Graffiti Has A Place, But Not Every Place

You glorified and encouraged some graffiti that I’d rather not have everywhere (“Suspish Fish Story,” 7/28). I hear you personally like it, and maybe enjoy being a little naughty by association. I wish you’d differentiated more between artful and self-centered (tagging one’s name/character over and over). I’m seeing “thin blue line” shirts almost every day (connected with Blue Lives Matter and even white nationalism).

The last thing we need is to antagonize the police for doing their job with regard to graffiti, which is particularly unglamorous work. Last year little Berkeley Park’s kiosk was graffitied over (covering up a free lunches flier), and various times we’ve called Parks and Rec about unkind Sharpie messages scrawled around the playground.

If only there was a more productive approach to vandalism hotspots. Oh, wait, there is! I appreciate those who’ve done the leg-work to create public spaces where anyone can paint big (more please, and perhaps a lower bar for some mural work?).

P.S: EW, you should have published my Local and Vocal instead!

Erica Walla

Eugene

Editor’s note: We love Local and Vocal viewpoint submissions! But submissions go through an editing process and don’t just immediately get published (letters are faster). We also love all the positive feedback and good vibes we are seeing all over social media for Suspish’s work!

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.

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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!