Editor-in-Chief  

Brand new parking lot K3 is now open at CSU Bakersfield.

During the Associated Students Inc. board of directors meeting on March 24, Chief of Police Marty Williamson said the parking lot, near Student Housing East, has been opened.

“Good news, I’m told effective [Monday, March 27] the new lot will be open,” said Williamson. “Of course, with all the rain, it’s been a good thing and a bad thing. It delayed us by about three months.”

According to Williamson, the lot does not have permanent lighting. However, Williamson assures that there will be portable lighting provided by the contractor until the permanent lighting is ready.

The parking lot is finished but there is minor work, which will continue to be done such as the landscaping.

“We’re happy about the lot finally opening up. We are excited to see trends change,” said ASI President Alex Dominguez. “We’re glad that last year when the fees were increased that we’re actually seeing the effects of that money.”

Williamson said the lot features clean-air vehicle spaces.

“I am told that it’s somewhere around 185 [to] 190 slots,” said Williamson. “Plus, we have a couple clean-air vehicle slots, but we did not install any electric vehicle slots. We are waiting to see if they are used enough before we invest the money in more electric charging station.”

There was land left over in lot K3, which will be used to expand parking when the need arises.

“We should be able to put another 200 slots in the area that is left over,” said Williamson.

Another project the campus is working on, is expanding the bus routes on campus. According to Williamson, the plan is to expand the bus route to Don Hart West and there will be re-landscaping, in order to provide more bus service to the campus.

Williamson said there is no time frame as to when this project will be done, but there will be cameras, lighting and speakers installed around the new bus stops.

Williamson said it has been a quiet year, in terms of crime. However, there was an incident involving a juvenile.

The subject was trying to steal a car from one of the parking lots on campus.

According to Williamson, students reported the juvenile. University Police Department officers were able to locate the subject and he led UPD officers on a short chase, then gave up.

The subject was charged with attempted grand theft auto.

Williamson said UPD will continue to investigate cases.

“We will be working some investigations that may or may not lead anywhere, but we’ve had a relatively quiet year so far, so let’s hope it stays that way,” said Williamson.

For his last statement, Williamson commented on the staff editorial story that The Runner newspaper ran in the March 22 issue.

He said while he respects the opinion of The Runner, he feels transparency is not an issue in the department.

“I don’t necessarily agree with it, but I say that because I always try to make myself available and I try to give the information that is available that I can give,” said Williamson. “Keeping in mind that sometimes the law doesn’t allow me to give information, but that’s just the way the law is, I didn’t make it. In the bigger picture, we don’t hide behind anything. You guys are the student leaders. If you ever hear anything about that, I would like to know because we have work to do if that is in fact true.”