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Return to Friends Of Desert Hot Springs Home Page Updated:
March 27, 2006 Website Hits 09/05-85,827, 10/05-178,482 11/05-174,413 12/05- 228,894 01/06- 380,232 02/06- 329,935 " POLITICIANS WILL ONLY START SEEING THE LIGHT WHEN THEY BEGIN TO FEEL THE HEAT" |
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PETITION TO BRING COD TO DHS |
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03/24/06
Morning |
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This (DHS)
Or This (PS)
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To see the future
if the Palm Springs COD campus site were to be selected you
only need look at the news today. Palms Springs is said to
have some points in it favor as it competes with Desert Hot
Springs for a proposed West Valley Campus. Even police
their will not go into that section of Palm Springs on patrol
alone. Residents of those neighborhoods brag that if the
police want to come into their neighborhood, they have to come
with seven cars. |
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DHS
perfect location for new campus
Gary Bosworth
Special to The Desert Sun March 19, 2006 In 2004, valley voters passed a $346.5million bond initiative "to train local residents for jobs, prepare students for four-year colleges, and accommodate increasing student enrollment at College of the Desert." Some of these bond funds are dedicated to the building of a COD west valley campus. Desert Hot Springs has everything COD needs in a west valley campus - location, students, growth, land, zoning, infrastructure, accessibility, community support and an experienced development team with a proven track record. COD's Board of Trustees and the Coachella Valley Economic Partnership both agree that healthy communities must have educated workers and students with the skills local businesses require. CVEP has identified a number of career pathways that will diversify the valley's economy and give students opportunities to earn higher wages, including health care, multimedia and advanced technology. The partnership's study shows 65 percent of the new hires in these areas came from outside the valley. We need to educate local students in these skills so they can compete for these jobs. Career development Desert Hot Springs understands the importance of educational continuity for all the students in the Coachella Valley - not just a select few. Without convenient access to education, many will be left behind in their career development.That is why Desert Hot Springs participates in the Career Pathways program. It is also the reason our community fully supports a new COD campus in Desert Hot Springs. COD site criteria match up perfectly with the Desert Hot Springs site. Statistics from the Palm Springs Unified School District show 68 percent of its students live in Desert Hot Springs, compared to only 7 percent in Palm Springs. Desert Hot Springs' population growth rate is twice that of Palm Springs. The average home price in Desert Hot Springs is half that of Palm Springs, thus more working families will continue to move into Desert Hot Springs. Desert Hot Springs' development partner SunCal is offering to donate 80 acres for a master-planned campus community along Palm Drive. All vital streets, water, sewer and utilities infrastructure will already be in place prior to campus construction. The Desert Hot Springs site sits almost exactly in the center of the 20-minute service area dictated by COD. The Desert Hot Springs site is closer to Cathedral City, Thousand Palms and Rancho Mirage than the Palm Springs site. Transportation access is provided by being on a current SunLine bus route serving both Desert Hot Springs and Palm Springs. If the Palm Springs site is chosen, then 68 percent of the students will have to use the Indian Avenue overpass as their primary route to the school. This would have a dramatic negative impact on congestion for all vehicles using that corridor. Indian Avenue is also historically the wash crossing most affected by road closures from sand, wind, rain or water runoff. If the Desert Hot Springs site is chosen, the 68 percent student universe would not need to cross any freeway overpasses. This would significantly reduce congestion. Many benefits SunCal is an experienced partner. SunCal recently developed the beautiful master-planned Chaffey College at College Park. SunCal specializes in large scale mixed-use and re-use development projects, with 73 years of experience.Desert Hot Springs offers a plan that benefits College of the Desert, fosters Smart Growth, creates a pedestrian-friendly environment, provides open space, retail opportunities, plus nearby housing for students and faculty. Key features include: 80 acres donated for the college campus; complete infrastructure; 60 acres of open space for walking, jogging, picnicking; 2,500 residential units; 10 acres of retail space for stores, boutiques, services and dining - all in a complete village atmosphere. I encourage COD's Board of Trustees to consider the two proposals
on their merits and chose the proposal that truly fits the needs of
the college and the local communities.
Letters to the Editor for Monday, March 20, 2006 Build it in DHS Building the new College of the Desert west valley campus in Desert Hot Springs is the right decision when all the statistics are taken into consideration ("Where to place a west valley campus," March 16).Today, Desert Hot Springs is a developing city in the Coachella Valley with more than 14,000 homes approved to be built. The city has younger residents (nearly 11,000 people under age 35), lower income levels (half the valley's average), a higher minority population (nearly 50 percent), lower priced homes (less than half of Palm Springs' average price) and one of the state's highest growth rates (16.9 percent from 2000-2005) compared to California's statewide 7.1 percent average. The best way for our youth to become self sufficient is to follow the Career Pathway Program from high school through College of the Desert so they can develop marketable skills. But the west valley campus must be accessible or these teenagers and young adults won't be able to attend. Many don't have cars and public transportation to Palm Springs takes too long. Residents don't need more obstacles. They need easy access. If the campus is located in Palm Springs, it will disenfranchise nearly 70 percent of the potential future enrollees. Adam Sanchez
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03/25/06 |
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Legal stuff here! Any statements from these letters should be verified prior to being relied upon as being factual. We believe that the information is true when we post it within these letters. Even so, the reader should question and investigate the information provided as to its truth fullness. Even though we feel that the information is true, no one should rely on any information provided until it is verified as correct. The views represented within these letters are not necessarily our opinion. Please Note: We will attempt to correct any information we find to be false. We will not publish any information about a public figure that we "believe" to be "False" or have "actual knowledge of being false". (See Sullivan vs New York Times) Please let us know if you find any additional information regarding any posted statements herein. The information posted here has had a very high probability of being factually correct. We have tried to be diligent in our postings as to avoid any "reckless disregard" for the information presented (expanded Sullivan Rule). The letters are provided a "Matter of Public Concern" therefore are "Common Law Privilege" (See Sullivan vs New York Times). These letters are posted as citizen opinions under the First Amendment Right. In 1974, Gertz v. Robert Welch, Inc, 418 U.S. 323 there is no such thing as a false idea. Even obvious sarcasm is not liable per 1988 ruling in Hustler Magazine v. Falwell 485 U.S. 46. This forum of letters is a constitutional privilege of "neutral reporting" per Edwards v. National Audubon Society. |