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About Eugene weekly. (Eugene, Oregon) 1993-current | View Entire Issue (Oct. 7, 2004)
civilized society,” says Councilor David Kelly. Societies have always sought to balance private and public good, Kelly says, “this cuts that to shreds.” Since few people want their bedroom win- dow next to a hog rendering plant or a fast food drive-through window, cities have long created zoning rules to restrict what can be built where, 37 opponents point out. Few people want ugly urban sprawl and traffic jams, so there are rules to protect citizens against that too. Supporters of such planning say the rules actually create and protect far more property talists and planning supporters to oppose 37. The opponent PAC has raised more than twice as much money, mostly in smaller contribu- tions. But Measure 7 had a similar coalition op- posed to it and still passed. Tim Raphael, director of the anti-Measure 37 campaign, says he thinks his group is doing better this time in urging voters to “take a closer look” beyond a misleading ballot title calling for forgoing regulation or paying for reduced property value. “It’s unfair, arbitrary and ulti- mately quite costly to taxpayers,” Raphael says. ‘IT’S UNFAIR, ARBITRARY AND ULTIMATELY QUITE COSTLY TO TAXPAYERS.’ — TIM RAPHAEL, DIRECTOR OF THE NO ON 37 CAMPAIGN value than they destroy. A house next to a noisy bar isn’t worth as much. Few people want to buy homes in an ugly, unlivable, polluted city. Governments already compensate owners for taking property for a public purpose — such as a new road — but not if regulations just di- minish property values. If the Federal Reserve changes it’s monetary rules raising interest rates, home owners everywhere will see their property values plummet dramatically. But there’s no talk of government compensation. Measure 37 would make Oregon perhaps the first place anywhere where governments must compensate property owners for such a wide range of regulation. Even many staunch critics of property regulation say that’s too rad- ical. City Councilor George Poling says he sup- ports the idea of compensating property owners for decreased values, but “I think 37 goes too far.” Conservative business groups and farm bu- reaus across the state have joined environmen- Raphael says the polls are moving in the right direction even before the opposition cam- paign has gone into full swing. Unlike in 2000, this ballot is relatively uncrowded by state measures, making 37 harder to slip through, he says. Although, Raphael admits the presidential race could drown out some of the no on 37 mes- sages. Hunnicutt says polls show Measure 37 ahead and the initiative’s chances are even bet- ter this time because of anger that Measure 7 was overturned in the courts. “Once people have voted for something, they don’t like to be asked again.” If the takings measure passes again, the courts might provide a backstop. Some lawyers have questioned whether the unfairness of the measure would survive an equal protection challenge. Porn shops could also argue that ex- empting them violates free speech. But Raphael says he’s not counting on the courts. “We’ve got to beat this at the ballot box.” ew TRY SOMETHING RICH THIS FALL Hair color by the designers at Studio 268 Espresso, Chestnut, Pomegranate, Cayenne, Havana Brown, Teak, Copper Gold Low Toxic Environment Quality Wellness Treatments Tuesday - Saturday 9am-5pm 268 W. Seventh Street 541.485.7273 OCTOBER 7, 2004 13
