A ban on public smoking is clearly a positive factor in enhancing public health. However, actual enforcement of this ordinance is certain to be imposed disproportionately as a lever of gentrification and discrimination, rather than equally across the community.
I agree with Eugene City Councilor Emily Semple that any smoking ban should have been applied citywide. It is the essence of unfairness to allow opt-out exceptions for commercial interests in the downtown core, which will continue to expose the public to clouds of secondhand smoke wafting from the outdoor sidewalk seating downtown.
Public health excuses are directly at cross-purposes with the hypocrisy of these opt-outs.
Such inequitable citywide policy creates an ever-changing, honeycombed checkerboard of different jurisdictions across the city, all of which invite capricious enforcement. This ban has good intentions wrapped around a terrible policy formulation, a saccharine coating of altruism disguising less benevolent purposes.
Mike McFadden, 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
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