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About Eugene weekly. (Eugene, Oregon) 1993-current | View Entire Issue (Dec. 18, 2003)
CITIZENS FIGHT FOR FREEDOM OF SONG An ad hoc coalition of organizers from various community groups has been meeting to discuss possible solutions to proposed Ordinance 20303, which prohibits the gather- ing of 25 or more persons downtown without a permit. An ordinance to this effect has been in place since 1972, but the City Council re- cently amended it to incorporate an even larger parcel of downtown: from 6th to 11th avenues and from High to Lincoln streets. The expansion of limits on free assembly and free speech has created alarm among many Eugene citizens. The ad hoc coalition, after meeting at Harris Hall on Dec. 8 to discuss possible action, asked attor- ney Brian Michaels and ACLU Executive Director Dave Fidanque to draft a letter to Eugene’s acting City Attorney, Jerome Lidz, asking that the city wait to enforce parts of the new law until community con- cerns have been addressed. The ordinance is set to take ef- fect Dec. 24. The letter states, in part, “After having reviewed the ordinance, it is our opinion the Permit requirement for meetings/assemblies of more than 25 peo- ple and other sections relating to free expres- sion and assembly are unenforceable in their current form.” The letter was mailed Dec. 13 and re- quests a reply no later than Friday, Dec. 19. “Earlier, we agreed to withdraw our oppo- sition to the ordinance and work with City staff to minimize the negative impacts on constitutionally protected expression and as- sembly,” Fidanque says, “but after reviewing the analysis by local attorney Brian Michaels of the interaction between the new ordinance and existing sections of the City code, we agree the constitutional defects can’t be fixed without making revisions to the ordinance.” Coalition members will hold another meeting at 5 pm, Dec. 19 at Cozmic Pizza (8th and Charnelton) to discuss further ac- tion. One planned event occurs on Dec. 24 to mark the first day of the ordinance’s enact- ment. Citizens will gather at 4:30 pm at Cozmic Pizza, assemble in groups of 25 or more without permits and go Christmas car- oling in the restricted downtown area. Organizers say challenging an unjust law by singing carols is “a great way to celebrate the holidays.” — Aria Seligmann HEALTHY CITY FOR WOMEN Eugene is one of the best cities in the na- tion for women to live in, according to rank- ings by SELF magazine, circulation 941,000. The magazine recently cited Eugene’s “crisp air, pure water and clear skies” in rating the city #1 for best en- vironment. Other fac- tors included Eugene’s eco-friendly new pub- lic library, aggressive recycling, storm-water programs, efforts to promote walking and biking to work, and in- shape residents enjoy- ing it all. — Alan Pittman GENESIS JUICE WILL CONTINUE FLOWING As 2004 approaches, longtime lovers of Genesis Juice can rest assured that their fa- vorite raw juice drinks will be around for at least a little while longer. In September, members of the Genesis Juice Cooperative learned they had been op- erating in violation of the FDA’s Juice Hazard Analysis and Critical Control Point Law (HACCP), which requires that juice producers, except for very small businesses, meet a five-log pathogen reduction standard using either pasteurization or an alternative method to reduce the presence of hazardous bacteria such as E. coli. A five-log standard means that the juice must achieve at least a 100,000-fold decrease in the number of mi- DAVID ZUPAN • Good turnout for the Dec. 10 demonstration in front of the Wal-Mart store on West 11th, and the TV news crews were there with their bright lights and cameras. Labor organizers counted about 200 people in the shivering crowd, including some curi- ous shoppers — and that’s what it’s all about, raising public awareness about low wages, poor benefits and predatory business practices. Wal-Mart discussion contin- ues when Jeff Golden of Jefferson Public Radio comes to town for a free open forum from 7 to 9 pm Friday at Café Paradiso. This time of the year we can all use reminders about why we need to sup- port our locally owned busi- nesses and such enterprises as the Holiday