Activist Alert 3-6-2014

• The Eugene Budget Committee is meeting three times in March at Harris Hall in the Lane County Service Building. The second meeting will be at 5:30 pm Thursday, March 6, and the third will be at 6 pm Tuesday, March 11. The meetings follow the city manager’s recommendations for balancing the FY 2015 General Fund that were presented to the Budget Committee Feb. 26. Additional meetings will be planned for April. See eugene-or.gov/budget.

• A forum on “War vs. Diplomacy: Uncovering the Real Debate in Washington” at 7 pm Thursday, March 6, at the LCC Downtown Center across from the Public Library. The forum will open with a live-stream presentation from Washington, D.C., by Phyllis Bennis from the New Internationalism Project. Stan Taylor, director of the LCC Peace Center, and Jane Cramer of the UO Political Science Department will lead a discussion with Bennis after her talk. Call 485-1755 or visit calclane.org.

• Professor Cathy J. Cohen of the University of Chicago will speak on “New Media, Race, and Participatory Politics: Democracy in the 21st Century” at 5 pm Thursday, March 6, in the Knight Law Center Room 175 at 1515 Agate St. on campus. Free. Cohen is a scholar, longtime activist and black feminist and author of Democracy Remixed: Black Youth and the Future of American Politics and other books.

• Springfield’s Main Street Corridor Vision Plan process is in full swing and the city will host an open house from 4 to 7 pm Thursday, March 6, at City Hall. The process will help inform land use and transportation planning over the next several years for lands along the corridor. See the plan at wkly.ws/1p3.

• “Girl of the Golden West: Strong Women in the Gold Rush Era” is the topic at City Club of Eugene at noon Friday, March 7, at the Downtown Athletic Club, 999 Willamette St. Speakers will be Mark Beudert of the Eugene Opera and soprano Emily Pulley. An excerpt from the Puccini opera will be performed. $5 for non-members.

• Friends of Kevin Matthews is planning numerous campaign events and fundraisers and the next will be a coffee social with Matthews from 8 to 10 am Saturday, March 8, at the Sunrise Café in Pleasant Hill. See http://friendsofkevinmatthews.org or call 514-4766 for information on canvassing, phone banks and other events.

• Community Rights Lane County will host the second monthly Community Rights Conversations with a short presentation and discussion from 3 to 4:30 pm Saturday, March 8, at LCC downtown Room 105. See communityrightslanecounty.org. Free.

• “Supporting Peace Through Education” is a symposium for educators and the general public from 9 to 11:30 am Saturday, March 8, at First United Methodist Church Fellowship Hall, 1376 Olive St. Speakers include John Attig, Lura Pierce, Clair Wiles and Cathy Paine. Entertainment by the Raging Grannies. $5 at the door.

• A forum on government and corporate surveillance titled “They’re Watching Us/We’re Watching Them: Civil Liberties Online” will be from 10 to 11:30 am Monday, March 10, in the Knight Library Browsing Room, 1501 Kincade on campus. Panelists include Nate Cardoszo, Karen Estlund, Jennifer Frenzer, Dave Fidanque and April Glaser. Sponsored by the Wayne Morse Center for Law & Politics. Free.

• The River Road Water District is seeking candidates for a vacant board position. Adults who live on un-annexed properties north of the Chambers overpass, south of Belt Line, east of Northwest Expressway and west of the Willamette River are eligible. Call 688-1240 and leave a message for more information.

A Note From the Publisher

Dear Readers,

The last two years have been some of the hardest in Eugene Weekly’s 43 years. There were moments when keeping the paper alive felt uncertain. And yet, here we are — still publishing, still investigating, still showing up every week.

That’s because of you!

Not just because of financial support (though that matters enormously), but because of the emails, notes, conversations, encouragement and ideas you shared along the way. You reminded us why this paper exists and who it’s for.

Listening to readers has always been at the heart of Eugene Weekly. This year, that meant launching our popular weekly Activist Alert column, after many of you told us there was no single, reliable place to find information about rallies, meetings and ways to get involved. You asked. We responded.

We’ve also continued to deepen the coverage that sets Eugene Weekly apart, including our in-depth reporting on local real estate development through Bricks & Mortar — digging into what’s being built, who’s behind it and how those decisions shape our community.

And, of course, we’ve continued to bring you the stories and features many of you depend on: investigations and local government reporting, arts and culture coverage, sudoku and crossword puzzles, Savage Love, and our extensive community events calendar. We feature award-winning stories by University of Oregon student reporters getting real world journalism experience. All free. In print and online.

None of this happens by accident. It happens because readers step up and say: this matters.

As we head into a new year, please consider supporting Eugene Weekly if you’re able. Every dollar helps keep us digging, questioning, celebrating — and yes, occasionally annoying exactly the right people. We consider that a public service.

Thank you for standing with us!