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About What's happening. (Eugene, OR) 1982-1993 | View Entire Issue (Dec. 10, 1987)
FREE INITIAL EXAMINATION AND CONSULTATION WITH THIS COUPON Diagnostic X-Rays $10 Free Nitrous Oxide (Gas) Stereo Headphones Available Gentle Economical Dentistry I I Thomas Kopriva, D.D.S. General Dentistry L _ 340 W. 10th Ave._ 484-9175. POPULAR MECHANICS. west side FOREIGN AUTO 4 Maintenance & Repair 1069 W. 3rd 484-4930 H.I.D. GROWLIGHTS Year end clearance on LIGHTS, TIMERS, HYDROPONIC SYS TEMS, ACCESSORIES, ETC. Absolutely Unbeatable Deals. Finally an Affordable High Quali ty Sodium Bulb for your Mercury sr Halide Ballast. AGRILITE CO. 93829 River Road Junction City, OR 998-3218 "Serving Horticulturists —— Since 1979" (7 You are invited to join us for hors d'oeuvres and CiveCy discussion .-at-x OPTIMAL OUTCOMES free "worlds hop" evening J s Date: Diurs., Dec. lOtfi. at 7:00 p.m. Diace: 'Thunderbird Inn, Red Carpet 'J^pom SEATING IS LIMITED, PLEASE CALL FOR RESERVATIONS: 485-0115 (S3 NPR WEE All EWs SV "NO Things Considered AMERICA'S MOST CELEBRATED RADIO NEWSMAGAZINE 4-4:30 PM & 5-6:30 PM WEEKDAYS 5-6 PM SATURDAY 278204 weesst s ONs ONLY ON KLCC 89.7 PM PLUS LOCAL NEWS 4:30 PM The Northwest Passage AND MONITORADIO 6:30 PM World News from the Christian Science Monitor MTONa, PVBLic 1897 RAD/o ■PUBLIC INTEREST Human Rights Commissions in danger by Kevin Collins Several citizens groups have voiced concern that the city of Eugene’s push for economic development may be pushing the city's various Human Rights Commissions by the wayside. The various commissions which serve as advisory panels for the Eugene Ci ty Council have undergone significant budget cuts in recent years and sup porters fear further slashes from the budgetary knife. Essentially, the commissions were formed to advise the City Council with regard to the impact and in fringements on various groups due to legislative or other actions. These in clude commissions on the aging, mi norities, the disabled, women and youth. While they possess no formal power, these comissions have been quite active with regard to recent con troversies such as the gut cruising ordinance and alleged racism in the schools. Ironically, two of the recent mobi lization efforts of these commissions have dealt with activities involving the mayor and a prominent city coun cilperson. Specifically, the Com z —I NATURAL FIBRE CLOTHING A WOOLSTREET Affordable Quality All Natural Fiber Clothing sweaters socks shirts and 97% cotton tights In fun fashion colors and styles Downstairs at the 5th St. Public Market 345-7009 Open Mon-Sat 10 am-9 pm Sun 10 am-6 pm s U x i) a y s 7:00 am Wake up to BLUE SUNDAY With RICHARD DOMINGUEZ and CARL STOLZ: four solid hours of ur ban and country blues. It’s one of KRVM’s most popular programs! THIS PROGRAM JUST KEEPS ON GROWING! IT’S NOW ON A FULL FIVE HOURS! 12 noon SOUL CITY Joe Lewis’ MOTOWN-R & B-SOUL BONANZA! It's becoming everyone’s favorite Sunday habit! 3:00 pm RADIO 80S MODERN ROCK COMES ALIVE 7 days a week . . . only on 91.9! 10:00 pm MODERN MONO With LUCY LIZZARD: Hardcore & Import Rock for a full four hours, thanks to your support! 2:00 am signoff every night! mission on Aging was quite active in mobilizing citizen support to fight the proposed repeal of the Condo Con version Ordinance. This proposed repeal was introduced by Council person Rob Bennett soon after his election last November and would have removed some protections for apartment dwellers and made it easier for developers to convert buildings in to condos. The Commission on Aging and other groups fought this repeal on the grounds that it could have a serious ly detrimental effect on a large seg ment of senior citizens who live in apartments. Mr. Bennett is one of the area’s most prominent developers and his role in promoting this repeal in duced state Senator Larry Hill to introduce a conflict of interest bill in the state legislature. Most recently, the