Here’s a cheery note. In December 1952 approximately 6,000 people died in the legendary London smog. It was a mixture of fog and city air pollutants. Guess what we had in Brownsville on Sunday, Sept. 13? Those London fogs had been appearing since the start of the Industrial Revolution in the 19th century. Luckily we don’t burn coal in the Willamette Valley; just lots and lots of wood.
I don’t expect we have seen the last fire for 2020, and I pray that by time of press that this smog has gone. When the next one arrives, which it surely will as we head into the fall, remember that breathing this stuff is actually a whole lot more than just toxic. It can be fatal for those with breathing problems. Sounds a bit like COVID to me, but at least this stuff is very visible, even if there is nowhere to hide.
Holding my breath until spring.
Peter Tildesley
Brownsville
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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