Climates may change, but this remains constant: Some people relentlessly seek to consolidate power by exploiting the vulnerability and fear of those with less power, speaking of equity while cherishing their privileges and waxing poetic about justice while dismantling protections for the disenfranchised.
If you follow local politics, you’ve likely heard of Paul Conte, the lead NIMBY steering the crusades against more housing and better transit in Eugene from his Sunriver retirement castle. Dig in deeper and you’ll see how he uses Jefferson Westside Neighbors as his platform, indoctrinating well-intentioned neighbors into his right-wing agenda. Whether he’s calling a council candidate “a whore,” trying to prevent JWN board candidates from speaking during their allotted time, or doxxing those who disagree with him about housing, Conte will stop at nothing to feed his compulsion to control local politics.
It’s time to call reactionaries like Conte and his followers out for what they are: wolves in sheeps’ clothing. They are not part of the left; they are arch conservatives who have abandoned our community’s progressive values. While they don their tie-dye t-shirts, projecting a facade of liberalism and civility, they simultaneously undermine policies critical to creating a more affordable, welcoming, inclusive Eugene.
Together, we can check Conte and his followers’ power. We must loudly, whole-heartedly reject political campaigns, candidates and positions that perpetuate the disenfranchisement of vulnerable communities with the clever use of empty rhetoric. It is our collective responsibility to safeguard and restore the rights and dignity of every Eugene resident.
Anya Dobrowolski
Jesselyn Perkins
Jacob and Matie Trewe
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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