• One last word from us on the elected auditor measure on the May 15 ballot: Opponents of Measure 20-283 complain it was drafted behind closed doors with no public process, but it’s actually the product of decades of discussion in public meetings and even at City Club of Eugene. The final language of the measure was crafted by a group of well-informed, civic-minded folks, including two exceptional former city councilors, Bonny Bettman McCornack and George Brown. The measure reflects massive research into auditor best practices around the country and was refined to fit with Eugene’s form of government. Guiding the process was auditing expert Gary Blackmer, former auditor for the state of Oregon and the city of Portland.
Eugene is not burdened with Chicago-style corruption, but we do have a city staff that sometimes stumbles along, wasting millions of taxpayer dollars in the process. An adequately funded and independent city auditor will work with our city departments to improve efficiency, transparency and accountability. Vote “Yes” on the elected auditor Measure 20-283.
• A transplant from New Jersey was elected president of the City Club of Eugene May 4. Joel Korin retired from his practice as a trial lawyer, moved to Eugene to be with his kids and grandkids, and both he and his wife started volunteering in this community. Korin advocates for the “civil and civic discourse” that the City Club represents. He succeeds current City Club President Sandra Bishop and Eric Richardson of the Eugene Springfield NAACP is president-elect.
• What would Bill Bowerman do? Everybody from the president of the University of Oregon to the editorial writers of The Register-Guard has a take on that question to fortify their positions on the proposed total destruction and rebuild of Hayward Field, including the fabled East Grandstand. We think it is safe to say that Bill Bowerman would not have liked the huge tower that is part of the current plan. Who does like it?
• After listening to Bhairavi Desai speak May 4 as a guest of the Morse Center for Law and Politics on the campus, we wonder about calling Uber to haul us around any city. Her topic was “On the Frontlines of the Gig Economy: Organizing Taxi Workers under Ubernomics.” Desai, the executive director of the New York Taxi Workers Alliance, talked about the obscene gap between income of Uber owners and drivers. She said many drivers don’t even receive minimum wage. On the other hand, in New York City, some Uber drivers have joined the taxi workers union. “How does that work?” asked one of Eugene’s labor leaders. We wonder.
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