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About Eugene weekly. (Eugene, Oregon) 1993-current | View Entire Issue (Oct. 7, 2004)
TO THE EDITOR the WOW Hall, above High Priestess). It is unfortunate that we can no longer enjoy fresh organic and cheap meals in such a happy atmosphere. I will enjoy the memory of Planet Goloka. I only wish more people supported them while the magic was here. Risa Dotson Eugene KEEP DON HAMPTON! Please rally in support of Don Hampton as county commissioner of east Lane! He represents the swing vote in the commission, the difference between a bal- ance of quality rural and urban life and the threat of big developers. It is crucial to elect an experienced and fair-minded per- son who puts principle, common sense and the interests of the people above politics — a good listener who wants to keep the qual- ity of life in east Lane while supporting the efforts of small enterprise. Don Hampton is endorsed by Congressman Peter DeFazio, former Oregon State Sen. Tony Corcoran and many mayors and councilors in east Lane county. During his service as commissioner he has, among other activities: saved more than $2 million dollars in unnecessary road work, voted to restore 24/7 sheriff’s pa- trols, voted to retain funding for rural health care clinics, and worked to speed up the permitting process. He opposes the un- necessary Coburg power plant. Don Hampton’s opponent, Faye Stewart, is poised to challenge him with large sums of money at his disposal, but Stewart has no experience in government. Keep Don Hampton as county commis- sioner with your vote! Kathleen Epstein Eugene sorts to “Holy shit,” “damn,” “fuckin’” and references to people’s physical deformities (“hunchbacked, bug-eyed nurse”) to spice up a pointless, boring, self-focused article. You not only waste space but look foolish choosing to print such drivel. Julie Rogers Eugene OFFENSIVE WRITING EWEB would like to pass along a 5.4 percent increase, which we should oppose for two major reasons. The first is that ac- cording to the Sept. 17 edition of The Oregonian, the Bonneville Power Administration (BPA) has reduced whole- sale electricity rates by 7.5 percent begin- ning Oct. 1. Although the article explicitly says that consumers should not expect an equivalent decrease in rates, it cites Portland General Electric as only raising rates by 1 percent due to the actions of BPA. I believe that at the very least, EWEB should keep rates at status quo, and I take issue with the statement in EWEB’s letter to consumers that a portion of the increase “would pay for higher wholesale energy costs from the BPA.” The rate increase cited in the EWEB letter is not backed up by either The Oregonian article or the in- formation available on the BPA website. The second reason we should object to the rate increase is due to the dispropor- tionate impact it will have on small busi- nesses and low-income citizens in our community. While big businesses have large financial backers to call on, and can afford to pay higher utility costs, our com- munity-owned businesses have nowhere to turn when their utility prices rise. Everything should be done to shield small business owners from unnecessary utility rate increases. Low-income earners also face dilem- mas when electricity rates rise, and fortu- nately, EWEB has effective programs in place that help those in need. However, I fear that by raising electric rates, fewer people will be able to pay their power bills and become dependent upon EWEB pro- grams. Many low-income earners in our community take pride in being able to pay their bills without assistance, and every- thing should be done to allow them to con- tinue to do so. Please write a letter to EWEB letting them know how you feel. T.K. Keen Eugene Why does the EW keep running pieces by Ben Fogelson? The content is trivial, the style offensive and they are pointless. Casting about to have some flair or sub- stance in “Swimmin’ Boys” (8/26), he re- CITIZENS UNITE! EDITOR’S NOTE: EWEB tells us BPA’s overall costs are increasing: “Bonneville is lowering wholesale rates by 7.5 percent, but only for a third of the power EWEB buys from BPA. For the other two-thirds of the BPA power, Bonneville is increasing wholesale costs,” says Lance Robertson of EWEB. STICKY FINGERS So the president does not need a permis- sion slip, and he’ll stick to his guns in his war. I can’t help being reminded of another head of state who also did not ask for a per- mission slip before invading another coun- try, claiming he was only “returning fire.” He also stuck to his guns — until he shot himself, leaving his country in shambles. Those who fail to learn the lessons of history are condemned to repeat them. Helmut Plant Eugene 6 OCTOBER 7, 2004
