Activist Alert 7-7-2016

• After Yi Shen Market and Restaurant on West 11th Avenue suffered repeated incidences of vandalism, friends of restaurant owner Phung Hsieh launched a Go Fund Me page to raise money so that she can purchase security cameras. With a goal of $4,000, the fundraiser has brought in $9,373 to help Hsieh, but the vandalism has continued at Yi Shen and other Asian restaurants in the area, including LZ Chinese Dish, Jade Palace and Lotus Garden. Because of this, friends of Hsieh have set up a nightly security watch to prevent further vandalism until the security cameras are installed, and volunteers are needed. For more information on how to help, visit gofundme.com/Yi-Shen.

• The Refugee Resettlement Coalition of Lane County says it is looking for “volunteer Arabic, Kurdish and Farsi translators to help our first families periodically, as they settle into their new lives.” The RRCLC says it is looking for volunteers but may be able to pay a fee. The RRCLC is a “coalition of community volunteers who have banded together to support the Catholic Community Services’ newly launched program to resettle refugees in Lane County.” The coalition will be supporting the ongoing resettlement of refugees who already have a family tie here in the area. For more info go to ccslc.org/refugee-resettlement-program.

• The newly formed Lane County Equity and Access Advisory Board is looking for members and has extended its membership application deadline to 5 pm July 29. Lane County says, “The Equity and Access Advisory Board is interested in having diverse representation that includes people of different racial and/or ethnic backgrounds, identities, abilities and perspectives. Advisory Board members must live within the geographical boundaries of Lane County.” According to the county, “The mission of the Equity and Access Advisory Board is to guide and advise the county administrator on policies and practices surrounding equity, inclusion and access in both internal and external matters.” Applications are available online at lanecounty.org/volunteer and in the Board of Commissioners Office located at the Lane County Public Service Building, 125 E. 8th Avenue in Eugene. For more information email equity@co.lane.or.us or call 541-682-4203.

• The city of Springfield is accepting applications to fill a volunteer position on the 10-member Springfield Police Advisory Committee for a term expiring September 2020. The open position is for a representative from the minority community. The application packet is available at the City Manager’s Office in City Hall, 225 Fifth Street, Springfield, 541-726-3700. The Springfield City Council strongly recommends all applicants attend at least one committee meeting prior to the appointments. The group generally meets on the first Thursday evening of each month. For more information about the Springfield Police Advisory Committee or future meeting information, call Michael Harman at 541-726-2347.

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.

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

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