Eugene weekly., December 31, 2003, Page 6, Image 6

Nasty weather didn’t faze unpermitted
carolers downtown Christmas Eve.
live./He sees you when you’re
sleeping/He knows when you’re
awake/Don’t question our police
state/We’re at war/for goodness sake.
CORRECTIONS/
CLARIFICATIONS
A news story Dec. 24 incorrectly reported
the cost of converting Willamette Street to
two-way traffic from 13th to 20th avenues.
The conversion will cost $13,500. The total
cost of one-way to two-way conversions on
Willamette, Lawrence, Lincoln and
Charnelton streets is $169,000.
ARIA SELIGMANN
During the entire protest, there wasn’t a
single cop in sight. “No one wants to make
this arrest,” said one caroler.
Even so, as the group wandered the empty
downtown streets, everyone hesitated near
intersections, not knowing whether to jay-
walk — despite the fact they were already
breaking the law — or abide by it and wait for
the little green guy.
About 45 converged back at Cozmic
Pizza to hear Brian Cutean, who performed
for free, and drink hot cider or consume pizza
and beer and debrief on what organizers
called “a highly successful event.”
—Aria Seligmann
Expression Downtown, which has been
meeting regularly to come up with ways to
overturn the ordinance.
Attorney Brian Michaels and the ACLU’s
Dave Fidanque drafted a letter to the city, out-
lining ways in which the ordinance violates
city code, and requested a reply by Dec. 19.
The city did reply by that date, and “the letter
was quite conciliatory” says Michaels.
At this point, the city is considering im-
posing the permit requirement only on com-
mercial gatherings, but definitions and de-
tails have yet to be worked out. It may be dis-
cussed at the Jan. 12 City Council meeting.
Last Wednesday evening’s protest was or-
ganized largely by members of the Bill of
Rights Defense Committee. Carolers gath-
ered at Cozmic Pizza, then walked outside,
stood in a downpour, and began singing as or-
ganizers handed out both traditional and non-
traditional lyric sheets. The crowd included
children and grandmothers.
“How dedicated these people are to show
up in the rain,” said Michaels.
Carolers warmed up their voices with
Peter Chabarek’s version of “Deck the
Halls:”
Deck the Halls with Mayor Torrey/Fa la
la la la, la la la la/This new ordinance
you’ll be sorry/Fa la, etc./Don we now
our freedom of assembly/fa…/Lovers of
freedom have no enemy/la la…/City
Council, what are you thinking/fa la
la…/This
decision’s
really
stinking!/fa…/Violation our Constitution
/fa la…/Vote you out, no hesitation!
Slug Queen Accordiana accompanied on
her squeezebox.
From 8th and Charnelton, carolers moved
en masse to Broadway Plaza, where they
sang “Imagine” in front of the Ken Kesey
statue. Next it was on to the Federal Plaza,
where the group became factionalized as
Accordiana began to entertain the crowd in-
stead of holiday caroling and others stayed
near the street where they could be more visi-
ble, breaking out into another version of
“Deck the Halls.”
While some carolers began to leave, be-
cause they were soggy or perhaps they had
Christmas Eve plans, other latecomers strag-
gled up, keeping the group sizable. At the
final singing stop — the police station — car-
olers broke into a hearty round of:
You better watch out/You better not
shout/You better not pout/I’m telling you
why/John Ashcroft knows where you
live./He’s making a list/He’s checking it
twice/Gonna decide who’s naughty and
nice/John Ashcroft knows where you
• The Register-Guard some time ago pledged to do more investigative reporting
but we haven’t seen much worth noting since the R-G’s big blow-out story on
developer John Musumeci that unfortunately ran the morning of Sept. 11, 2001
when nearly all of us were super-glued to our TV screens. The latest series by
Diane Dietz on the money behind local and regional politics is worth reading. The
series documents in detail what EW has been writing about for many years — the
political clout of old timber and real estate money in Eugene, and how that money
is used strategically to promote unfettered growth and sprawl. Only a few parts of
the series raised our eyebrows. Labeling some local elected officials “pro-busi-
ness” implies that other officials are “anti-business,” and that’s deceptive.
Everyone we know on the City Council and County Commission supports healthy,
sustainable business, but they don’t all support irresponsible development and
secret deals that raise taxes and drain downtowns. And it was peculiar to read
that Mayor Torrey and other conservatives fear the power of EW and feel the need
to raise hundreds of thousands of dollars to compensate for EW’s “free campaign
coverage to liberal candidates.” With our 84,000-plus readers in Lane County we
probably do sway some close elections with our endorsements. But much of our
political coverage is dedicated to filling in the gaps — providing our readers with
information they are not getting in the daily paper and on television. Who’s get-
6 DECEMBER 31, 2003
ting the most free coverage? Our mayor milks local media like a pro, reading to
kids, losing 40 pounds on the Atkins diet, stumping statewide for education — any
slow news day means Torrey gets a headline, a photo, and a blurb on the evening
news. One enthusiastic local TV news crew even followed the mayor around one
day, covering everything but his potty breaks.
• This year has been difficult and painful for many people we know and care
about. About 40 people are directly involved in EW and when we add friends and
family we are an extended circle of several hundred people. This has been a rough
year for illnesses and accidents. Just this week we heard the tragic news of the
death of Merlyn Thornton, the son of one of our route drivers, Will Thornton.
Merlyn was just 16 and still a student at Siuslaw High. He died in a single-car acci-
dent in Florence Dec. 21. He is described by his family as a young man who “loved
skateboarding with a passion that got him a lot of bumps and bruises. He was a
very bright light to all who knew him for any amount of time, and he will be
missed.” Our condolences go out to all the families who are finding too little to
celebrate this holiday season.
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