TO THE EDITOR
hold the GOP has over the mass media, in-
cluding, apparently, the R-G, when a major
address by a major leader of the opposition
gets zero coverage.
Mark Mitchell
Eugene
EDITOR’S NOTE: See Slant item on Gore’s talk and web
link to the complete text in last week’s EW.
QWEST RESPONDS
Qwest is committed to providing outstand-
ing customer service and doing what’s right on
behalf of our customers. For that reason, I am
compelled to comment on your article “City
receives $9.1 million windfall” (5/20).
Your article correctly outlines that Eugene
received $9.1 million resulting from an
Oregon Supreme Court ruling in the city’s
favor ordering Qwest to pay the city’s 2 per-
cent telecommunications tax. You also state
that Qwest “had balked at paying the tax
since 1997.” But your article fails to tell the
whole story.
In the spring of 1997, the city of Eugene
passed an ordinance imposing a tax on cer-
tain telecommunications services. Because
these local taxes are a direct pass-through to
Qwest customers, and Eugene citizens are al-
ready paying a 7 percent franchise fee to the
city on their local phone bills, we tried to
avoid having customers incur this additional
tax by litigating the issue. In March of 1999,
the Circuit Court declared the tax invalid.
However, the city of Eugene appealed the
ruling to the Supreme Court. Unfortunately,
this time the court ruled against consumers
and declared that the 2 percent tax on
telecommunications services could be im-
posed on citizens living in Eugene. As a di-
rect result of the city’s actions, Eugene cus-
tomers can expect this additional tax to show
up as a line item on their June phone bills this
year, on top of the city’s current franchise fee.
While Eugene City Council members cer-
tainly have every right to raise revenue for the
city, Qwest believes raising revenue through
a tax on telecommunications services should
require a vote by the citizens. Accordingly,
Qwest is working to place a measure on the
November ballot to ask citizens in Eugene if
they want to repeal this tax and to require that
any future taxes of this type go to a vote of the
people.
In the spirit of service, Qwest is willing to
pursue the ballot measure in order to protect
Eugene customers from these additional
taxes and fees on their phone bills.
Judy Peppler
Qwest state president for Oregon
PASSIONATE ACTIVIST
June marks the fourth year that Jeff “Free”
Luers has been imprisoned. Sentenced to 22
years and eight months for burning three
sport utility vehicles (SUVs) to protest eco-
logical destruction, Jeff has continued to be
active in prison and fight oppression with his
words and inspiration.
Jeff has been labeled an “eco-terrorist”
but many consider him to be a committed
“eco-defender” who acted in desperation. I
don’t think what he did was admirable, but I
do think his punishment is excessive, espe-
cially when compared to the light sentences
given to rapist cops, corrupt government
agents and others who pose more of a threat
Salsa
DANCE LESSONS
by Jenny & Mario
6 WEEK SESSION • ALL AGES
Intermediate Class I
Friday June 18 - July 23
7:00-8:00pm
Must know the basic Salsa steps
FOR MORE INFO: 342-3021
mario@eugenesalsa.com
C L A S S E S H E L D AT:
I N S HAPE F ITNESS C TR
2 6 8 1 W I L L A M E T T E S T.
342-3021
HOT SALSA DANCING
WITH
Latin Expression
SEATTLE’S HOTTEST SALSA BAND
Friday, June 11th
at the Vets Ballroom
1626 W ILLAMETTE • 9 PM -1:30 AM
JUNE 10, 2004 5