We've got issues.
BILL OF GOODS Voters should reject the proposed city services fee on the May ballot. It is regressive and open-ended taxation subject to change at the whim of a future City Council. Lower income folks, renters and small businesses will pay the same as wealthy citizens and large corporations. Continue reading
NO, YES, ONE TERM Having just read the city of Eugene Voters’ Pamphlet, here are my opinions. Continue reading
DOING THE IMPOSSIBLE Frequently, significant events are supported by a long history of effort. That is true with the upcoming visit of His Holiness, the Dalai Lama. In 1998, members of a diverse community formed under the name of the Universal Peace Celebration Committee. Many civic, business and political leaders endorsed our efforts to bring the Dalai Lama to Eugene and to Oregon for a second visit. Our efforts are now coming to fruition. Continue reading
COST-SAVING SERVICES If Measure 20-211, the fee to fund city services ranging from Eugene Public Library to Fire Station #2 to Buckley House and CAHOOTS, etc. fails, I hope both its opponents and proponents will get to work to make sure these cuts don’t actually happen. Continue reading
A BINDING ORDINANCE To clear up misinformation regarding the use of the proposed city service fee, the duration of that usage and the low-income exemption, here is the ordinance language. Continue reading
DEALING WITH ADDICTION Kudos to Richard Kidd for writing such a robust overview of opiate addiction [3/28], and the challenges we face in Lane County. Living through the hell of addiction lends further strength to your work. Thank you for your candor and your continued strength. Continue reading
HELPING RECOVERY As the newest treatment team member at Lane County’s Methadone Treatment Program (LCMTP), I was pleased to see EW’s discussion of our community’s multi-faceted opioid dependency issues discussed in the March 28 article “Gettin’ Clean in Eugene.” The issues discussed in the article are complex, but it is the individuals behind these issues that inspire each of the committed and passionate LCMTP team members to continue working hard to make a positive impact in the lives of each person they serve. Continue reading
BEST-KEPT SECRET Continue reading
TEACHERS OUTVOTED The recent controversy around the common schedule in District 4J’s middle and high schools is a reflection of a bigger problem in the district. The process of centralization and standardization has been going on for several years but has dramatically accelerated recently under the new superintendent. Continue reading
OUR FAILED LEADERSHIP The full page ad on the back cover of EW Feb. 28 illustrates the interesting psychological conditioning that happens to politicians over the course of their careers. The ad extensively quotes Peter DeFazio calling for a moratorium on a whole class of toxic chemicals used in commercial forestry. The facts and detail presented make DeFazio sound like the kind of strong, environmentally conscious leader that we’d like to have holding office. Continue reading