should non-Superbowl watcher be expected to pay for “over building” the infrastructure so it is adequate for the superbowl demand (pun intended). Decisions. Decisions.

Steve Cooke

 

-----Original Message-----
From: Tim Hillebrand [mailto:chief@synergetics.org]
Sent: Tuesday, July 17, 2001 3:15 PM
To: Vision2020
Subject: Parking

 

I was going to keep my mouth shut as an outsider, but I can’t resist commenting on the parking scam run by the University of Idaho as I perceive it. Any other business would be convicted of fraud in a flash with no defense for overselling a product that doesn’t exist. They are not selling a parking permit. It’s a hunting license for an extinct species called a parking spot. Good luck! I really feel sorry for students, staff, and faculty who are forced to pay exorbitant parking fees just so they can perform their functions. It reminds me of the old company store concept. In the real world, parking is customarily paid for by the employer. In fact, most cities require that companies have adequate parking for employees before building permits are issued. I don’t understand why the University community and maybe the community at large doesn’t band together in a major protest, if not a lawsuit for fraudulent business practices. Ron Force once told me that the State is not permitted to give free parking to employees. I am curious. Does the President of the university pay for his reserved spot? Surely that should be worth more than a Gold sticker. There. I feel better. Thank you.