news
briefs
at the old Agripac site; creating a downtown
youth center with the cooperation of the UO
and private donations; and making govern-
ment “sensible, transparent and fair to every-
one.”
Taylor’s progressive list brought some of
the biggest applause of the evening
from the packed Hult Center lobby.
— Alan Pittman
PLAQUES
AND ADVICE
UO STUDENTS
OUTLINE PLAN
New Mayor Kitty Piercy wasn’t the only
Members of the nascent UO peace group
official to speak at the Eugene State of the
Students for Change have outlined their plan
City event Jan. 3.
for an ambitious movement called the
Incoming and outgoing elected officials,
Commongood Project. In the first phase of
even political opposites, exchanged praise
the project, members will raise funds and
and plaques. Councilor Bonny Bettman
build networks with local and national inter-
thanked Piercy for “sharing the platform so
faith groups and social justice organizations.
liberally” and praised outgoing Mayor Jim
They will also organize “communities for the
Torrey for his “down to earth” style and sense
common good,” or “comcoms,” which will
of humor. Torrey “has been a very,
host educational events and facilitate pub-
very powerful political force in
lic conversations. “We want to wel-
this community for more than
come people who are attracted to a
a decade,” Bettman said.
new kind of spirit,” says SFC
Torrey returned the
member Brian Bogart. “It’s not
praise, noting Bettman’s
just for young people, but for all
key role in passing a meas-
concerned citizens.”
ure to provide city tax money
The project’s umbrella goal is
to bail out local schools.
to provide “a creative response to the
Without Bettman, the funding
destructive US agenda of spreading sub-
BETTY TAYLOR
might not have happened, Torrey
ordination through violence,” according
said. “Council President Bonny Bettman
to SFC’s draft. “The Commongood Project
saved the day.”
claims the future as a common ground for life
and the human family, to be protected from
Torrey also offered the new mayor and
unjust, violent, and unsustainable systems we
council this parting advice: “Keep Eugene a
live under today. Everyone has the right to
great place for kids, because if you do, it will
evolve equally in a hopeful, peaceful world.
remain a great place for everyone.”
That which threatens our common ground —
Re-elected Councilor Betty Taylor used
obstacles to equitable coexistence — must be
her turn to offer a long list of what she’d like
changed.”
to see the new city government accomplish:
SFC is leading a campus rally and a march
an independent performance auditor; helping
to the Federal Building to protest George W.
Oregon Research Institute in its plans to build
Bush’s inauguration on Jan. 20. Pre-march
a new office at the old Sears building across
activities will take place at the EMU am-
from the downtown library; tax reform; an
phitheater on the UO campus from noon to 4
equitable system of funding road repairs; a
pm. For more information, seethe following
living wage ordinance; regulating big box
story or visit the SFC website at www.stu-
stores; increased funding for neighborhood
dents4change.org
organizations, community television and the
— Kera Abraham
sister city program; daylighting the millrace
• We love seeing Kulongoski showing
some spunk and taking on the Bush
administration in his State of the State
Address this week. The guv said he would
not sit by while “the federal government
attempts to dismantle our environmental
legacy, undermine our values and erode
our sovereignty.” That statement covers a
multitude of sins, from destructive salmon
and forest policies to gay rights restric-
tions to attempts to override Oregonians’
votes on assisted suicide and medical pot.
Meanwhile, Lane County Commissioner
Pete Sorenson has announced his guber-
natorial candidacy to oppose Kulongoski
in 2006. It’s a long shot, but Sorenson’s
pressure from the left might be just
what’s prodding Kulongoski to show some
leadership and initiative in what’s so far
been an unremarkable governorship.
Smart move by Sorenson. We hear Pete
somehow got invited to sit among state
8 JANUARY 13, 2004
lawmakers in the audience for the guv’s
State of the State Address. How did he
manage that?
• Tsunami reports and winter weather
news are overshadowing war and politics
these days, so here’s a quick recap on the
presidential election as we approach the
re-inauguration of Bush next week.
Congress met Jan. 6 to approve the
Electoral College votes and U.S. Rep.
