Over the past several years, there has been a trend in Hollywood towards socially aware films that seem, at least partially, intended toward sensitizing viewers to the plight of people who are excluded in our society. I have seen a number of them, enjoyed some and not enjoyed others. But I have often wondered if these films succeed in their goal of sensitizing people to the plight of our world’s underdogs.
Case in point: On April 25, Nomadland, a film about the unhoused who are forced to live in cars and other vehicles, won the Academy Award for Best Picture. On April 26 the Eugene City Council held a work session on a series of proposals intended to crack down on people who have had to resort to living in vehicles. Councilor Randy Groves, the sponsor of these measures, rather emphatically explained that the people who want car campers out of their areas are “real people with real problems.”
I couldn’t help but wonder why the people living in cars were not “real people with real problems.” Entertaining topics for films perhaps, but not people you would want in your neighborhood?
And what other kinds of excluded people are our city’s political and economic leaders willing to watch movies about, but unwilling to have in their neighborhood?
Art Bollmann
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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