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.