Market at the Fairgrounds this weekend. The job you save could be your own. • Saddam Hussein’s capture this week will go down as one of those great and dramatic moments in history, pro- viding juicy fodder for tell-all books, late-night talk show jokes and made-for-TV movies. But will the public get the 10 DECEMBER 18, 2003 croorganisms. Alternatives to pasteurization include using UV light or high pressure to re- duce pathogens. Genesis failed to meet the “very small business” standards and was considering possible closure. But the business was spared because the FDA regulation is passed down to the states to enforce, and Oregon has no such regula- tion — yet. Phyllis Wagner, a representative for Congressman DeFazio, said that Genesis is in the clear for the time being. “Currently, the states have no guidelines to enforce [HACCP], and it takes a few years to come up with these types of regulations,” she says. Alan Bennet, of the FDA Portland post, says “the HACCP rules are being phased in with small manufacturers,” and although he could not comment on the fate of Genesis Juice Cooperative, he said that Oregon will whole story about how the U.S. supported and armed this dictator, then spent billions, killed thousands and alienated allies to depose him? Let’s hope future history books will provide more meaningful and balanced con- text than we are currently getting in TV news, the grow- ing medium of choice for most Americans. • Progressive Rich Cunningham is lacing up his running shoes again. He hasn’t filed yet, but he’s formed a fund-raising committee to test support for a race against incumbent County Commissioner Bobby Green in 2004. This will be Cunningham’s third try. He lost to Paul Holman for the LCC Board last May, and again to Jennifer Solomon for City Council Ward 6 (Bethel) in 2002. Cunningham moved here a few years ago with his family from Rhode Island and has been trying to plug into local politics and public service. He’s picked a tough opponent with a potentially heavy war chest. We remember Green’s well-funded name-recognition media blitz that over- whelmed the more issues-based campaigning of Kitty Piercy in 2000. Green is popular, affable and good on social issues and human rights, but a challenger such as Cunningham or Tim Hermach will hopefully hold Green’s adopt FDA rules that will eventually be en- forced. Opponents of the HACCP regulations, in- cluding Genesis, feel that pasteurization and the alternatives degrade the nutritional value and alter the flavor of the juice. — Karman Ratliff UNDERCOVERED #38: SADDAM’S CAPTURE • We “got” Saddam Hussein. The cost so far includes 530 dead coalition soldiers, 7,700 to 9,776 Iraqi civilians, 11,000 Iraqi soldiers, 39,600 bombs dropped, $103 billion spent, 2,150 wounded GIs (www.iraqome- ter.com) and more than 6,800 others medically evacu- ated (UPI). feet to the fire on environmental and land use issues. • Martha Lane Roberts, a Creswell progressive, is quietly building support for what appears to be a strong cam- paign for Tom Lininger’s old East Lane County Commission seat currently filled by appointee Don Hampton. Who will she be up against in the May prima- ry? Perennial politician Cedric Hayden for sure, and Mark Herbert of Springfield, but we hear Faye Stewart II of Cottage Grove hasn’t turned in his petition yet. Meanwhile, Mike Bonner is the only candidate to file so far for Floyd Prozanski’s soon to be vacant 8th District House seat (but lots of folks, including former Councilor Gary Rayor, are seeking the short-term appointment), and Pat Farr has not filed for re-election to the 14th District. • The “Bust Bush Boutique” we wrote about last week (page 16) generated about $510 along with donations of more hats, shirts and other items of clothing to be turned into peacewear. Organizer Carol Berg says she hopes to raise a total of $1,000 for Eugene PeaceWorks’ Committee to Counter Military Recruiting. The “mobile boutique” will continue from 10 am to 6 pm Friday and Saturday, Dec. 19-20, at 2510 Augusta St. in the Laurel Valley neighborhood. SLANT includes short opinion pieces, observations and rumor-chasing notes compiled by the EW staff. Heard any good rumors lately? Contact Ted Taylor at 484-0519, editor@eugeneweekly.com
