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About Eugene weekly. (Eugene, Oregon) 1993-current | View Entire Issue (May 27, 2004)
Northwest Forest Plan, but have been added back to the sale by the National Forest Service since the elimination of that program. —AS NEW PROGRESSIVE COUNCIL COULD REVISIT VOTES What will change when the new city council and mayor take office with a potential progressive majority next year? Here’s a list of close council votes on key issues over the past five years where having Councilor-elect Andrea Ortiz and Mayor- elect Kitty Piercy in office could make a big difference if the decisions are revisited: • Pursue a moratorium against big-box store development. Failed 5-4 on May 25, 2004. • Ban the use of urban renewal money di- verted from schools and other government services for a new highway near the river. Failed 5-4 on Feb. 25, 2004. • Raise stormwater fees to adequately pro- tect water quality and buy and protect threat- ened stream corridors. Failed 3-5 on Aug. 11, 2003. • Support developer plans to sharply re- duce natural areas that may be protected. Passed 5-3 on July 28, 2003. • Increase development fees for sprawl versus central city development. Failed 5-4 on July 28, 2003. • Preserve funding for the Toxics Right to Know law. Failed 3-5 on March 12, 2003. • Require above poverty “living” wages for the employees of the city, its contractors and recipients of city tax breaks and incen- tives. Failed 3-4 on Jan. 29, 2003. • Refer a city performance auditor to vot- ers to make sure the city isn’t wasting money. Failed 3-5 on July 10, 2002. • Allow the West Eugene Parkway to de- stroy endangered wetlands. Passed 5-4 on July 8, 2002. • Take money from other needed road pro- jects to build the West Eugene Parkway through wetlands and promote urban sprawl. Passed 5-3 on July 8, 2002. • Subsidize the $80 million UO football stadium with city park property for parking lots. Passed 5-3 on Jan. 22, 2001. • Require permits to cut more than three trees. Failed 5-3 on Sept. 25, 2000. In addition to these decisions, a progres- sive majority could also revisit several votes over the past five years that blocked funding for human services, including city funding for non-profits, housing programs, drug treat- ment and poverty reduction. —AP CHURCH TO MOVE OR DESTROY HOMES, TREES Residents of the Jefferson-Westside Neighborhood are speaking out against the Faith Center Foursquare Church’s decision to move or demolish 10 houses within the area of Polk St. and 15th Ave. to make room for a youth center and parking lot. Cialin Mills-Ostwald, who occupies one of the houses on the south side of 15th Ave., directly across the street from those that would be moved or demolished, has spoken to many of the church members, who she says had not been “fully informed as to the extent of the plans, or had considered their impact.” Steven Savich, another neighbor, says “We want to come to some compromise that works for both the neighborhood and the con- gregation. We do request that the Faith Center leave the neighborhood intact (trees, houses, landscaping) until the process of approval from the city has been completed, instead of clearing the land and leaving it empty.” According to Savich, the properties in question are currently zoned R-1 (residen- tial), meaning the church must petition the city for a conditional-use zoning change to complete its project. The youth center will in- clude two auditorium spaces and a gymna- sium, and would be used primarily on Sundays and some weekday evenings. Neighborhood residents intend to gather at 7 pm, Thursday, May 27, at 1330 Polk St. to discuss possible alternatives to moving or destroying the houses. One option may be for church members to use the brand-new fa- cilities at the soon-to-be-constructed Cesar Chavez Elementary School, which is only two blocks away. —Ben Fogelson Rental Hours: Thurs 12-4, Fri 12-6, Sat 8-11, Mon 9-1, or by appointment Searchin’ for the SALE . . . ★ MEMORIAL DAY SALE ★ 10% OFF STOREWIDE Thru Memorial Day NEW HEMP CLOTHES from Of The Earth! NEW GLASS from your favorite artists! “The Seminole and the Slave” Open regular hours on Memorial Day Mon-Sat 10-8/ Sun 12-5 Corner of 11th & Willamette in the ❤ of Downtown Eugene Author Tom Cantwell 7:30 p.m. Wednesday, June 2 •• FREE Sheldon Community Center In 1835 battles rage throughout the Florida swamps. Torn between love and loyalty, a young slave joins the Seminole Indians in a desperate struggle for freedom. Here is the story of one teen, coming of age in a time of war. For more information visit UOBookstore.com. UNIVERSITY OF OREGON BOOKSTORE 8 MAY 27, 2004
