Bill would grant tax-free textbooks to students

By: Rachel Nelson
www.universitystar.com

College students in Texas could see tax-free textbooks if Senate Bill 22, filed by Texas Sen. Judith Zaffirini, passes.

“It’s one of my highest priorities,” said Zaffirini (D-21).

Zaffirini filed the bill in November and is now waiting for the appropriations bill to be passed, which could happen late this week.
“After that, I’ll pursue it in the finance committee,” she said.

This is not the first time a bill of this kind has been filed. Zaffirini filed similar bills in 2005 and 2007, but they each died before being passed.

The bill would provide a holiday at any store for those who have a valid student identification card, Zaffirini said.

“Basically, it would give them two, 10-day tax-free periods — one at the beginning of the fall semester and one at the beginning of the spring semester,” Zaffirini said. “I wish all textbooks would be free.”

Ans Bucio, pre-health care administration sophomore, agrees.

“I think we should get free books along with our tuition,” he said.

Bucio said he buys around five books per semester and estimates saving about $45 if SB 22 passes.

“I guess it’s a good amount of pocket change,” Bucio said. “It would help.”

Zaffirini said students at a four-year institution pay an average of $843 for books annually.

“Everything is so expensive, and there are so many students that are working hard to complete their college education,” Zaffirini said. “And those who are supported by their parents — their parents need relief, too.”

Alli Cox, digital and photographic imaging freshman, said she sold three of her textbooks back to the store before Spring Break because she was having financial struggles. She said, if passed, the bill would help students like her.

“I think it’s a good idea,” Cox said. “I know I have to pay for my own books, so anything would help.”

Zaffirini said there would be no way to regulate if students are always buying textbooks during the tax-free holiday period, but she does not believe it would be an issue.

“I don’t think many students buy extra books not tied into their coursework,” she said. “Most students can’t afford it.”

Zaffirini said the tax-free textbook holiday would not have a negative impact on cities.

“I do not believe this will be harmful to the cities in any way because students who spend money on books will spend the money elsewhere,” she said.

Zaffirini said she promotes the idea of tax-free textbooks because it is what the students requested.

“I appreciate the students bringing this to my attention and being so passionate about it,” she said. “Students throughout Texas have been wonderful about supporting this legislation.”

Zaffirini spent 10 terms on the Senate Education Committee and is now the chair. She has 13 years of teaching experience, including at the college and university level.

Stimulus bill gives Hays, close counties money

By: Rachel Nelson
www.universitystar.com

San Marcos will receive money from the stimulus bill passed in congress last month for transportation projects the city is collaborating on with neighboring counties.

Mayor Susan Narvaiz said money for transportation is available in two pots.

She said the first sum of $1.2 billion is going directly to the state. The second, containing $30 million, will be divided among Travis, Williamson and Hays counties.

“We all have a lot of projects we would like to see on the list,” Narvaiz said.

Narvaiz, Capitol Area Metropolitan Planning Organization board member, said a meeting was called March 2 to discuss how to apply the funds.

Liz Sumter, Hays County Judge, said the money will primarily go toward road construction. Sumter said CAMPO must decide to either put the funds toward one project benefiting all three counties or divide the money among the counties.

“We’re a regional board, so we’re supposed to be thinking very regionally,” Sumter said. “We’re asking, ‘How can we best spend those dollars that would benefit the region as a whole?’”

Sumter said CAMPO must present a package that will be voted on by the court after the organization determines how the money will be best spent.

Narvaiz said projects being discussed for San Marcos include a railroad overpass on Aquarena Springs Drive near Bobcat Stadium, improving the Interstate 35 exit ramp for River Ridge Parkway and improvements to the intersection of I-35 and Highway 80.

Narvaiz said she wants a four-lane divided roadway at I-35 and Yarrington Road.

A downtown street-scape project has been proposed. Narviaz said it would benefit pedestrians and improve drainage.

“None of these have been finalized or selected yet,” Narviaz said. “We’re still in that process.”

Joe Cantalupo, executive director of CAMPO, said projects must meet conditions before funding is considered.

“What we’ll do is we’ll put them on a list and make sure they are eligible to receive federal funds,” he said.

Cantalupo said a project has to go toward a federal road, already exist in CAMPO’s long-term plan and be designed and ready for construction within a year to receive federal transportation funding.

“We will screen (the projects) to make sure we meet those conditions,” Cantalupo said.

He said social and economic impacts will be taken into account.

Narvaiz said one of the projects will cost an estimated $26 million, but the city has funding set aside.

