• Despite scanty coverage in local media
this week, it was huge news that
PeaceHealth and the city of Springfield lost
major issues in a Land Use Board of
Appeals decision regarding the RiverBend
project (see Alan Pittman’s news story on
page 8). The appeal was filed by the Jaqua
family, 1000 Friends of Oregon, CHOICES
and Lane County. The 58-page ruling clear-
ly indicates that PeaceHealth and
Springfield did not do adequate transporta-
tion planning in light of the massive impact
of this medical center on the region. Will
the sprawling hospital still be built as
planned? The LUBA decision sets major
hurdles for hospital backers to over-
come. And the ruling validates concerns
by citizens and land-use groups that
the project is both out of scale and
poorly sited. We applaud the excellent
work that went into this appeal.
• Mayor Torrey is scheduled to deliver
his 2004 State of the City Address as
we go to press Wednesday noon and we
hope he talks about some issues of sub-
stance. Eugene faces chronic problems
that call for decisive action that we
have not yet seen under Torrey’s
tenure. A logical new year’s resolution
for the mayor would be rededication to
the council’s Growth Management
Policies, but that’s not likely. His votes
and statements have often been con-
trary to the council’s 1998 stated goals
of reducing sprawl, preserving our
urban growth boundary and protecting
our city’s few remaining natural areas.
Our mayor has been a vocal advocate
for youth and education in Oregon. We
hope he uses his bully pulpit to urge
Eugeneans to vote for Measure 30 in
February. The annual State of the
County Address is also scheduled the
morning of Jan. 7 with Commissioner
Pete Sorenson honoring former
Congressmen Charlie Porter and Jim
Weaver, along with Councilor Bonny
Bettman (that’s right) and other local
powerhouses for positive change.
• County Commissioner Anna Morrison
gets roasted a lot in this column. It’s
nothing personal. She just keeps doing
absurd things. The latest is her hit list
in late December in response to the
need to cut an additional $4 million in
county expenses. Rather than suggest
across-the-board cuts in programs —
cuts that can be restored when the
economy and county revenues pick up
— she called for the complete elimina-
tion of funding for 18 programs. Here’s
a partial list: teen pregnancy/family
planning, high-risk pregnancy and
infant care, victim services, HIV preven-
tion, animal control enforcement, Lane
County Extension Service, county
archives, Boundary Commission,
Document Resource Center, Metro
Television, electronic supervision of
offenders, treatment of adult sex
offenders, and the public information
officer position. Budget cutting is a dif-
ficult and painful process, but other
commissioners made more reasonable
suggestions, such as asking depart-
ment heads to come back with informa-
tion on how an 8 percent cut will affect
their operations. If Measure 30 fails, the
county will face even bigger cuts in the
future.
• We were sorry to hear this week that Rich
Cunningham will not be challenging Bobby
Green in the 2004 County Commission
races. Rich has been battling coronary
heart disease and is facing major surgery.
He says he might run for the LCC Board
after he recovers.
• The new year brings some internal
changes at EW. John Herron of the man-
agement team is leaving EW to pursue
other opportunities and his responsibilities
have been divided between Editor Ted
Taylor and Director of Sales and Marketing
Bill Shreve. News Editor Aria Seligmann will
be taking on additional duties, including
coordinating letters and guest commen-
taries. Staff Writer Bobbie Willis will also be
editing special publications and food
columns. Some of these changes will affect
phone extension numbers. Questions? Call
484-0519 or see an updated staff list with
job titles and e-mail addresses at
www.eugeneweekly.com under “Contacts.”
CORRECTIONS/
CLARIFICATIONS
In our New Year’s Eve music
roundup in our Dec. 24 issue, the per-
formance group Wongai was incor-
rectly identified as being from
Guinea. Wongai is actually a Eugene
collection of local West African
drummers and dancers.
Winter Sale
75
Save up to
%
on a wide selection of living,
dining and bedroom furniture
Accent tables in 3
sizes, each was $269,
Sale $69.
Club chair, leather
was $499, Sale $399.
Club chair, micro-fiber
was $349, Sale $249.
What great value! 5 seat sectional sofa group,
with bumper in durable, stain resistant micro-fiber.
Check store for color selection.
Sectional was $1599, Sale $1299.
"Butler's tray" table,
cherry, 48 x 35 x 22"h,
was $899, Sale $199.
Ottoman was $249, Sale $199.
EUGENE • 856 Willamette Street • 541-342-5000
Open Mon. - Sat. 10-6, Sun. 12-6 • www.scan-design.com
Other Oregon locations: MEDFORD, BEAVERTON, PORTLAND
We validate parking at Overpark, Parcade, and U.S. Bank
JANUARY 8, 2004 9