TO THE EDITOR
SPORTS AND NATURE
The turf wars between naturalists and “or-
ganized sports” which Alan Pittman accu-
rately described in his 12/24 piece (“Sports
vs. Nature: What are the City’s Parks For?”)
can be mitigated in the short term and
avoided in the long term.
In the short term, the “organized sports”
organizations (including, but not limited to:
Kidsports, Little League, Babe Ruth, Pop
Warner, AYSO, City of Eugene adult leagues,
Oregon United Soccer Academy, FC
Willamette and other youth soccer clubs)
need to have a legitimate forum, where each
organization has equal access to scheduling
and gets a fair shake on fees. This will dis-
courage piecemeal field development pro-
moted by individual organizations, which en-
croaches on natural areas, pitting “natural-
ists” against “athletes.” Inconsistent and un-
fair scheduling processes exaggerate the field
inventory problem.
In the long term, the community needs to
recognize that Lane County users (not just
Eugene residents) are beneficiaries of
Eugene’s parks and are exacerbating the de-
mand to an insufficient inventory of city and
school athletic fields.
Lane County government should be ac-
tively planning a project similar to the
Tualatin Hills Recreation Center. Such a proj-
ect would include an indoor swimming pool,
16-18 soccer fields, basketball courts, base-
ball/softball fields and a skateboard park.
Such a complex
would centralize the
organized sports of-
ferings, creating enor-
mous economic effi-
ciencies and would
put an end to the un-
necessary turf wars
and open land en-
croachment. Further,
such a complex would
serve individual Lane
County users of all
ages and would bring
much needed rev-
enues to the commu-
nity via regional,
state, and national tournaments.
Sports or nature? Both. Organized sports
groups need to be encouraged to work collab-
oratively in scheduling and fee structures.
County government should seize the oppor-
tunity to plan and bond a project which will
satisfy naturalists, athletes, recreational
users, and stimulate the tourism industry.
Steve Barnes
Eugene
PUTRID WATERWAY
Thank you to Kera Abraham for writing
her excellent article (12/18), “A Stream-
Ditch Runs Through It: Is there hope for the
ditched and dirty Amazon?” (Her title ingen-
iously refers to Norman Maclean’s wonder-
fully poetic and tragic novella A River Runs
Through It.) I live near the Fairgrounds and
frequently take evening walks along the
Amazon creek-ditch.
I often wonder, “Is it legal for water to be
this dirty?” What has surprised me the most is
the supposed level of environmentalism this
city advocates, yet the appalling quality of
this waterway. I have been intrigued and re-
pulsed by the murky color and often putrid
smell of water in this cement channel that still
offers a home to: mallards, red-winged black
4 JANUARY 8, 2004
birds, killdeers, green herons, swifts, north-
ern harrier hawks, ravens, kestrels, muskrats,
raccoons, human sleepers, and arsenic, lead
and E. coli.
Why is it taking so long to clean it up?
Abraham does a fine job of listing several
agencies and groups who are working to
clean it up, but significantly the burden rests
on individuals like you and I who live here.
Taking small actions like washing your car on
the lawn, driving less, not pouring cooking
oil in the kitchen sink, or re-planting along
the stream are necessary. In addition to indi-
viduals, it seems obvious that higher educa-
tion should take some form of action. Where
are the biology graduate students and profes-
sors to test the water and its impact on
wildlife and humans? Or, how about the envi-
ronmental law students and professors?
Where are the environmental writers and
teachers to galvanize the public and student
population to become more involved in local
environments? Who will protect the inalien-
able rights of water to live a free and unpol-
luted life? You and I must.
Michelle Satterlee
Eugene
THE SPIRIT OF AMAZON
I appreciate Kera Abraham’s wide-rang-
ing and informative article on Amazon Creek
and the complex issues that surround it
(12/18). As one who lives in its neighborhood
in southeast Eugene and who has been photo-
graphing it and walking along it
for years, I’d like to offer yet an-
other perspective.
Despite the degradation,
flood control alterations and pol-
lution of the creek over the years,
a spirit still presides in its waters.
This is palpable for anyone who
takes the trouble to observe, who
stops long enough to look. The
Amazon is not a lifeless ditch.
In areas where vegetation
grows, especially near 24th
Avenue, I’ve watched in aston-
ishment displays of wave pat-
terns and plumes of light as
ducks bathe and preen in the
water. I’ve seen herons in the high grasses.
