news
briefs
EWEB SITE
STILL ON TOP
News of the Lane County Fairgrounds’
decision to consider selling and moving has
stirred a frenzy of speculation about where
McKenzie-Willamette/Triad will build its
new Eugene hospital, but both city and hospi-
tal officials are continuing their pursuit of the
EWEB property.
“Everything I know says that everyone’s
focus for the hospital location continues to be
the EWEB site,” says Eugene Councilor
David Kelly this week. “I have no idea
whether the Fairgrounds will or will not relo-
cate. If it does, that site would be a tremen-
dous opportunity for residential or mixed-use
infill — and could open up a significant piece
of land in the central city, increasing density
and complementing the existing neighbor-
hood.”
In addition to the uncertainties of the
Fairgrounds site, the major parties are all
heavily invested in the EWEB site.
McKenzie/Triad is pursuing a certificate of
need from the state, and has committed
$500,000 in design work on access to the site
in anticipation of a $12 million underpass.
The road work would be paid for through
urban renewal tax increments on a hospital
facility expected to cost at least $85 million.
EWEB is committed to more than $1 mil-
lion in studies to examine the costs of relocat-
ing all or part of its operations to west
Eugene.
The City Council is also unanimously
committed to a full-service hospital in the
downtown core. Kelly says city officials have
many reasons to be involved in the siting of a
hospital downtown. “It’s critically important
for the population’s health and quality of life,
and the community’s economic vitality that
we have high-quality health care services,”
he says.
And why downtown and not 2nd and
Chambers or the Fairgrounds site? Kelly
once favored the Chambers location, but now
prefers the EWEB site because of its proxim-
ity to existing doctors’ offices and clinics, its
anticipated boost to downtown shops and
restaurants, the existing infrastructure, and
the aesthetics of having a hospital in a scenic
location. Doctors like the riverfront site, he
says, and will want to go there and send their
patients there.
Councilor Bonny Bettman agrees, saying,
“If we can facilitate the development of the
hospital in such a way as to fulfill other city
goals such as minimizing sprawl, maximiz-
ing the use of alternate transportation modes,
securing large employers near the downtown
core, and redeveloping brownfields, then
there are even greater public benefits in addi-
tion to our primary goal of facilitating the
provision of medical services.”
Kelly and Bettman both talked about the
memorandum of understanding with
McKenzie/Triad. The MOU promises more
public access to the river than currently ex-
ists, and provides for riparian restoration.
If the EWEB site is sold for non-hospital
development, such as proposed by Arlie &
• The Black Sheep Gathering at the
Fairgrounds this past weekend
reminds us once again how great it
is to have the Fairgrounds within
easy walking and bicycling distance
for so many Eugeneans. But it’s
easy to forget that the Fairgrounds
is a Lane County facility and a real
pain to reach for Springfield and
east county residents. Would a
Glenwood location draw more peo-
ple and more money to support the
facility? Or would the high cost of
developing a new site anywhere not be recoverable in
the next 50 years? Would voters approve a bond meas-
ure to finance a new Fairgrounds and maybe convention
center? That would be a hard sell considering that the
existing facilities, despite wear and tear, are still quite
serviceable. Let’s look at this from all the angles, includ-
ing the management of the Fairgrounds over the years.
• We’ve railed on the Eugene’s Police Commission’s tepid
work in the past, but the PC has spent the last nine
months researching different models of police oversight,
and we are pleased to report that some substantive
issues are being addressed as we come down to the wire.
The commissioners will give their recommendations to
the City Council July 25, and there’s still time for public
8 JUNE 30, 2005
Co., fewer restrictions could be applied.
Private proposals will likely seek to rezone
the site, says Bettman. “Once private prop-
erty is rezoned, the city doesn’t dictate the de-
tails or design, the code does that.
Commercial and mixed-use zones are very
permissive so the site could be developed in
many different ways, or the owner could get
the rezoning and resell the property.” — TJT
VOLS NEEDED
FOR CAMPAIGN
Two ballot initiatives dealing with cam-
paign finance reform are in the works and
local organizers are meeting in Eugene next
week to organize volunteers. The meeting
will be from 4 to 8:30 pm Tuesday, July 5 at
Growers Market, 454 Willamette, room 207.
Two initiatives are planned for 2006 elec-
input. At 7 tonight (June 30) is a
“Presentation of Civilian Oversight Model
and Public Comments” at the Hilyard
Community Center, 2580 Hilyard. The
group is looking at improving the police
complaint process, independent review
models, the need for a professional auditor,
transparency and other issues. If you can’t
make it to this last public forum, e-mail
comments to
jeannine.parisi@ci.eugene.or.us or mail the
commission at 777 Pearl St., Eugene
97401. Website is
www.ci.eugene.or.us/policecomm
tions and organizers need help gathering sig-
natures at public events throughout the sum-
mer, phone-banking to raise funds for the
campaign, and doing administrative work in
the campaign office.
Oregon currently has no limits on politi-
cal campaign contributions for any state or
local race, and is one of just five states with-
out limits, says Brooke Robertshaw of the
Fair Elections campaign. “The result is that
corporations dominate politics in Oregon,”
she says. “They outspend labor unions by 5-1
and massively outspend all other groups and
causes put together, including those for more
health care, environmental protection, human
and civil rights, decent and living wage jobs
for all, consumer protection, and sufficient
funding for education and other needs.”
Robertshaw says corporations have
pushed up the total reported spending on po-
litical races in Oregon from $4.2 million in
1996 to $49 million in 2002 — a factor of 12
She died June 21 after several years of battling cancer. A
memorial gathering is planned for 7 pm July 2 at the
WOW Hall.
• What is the Iraq War costing taxpayers? The total this
week is nearing $180 billion, according to
www.costofwar.com which keeps a running tally and also
breaks it down by states, cities and what the money
could pay for if it were dedicated to peaceful purposes.
For example, $180 billion would buy more than eight mil-
lion four-year college scholarships, or provide basic
immunizations to every child in the world for 59 years.
Oregon’s share is about $1.5 billion. Corvallis tax-
payers are coughing up about $18.2 million so
far; Salem residents $55.6 million. Eugene’s
• We were sad to hear that cancer
share is not listed. The website also has a
has cut short the life of Roxanne
link about how to set up a cost of war
Ostroff, 53, the senior staff member
LED sign in any town. Eugene could use
of the Community Center for the
such a sign. What about the human cost
Performing Arts, aka the WOW Hall.
of the war? The website www.iraqbody-
“Her honesty, intelligence, dedica-
count.net tracks civilian fatalities in the
tion and sense of responsibility were
war and the latest estimates exceed
a constant inspiration to everyone
22,000. Not counted are the permanently
who worked with her,” reads a state-
maimed and psychologically damaged Iraqis.
ment from the organization. Roxanne had
American casualties are growing and Iraqis are
Roxanne Ostroff
worked for the WOW Hall off and on since
killing each other in increasingly fervent vio-
the 1970s and was also known for her involvement with
lence that portends civil war. What the hell are we doing
the Oregon Country Fair and her Knish Bliss food booth.
in the name of “national defense”?