Conyers and several colleagues objected
to the votes from Ohio on the basis of
“numerous, serious election irregulari-
ties.” Conyers had written to all 100 sena-
tors asking them to join him. Locally,
members of Truthinvoting.org continued a
vigil at Sen. Wyden’s Eugene office, and
Sarah Gray continued her fast, all asking
Wyden to join Conyers. Tens of thousands
of people across the country phoned,
faxed, and wrote to Congress. The morn-
COUNTERING
INAUGURATION
UO students, faculty, and community
members will gather at several locations on
Thursday, Jan. 20, to mark President-elect
George W. Bush’s inauguration day with a se-
ries of events that will encourage individuals
to help inaugurate an alternative, more just
and peaceful vision for the U.S., according to
Michael Carrigan, one of the organizers. In
addition, participants will use the occasion to
“celebrate the dawning of a new era in
Eugene with the election of Kitty Piercy as
mayor,” Carrigan says.
• Events at UO begin at noon at the EMU
with talks by Sandy Morgen, Garrett Epps,
Shaul Cohen, Sharon Schuman and Brian
Bogart. Related student events with music
and more speakers run from 2 to 4 pm.
• At 4 pm, students and faculty will march
from the EMU to the Federal Building at 7th
and Pearl to join the events there.
• Federal Building events begin at 1 pm
with music, dancing, and chanting. Speakers
beginning at 5 pm include Jim Rassman, Josh
Laughlin, Amy Pincus-Merwin, Lucy Lahr
ing of Jan. 6, Sen. Boxer agreed to join
the objection, and later, in a joint session
of Congress, Rep. Tubbs Jones from Ohio
came forward with Boxer to raise an
objection to the Ohio votes. The House
and Senate then held separate debates.
Wyden, Clinton, Obama, Kennedy, and
others spoke in support of raising ques-
tions about the election. But when the
vote came, Boxer stood alone. In the
House, many spoke in support of the
objection and some strongly called for
election reform. Conyers, Jesse Jackson
Jr., Kucinich, Waters, Tubb Jones, and Lee
gave rousing speeches, alternating with a
Republican chorus of “Get over it.” In the
House vote, 31 lawmakers supported the
objection. DeFazio was at home in Oregon
and missed the vote. What’s next? The
momentum for accountability may lead to
crucial voting reforms. We need to thank
members of Congress, especially Wyden,
and William Maxwell. Following the talks
will be a candlelight vigil and march around
the Federal Building from 5:30 to 6 pm.
• Events at Cozmic Pizza run from 6 to 9
pm with music, speakers and theater.
• At 7 pm a day earlier, on Jan. 19, a free
pre-inaugural event will be held at Cozmic
Pizza that includes a showing of Barrie
Zwicker’s film The Great Conspiracy about
Bush and 9/11.
GRAFFITI
BY COP
If you paint graffiti on city property you
could face a fine, an order to clean it up or
even jail time. But a different standard appar-
ently applies to a Eugene police officer’s ille-
gal graffiti.
City Manager Dennis Taylor admitted
Jan. 10 to the City Council that Eugene police
officers had illegally spray painted “no tres-
passing” signs on public sidewalks in an ef-
fort to stop panhandlers. Panhandling on pub-
lic property is not illegal, courts have ruled.
“Panhandling is a constitutionally protected
who listened to his constituents.
• Something new in this week’s issue of
EW is a lively column in our Personals
section called “Date Girl,” written by Judy
McGuire, and scheduled to run every
other week. She responds to questions
from readers, and sometimes just ponders
the mysteries of sex, weird relationships
and pop culture. Give us feedback, and for
now you can write to Judy via
dategirl@earthlink.net
• As we go to press, we hear members of
the Amalgamated Transit Union Local 575
are planning an informational picketing
from 4 to 6 pm Thursday, Jan. 13 at the
LTD station downtown. For more informa-
tion, contact Carol Allred at 729-1903, or
read Gary Gillespie’s comments on the
threatened strike in our cover story this
week.