And one day, a bearded face appeared in the
silver ripples, captured in a photo — a kind of
Green Man image. Ever since then, I’ve felt
protective of this sometimes homely water-
way. It’s a living part of our “shire.”
I believe that the natural world responds
to attention, giving out beauty to the loving
eye and heart. Water, especially, reflects
what’s around it: clouds, willow branches,
amblers; or — bulldozers, paint cans, plastic
streamers. With some help from its friends,
the creek could return to life along much of
its length. If citizens take the time to really
see the Amazon, maybe they will be moved
to join others in work to revitalize it. It cheers
me that groups like the Long Tom Watershed
Council exist, and that landscape architects
like Jerry Diethelm are envisioning a trans-
formed waterway circuit in which natural
beauty and urban utility can be integrated.
Claudia Lapp
Eugene
with an opinion that the verdict was unfair
and the defendants not guilty. His arguments
were compelling, but what do I know? I’m
not a doctor and I wasn’t on the jury. All I do
know is that when I go to the doctor or the
hospital, and they look at me for maybe seven
minutes, they better have some real incentive
to get it right.
Some folks say this suing business has
gotten out of hand — there are too many, it’s
ruining the industry, it’s limiting our choices.
George Bush has declared that tort reform is a
key part of his “pro-growth” agenda, saying
that it, “would have made a difference” to
benefit the economy. But a recent study by
the National Center for State Courts found
that medical malpractice lawsuits per capita
have actually decreased. Fewer cases went to
trial in 2002 than in 1962.
While Bush claims, “everybody pays
more for health care” due to “excessive litiga-
tion,” the president of the American Tort
Reform Association said in 1999, “We
wouldn’t tell you or anyone that the reason to
pass tort reform would be to reduce insurance
rates.”
Malpractice premiums as a percentage of
all health costs have declined from 0.95 per-
cent in 1988 to 0.56 percent in 2000, while
prescription drugs costs make up about 11
percent of all health costs, projected to rise to
14 percent by 2010. Controlling the cost of
drugs will have far more impact on insurance
premiums than malpractice reform. Despite
these facts, the president and Oregon’s sena-
tors chose to support a Medicare bill that
would prevent the Medicare administrator
from negotiating lower prescription drug
costs.
As is so often the case these days, some
folks try really hard to confuse the issues.
Don’t be fooled; don’t give up your power.
The president and his friends are not on your
side, they just want your money.
Tim Mueller
Eugene
CONFUSING THE ISSUES
A lawsuit was recently won by the family
of a UO student who died while at Sacred
Heart Hospital with an unexpectedly lethal
illness. A few days later someone responded
BETTMAN DESERVES PRAISE
After reading the comments about City
Councilor Bonny Bettman in The Register-
Guard’s front-page story on Sunday, Dec. 21,
I wanted to share my own experience work-
ing with Bonny when I was a county com-
missioner.
I found that Bonny was always well pre-
pared for meetings. She expressed herself
eloquently, and she considered the opinions
of others carefully. She was very responsive
to her constituents’ concerns. She exhibited
the sort of work ethic that I admire in any
elected official — conservative or liberal.
I noticed that in 2003, Bonny made efforts
to bridge the usual rifts in local politics. For
example, in September she worked with Jack
Roberts, the Executive Director of the Lane
Metro Partnership, on a plan to offer incen-
tives for McKenzie-Willamette to locate its
new hospital in Eugene.
I think our community benefits from
strong advocacy by both progressives and
conservatives. Bonny Bettman helps to main-
tain the balance by zealously representing her
constituents in south Eugene. I hope she wins
reelection in 2004.
Tom Lininger
Eugene
NO CLASS
Re: “Oral Sex,” (“Living Out,” 12/18). I
fail to understand why EW published this
vapid, sensationalistic piece. Ms. Sheklow
may teach writing, but she has no class.
Michelle Eldridge
Eugene
ANTI-BUSH PLATFORM
Am I alone in finding it singularly diffi-
cult if not impossible to distinguish between
the Democratic contenders for president?
Excepting Congressman Kucinich, the field
of candidates seem intent solely upon a game
of one-upmanship as to who most dislikes
President Bush.
I myself have been given to knee-jerk
loathing of the man. Shameful that, I admit.
However, he is just a man, and as certain as
no man is an island, no man is either a nation.
However justified, the Democrats’ anger-
driven, single-minded focus on the person of
President Bush, rather than his palpably un-
just policies, will be their undoing.
An anti-Bush platform cannot, by itself,