Over the past several years EWEB has made many important decisions to improve service and manage costs. We re-negotiated our Carmen Smith Dam relicensing plan, saving millions while still providing fish passage. We revised our emergency water source plan and are now working with 4J on an innovative neighborhood approach. We sold a hydroelectric dam in Idaho. We took advantage of low borrowing rates to refinance our debt.
Our new general manager promises even more to come.
These successes require a high level of trust and alignment between and amongst the EWEB board and management. We work through difficult, sometimes painful trade-offs. We compromise to balance our goals and values. We have great momentum right now.
I ask you to help us sustain it by voting for Mindy Schlossberg for the at-large EWEB seat. She’s smart and hard working. She’s committed to fiscal and environmental responsibility. She focuses on the big picture. And she works well with others.
Steve Mital
Eugene
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!
Publisher
Eugene Weekly
P.S. If you’d like to talk about supporting EW, I’d love to hear from you!
jody@eugeneweekly.com
(541) 484-0519