We've got issues.
• As of May 12, only about 15 percent of voters have turned in ballots for the May 19 Special Election, which is surprising. We figured the Lane County vehicle registration fee and recent controversies on the 4J School Board would crank up interest in this election. But it’s not too late to get those ballots dropped off at one of those handy white ballot boxes around town. Procrastination appears to be an exclusively human frailty. Continue reading
We’re hearing some grumbles about the Glenwood Refinement Project and some residents and businesses that might be affected or even displaced. One drawing of the new Franklin Boulevard Project through Glenwood shows four roundabouts within 1 mile, requiring widening in several places that would take out entire buildings and business frontage. The new Planned Parenthood building could lose part of its setback from the street. Continue reading
• May special elections tend to have low turnouts, meaning everyone who does vote has a bigger impact than in general elections. Your ballot has superpowers! Lane County’s Vehicle Registration Fee may have trouble passing this time around, but it has people thinking about how we pay (or don’t pay) for street, road and bridge maintenance, not only in the county but also in our cities and small towns. Is there any town in Lane County not struggling to fund street repairs? Continue reading
Ballots arrived in Lane County mailboxes this week for the May 19 special elections. If you didn’t get your ballot, call Lane County Elections at 682-4234 or visit lanecounty.org/elections. Completed ballots need to be at the elections office or in white ballot boxes around town and campus by 8 pm Tuesday, May 19. Below are our endorsements in selected races and money measures. Find additional information in your Voters’ Pamphlet. Lane ESD Director Position 7 (at large) — Linda Hamilton Continue reading
• School board candidates from Bethel and Eugene 4J will participate in a candidates forum at City Club of Eugene noon Friday, May 8, at the Downtown Athletic Club, 999 Willamette St. $5 for non-members. See cityclubofeuegene.org for details. • Revisions to Eugene’s Multiple Unit Property Tax Exemption (MUPTE) program are on the agenda of the Eugene City Council at 7:30 pm Monday, May 11, at Harris Hall, 125 E. 8th Ave. The meeting begins with a public forum. Continue reading
ODOT is currently spraying roadsides. Call Tony Kilmer at ODOT District 5 at 744-8080 or call 1-888-996-8080 for herbicide application information. Hwys. I-5, 58, 99, 101, 105, 126, Territorial and Beltline were sprayed recently. ODOT also plans to spray the entire length of Hwy. 36 soon. Continue reading
• The Lane Peace Center’s free eighth annual Peace Symposium is Thursday, April 30. Two indigenous activists are keynote speakers. Suzan Shown Harjo is a poet, writer, lecturer, curator and policy advocate. Dennis Martinez is founder of the Indigenous Peoples’ Restoration Network. The morning session will be from 10 am to 12:30 pm in the LCC Longhouse. The evening session will be from 7 to 9:30 pm in the Center for Meeting & Learning on the LCC main campus. For more information visit lanecc.edu or email taylors@lanecc.edu or call 463-5820. Continue reading
ODOT is currently spraying roadsides. Call Tony Kilmer at ODOT District 5 at 744-8080 or call 1-888-996-8080 for herbicide application information. Hwys. I-5, 58, 99, 101, 105, 126 and Beltline were sprayed recently. ODOT also plans to spray the entire length of Hwy. 36 soon. Continue reading
• Kathmandu has been a sister city to Eugene since 1975 and many Eugeneans, including Councilor Betty Taylor, have visited there. The earthquake death toll in Nepal grows by the hour. The best way to help Kathmandu right now is through financial donations. The website kathmandurelief.org has been recommended by the Eugene/Katmandu Sister City Association, but the organization does not currently have 501(c)(3) status, so donations are not tax deductible. See eugeneweekly.com/blogs for updates. Continue reading
We hear The Barn Light is looking at opening a new pub and restaurant down on lower 8th Avenue in the bottom floor of the new Northwest Community Credit Union. Sam Bond’s Garage opened Sam Bond’s Brewing across the street last year. That area near the U.S. Courthouse has a lot of potential with The Hub student housing nearby nearly completed and redevelopment coming for the EWEB riverfront property across the tracks. Continue reading