It’s Voting Season Again

By the EW editorial board

Eugene charter amendment: Yes

20-274 Eugene Amends Charter: Election to fill vacant Mayor or Councilor position

This amendment cleans up confusing language. Go for it. We like clarity in government.

Eugene street bond: Yes

20-275 Eugene Bonds to Fix Streets, Fund Bicycle and Pedestrian Projects

You know what voters hate? Potholes. You know what we like? Bicycles. Vote yes.

Creswell weed measure: No

20-280 Creswell Regulation and Taxation of Recreational Marijuana Businesses in Creswell

The voters in Creswell indicated last year that they didn’t want marijuana businesses in their town. They miss out on some tax benefits, but that’s a choice. The measure appears to give One Gro, the business pushing this measure, a monopoly in town. If Creswell wants to add the weed industry, it should offer a fair playing field.

School levies: Yes

20-276 Oakridge School District 76 Oakridge School District General Obligation Facilities Bond

20-279 Lowell School District 71 Authorizes General Obligation Bonds for Lowell School District

20-281 Siuslaw School District 97J Renewal of five-year local option levy for school operations

Until Oregon finally fixes its messed up tax system, local school levies will be necessary to fill in the gaps.

Fire levies: Yes

20-277 Upper McKenzie Rural Fire Protection District Local option levy for EMS and Fire operations

20-278 South Lane County Fire & Rescue Renewal of current five-year local option tax for general operations

20-282 Rainbow Water and Fire District Five-Year Fire Protection Local Option Levy

This fire season has been a sober reminder of the need for fire protection in rural areas as well as the urban-rural interface.

Springfield police & jail levy: Yes

20-273 Springfield Five-Year Levy for Springfield Jail Operations and Police Services

We’d rather see money being used to help people avoid committing crimes than for holding them in jail, but that’s also part of the Springfield PD’s job. They need the funds to do it.

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!