Am I really the only person in the world that thinks drive-up lines at banks and fast food outlets are — have always been — a terrible idea? They are among the many costs of the all-powerful god Convenience. The few times that I must use a drive-up, I’m amazed that people sit passively with their motors running while waiting to move forward. No, the gas it wastes for a minute or five isn’t much, but over time, it adds up. And all the exhaust fumes from all those cars in all those drive-up lanes in all those cities must also add up to a whole lot of pollution, don’t you think?
When I suggest to these businesses that they post a sign in drive-up lanes asking drivers to turn off their engines when not moving forward, I’m met with blank stares. Yes, I know I’m weird. And I know drive-up lines are gonna be the norm a long time, but think what a difference it would make if people didn’t spend all that time idling. Will anyone join me in this do-gooder campaign, or is it beyond naive?
Graham Hoyt Lewis
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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