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Alan Pittman was Eugene Weekly's longtime news reporter and later news editor.
The 12-lane freeway bridge urban sprawl proponents are pushing in Portland isn’t in Eugene, but the $4-billion project threatens to suck all the transportation funding out of the entire state and local Congressman Peter DeFazio could play a key role in killing it. Columbia River Crossing (CRC) opponents have produced a series of clear, quick videos on the freeway project. Here’s an overview: Continue reading
An anti-logging protester has filed an intent to sue the city, alleging police falsely arrested, jailed and injured him and violated his free speech rights. According to a press release, Josh Schlossberg and his attorney Lauren Regan of the Civil liberties Defense Center, filed a tort claim notice this month regarding the March 13, 2009 incident. Continue reading
The City of Eugene plans to use border collies to chase Canada geese out of cement ponds in Alton Baker Park, according to a press release. The city says it will also relocate the domestic white geese in the pond to an undisclosed, “more suitable habitat.” The press release states: “Waterfowl management activities practiced by the City of Eugene will follow protocols approved by the Humane Society.” Continue reading
The Oregon Media Central blog got the scoop on the Register-Guard layoffs of 16 staffers this week. OMC posts comments from a reporter with an inside view of the layoffs (apparently eight newsroom plus eight other): Continue reading
This press release just in from the City of Springfield: “On Wednesday, August 26 from 3-4:30 pm, teens ages 13-18 are invited to play video games in the Library Meeting Room at Springfield Public Library. Guitar Hero, Dance Dance Revolution and Wii Sports will be available to play. Free refreshments will be provided.” Maybe someone should invent a virtual Wii Book page turner, a Literature Hero or a Read, Read Revolution? Continue reading
While billions of taxpayer dollars go into unlivable freeways that throttle livability and the planet, there’s a few million being spent on greener transportation. Here’s a look at some upcoming bike projects based on documents from the Metropolitan Policy Commission. The MPC is the less-known, less-democratic interjurisdictional committee that supposedly oversees all the billions in local transportation spending. Here’s the bike projects: Continue reading
In the worst blow to downtown since the hospital left, the Eugene City Council voted 6-2 today to move the police department out of the heart of the city. Critics charge that the $16-million plan to buy an office building on Country Club Road for the police department will cripple downtown, defy three votes, waste money, increase polluting sprawl and congestion, increase earthquake and flooding risk and reduce police accountability while damaging civic pride. Continue reading
Centron Solar has made front page news with the announcement that it may bring up to 300 much needed jobs to Eugene. But it remains unclear just how much substance Centron actually has and if all those jobs will actually materialize. “Really, we don’t know what’s real here and what’s not real,” Bob Warren, a state business development officer for Lane County told the Oregonian. Continue reading
Local state Senator Vicki Walker will leave office for a $100,000 a year political appointment from the Governor, Gov. Ted Kulongoski announced today. Kulongoski appointed Walker to chair the state Parole Board. The Lane County Board of Commissioners will take nominees from local Democratic party leaders and appoint a replacement for Walker in the state Senate. Continue reading