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About Eugene weekly. (Eugene, Oregon) 1993-current | View Entire Issue (March 25, 2004)
TO THE EDITOR thought we were facing shortages all over this town! If you want this to go for a citizen vote (the council voted not to), help us collect the needed 4,500 signatures. They must be turned in the first week of April. You can pick up packets to circulate among your friends at Paul’s Bikes at 24th and Alder and 2580 B McKenzie. Ruth Duemler Eugene HARD QUESTIONS With the Oregon Natural Resources Council celebrating 30 years in business (news story, 2/12), it is interesting to think about the careers of environmentalists like Andy Kerr, Tim Lillebo and James Monteith. When you reflect on the organization’s focus and effectiveness these days, compared to what was happening in the ONRC’s heyday — say, 15 or 20 years ago, when Kerr & Co. were shaking things up and making names for themselves — you have to wonder what ever happened to those high-profile, work- ing-class activists who made environmental- ism a real force for change in the Pacific Northwest. “Times have changed,” they might say, and the politics of preservation along with them. Maybe so. But have our most basic land issues been resolved, as for instance how to manage Northwest forests in an eco- logically sound, socially acceptable, politi- cally sustainable way? They have not. A rad- ical program still needs to be advanced to where use of public forests at the proper scale — based in communities, supporting communities — is understood as part of the overall preservation scheme. Where are the grassroots organizers to push such a program today? Not working at the ONRC anymore, it seems. It is discouraging to realize how far envi- ronmentalism has strayed from the grass- roots, to become in effect just another layer of bureaucratic oversight on an outmoded, hopelessly conflicted system of manage- ment. Some people in the Northwest might question the ONRC’s longstanding preoccu- pation with “wilderness” issues. This while the economics that dictate land use and resource policy go mostly unchallenged by mainstream pros like Monteith, Lillebo and Kerr. Some of the same people might envy these guys their jobs — people in Northwest towns who no longer have any job, due in some part to the past efforts of the ONRC. The irony in that can’t be lost on the career environmentalists. So I hope they pause in the celebration to take an honest look at their work — and ask themselves, their supporters and the public at large some hard questions about where environmental- ism goes from here. Greg Vranizan Eugene BAD TASTEZ The cover with the image of the police- man’s zipper down and the words “Bad Boyz” (1/29) was, I thought, in bad taste. The harassment of women should not be taken lightly. I think that the connotation of the cover indicates that the policemen were just “bad boys” — when really it should be criminal to misuse their power against easily made victims. Pat Boteyn Springfield LACK OF RESPONSE It’s getting to be that time of year again. Our local public radio stations will be asking for support. KLCC has asked me to renew my membership. Even at my humble level of previous support I can’t comply. But even if I had greater means I would contribute only at the most minimal level because I have overriding beefs about what I believe to be a lack of corrective response by KLCC to listener input. Now that Alan Siporin has left and no public forum such as his “Critical Mass” hour has replaced his spot, no airing of lis- tener discontent about programming is heard. In the end, though, it seems not to matter because the overpaid, under-perform- ing head honchos at KLCC never really lis- tened anyway. Is it possible for KLCC to remain a vas- sal of NPR, a corporation increasingly cor- porate in ever sense, and yet bring in an alter- native complement, California’s “Democracy Now,” hopefully? Will KLCC ever take a lesson on the musical side from some of the truly great sta- tions in the SF Bay Area and efface its end- less on-air self-promotion in favor of deep and long excursions into eclectic, interna- tional revivals of ancient song, for instance, and longer sets otherwise of more varied music? There’s a different way than an AM DJ progression of selective singles, KLCC. And instead of the promotional trinkets — T-shirts, mugs, umbrellas etc. — how about a member shareholder vote to give lis- teners a real voice in deciding programming? John A. Hickam Eugene ADVERTISING 1251 Lincoln St Eugene, OR 97401 541.484.0519 • fax 541.484.4044 EDITORIAL Editor Ted Taylor Executive/Arts Editor Lois Wadsworth News Editor Aria Seligmann Contributing Editor Anita Johnson Staff Writers Alan Pittman, Bobbie Willis Calendar Editor Jacquelyn Lewis Contributing Writers Brett Campbell, Rachel Foster, Kate Rogers Gessert, Jerry Harris, James Johnston, Mary O’Brien, Sylvie Pederson, Vanessa Salvia, Sally Sheklow, Lance Sparks, Martha Ulman West Interns Koki Smith, Kate Storm y ART DEPARTMENT Art Director/Production Manager Kevin Dougherty Graphic Artist/Webmaster James Bateman Graphic Artists Todd Cooper Intern Carlie Morgenstein Contributing Photographer Paul Neevel Director of Sales & Marketing Bill Shreve National Sales Manager Mark Frisbee Display Marketing Consultant Jennifer D’Angelo, Rob Weiss Advertising Traffic Coordinator Geneva Miller Classified Sales Manager Jeffrey Stout Classified Sales Marah Busey Receptionist Joyce Ervin BUSINESS Circulation Manager Deena Miller Controller Paula Hoemann Distributors Jared Edeh, Maggie Garrison, Pedalers Express, Yona C. Riel, Tim Risch, Jackson Stephens, Carrie Wedmore Printing Signature Graphics HOW TO REACH US BY E-MAIL: (letters): editor@eugeneweekly.com (advertising): ads@eugeneweekly.com (classifieds): classy@eugeneweekly.com (personals): personals@eugeneweekly.com (calendar): cal@eugeneweekly.com (music/clubs/special shows): music@eugeneweekly.com (art/openings/galleries): visualarts@eugeneweekly.com (performance/theater): performance@eugeneweekly.com (literary arts/readings): books@eugeneweekly.com (movies/film screenings): movies@eugeneweekly.com (circulation): distribution@eugeneweekly.com MARCH 25, 2004 5
