Another Salvo Fired In Town-Gown Battle

The Chronicle is reporting on another lawsuit being prepared by the City of Berkeley against the university. This suit, the second in the last few weeks, cites old parking taxes that the administration has not paid for. Mayor Tom Bates has also threatened to start litigation for sewer fees of the university.

At this point, the question has to be asked: are these lawsuits based on principle, or are they the desperate efforts of a city mired in a deep deficit? Most signs point to the latter, considering the hurdles City Council members will jump through to overcome $10.9 million in red ink over the next two years. It could be argued that financial mismanagement, not the university, should be held accountable for these debts.

Now, the legal ground for placing utility fees on the university is sketchy at best. Only four of the UC schools currently pay municipal fees, and, except for UCSB and its special circumstances with the Isla Vista community, those fees would be less than ours. Generally speaking, public institutions don't pay utilities, but there is an interesting dynamic between city and state government here, and how this will all play out will probably not be determined until the first court hearings on the LRDP case.

Meanwhile, I feel (as many students might) that Berkeley students are treated like second-class citizens in this city, and the university should not have to tow the line of an irresponsible city government. We support the city greatly through sales taxes and through wage taxes from local working students. This income greatly aids the city and its pool of resources. Yet, Berkeley PD seems to find the need to crack down on Southside communities where students might have a semblance of a social life in order to hit its quotas for its ABC grants. Never mind that in the last six months, there have been as many murders in Berkeley as the last six years. The double standard continues in many aspects of student life here, and these attacks against the university, which could affect our student fees, continues.Email This Post!