Author: EW Staff

Slant 10-29-2015

Slant

• The Eugene Public Library levy on the Nov. 3 ballot is getting a surprising amount of attention on both sides. What’s not to love about libraries? Well, a lot of folks who are grumpy about Eugene city government are thinking a “no” vote will send a message to city officials that reforms are necessary. Maybe so, and we talked about this last week, but we think we can have it both ways by supporting the library and demanding changes in city policies and practices. How do we support the library and other essential services in the General Fund? Continue reading →

Activist Alert 10-29-2015

Activist Alert

• Transportation safety in Springfield is the focus of a meeting with Mayor Christine Lundberg at 11:30 am Thursday, Oct. 29, at the roundabout at Harlow Road and Hayden Bridge Way. Roundabouts and other issues will be discussed, such as the Safe Routes to School program and SmartTrips Springfield. • The Eugene Budget Committee’s Citizen Sub-Committee will meet at 5:30 pm Thursday, Oct. 29, at the Eugene Public Library Bascom/Tykeson Room. Continue reading →

Biz Beat 10-29-2015

Biz Beat

Local and regional solar companies will like this. The nonprofit Environment Oregon (EO) is pushing Eugene and other cities to “prioritize solar energy” through a petition that can be found at environmentoregon.org (click on “Go solar, Oregon”). The group says Oregon gets less than 1 percent of its energy from solar, “but local governments can play a big roll in repowering our state with clean, renewable solar energy.” How? Continue reading →

Slant 10-22-2015

Slant

• We’ve pondered the arguments for and against the Five-Year Library Local Option Levy on the Nov. 3 ballot and we appreciate the informed perspective of former city councilor Bonny Bettman McCornack — see her Viewpoint last week. We also have serious concerns about our city’s financial policies and practices, but all things considered, we are urging a “yes” vote on Ballot Measure 20-235. This is not the time to hold hostage the public library services that we have so heavily invested in over recent decades. Continue reading →

Activist Alert 10-22-2015

Activist Alert

• Activist and sociologist Gwyn Kirk, Ph.D., will speak at 7 pm Thursday, Oct. 22, at First United Methodist Church, 1376 Olive Street. Kirk is a widely published writer and founding member of Women for Genuine Security. Her presentation will include discussion of her visit to North Korea on a peace mission. Sponsored by Oregon WAND.  Continue reading →

Biz Beat 10-22-2015

Biz Beat

More than 400 technology companies are now up and running in the Eugene-Springfield metro area and the Technology Association of Oregon (TAO) now has a director, Matt Sayre, in the southern Willamette Valley. A board meeting and sold-out “Tacos, Tequila and Tech” event was co-hosted by Arcimoto in Eugene Oct. 9, according to a guest column by Skip Newberry, president of TAO, on the Portland Business Journal website. Continue reading →

War Dead 10-15-2015

War Dead

In Afghanistan • 2,363 U.S. troops killed (2,363 last month) • 20,071 U.S. troops wounded in action (updates NA) • 1,616 U.S. contractors killed (1,599) • 16,179 civilians killed (updates NA) • $716.1 billion cost of war ($713.4 billion) • $286.4 million cost to Eugene taxpayers ($285.4 million)   Against ISIS • $6.4 billion cost of military action ($6 billion) • $2.6 million cost to Eugene taxpayers ($2.4 million) Continue reading →

Biz Beat 10-15-2015

Biz Beat

Cascade Manor rises two and three stories above the sidewalks on 29th and 30th avenues in south Eugene, and the large campus of up-scale retirement apartments and assisted living is often mentioned in discussions about the controversial plans to rezone and develop the nearby South Willamette neighborhood into a more urban area with high-rise buildings. “There is a common misconception that Cascade Manor has something to do with the city’s rezoning effort but they absolutely do not,” says Lauren Witt, a spokesperson for Cascade Manor. Continue reading →