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About Eugene weekly. (Eugene, Oregon) 1993-current | View Entire Issue (April 8, 2004)
TO THE EDITOR entrepreneurial and business killing machine. It’s not a coincidence that Oregon is number one in unemployment. This system is unsustainable. Look around: closed businesses, bankruptcies, high unemployment, shrinking tax base, budget cuts, etc. It’s all happening now! One logical solution is a government reduction revolution (perhaps Libertarian), otherwise this current slow painful collapse and implo- sion will likely continue. Oregon’s economy is neither vibrant nor robust, therefore, unfor- tunately, we must also consider not expand- ing our business. Grant Roberts Corvallis ORTIZ FOR WARD 7 May 18 is a vital day for the people of Eugene. Because of how our primaries work, that day we will make decisions about who will be running our city, who will be making the choices that affect us in a way that the presidential race can’t. It’s local politics, local elections, that decide which of our neighbors will be representing us on the City Council and in the mayor’s office. We know we need a change on the City Council. It has become too conservative. In Ward 7 we’re lucky that Andrea Ortiz has stepped up to help make that change happen. We simply cannot let the council continue to be ruled by people without the needs of the people in mind. Andrea has us in her mind and her heart. I hope that at the end of the day, when the ballots have been counted on May 18, the people of Eugene will be lucky enough to have elected Kitty Piercy as our mayor, re- tained Bonny Bettman and Betty Taylor on the council, and elected Andrea Ortiz as the new Ward 7 councilor. M. Brooke Robertshaw Eugene CAMPAIGN FINANCE In 2002 a Campaign Finance Reform ini- tiative was defeated. In 1994 Oregon voters approved a CFR initiative by 728 votes. The Oregon Supreme Court ruled it unconstitu- tional in 1997 claiming it violated “free speech.” Oregon is one of the six states that allows unlimited corporate contributions. The defeat of the 2002 Health Care for All initiative is one of many examples of how big spenders with buying influence get their way in Oregon (see www.oregonfollowthe- money.org). Initiative 53 limits all corporate and labor union contributions to candidates for in-state elections. It allows any one or group to create a small donor committee that can receive per person to oppose or support any candidate. A membership or organization such as a labor union can form a SDC. Initiative 53 will bring tough reporting requirements for con- tribution and expenditures and it enforces provisions. To prevent this law from being overturned by the Oregon Supreme Court or by Oregon Legislature, it will become part of the Oregon Constitution. Women won the right to vote in Oregon by the initiative process before it became federal law in 1912 after numerous defeats. That’s what we intend to do with CFR. You can join us by contacting www.voters.net/mind We’re back and here to stay! Ceila (Starshine) Levine Eugene NO QUICK FIX We here in Oregon have an opportunity to help level the political playing field with a citizen’s initiative. There are four months left to get petition #53 on the ballot in Oregon. This issue is fundamental to all progressive causes! My question is why isn’t there huge outpouring of support from environmental and social justice groups, small businesses, and all citizens that want bribery out of Oregon politics? We hear again and again that money donated to politicians corrupts the legislative process. Oregon is one of six states that has no limits on donations to can- didates. Enron has its corporate charter here for that very reason. I’m afraid ego and laziness prevents oth- ers from helping out on this petition. We pro- gressives have got to start working together and not worrying about “who gets the credit BS.” The problems we are facing today need more than a small group of committed citi- zens to fix. We need help! Pam Driscoll Cottage Grove POPULATION CONTROL Kudos to local Realtor Rick Gaston (3/18) for efforts to “encourage a dialogue which ac- knowledges the reality of (population) growth.” Semantics is also important as “land suitable for … housing is becoming ex- tremely scarce,” could also be described as resulting from a “long age of people.” One of several factors pushing population growth in Eugene is continued national popu- lation growth. We continue to pay the price for not heeding the advice of the 1972 Rockefeller Commission which said, in part, 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 Greg Burkhead BUSINESS Circulation Manager Deena Miller Controller Paula Hoemann Distributors Jared Eden, 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 APRIL 8, 2004 5
