Budget shortfall impacted by online purchases
Editor,
I sympathize with UC students and understand their need to protest the continued fee hikes for what is supposed to be a “public” education.
I cannot, however, help but notice the irony in the $150 million budget shortfall figure.
According to the California State Board of Equalization, our state loses $150 million in sales taxes owed but not paid with purchases made by Californians on Amazon.com each year. This is just for one online retailer and for just our state. No one really knows for sure the total amount of revenue lost to online sales.
Every time a UC student makes a purchase online to save a few bucks (and to avoid paying the sales tax legally owed), he or she is actively contributing to the financial mess that has led to this raising of fees.
Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger recently vetoed a bill by State Rep. Nancy Skinner that would have made Amazon collect and remit the taxes owed on purchases by Californians. Amazon had threatened to pull business from the state if it passed.
I encourage Davis residents and UC students as a whole to consider these figures as they do their holiday shopping this season.
JEFF SIMONS
Davis resident
UC Regents at fault for budget woes
Editor,
With all the problems at the University of California being blamed on the economy and outside sources, how about blaming those inside? I’m writing about the corruption the regents foster.
Here are some examples. The regents decide where to invest UC funds, and did so to insure they personally profit rather than the UC system (some regents are on corporation or hedge fund boards). They overspend on useless administrators and ignore faculty. And in my case, they’ve wasted over $1.5 million fighting a lawsuit – even after the UC Davis Academic Senate voted 92 percent in favor of my reinstatement.
Consider that the regents themselves get their positions by bribery -or, as we Americans call it, campaign contributions. If you want real change and honest administration, put an initiative on the ballot to end the regents’ reign and have the UC system run by the Academic Senate. These are the people who really care and are most involved.
HOWARD ZOCHLINSKI
Davis resident
Textiles and Clothing Department would be missed
Dear Editor,
I just read your article about the future of the Textiles and Clothing Department at UC Davis. I’m a graduate of the program who has worked exclusively in the field since I left Davis. This program is essential to my career in the field. Because of the degree I received at Davis, I have had a career in manufacturing, retailing, business ownership, custom sewing and education.
The need for highly skilled individuals in the field of clothing and textiles is more elevated than ever before. The entire industry, from seed to sales, is rapidly changing due to incredible strides in technology, rapid globalization and the advancement of developing countries. I’m currently pursuing a master’s degree in order to help continue the effort to educate our future generations in the field of textiles and clothing.
Take a moment to look around the campus. What do you see? Everyone is wearing clothing. The clothing was designed then manufactured. The individual components are made of textiles, and the textiles are made from organic or synthetic fibers. Those fibers involve agriculture and science.
The fire and police stations require unbelievably technical garments to protect against heat, fire and gunfire. You will also see the proud UC Davis Band-uh wearing their new wool uniforms, for which every step of the process – from the farmer to the manufacturer – required textiles and clothing skills taught at UC Davis.
What a shame it would be if the University of California chooses to close the only program of its kind in the state. Nothing else compares.
Sincerely,ANNE DIEU
UC Davis, Class of 1987
