Wetlands Camping Ban Brings Protest

Activists have again pitched their tents to protest the lack of places homeless people can sleep, this time in the West Eugene Wetlands. In early July, the Bureau of Land Management began clearing camps of homeless people from the wetlands. SLEEPS (Safe Legally Entitled Emergency Places to Sleep) is camping at a site near Danebo and Pacific in solidarity with those who have nowhere else to go. Continue reading 

County Hires Lively As Economic Expert

While the conservative Lane County commissioners are still prone to supporting controversial timber and mining efforts, work continues to bring other businesses to the area. As part of its economic development efforts, the county announced it has hired Springfield legislator John Lively as Oregon economic development specialist. The commissioners also voted July 23 to give $200,000 in video lottery dollars to local business efforts and $100,000 to Canadian company Apel. Waiting in the wings are projects such as “Project Squeeze,” which is slated for $230,000 in funds. Continue reading 

Eugene Jeans Guy Upbeat Despite Cancer

Last week Eugene Jeans owner and local bluegrass musician Tim Long finally received some good news: Because of his Gleevec medication regimen, the gastrointestinal stromal tumor he was diagnosed with in April has shrunk about 40 percent, from the size of a large orange to the size of a tennis ball. Continue reading 

Opportunity Village Fundraises & Builds

The opening date of Opportunity Village Eugene (OVE), Eugene’s pilot project for a safe, sustainable community for homeless people, is fast approaching, and a series of fundraisers begins 6 pm Sunday, July 28, with “Keys for the Village,” a piano and keyboard concert featuring Grammy-nominated pianist Weber Iago. Continue reading 

Pollution Update 7-25-13

Comments to Oregon Department of Environmental Quality (DEQ) regarding industrial stormwater pollution control plans for the following Lane County facilities are due by 5 pm on July 29: Eugene Airport, Goshen Forest Products, Lane County Central Receiving Station, Pacific Rim Manufacturing (Jasper) Rosboro (Springfield), Short Mountain Landfill, Starfire Lumber (Cottage Grove), Sundance Lumber (Springfield) and Swanson Bros. Lumber (Noti). Visit goo.gl/ScwdH to see stormwater plans, and goo.gl/iMDQb to comment. Continue reading 

Lane County Statement on Liane Richardson Compensation Controversy

This is the prepared statement sent out by Lane County in regard to the controversy over Liane Richardson's compensation that was brought to light by a county employee: County Administrator Liane Richardson Voluntarily on Leave While Investigation into Issues Regarding Compensation  EUGENE – Lane County Administrator Liane Richardson has voluntarily placed herself on administrative leave after issues regarding compensation were brought to the attention of the Board of Commissioners, County Counsel and Human Resources. Continue reading 

EPD Officer Pleads Guilty to Sex Abuse Charges

An EPD officer who resigned in December pled guilty to sex abuse charges. Here's EPD's press release; we're pretty sure that the December 2013 is actually 2012, since 2013's December hasn't happened yet: Today, Stefan Zeltvay, former EPD officer, age 44, of Eugene pled guilty to five counts of Sexual Harassment and one count of Sexual Abuse in the Third Degree. Zeltvay, who has resigned from his employment with EPD, was with the department since September 18, 1995. Continue reading 

Liane Richardson Pay Controversy

County Administrator Liane Richardson’s efforts to increase her pay from $152,345 to $175,656, an increase of 15.3 percent, earlier this year caused public outcry at a time when Lane County is strapped for cash. Now questions are arising about whether Richardson may have gained an increase in the money she was getting after all, despite the outcry and despite saying she would say no to an immediate raise. County Spokesperson Anne Marie Levis has confirmed that Richardson has placed herself on administrative leave.  Continue reading 

Activist Alert 7-18-2013

• The award-winning documentary Roadmap to Apartheid by filmmakers Ana Nogueira, a white South African, and Eron Davidson, a Jewish American-Israeli, narrated by Pulitzer Prize-winning author Alice Walker, will be shown at 7 pm Thursday, July 18, at Cozmic, 199 W. 8th Ave. Sponsored by Al-Nakba Awareness Project.  Continue reading