Flashes of Panic

The update on the parking lot meeting came by email today. As near as I can work it out from the report of one attendee (representing student government, so not exactly disengaged) sentiment at the meeting was pretty conservative: let’s see what we can do with alternate parking, and have a referendum on limiting student parking not in ‘04-‘05, but in ‘05-‘06. (I’m not sure what they saw that solving, other than how to tell their classmates they didn’t want them having cars.)

The president was (rightly, I think) opposed to the responsibility-ducking aspects of the referendum, and dismissed the arguments against a cash incentive for giving up parking permits (roughly, you’re giving more money to the people who already have greater resources in the form of a car) “because it’s for the common good.” (I’m not sure I buy that part.)

So the student government is going after commitments from 100 students not to bring cars next year, using $200 each as an incentive. I’m not thrilled, I guess, for a number of reasons. It reminds me of the worst sort of federal subsidy, temporarily changing behavior but not really creating lasting change (and creating a sense of entitlement in the meantime.) It misses a spectacular “teachable moment” where voluntary individual action saves a common resource. And, more to the point, it merely pushes the problem back for a year or so, while adding to next year’s debate the question, “Will we get the $200 again this year?”

There’s also the problem of who qualifies for the $200. Do you need to have a permit this year or not? (One anonymous poster on the Daily Jolt forum posted along the lines of, “Sweet! $200 for giving up my parking permit? I’m getting a parking permit immediately!”) How about first-years who weren’t eligible for permits this year?

Well, maybe they’ve saved the Bird Sanctuary for now. But I think they’ve missed a chance for positive long-term change. Still, I’ll take the woods however I can get them.