PALOMAR COLLEGE, SAN MARCOS, CALIF.
MONDAY MAY 12, 2008
FOCUSED ON
PALOMAR
VOL. 61, NO. 21
the-telescope.com
Bus cuts could leave stranded students KATRINA KOBZEFF THE TELESCOPE
Some students may soon find themselves without a ride to school. The North County Transit District Board recently approved an estimated $3 million cut to the region's Breeze bus routes, eliminating routes they consider to be the least productive. "We're really backed into a corner to cut service, we need to make choices," said Sarah Benson the marketing representative for NCTD. Due to rising gas prices, decreased sales tax revenue and the California State Legislature withholding nearly $3 billion from the state's public transit account, cuts are inevitable, according to Benson. If passed, the cuts would eliminate 11 routes, reduce weekend service and discontinue the FAST shuttle service that travels through Ramona, Encinitas and Fallbrook. "I ride the bus from Ramona to Palomar for work everyday, if I couldn't ride I may lose my job, my house and my retirement," Palomar Lab Technician Cindy Spencer said. Spencer is one of many community members who said that they felt threatened by the decision of the North County Transit District Board to drastically cut the Breeze bus routes. "I had three disabled Palomar students in my lab after
ELLIOT DE LISSER
I THE TELESCOPE
NCTD is considering cutting 11 bus routes to make up for the $3 billion the California State Legislature cut from apublic transit account.
they heard this news, they were all worried becal,lSe if these cuts pass they won't be able to get to school, to their doctor's appointments, or anywhere," Spencer said. Between 8 to 10 percent of the Breeze riders are expected to be affected, Benson said. "Some of
our disabled riders will lose service," she added. According to Benson, the NCTD board looked at the routes wit:ll. the least amount of people and those are the ones they chose to cut. The annual estimated saving for the NCTD will amount to $3.9
million. In addition to cutting service, fares for all of North County's transportation will increase. How much is still up for debate. "It is going to affect a lot of people, especially the elderly. I
hear people moan and complain about not being able to get to school and work," said Palomar student Milan Desai. It still needs a second board approval after the public hearing on May 15. The cuts will hurt Palomar students and Cal State San Marcos students who ride the Breeze because NCTD looks to eliminate two of the three routes that service these schools, 341/442 and 447. The routes that will be eliminated are: 365, 397, 3411342, 324, 348/349, 347, 311/312, 338/339, 415, 447 and 403. Route 386 that travels from Oceanside to Ramona will now stop at the Wild Animal Park. Scared by the prospect of being unable to get around, many North County residents have questions. Fliers have been posted by the NCTD at bus stops and on the Web encouraging community members to come to two public hearings. One is at 2:30 p.m. in Escondido on May 12 and the other is at 2 p.m. May 15 in Oceanside. When Yvonne Kuenne and her friends heard about these changes they were devastated. "We live in a boarding house and have to be out between 9:30 a.m. and 2 p.m., we can't walk far so the Breeze is the only way for us to get around. We are really worried." If passed, the cuts will go into effect in August 2008 or january 2009.
New budget cuts for Palomar Off-campus health center now open CRYSTAL EVANS T ~ • l'ELESCOPE
Due to budget cuts, Palomar will reduce the number of class sections available by 300 to 400 for the fall semester, according to school officials. Palomar has been faced with a budget cut of $1.1 million for the 2007-2008 fiscal year, because two counties overestimated how much money they would collect in
property tax this year. Palomar lost its share of the $84 million that Orange and Sonoma counties over reported that usually goes to community colleges, said Robert Deegan. President Palomar was counting on that money for this calendar year. "These cuts, in addition to budget cuts that Palomar will face in the 2008-2009 fiscal year are forcing (Palomar officials) to make every possible cut in class-
Who is really ;M..'IIIIIIIIiJL.to blame for all 1 :or
the violence?PAGE 4
es," Deegan said. But students point out that it seems illogical to cut classes when Palomar is experiencing record enrollment. "It's common knowledge that enrollment is increasing," Palomar student Savannah Cash said. "So with fewer classes available a lot more people won't be
TUlUf to BUDGET PAGEs
ANGELYNA HINKLE THE TELESCOPE
College students in North County are now offered an alternative for health care. The North County Health Services has opened its doors in San Marcos -with a brand new 3,801 squarefoot Grand Avenue Family Medicine facility. NCHS is a group that serves over 60,000 patients annually in
North County. For 35 years, NCHS has been providing low cost health care to families and students across North County. The organization extends its care to the working college student by choosing a location within a few miles of Cal State San Marcos and Palomar College. Because it is a non-profit commuTURN TO HEALTH
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