Permits Save Cash

By Mallory Miller

This year, owners of the Safeway and Round Table Pizza property and lot are cracking down on anyone who leaves their cars parked in their lot, including Santa Clara students. Bushnell Management Association, the company who owns the property,  even switched tow companies from last year to enforce higher security of the people who use the lot to park cars. This year, ALL Pro Towing Company constantly manages the lot.
"I left my car at Safeway on a Friday and was planning on moving it a couple hours later," said sophomore Sara Vierra. "I ended up leaving it there because my plans to go the beach that day fell through. I went back the next day and my car was gone."

 She had to go through a time-consuming and costly process to get her vehicle back.
"When I went to pick up my car from ALL Pro towing company I had to show my license, proof of insurance, and pay $375," said Vierra.

 She was not happy about spending that sum of money over a situation that could have been avoided.
Sophomore Troy Estes said, "I always parked my car at Safeway last year and I never got towed. This year I left it there for two hours and had to pay $200 to get my car back. I'm seriously disappointed I did not buy a permit before all of this."

Campus parking permits are $300 this year for the majority of lots on campus. Campus Safety parking and transportation services increased the price by $50 from last year. They do not get a budget from the university and are taking on new projects.

"This year we are building a new parking structure behind Henry's," said Millie Kenney, service manager of Campus Safety Parking and Transportation.

Students are paying off the current parking structure, and maintaining other campus parking lots. "Our goal is to keep clean, freshly painted, well lit, safe lots for students," said Kenney.

Even though the permits are $300, they are still cheaper than the cost of some surrounding university's parking permits, such as Stanford University that charges $309 to students, according to the Department of Transportation and Parking.

Investing in a parking permit for Santa Clara could save students money from being towed or receiving parking tickets.

Contact Mallory Miller at memiller@scu.edu or call (408) 554-4849.