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About Eugene weekly. (Eugene, Oregon) 1993-current | View Entire Issue (May 1, 2003)
CHUCK FEE An estimated 30 police officers stop and question about 10 protesters April 22 on their way to SMJ House. FOR THE TREES Tree-sitter, protester and activist Michael McCarthy, perched in a sweetgum in front of Shelton-McMurphey-Johnson (SMJ) House this week, says he “woke up to the sound of chainsaws.” Volunteer tree cutters contracted by SMJ House arrived at 6 am April 28 to cut down five trees. “The reason we want to remove the trees is to restore the historic landscape,” says Rene Grube, director of Recreational Services. “We don’t want anyone to get hurt.” At the sound of the chainsaws, McCarthy traversed from his sweetgum post to a nearby incense cedar, protecting both trees from the cut. McCarthy says he was told by one of the tree cutters, “I’d just as soon cut the tree with you in it.” McCarthy claims he was threat- ened by one of the workers who mentioned “a gun in the truck.” No stranger to tree-sits, McCarthy was seriously injured in a fall from a downtown tree during a protest in July 1998. Kathleen Larson, director of the SMJ House, was not present during the cut and could not confirm nor deny the threats claimed by McCarthy. However, Larson says, “The policy we maintain with all SMJ House volunteers is that they should have no contact with McCarthy.” She also says that it has been made clear among volunteers that they should do no harm to the protester. When the volunteer cutters were able to cut only three of the five marked trees, they called Larson, who said simply, “Let’s just leave it at that.” Six days earlier, on the afternoon of Tuesday, April 22, individuals headed to sup- port McCarthy’s tree-sit were blocked by a sizeable show of police force on 4th Ave., be- tween Pearl and High streets. According to observer Leeanne Siart, there were about 14 police cars, eight police motorcycles and 30 police officers to the 10 protesters cited with disorderly conduct. (Two protesters were ul- timately arrested.) Chuck Fee, who also witnessed the events from his Oregon Social Learning Center (OSLC) workplace, says, “Work ground to a halt — we felt like the SWAT team was here.” Tim Lewis of Eugene Copwatch says, “It BY PAUL NEEVEL LORRIE BURNS Because she hated school as a kid in Chicago, Lorrie Burns has taken a strong inter- est in the education of her own children, sec- ond-grader Dylan and kindergartener Dalton. “Dylan was bored out of his mind in first grade,” says Burns, who trans- ferred him to the Family School, an alternative school that integrates grades 1-3 and organizes study around themes (current theme: poetry). “It made a huge difference — now he’s so excited about school.” Early this year, Family School parents learned that next year’s budget cuts will eliminate one teacher, unless they can make up the difference. “We need $73,000 to fund a full-time teacher,” Burns says. “Bake sales won’t do the job.” At an emergency parents’ meeting, she advanced her brainstorm: selling blood plasma. Anyone willing to donate plasma five times can earn $140 for the cause — 100 donors could raise $14,000. An inaugural session at Aventis Bio-Services on April 13 drew a crowd of 150 parents, teachers and students. “Lorrie worked countless hours to make this happen,” says fellow parent Jennifer Wassermiller. Donations will be accepted through the summer — call Burns at 870-3886 for details. 8 MAY 1, 2003 was all very mellow, not a confrontational critical mass at all … It seemed the main goal of the police was to ID people who they are suspicious of.” Lewis and Siart both wit- nessed police officers asking protesters for their Social Security numbers, which, says Lewis, “They aren’t allowed to do.” — BW RAID BRINGS LAWSUIT Whiteaker residents targeted by a “para- military” police raid Oct. 17, 2002, an- nounced this week they are planning a law- suit and an official complaint. The early morning raid “caused physical and emotional injuries to the individuals, as well as damage to their property,” says attorney Lauren Regan. “The police clearly violated the 4th Amendment which protects citizens from un- reasonable search and false arrest. We intend to hold these police officers accountable ...” The impending suit on behalf of the neighborhood and concerned citizens throughout Eugene will be against the Oregon State Police, Lane County Sheriff, Eugene and Springfield police departments, Portland Police Bureau, Oregon National Guard and others. About 50 officers and an armored vehicle were involved in the raid in search of a marijuana growing operation. No evidence was found but two couples were ar- rested and citied “in an obvious attempt to save face, thereby exposing the couples to felony criminal charges and the possibility of having their homes forfeited under Oregon drug laws,” according to a statement from the Whiteaker Community Council. For more information, contact the WCC at 684-8064 or e-mail thewhit@efn.org — Ted Taylor DISCLOSURE TARGETED The city’s toxics right to know law is under fire again. Opponents of the law are expected to come out in force at a May 5 public hearing to call for the repeal of the charter amendment requiring companies to report their use and disposal of dangerous chemicals. The City Council will discuss the right to know law on June 9. “We’ll see a debate on the merits of the program,” predicted Glen Potter, city fire chief and manager of the toxics reporting program. Toxics users successfully passed a state law in 1999 requiring the hearing and City Council findings supporting the program. New Councilors Jennifer Solomon and George Poling have criticized the toxics re- porting as anti-business. As a charter amend- ment, the council can’t repeal the reporting program, but can refer a repeal to voters. The Eugene Toxics Right to Know law passed in 1996 by a wide margin. Last year, city companies reported using a total of 16 million pounds of chemicals. That’s more than a hundred pounds of toxic substances per man, woman and child in Eugene. The Monday, May 5 hearing will be at 7:30 pm in Classroom 1 of the Eugene Emergency Services Center, 1705 W. 2nd Ave. Call 682-7118 for information. — Alan Pittman HIGH FLYERS With the city slashing services to meet an estimated $3 million shortfall, tapping into a juicy slush fund at the airport has become an attractive target. The City Council created a $1.1 million fund a few years ago to lure airlines to Eugene by offering them advertising paid for by the city. The corporate give-away account has $500,000 left in it that the council could tap to prevent cuts in social services and other higher priorities. Another big pot of money the city could tap into is a reserve account the city has stashed away to build a new $30 million po- lice station. The city started the reserve after citizens twice decided the police station was- n’t worth the money and voted down bond measures. The council could agree and tap the $3.5 million in the cop kitty to fund social services. — AP ROSENTHAL ON TOUR Author, businessman and marijuana ex- pert Ed Rosenthal will speak about his battle with the federal government over medical marijuana on a tour through Oregon May 1- 4. He will speak in Eugene Friday May 2 at a 3:30 pm press conference at the Federal Building, a 4:15 to 5 pm book-signing at site to be determined, a 6 to 7:30 pm lecture ($5) at Columbia 150 at UO, and an 8 pm banquet ($50/plate) at the Springfield Doubletree Hotel.
