As a proud member of the McKenzie River community, Heather Buch has been there for us more than any other elected leaders. Showing both compassion and leadership when we needed it the most. When the fires hit our community in Sept of 2020, Buch showed up on Day One. She observed the damage and started conversations of how to build back our homes and community. At the same time she was very responsive when resources were asked for she would follow through.
Buch helped us navigate bureaucracy and get through the red tape to rebuild our homes in the fires, with a reduced tax rate, and giving us the room to breathe after a horrible disaster. Overall, I felt everything would be okay, because of her leadership. She helped coordinate multiple state and federal agencies, including the Oregon Department of Transportation, FEMA and the Environmental Protection Agency. The clean up effort had to be completed before property owners were able to assess their land and plan for rebuilding.
Buch showed empathy, and we need more of that from local leaders these days. Besides the destruction of homes, properties, and belongings, fires leave behind hazardous wastes that need to be treated and disposed of properly, including asbestos from buildings, piles of ash and debris, and damaged trees that pose safety risks. With these complications she was a steadfast leader.
Austin Folnagy
Vida
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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