Thank you for “Unable to Help” (EW 7-9). Pat Hadley and Eric Jackson are the kind of people I always imagined I would meet in Eugene. They embody our best values. Hadley can hold forth on a millennium’s worth of literature while grinning at you like a sailor. Jackson inspires brightly and loves loudly. For over a year, I’ve counted on them both for support, understanding and granola bars. I agree that Jackson polarizes, but only because a chunk of Eugene has adopted its leaders’ disdain of the poor.
With this code compliance nonsense, the city again fails to nimbly respond to crisis. Just an hour up the road, our governor will soon call another special session, during which the ability of localities to fast track emergency COVID-19 shelters will hopefully be extended for 90 days, as will the eviction moratorium passed in April. But meanwhile in Eugene, the fairgrounds shelter that housed hundreds daily has mostly closed, CDC-recommended encampments have been swept, and the city threatens to fine a family that’s willing to help out.
They say that no good deed goes unpunished; at least we have good citizens stepping in when an emergency tests our elected leaders’ responsiveness.
Robert Patterson
Springfield
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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