“Any dollar we can receive that we can put for transportation will help us get projects done faster,” she said. “It will minimize the impact to local taxpayers. We just want to continue to ask for San Marcos’ fair share.”

Cantalupo said state funds have been allocated to the area while CAMPO is figuring out how to spend the money.

“The commission has already decided to put some money into the CAMPO region,” he said. “They’ve decided to put $10 million into the road 1460 in Williamson County.”

Canatlupo said $19 million has been designated for direct connectors between highways 183 and 290 in Travis County and $7 million will go toward construction of the Main Street bridge over I-35 in Buda. He said another $26 million has been provided for maintenance projects throughout the CAMPO region.

Law enforcement in San Marcos will receive benefits from the stimulus bill. According to a press release, the city will receive a Justice Assistance Grant of $80,041 from the package. $147.5 million is going toward agencies across Texas out of $2 billion in Recovery Act allocations for state and local law enforcement.

“The JAG Program supports a variety of efforts, such as hiring and support for law enforcement officers; multijurisdictional drug and gang task forces; crime prevention and domestic violence programs; and courts, corrections, treatment and justice information sharing initiatives,” the press release entails.

BIKE FOUND

UPD returns prized possession to happy cyclist, others not so lucky

By: Rachel Nelson

www.universitystar.com

Jake Johnson thought his mountain bike was gone forever when it was stolen February outside his dorm at San Jacinto hall.

“I freaked,” he said. “I found my bike lock there, and it was cut.”

Johnson, undeclared sophomore, said he immediately called UPD. They arrived within 10 minutes to take his report.

“Eventually, almost three weeks later, they called me and told me they found my bike at the pawn shop,” Johnson said.

He said the bike was a gift from his brother. It is worth about $1,200.

“I went on a 5-hour bike ride that day I got it (back),” Johnson said. “It was pretty exciting.”

Johnson, though more fortunate than others, is not the only student with who has had to go through this.

An increase in stolen bikes this semester has led to two arrests, according to the University Police Department.

UPD Officer Otto Glenewinkel said 11 bikes have been stolen from campus this year. The last incident was reported Feb. 15. Glenewinkel said there is usually a ring of people involved when several bikes are stolen in a short amount of time.

“They travel from university to university and they’ll stay at one university for a while until police start developing a case,” Glenewinkel said. “Then they decide to move on.”

Glenewinkel said police suspect the recent wave of thefts at Texas State is connected to stolen bikes at other universities. He said stolen bikes are typically sold at pawnshops or in Mexico, or disassembled and sold for parts on the Internet.

“Very few bikes are actually kept and used,“ he said.

Glenewinkel suggests investing in a good lock to avoid becoming a victim of theft.

“I would say stay completely away from cable locks because they can be cut,” Glenewinkel said.

Glenewinkel said he recommends U-locks.

“It takes every ounce of strength and four or five tries (to cut the locks),” he said. “It’s going to protect your bike because a thief is going to see this and walk away.“

Glenewinkel recommends threading a cable lock through both wheels of the bike and then back through the U-lock once the bike is secured to a rack.

“So it’s a double layer of security,” he said. “The odds of your bicycle getting stolen at that point are very slim.”

Aldon Mines, art senior and Bike Cave employee, said he agrees a U-lock combined with a cable is a good defense against thieves. The wheels on bikes can be removed without using tools.

“People will just come up and steal wheels,” he said. “It doesn’t happen as often, but it does happen. I’ve seen sets where you can buy a

U-lock and a cable (together) so you can run the cable through your wheels.”

Glenewinkel said students can register their bikes for free through UPD’s Web site.

“This is not yet mandatory, but may be at some point,” he said. “If we found a bike, we would know who to send it back to.”

Mines said people can join the national bike registry. Registering makes it more likely a stolen bike will be located if it is pawned in a different city. Registration can be achieved at nationalbikeregistry.com, and a certificate is provided to the registered bike’s owner. Ten dollars covers a bike for a decade and $25 offers coverage for 30 years. Family registrations, which cover up to five bikes at a single address for 10 years, can be purchased for $25. Bikes can be registered for 99 cents after being stolen so they can be returned if located.

“If you get a bike stolen here you’re probably not going to find it on Craigslist or Ebay,” Mines said.

Johnson said he keeps his bike under his bed fearing it will be stolen again. Johnson said he was given the option to press charges against the person who pawned his bike, but declined.

“Honestly I don’t even care,“ Johnson said. “That’s not my concern. I got my bike back. I don’t need to do anything to them. I just don’t even care to know who it is.”