Considering the amount of empty real estate in this city, it is unexplainable that anyone sleeps on the street. Take the CenturyLink building on 10th and Oak that has been unused for years. Dozens of the unhoused could have a room of their own there. The apartment building I live in has several free units with no takers. Who knows how many beds are open at 13th and Olive? Each empty storefront capable of sheltering a family ought to cause housed persons feelings of deep shame.
No one is making any money off of this empty real estate. With COVID-19 on the rise again, very few people are moving to new rentals or opening brick and mortar businesses. If property owners would muster an ounce of compassion or even just some old fashioned guilt — go meet a person living in a tent, open a door and offer a key — everyone who wants a roof and walls would have them. Kick the indigent out again in the spring if you can find a paying tenant.
Joanna Brook
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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