• Lane County, for better or worse, has
gotten state approval for another enter-
prise zone. We think EZs are a bad idea
for a number of reasons we’ve outlined
over the years. Bolstering education and
livability is a much better economic strat-
egy than giving away bags of corporate
candy. At least the Eugene City Council
has managed to craft a standard for EZs
that tax breaks cannot exceed $30,000
for each new job created. It’s a logical
requirement. The whole purpose of EZs
is to create local manufacturing jobs, so
it makes no sense to give $100,000 in
tax breaks for creating one $25,000-a-
year job. But the majority on the Lane
County Board of Commissioners is now
refusing to sign off on this simple stan-
dard that they have already approved,
and it looks like the city is looking to just
shrug and abandon the standard. What’s
going on here? It’s time for our city
attorney, city manager and mayor to
stand up and hold the county account-
able for its earlier commitment. Hats off
to Commissioners Sorenson and Dwyer
for supporting Eugene.
• Goal 5 is a 30-year-old state planning
guideline that directs local governments
to inventory their natural resources and
preserve spaces with high natural, his-
toric and scenic values. Sounds clear
enough, right? But in Eugene, the Goal 5
process has been riddled with delays,
deceptions and political wrangling for
more than a decade. Three times since
1993, developers have pressured local
councils to reject scientifically sound
inventories. In 2003, south hills landown-
ers convinced the City Council to adopt a
“safe harbor” loophole to drop upland
wildlife habitat from the inventory. But
last fall, Friends of Eugene vigilantes dis-
covered that the city is still required to
include sensitive species’ habitat —
including the pileated woodpeckers’
south hills terrain — in its inventory.
Hopefully, the long and tortuous invento-
ry process is finally coming to an end. On
June 27, the council re-affirmed its June
8 vote to include almost 1,900 acres of
upland wildlife habitat in the city’s Goal 5
inventory, a move that could protect the
area from extensive development. But
disturbing questions remain about the
city planning staff’s treatment of the
Goal 5 inventory. As Friends of Eugene
president Kevin Matthews asked, how
can the city do sustainable development
if it’s not honest about the resources it’s
supposed to sustain?
close encounters with blackberries and
garden tools? Bruised from unwield-
ing river rocks? Did you fall in
love at Art and the Vineyard?
Can’t wait to lust again at
the Oregon Country Fair?
It must be summer, that
primal time of the year
when even the most
reserved among us gets
a little giddy. All that sun.
All that color. All that skin.
Art and the Vineyard was
fantasmic. Loved the outdoor
and garden art displays. But four
days was too much, frying the
Sandra
vendors. Heard grumbles about
slow sales and too many booths. Crowds
were sketchy in the early days, but the
afternoon and evening of July 4th were
stunning. Some were wondering if the
DeFazio footbridge could handle the exo-
dus of humanity following the fireworks.
What’s next? The Country
Fair this weekend is a
source of rejuvenation for
people who yearn for an
island of sanity on an
insane planet. It’s odd
that not everyone sees it
that way. We’ll be there
with bells on, and not
much else.
• Everybody and his/her
blog is weighing in on the
Art and the Vineyard this past weekend
retirement of U.S.
Supreme Court Justice
• Anybody sunburned? Shredded from
Sandra Day O’Connor. She’s been a mixed
bag on the court (pardon the not very
respectful analogy) considering
her disgraceful voting to
select Bush in 2000,
and her graceful sup-
port of women’s
right to choose in
matters of abor-
tion. O’Connor
and Kennedy
have been swing
votes on cases that
would have weak-
ened abortion rights in
the past, and similar
Day O’Connor cases are expected in
the future. If Bush
appoints two anti-abortion justices, Roe v.
Wade could be overturned. We hear the
local Planned Parenthood organization is
sounding a call to arms in defense of
reproductive rights. Environmental groups
in the region are also rallying in hopes of
supporting an environmentally friendly
high court nominee. This is democracy in
action and an opportunity to sway an
important decision. We expect Bush to
blindly push another radical conservative,
but senators might be pressured to back a
more moderate nominee in light of Bush’s
failing popularity and the upcoming mid-
term elections. Either way, mobilizing for
the nomination is a good way for progres-
sives to both educate the public on the
issues, and build a support base for future
campaigns.
SLANT includes short opinion pieces, observations
and rumor-chasing notes compiled by the EW staff.
Heard any good rumors lately? Contact Ted Taylor at
484-0519, editor@eugeneweekly.com
Summer Health Clinic at South Eugene High School
for Lane County Children, Youth & Families
July 6 – August 17
Mon. & Wed. • 8am – 4pm
687-3209
CALL FOR AN APPOINTMENT OR WITH QUESTIONS! (Hablamos Español)
Located at South Eugene High School Health Center - 400 East 19th Ave, Eugene
(Enter on the side of the building near the Amazon Parkway)
• Comprehensive, quality healthcare services including immunizations, physical exams, treatment
for acute/chronic illnesses and injuries, reproductive health, etc.
• OHP, private insurance and uninsured patients welcome
• Sliding scale and payment plans for services are available
Community Health Centers of Lane County provides healthcare services at two other sites located in Springfield:
Springfield School Based Health Center
1050 Tenth Ave
744-4130
Hours: Monday – Friday: 8 am – 5 pm
RiverStone Health Center
1640 G Street
682-3550
HOURS: Mon, Wed, Fri: 8 am-5 p.m.; Tu & Th 10 – 7
THE WAIT
IS OVER!
JULY 21 ...
CHOW!
Eugene Weekly's
Restaurant Guide
Ad reservation deadline is
Friday, Jan. 15th by 5pm.
Contact Mark Frisbee
484-0519 ext. 12
JULY 7, 2005 9