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About Eugene weekly. (Eugene, Oregon) 1993-current | View Entire Issue (Jan. 22, 2004)
FEES DISCOURAGE DOCUMENT ACCESS The city of Eugene is clamping down on public information with an elaborate new fee schedule. The high fees for public records could hide government misdeeds behind exor- bitant charges to the public for documents that actually belong to the public to begin with. While commercial photocopy shops charge 5 cents a page, the city wants to charge 25 cents. A mug shot will cost $10. A tape of a minute-long 911 call will cost $60. The sched- ule appears to even allow the city to charge for hiring a private attorney to black out sections of public records that the city doesn’t want the public to know about. The high fees appear to violate the state Public Records Law. The law requires that fees for public records be based on an agency’s “ac- tual costs” in providing the documents. But the new fee schedule appears arbitrary and says the city’s fees will be based in part on “the revenue needs of the city.” While the fees allow the city to charge pro- hibitive fees to hide embarrassing documents, city propaganda remains free. Citizens “will not be charged for documents the city provides for public relations purposes,” the policy states. Comments on the new fee schedule can be submitted until this Friday, Jan. 23 to Eugene City Manager Dennis Taylor, 777 Pearl Pearl St.; Eugene 97401. The fees take effect Feb. 2. — Alan Pittman BARNHART FAVORS MEASURE PASSAGE Who pays for hospital and clinic costs when uninsured low-income Oregonians get sick or injured? We all do, says Phil Barnhart, state representative for central Lane and Linn coun- ties. “Hospital rates go up to cover non-collec- tables,” says Barnhart in his most recent leg- islative report. “The costs shift to employers and those who buy their own health insurance. Lately, the cost shift has been about 20 cents of each premium dollar and will be much more if Measure 30 fails.” Barnhart, a Democrat, predicts that more than $200 million will be cut from the Department of Human Services, mostly from the Oregon Health Plan, if Measure 30 fails. The cuts will eliminate coverage for more than 6,300 Lane and Linn County residents while ending prescription drug coverage for another 42,000. “For every dollar Oregon spends on health care for the poor,” he says, “the federal government pays $1.71. These federal taxes will be spent somewhere else and will not help boost the Oregon economy as they do now.” Also endangered are nearly all the small, low-cost programs that treat the chronically mentally ill or disabled, along with treatment for drug and alcohol addiction. “People who currently live quietly in our communities will be ‘treated’ in jail after becoming disruptive, or in much more expensive hospital settings. These low-cost programs have reduced crime and helped families cope.” Barnhart maintains a website (www.philbarnhart.com) with links to more in- formation about the budget and Measure 30. — TJT NEW GROUP FOCUSES ON VICTIMS OF LANDMINES A new non-profit group in Eugene is orga- nizing events and trying to build support for helping Cambodia’s landmine victims. Friendship with Cambodia is hosting a bene- fit dinner at 6 pm Saturday, Jan. 24 at St. Mary’s Episcopal Church, 13th and Pearl. The event includes an Indian dinner and presentation by Kristen Leadem, director of Clear Path’s project in Cambodia to raise funds for vocational rehabilitation for land- mine victims. Friendship with Cambodia was founded last September by Bhavia Wagner, author of Soul Survivors: Stories of Women and Children in Cambodia. Wagner has been doing volunteer work in Cambodia for the last 12 years. “My response to the current state of the world, where war and violence are so wide- spread, was to start an organization to counter that aggression with understanding, coopera- tion and kindness,” says Wagner. “We al- ready have a great group of volunteers who are committed to making the world a better place.” Suggested donations are $10 to $20 for adults, $7 for students and limited income. For more information, call 343-3782. OVERSTOCK SALE PEG MORTON LEAVING FOR TRIAL IN GEORGIA A candlelight circle of hope and support was held this week for Eugene resident Peg Morton who is leaving for Columbus, Ga., to face a trial for civil disobedience Jan. 26. Morton was among 40 people arrested Nov. 23 at a protest against the Army School of the Americas (SOA), now renamed the Western Hemisphere Institute for Security Cooperation. The school has trained hundreds of military men and dictators who have gone on to commit human rights atrocities in Central and South America. More than 170 protesters calling for the closing down of the school have served a com- bined 70 years in prison. Morton, who has been arrested before at the military base, faces up to six months in jail and a $5,000 fine for criminal trespass, a federal offense. Morton, a Quaker scholar and retired social worker, says she’s willing to go to prison and will spend her time there collecting stories of incarcerated women. Morton plans to return Friday, Jan. 30. A x $2795 Sewing, Vacuum, Spa & Stove 484-6006 • 1963 W. 6TH AVE. • EUGENE Denise Bean, LTC, EA Licensed Tax Professional Enrolled Agent (541) 726-0908 8 JANUARY 22, 2004 ✃ Over 10 Years Experience Let Me Save You Money! Personalized Service ACTIVIST ALERT • Coming up Jan. 23-24 is the “Visions of Eugene Center: A Public Design Charette” spon- sored by the city and billed as “an exploration of ideas for a civic center encompassing a new city hall, police services building, and other local government facilities.” Issues include Eugene’s artistic, cultural, social and governmental values; open spaces; great streets; sustainability; and “ contributing to the variety of downtown.” Architects, planners and citizens are involved. Begins at 3 pm Friday, Jan. 23 at the Eugene Public Library, continues all day Saturday at the Atrium Building. Contact the city at 682-5547 or e-mail michael.j.penwell@ci.eugene.or.us • Advocates for passage of Measure 30 are gathering for a vigil from 4:30 to 5:30 pm Wednesday evenings at the Federal Building Plaza at 7th and Pearl downtown. The assembly will continue Wednesdays until the Feb. 3 elec- tion. For information, call 686-9721 or e-mail vanhoute@onlink.net james von boeckmann FROM Bean Counter Tax Services gathering of supporters is planned at 1:30 pm that day at the Amtrak bus station in Eugene. attorney at law G E N E RA L P RAC T I C E , I N C LU D I N G : fa m i l y • b u s i n ess • c r i m i n a l l aw a p p ea l s • i m m i g ra t i o n * C O S T- F R E E I N I T I A L C O N S U LTAT I O N S * H O M E V I S I T S AT YO U R C O N V E N I E N C E 968-0781 J LV O N B O @ M S N . C O M F O R A N A P P O I N T M E N T, P L E A S E P H O N E : OR EMAIL: Are you taking all the deductions and credits you are entitled to? NEW CLIENT SHORT FORM SPECIAL NEW CLIENT LONG FORM SPECIAL Accurate Returns $65.00 $115.00 Free Electronic Filing Includes: 1040 EZ Federal & 40S State Includes: 1040 Federal, 40 State and Schedule A (Itemized Deductions) Coupon expires 2/29/04 Cannot combine offers Coupon expires 2/29/04 Cannot combine offers NEW CLIENT SPECIAL DISCOUNTS: Ask about other New Client Specials Coupon expires 2/29/04 Cannot combine offers
