• After months of controversy, the cities of Eugene and Springfield suddenly announced Friday, Dec. 6, they were canceling contracts with Flock Safety AI-powered license plate cameras. Neither city has ruled out using ALPR technology in the future. Eugene Police Chief Skinner said that abandoning this technology altogether would be a “failure for public safety.” At a Dec. 9 news conference, Skinner called the move a “difficult decision” but said an inadvertent activation of a camera after the city paused its use raised concerns and conflicted with what the Eugene City Council directed him to do, describing it as a “vulnerability” in the system. One of Springfield’s Flock cameras was also mistakenly turned on earlier this year.
• This week in “We put it online so you could read about it in the paper”: Reporter Eve Weston writes about the Civil Liberties Defense Center and local activists’ lawsuit against President Donald Trump, Kristi Noem and the Department of Homeland Security for violating protesters’ First Amendment Rights. The nonprofit legal defense group says the lawsuit could affect the rights of protesters across the country. On a more festive note, writer and copy editor Kat Tabor photographed Hobo Johnson & The Lovemakers at WOW Hall Dec. 7, together with a slew of open mic performers. Also, we had a great time at the second annual lighting of the Christmas tree in Kesey Square Dec. 5. Check out the photos of EW staff and the Duck on Instagram and check out the What’s Happening Calendar for more fun.
• Thank you to all the folks who have been dropping by the giant red box (aka the EW office) at 1251 Lincoln Street with donations of nonperishable food, warm clothing and toiletries for Burrito Brigade. Please keep it coming to keep our community cared for this winter!
• Did you read it in the Weekly? Did a story or ad we ran lead you to something cool? Did Activist Alert show you a group of like-minded citizens? Say you saw it in the Weekly! We love it when readers take a photo of the paper and post it on social media! And if you are really feeling the love (it’s that time of year), don’t forget you can go to EugeneWeekly.printful.me and buy a T-shirt that says what we all are thinking: I love Eugene Weekly (most of the time).
• Local authors we are reading: The New Journalism of the 1960s used the writing techniques of fiction to tell non-fictional stories. Eugene author Randall Luce’s new book, Black & Tan Fantasy (GladEye Press, $22.95), turns this approach around, weaving journalism’s short, to-the-point writing style into the telling of a lengthy and complex novel about the civil rights battles of the early 1960s in the American South. On the way it reaches into seemingly unrelated cultural worlds, from the book’s title — which it shares with a Duke Ellington/Bubber Miley jazz composition of 1927 — to the Tarot-like descriptions of such characters as the Hanged Man, the Drowned Man and the Wounded Man. It all makes for an intriguing journey.
• The next City Club of Eugene looks at the Lane County Fairgrounds — also known as the Lane Events Center — and its future. Speakers are Corey Buller, manager, Lane Events Center; Ted Coopman, chair, Jefferson Westside Neighbors; and Laurie Treiger, commissioner, Lane County District 3. Check it out at noon, Friday Dec. 12, WOW Hall, 291 West 8th Avenue.
• Dec. 18 is Eugene Weekly’s annual Giving Guide issue of local nonprofits to give to. The deadline has passed, but it’s never too late for a letter to the editor! Feel free to write a note to Letters@EugeneWeekly.com about your favorite nonprofit.
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