Editor, Daily Nexus,

In about five weeks, Isla Vista is going to be nearly completely empty when its residents venture home for the holidays and Winter Break festivities. Why, then, are our cars being towed for being parked on the streets of Isla Vista so the roads can be repaved? Whoever planned this fiasco needs to detach their penis from their hand and realize that some of the people in this town are actually smarter than they are. If I were approached and asked when the best possible time to pave Del Playa Drive would be, my answer would be the same as any other Del Playan’s: “When I’m not fucking here.”

There is already a shortage of parking spots in Isla Vista, and closing down major streets is just not plausible. In my four years in Isla Vista I have witnessed the horrible treatment of its residents, and would like to illuminate several of them for Brooks Firestone to address publicly through the Nexus. First, there is an appalling system of landlords exploiting residents for parking in their lots. They use towing companies that accept cash only and tow cars in the middle of the night. The fee for getting your car back can be upwards of $400-500, depending on how long the towing company has possessed your car. This way, there is no paper trail, taxes are avoided and landlords cash in yet again.

Establishing a system of parking passes and parking meters seems like a way to squeeze more money out of the somewhat affluent community and is not a solution to the problem. I propose removing the waste storage facility on Embarcadero del Mar and building a parking garage. Secondly, Isla Vista does not have underground electricity. With the amount of money that the over 18,000 people in Isla Vista pay in taxes, our electrical system should not rival a third world country’s. Lastly, there is a dire need for county funds to be devoted to civic projects in Isla Vista. The I.V. Master Plan sounds like a great idea, but seems to ignore where we actually live and places emphasis on restructuring the areas of prime business. We are continually ignored even though we are repeatedly responsible for altering the outcomes of elections. Bill Brown, the new Santa Barbara County sheriff, ought to still be handing out free hot dogs and Firestone ought to learn from the mistakes of former Sheriff Jim Anderson.