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About Oregon daily emerald. (Eugene, Or.) 1920-2012 | View Entire Issue (Sept. 27, 1973)
Hotel takes McCall to court over blackout By GEORGE BUDDY of The Emerald GLENEDEN BEACH (Special)-The first test of Gov. McCall’s authority to order a blackout on outdoor display lighting will take place today in the state Circuit Court at Salem. McCall announced the decision to seek a mandatory injunction against the In ternational Marion Hotel in Salem during a press conference at the close of the Western Governors’ Conference. “Last night (Tuesday evening) the Oregon state police on the advice of the attorney-general, Lee Johnson, served the manager of the International Marion Hotel with a copy of our order banning outdoor display advertising,” McCall told the press. “The local manager informed the state police that his superiors instructed him not to comply with the Governor’s order,” McCall said. “So the attorney general is prepared to commence legal proceedings for a mandatory injuction.” Regardless of the ruling from Circuit Court, the decision is sure to be appealed to higher court. After a decision by the Court of Appeals, the case will receive a definitive ruling by the state Supreme Court. An aide to the governor estimated Wednesday that a Supreme Court ruling on the Governor's authority to ban outdoor display lighting could come within two weeks. 1 Ehrlichman also for light g GLENEDEN BEACH (SpeciaD John Ehrlichman has come down a bit from being a presidential aide g but he still has his hand in govern ment business. Next week he will be g taking on Gov. Tom McCall to contest the governor’s order ban ning display lighting at night. McCall said Wednesday that his S staff received a phone call from the National Sign Association com plaining that the recent ban on outdoor display lighting would cause problems with leases and sign contracts since the signs would not be visible at night as called for in contracts. McCall said he agreed to a meeting next week with Ehrlich man, the associations lawyer, that would hopefully clear up any problems. McCall has said that if the courts do not affirm his authority to order the ban, then he will immediately seek a special session of the legislature to do the job. Earlier, the governor had explained to newsmen what the criteria for a test case of his authority would be. “We want to give a citation to a person who is grossly and flagrently violating the order so that we have a very clear violation of what we’re trying to do. Something that is dramatically against the public interest in terms of garish and bright lights that are using more power than anybody is entitled to use for a nonessential purpose.” The main thrust of his order, McCall said, is against excessively-lit businesses such as car lots, which he termed “the brightest things in North America.” “I suppose it has some commercial value,” McCall said of powerful outdoor lighting, “but it’s really cosmetic when we’re talking about the public not ahving warm enough milk for its babies and the housewives handwashing dishes and clothes.” New administration building. Photo by Jerry Galas Strikes slow down use of new building By JAMIE HARTSHORN 0 f the Emerald Summer labor strikes, besides affecting the Erb Memorial Union addition, have postponed use of the new administration building scheduled to replace Emerald Hall. “The contractor, however, was ahead of schedule at the time of the strikes,” said Bob Bowlin, dean of student personnel services. “The contract com pletion date was set originally for October 6, but we’ll be moving in just a month late, sometime between November 1 and 15.” Besides housing all the offices now in Emerald Hall, the new building will have rooms for Af firmative Action, Educational Opportunities Ser vices, Administration Management System, Student Conduct, and Student Employment Offices, among others, according to Bowlin. “Proximity was a key word in deciding which offices would be housed in the new building,” he said. “The student should be able to get many services under one roof, instead of having to go all over campus.” Another convenience, said Bowlin, will be the new parking lot on 13th and Agate. Who gets to spend the money ? Does the Incidental Fee Committee (IFC) have the power to allocate money from the ASUO reserve fund? The IFC has been operating under the assumption that it does, but Wednesday ASUO President Greg Leo challenged the IFC allocations. Today at 3 p.m. the IFC and Leo’s staff will meet with the Con stitution Committee to decide the issue, according to Leo. On Tuesday the IFC approved requests for money from the graduate student council, the Survival Center and the ASUO Housing Office. Leo challenged the validity of the allocations on Wednesday saying that the “IFC’s ability to allocate reserve funds has been suspended.” Leo added: “I’m tired of being in limbo on this issue.” There is presently $7,000 in the contingency fund. Plans for downtown delayed by council By KATHLEEN GLANVILLE Of the Emerald An urban design plan which would dramatically alter the down town area north of 8th Avenue was referred to the Eugene Planning Commission for further study Wednesday at the city council’s committee of the whole meeting. The plan, proposed by the Eugene Renewal Agency (ERA), en compasses a two and one-half block area lying between Olive and Oak Streets. The preliminary design would bring a Sheraton Motor Hotel to the downtown area and retain space for office developments, parking facilities, and a mass transit terminal. Council member Tom Williams emphasized that the city council’s referral does not indicate council support, only a go-ahead for further study. ERA director Dave Hunt presented a brief outline of the proposed development and answered questions from both members of the council and the planning commission. Hunt indicated that the total cost of the development was projected to be three and one half million, including the hotel and office block. Archie Weinstein, owner of the Eugene Surplus Store, challenged the concept of urban renewal, asking Hunt whether “we are developing a downtown business district or just something pretty.” Weinstein made public his offer to buy part of the clearance propertj for $230,000 to provide retail space. The Eugene businessman claimed that the renewal project was destroying the downtown area and that it no longer is able to attract new business. Weinstein must vacate his current location at 666 Willamette because of the renewal project. Hunt explained that the ERA cannot accept the Weinstein offer because retail use will not be permitted in the area. / — " -"" - Walkout settled Albany General Hospital nurses returned to work yesterday after their negotiators and the hospital board of directors reached an agreement. The strike began Tuesday with 65 of the hospital’s 70 nurses resigning. Negotiators and the Albany Nurses Association reached agreement on salaries and vacations in a four hour session Tuesday night. The nurses won salary hikes (retroactive to July 1) and four-week vacations after 10 years’ service. At the time of the settlement only 52 patients were in the 106 patient hospital.