Two-thirds majority necessary for California I
almost lost my lunch when reading “Prop. 56 would help budget
pass” (Jan. 21) by Antonio Raimundo. Let me make it very
clear: You don’t want to make it easier for the Sacramento
socialists to keep raising our taxes! The two-thirds rule is the
only thing keeping the California Legislature from increasing their
spending like there is no tomorrow. Everyone else has to live
within a set budget, so Sacramento should too. California
government keeps spending more money than it is taking in. Fix that
problem first!
Kenneth Shigemitsu UCLA Medical Center, Financial
Services
Campus shuttle serves students satisfactorily
In her column “Campus shuttle ineffective” (Jan. 20),
Christina Paganini wrote that despite the positive features of the
campus shuttle program, it is an overall disappointment. I
disagree. I think the shuttle program is a real gem for the UCLA
community. It is convenient and accommodating for a wide range of
students and staff. It is a popular and important component of
campus life. Rarely do I have to wait longer than 15 minutes for a
bus and rarely do I board a bus that is not packed with students.
To me, stops are at the most practical locations possible.
Alternate locations can be easily accessed from a number of the
stops. Increasing the number of stops means slower service for
riders who take the shuttle specifically for speediness.
If BruinGO! were to replace the shuttle service, it would be a huge
disappointment. I am a frequent user of both programs. Having to
cough up a quarter every time I enter any bus is a pain. Having to
do so for a citywide bus is tolerable, but doing so for a campus
bus seems ridiculous. Having BruinGO! buses function as campus
shuttles would then slow the bus transit service. Paganini fails to
provide any feasible alternatives to a program she falsely terms
“disappointing.” I would like to put in extra kudos for
our campus shuttle bus drivers. They work hard in driving through
crazy Westwood traffic and dealing with terrible L.A. drivers to
get students and staff where they need to be, when they need to be
there. And they always do so in a friendly manner.
Sona Bekmezian Second-year, biology