• Frequent Slant readers know we like to reference The New York Times, but we’re pretty sure that’s not what led the NYT to cover this local paper not once, but twice in a month — it’s because, you, the community, rose up to help! You’ve been saving the Weekly, now buy the T-shirt! It’s thanks to the tremendous community response that you are reading this Slant column in your slightly ink-stained hands. Thank you! As we move forward, we appreciate the ongoing support to help us get back on our feet. Read all about it in this week’s issue and head on over to buy the T-shirt at CaffePacori.com/shop, and if you don’t need a T-shirt, you can fund the little paper that could at Support.EugeneWeekly.com.
• Speaking of such things as shopping and money, that’s one way to show your local support for Black-owned businesses this month, by putting your money where your mouth is. Let’s be clear, supporting Black-owned businesses should be a year-round goal, but in honor of Black History Month, make it an immediate goal. You can find a list of Black-owned and other diverse businesses here put together by Lane County by Googling “diverse business directory” Eugene (the directory is great, the URL is a wee bit unwieldy).
• The new YMCA in south Eugene is far beyond expectations, from its facilities to the details like the murals and the view to the huge crowds using it. Time to bring up our familiar hope that a “Y Annex” will be built across the river to serve that population. It’s just a matter of will and money.
• Mark your calendar — the Public Interest Environmental Law Conference (PIELC) will convene at the University of Oregon, March 1-3. PIELC brings many leading environmental advocates to town to collaborate, share skills, and inspire. This year’s PIELC will have an international flavor, as the Environmental Law Alliance Worldwide is bringing leading environmental lawyers from roughly 50 countries all over the world. The conference hits home the global and local implications of climate change and exploitation of our natural resources.
• City Club of Eugene’s Friday, Feb. 8, program “explores current activities and progress of the University of Oregon’s Ballmer Institute for Children’s Behavioral Health.” The free noon gathering is at Inn at the 5th in the Maple Room. Pondering other events? EW’s What’s Happening Calendar is back in print!
• Perhaps the second time will be the charm on Feb. 11 when the San Francisco 49ers play the Kansas City Chiefs in Super Bowl LVIII in Las Vegas, a rematch of the 2019 Super Bowl won by Kansas City. Then again, the Chiefs now have America’s greatest influencer, Taylor Swift, cheering them on, so the deck might be stacked against the 49ers. If Kansas City wins, does this mean we all become Swifties? Can a polarized nation handle that?
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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