Commission on the Disabled has been involved in a controversy surrounding the Fifth Street Public Market which is owned solely by Mayor Brian Obie. Com mission Chairperson Nancy Brawner Jones contends that officials of the Market signed an agreement five years ago agreeing to make the market handicapped accessible within five years or when any vertical or hori zontal construction occurred—which ever came first. Both horizontal and vertical construction has occurred and the five-year period expires Dec. 31, 1987. Market manager Doug Obie, the mayor’s son, has requested an indefi nite extension despite the feet that the market has recently undergone exten sive renovations. Nancy Brawner Jones contends that it is not just the specific access issue of the market that concerns the com mission but the overall message that this scenario sends to the communi ty. “The Market is a highly visible commercial complex in this city and, incidentally, we receive more com plaints about this building than any other in the area,” she contends. “What is, perhaps, of more concern is the fact that other business owners and landlords will ask the question: ‘If the mayor does not have to comp ly, then why should we have to?’ ” she adds. While the city of Eugene has en joyed a reputation as being in the van guard of protecting the rights of the disabled, Brawner-Jones suggests that this is becoing something of a facade. She terms “scandalous” the fact that the playground, which was construct ed on die mall as part of recent reno vations paid for by taxpayers, is not handicapped accessible. This is, she states, “in spite of the fact that the commission raised objections about the plans from the outset of the proj ect and we were ignored.” Brawner-Jones contends that the problem lies often more with city staff than with the City Council. For ex ample, the city’s single paid human rights commissioner position has been vacant for six 'months and no im mediate plans to fill it have been forth coing. Several commission members suggest that City Manager Mike Gleason may be using this as a budget cutting measure. She states, “It is doubtful that any elected official wants to be characterized as being anti human rights or any particular consti tuency. Yet, if the funds that the Council allocates are not spent by the city, it is an empty allocation. There is, currently, $95,000 allocated for the human rights commissions and each commission is receiving about $1300 yearly. That is less than $10,000. Where is the other $85,000? Is it merely being saved for other city proj ects such as the airport?” Commission personnel state that each commission receives thousands of volunteer hours each year while the city “lends” staff to the commissions on a rotating basis. Such a scenario, coupled with recent council sugges tions that some of the commissions be subsumed under various service de livery agencies, has proponents con cerned about the future effectiveness of the commissions. At a recent budgetary work session of the City Council, support was gen erally strong for maintaining the cur rent level of financial support for the commissions. Only Mayor Obie and Councilperson Roger Rutan gave the commissions the lowest priority score. Lunch at Track Town. Pizza Bagels • Salad Bar • Sandwiches • Whole Wheat or Regular Crust Pizza • 484-2799 We deliver free! (Limited area) 1809 Franklin Across from U of O TRACK TOWN PIZZA ‘ muwasak SALE TURSDA% 'DECEMB’E'RJO 11am to 7pm llamto7pm S^TW^p^vy, DECEMBER 12 10am to 3pm EUGENE iHlLODK MOTEL 3OPLIM ROOM ASIAN TEXTILES...Sensuous silk kimono and haori jackets.... Comfortable cotton robes. .Heavy indigo cotton "sakiori" coats....Embroidered jackets made from Asian hill tribe Elegantly framed Chinese embroidery....Colorful, costumes practical,cotton batik tote bags....Origami cards and jewelry... Japanese gift wrap..... in conjunction with Susanne Fogelson Beads, Robert McClain Japanese Prints and Julia's Handknits 343-4059
