The community eagerly awaits the construction of the new YMCA facility at 24th and Hilyard. However, many in the city are concerned with the plan to install a methane gas domestic water heating boiler system when clean electricity systems are available.
Eighty-seven percent of fossil gas is made up of methane which is 84 percent more potent than carbon dioxide in a 20-year period and it has caused 30 percent of global heating. Methane gas contributes to asthma in children when burned indoors on cooktops and other appliances, which is a concern of parents whose children use the day care facilities.
The City of Eugene Climate Action Plan and the Governor’s Executive Order 20-04 require greenhouse gas reduction goals by 2030, and yet $25 million of public state funds will be providing a 25 to 40-year methane gas system in the new YMCA.
I urge you to voice your concerns to the CEO of the YMCA opposing the use of methane gas in the new facility. Be a good ancestor and don’t let the new YMCA contribute to climate change.
Jim Neu
350.Eug Volunteer
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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