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About Oregon daily emerald. (Eugene, Or.) 1920-2012 | View Entire Issue (Oct. 30, 1985)
V Local groups help citizens By Deborah lanes Of lk« tsawrald In a city with more than 100,000 residents, it is often dif ficult for city leaders to keep in tornh with the public and its myriad interests. But through Eugene’s 20 neighborhood organizations, individuals can more easily express their con cerns to local officials. The group’s largest potential for influence is through direct citizen action in decision making. says Christine Donohue, the city’s neighborhood liaison. If a plan ning commission proposes changes, the neighborhood organization involved has an opportunity to discuss these plans with Donohue or a city councilor, she says. ‘‘Many are willing to make their point heard.’’ Donohue says. “The group is as strong as the people in it.” The issue of the historic trees on Sixth and Seventh avenues, for example, prompted many neighborhood groups to take an active stand, Donohue says. “We've had ideas on policy and ended up changing it after ♦ WORD PROCESSING SERVICE ♦ Discount to •tadents i faculty ♦ »« ♦ ♦ THE FLOPPY DISC • SSI A W. 15tit AW345-MS0 ♦ ♦ ♦ ♦ : we met with the neighborhood groups,” says City Councilor Jeff Miller. One of Eugene's strongest groups is the West University neighborhood, located just west of campus. Wilma Downie, chair of the West University neighborhood group, says that work by the group has had an extremely positive effect. "Our neighborhood used to be considered one of the poorest,” she says. But through collective efforts, beginning with the creation of a refinement plan in 1974, the neighborhood has become a pleasant area to live in, she says. With the help of the Eugene Police Department, area residents upgraded the security of their homes by inspecting locks, windows, outdoor lighting and trimming bushes near windows. Downie says. Although demand for this ser vice remains high, police have since terminated the program because of a shortage of officers. Downie says her group has also asked police to keep an eye on transients along 13th ! SYD'S PERNS *19.95 ■ (long hair axtra good thru 103145) 1122 Alder • 485-9597 J Have your second drive aligned at half price this month with copy of ad. ONE DAY SERVICE ON MOST REPAIRS \venue and requested that the :ity provide more garbage cans dong the avenue. The Woonerf Project is pro bably the West University neighborhood’s most successful undertaking. The large cement planters, located in the middle nf four intersections, were the brainchild of the West Universi ty group that was concerned about heavy traffic. “We wanted to slow down traffic," Downie says. “This area is heavily used by bicycles." But with 2.900 houses in the West University neighborhood, only about 15 people usually at tend the meetings, she says, "It’s hard to get people to volunteer." This low participation level is dangerous, says City Councilor Dick Hansen, whose ward en compasses the West University neighborhood. Each group has the option of producing a newsletter 10 times a year that provides updates on neighborhood activities. The newsletters, which range from a one-sheet bulletin to a full fledged newspaper, provide a large variety of information on such diverse activities as recycl ing. crime prevention and the Big Brother/Big Sister program. Also included in the newslet ters are city press releases listing fcity council meetings and presentation times. Down ing says. The city of Eugene provides funds to cover printing costs of newsletter production. The West University neighborhood receives $1,600. Donohue says. “We may need to consolidate the communications within the neighborhoods in the future." Hanson says of a continuous ci ty funding cutback threat. But although the newsletter may not be cost-effective, it is an integral part of represen tative democracy. Miller says. "We must have those chan nels open." he says. FOOD CENTER 17 Coburg Rd. Eugene NO need to mark. We have scanners. 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Food Stamps Welcome Prices good through 11/5/85 Springfield Store 303 S. 5th 9-8 Daily Sunday 10am - 7pm I Students question Emerald policies By Paul Ertelt Or the-PI About 30 Univarsity students, including representatives ■I minority groups, attended Tuesday night's ‘ 5 mere id Board of Directors meeting to express ut discrimination reflected in the policies, pat tices of the Oregon Deiiy Emerald. a statement charging that the ues of discrimination and ques i Colleen -Juniper. Service, and iucation The statement mentioned examples of advertisements and editorial cartoons It said hava appeared In the Emerald sinc6 1983 The statement also charged that the Emerald failed to contact minority student unions and organisations about openings and that 'qualified journalism students of color and gay or lesbian students have not been interviewed tor staff positions," Kate also read from a letter from D. Misa Joo of Eugene In which she wrote that the Emerald had refused to print her let ter to the editor. Joo claimed that an Emerald staff person said that Joo's criticism of tha Emerald's 'insensitivity toward people of color is a lie. She emphasized that the Emerald does not print lies." Michelle Brence, Emerald editorial page editor, denied that she used the word "He" tn her conversation with Joo She said she did not run the letter because it quoted statements by Emerald staff members without identifying them Jean Ownbey, Emerald assistant to the publisher, challenged the group's charges of discriminatory hiring practices. "I would tike to know where your accusation on discriminatory hiring pi act ices comas from. Doesi anyone in this group know what the structure of the staff of the Emerald 1st" Ownbey said the staff of 57 employees included 36 women, four Aslan-Amerieans, two Hispanic Americans, and a Native American who has been employed by the Emerald for nine years Lori Edmo, assistant director of the Native American Stu dent Union, said she applied in the spring for an Emerald position but was not granted an interview, although she had several years of experience in reporting and production work on weekly newspapers. Diana Elliott, Emerald managing editor, said the Emerald received about 60 applications for 13 new staff positions and granted Interviews to only 30 people Elliott said Edmo was not interviewed because she failed to include examples of her work with her application. EMU Cultural Forum presents CANADA’S MOST CRITICALLY ACCLAIMED NEW ARTIST COMES TO THE EMU BALLROOM • 8:00 PM WEDNESDAY, NOV 13 With Eugene’s Single Mary Tickets: STUDENTS S500 advance /S600 day of show GENERAL S550 advance /S650 day of show OPEN AIR/WINDHAM HILL RECORDING ARTIST
