Money Creates Barriers
Breaking down obstacles to participating in our democracy
I know firsthand that running for political office costs money. As a candidate for House District 14 in West Eugene and Junction City, I made … Continue reading
Viewpoint: Page 42
My Favorite Uncle Phil
Did Dems just outsmart Republicans?
Everyone in Oregon has a favorite Uncle Phil. Certainly Phil Knight fills that roll for many Duck fans. But even though I was once Senator … Continue reading
‘Accountability’ vs. the Real Deal
A response to Mayor Lucy Vinis on a city auditor
Readers of Lucy Vinis’s June 22 viewpoint may have thought the mayor was voicing support for the citizens’ initiative petition, filed in May, that would amend … Continue reading
Doing More
How a performance auditor can build community trust
Accountability and transparency are essential to democracy. As Eugene’s mayor, I invite you to explore with me the potential benefits of a performance auditor to … Continue reading
Malheur Redux?
It’s beginning to look a lot like Texas
I visited the state Capitol last week to see the zombies in action. The hallways were empty, even the lobbyists weren’t around. So I did the practical … Continue reading
No Special Session!
Republicans are obsessed with the governor’s race
Who could have imagined that when Barnum and Bailey closed their tents for good last month in New York that they would ship their leftover … Continue reading
Bottom Feeders
Two kinds of business development
Here’s the deal: If you care about your community, you cannot afford to ignore economic development. Economic development is not a benign program implemented by … Continue reading
More Than a Ride in the Park
Human-powered transportation has an important role in sustainable living
Many of us recognize the value of bicycling. It’s fun (especially under the sun), it’s good for the health of the cyclist and it’s good … Continue reading
A Stick into the Spokes
Opting out of testing
Testing season is upon us — again. During April, May and June, students take weeks of Smarter Balanced Math and Language Arts tests. This is in … Continue reading
Misappropriated Tropes
Backlash masquerading as budget cuts
When a trope or metaphor gets popularly misappropriated due to cultural transference, problems ensue. Two examples often used in mainstream Western culture are “low man … Continue reading