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About Eugene weekly. (Eugene, Oregon) 1993-current | View Entire Issue (Aug. 11, 2005)
KidZone activities for families, Health and Well-Being educational displays, a pet parade and regional and local food ven- dors. STATEWIDE CONFAB COMING A statewide conference entitled “The Promise of Paradise” is being planned for Sept. 15-16 at the UO. Among the breakout session topics are transportation, economic development, the “Big Look,” Measure 37, and planning technology. Keynote speakers will include Mayor Kitty Piercy and Ellen Lowe, who will talk about “Reclaiming Our Oregon.” Early registration is available at www.lcog.org/opi The “Big Look” refers to a comprehen- sive review of Oregon’s land use program negotiated between Oregon House and Senate leaders in the legislative session that just wrapped up. In conjunction with SB 82, a $600,000 appropriation will commission EX\VHOOWUDGH Important state business was left • A full house turned out at City Club in undone. Measure 37 implementation late July to hear former Eugene 4J remains unresolved — not such bad news Superintendent Tom Payzant talk about considering the failed plan endorsed by education. Payzant, in his five tumul- Kulongoski would have allowed eased tuous years here in the 1970s, gave us land-use restrictions to be passed on to public kindergartens and alternative new owners. Let’s hope the whole M37 schools. Now he’s superintendent of mess is ruled unconstitutional in Boston Public Schools, and he’s the circuit court challenge still pushing a maverick by 1000 Friends of agenda, predicting Oregon. Sighs of relief Boston will have full-day followed news that public preschool for 4- schools survived year-olds in the next attempted evisceration, few years. Didn’t say but education funding how he’d pay for it. for the future is left Boston also has alterna- hanging, while our flawed tive schools, but they and unfair state tax system come with rules on who continues unchallenged under gets to attend. Half the seats Tom Payzant Kulongoski’s “leadership.” Civil are reserved for kids within unions will likely go to the voters in walking distance. His talk was taped for 2006. Conservatives who campaigned so broadcast Aug. 8 on KLCC 89.7 FM. We effectively for the ban on gay marriages hear KLCC is considering broadcasting last November are confident they will Friday City Club meetings every Monday get an equally strong turnout to fight evening, instead of every other Monday. civil unions, but we predict a very differ- KLCC’s Adrienne Wilson left to pursue a ent fight. “Same-sex marriage” still stirs career in library science, so the station is a gut reaction in many Oregonians, but eyeing her Civic Conversations time slot “civil unions” does not carry that emo- that alternated with City Club. Providing tional baggage. House Speaker Karen more high-quality local issues content is Minnis managed to keep SB 1000 from a always a good idea. A decision is expect- floor vote, worried that it would pass. ed before City Club resumes in Her ideology and undemocratic tactics September. Might want to send the KLCC make her a big target if she seeks a fifth managers a note (www.klcc.org). term in 2006. She represents a conser- vative suburban area east of Portland, • All’s quiet in Salem this week after the but it’s not that conservative. 2005 Legislature fizzled to a close. IDVKLRQ WKDW SD\V WR EH PH (WK$YH EHWZHHQ2DN 3HDUO %8))$/2(;&+$1*( &20 a new Oregon Task Force on Land Use Planning. The committee will make an interim report to the 2007 Legislature and issue a final report to the 2009 Legislature. GET ON BOARD The annual recruitment for city of Eugene boards, committees and commissions is now under way and concludes with a Sept. 9 pa- perwork deadline. Applicants are being • Thousands of gatherings were held around the world this past weekend to commemorate the 60th anniversary of the bombing of Hiroshima and Nagasaki, and to mourn the 300,000 who died. Most events were organized by peace activists, but not every hawk refrained from squawking. An e-mail from the Ayn Rand Insitute (www.aynrand.org) declared that “America should be proud to have dropped the Bomb,” and notes that “in the reconstruction of Japan there were no insurgents, no Japanese roadside bombs killing our soldiers. … Our military strategists in Iraq could learn from those who, 60 years ago, decided to spare no means in bringing the Japanese nation to its knees.” Unfortunately, such an idiotic comparison makes perfect sense to many across our nation who would just as soon see the entire Middle East “turned to glass.” sought for several advisory and intergovern- mental panels. Open positions include the Planning Commission, Budget Committee, Human Rights Commission, Historical Review Board, LRAPA, Toxics Board, Metro Wastewater, and Whilamut Citizen Planning Committee. Candidates will be interviewed Oct. 4-6, the City Council will take action on appoint- ments Oct. 24 and terms will begin Nov. 1. For information, call 682-5406 or visit www.eugene-or.gov received funding for four additional beds for overnight shelter. The facility can now accommodate 16 adults with severe mental illness for the next two years. Eugene has some residents who choose the vagabond life temporarily to escape conventional responsibilities, but most people we see begging on street cor- ners, sleeping in alleys and camping along the river are simply incapable of holding jobs and managing resources. Many end up in psychiatric wards or in jail, burdening taxpayers. Hats off to organizations such as ShelterCare and its 35 years of dedicated work. To get involved, call 686-1262. F O T BES GENE EU 05-06 20 • We wrote a bit in this column last week about the problems associated with peo- ple downtown who are transient and/or homeless, and we got some good news as we were going to press. ShelterCare’s Shankle Safe Haven in Glenwood has • Hey people! Let’s get those Best of Eugene ballots turned in so we can start counting. Look for the full- page ballots in our last few issues. Check your birdcage, unwrap those fish. Stains will not dis- qualify your ballot. Well, some stains. Be sure to put your name and phone num- ber at the bottom. We’ll be giving away a getaway for two at the Oregon Coast and some EW T-shirts. But ya gotta do the ballot thing. Can’t find a ballot any- where? Check our website for a print- able ballot to be mailed in, faxed or dropped off. A CONNOISSEUR’S DREAM Eugene’s Best Beer Selection! 600+ Bottled Beers & Growing 10 Beers On Tap Select Wines Homemade Soups, Salads, & Grilled Panini Sandwiches 345 E. 11 TH AVE . • E UGENE , OR Everything Available On 541-485-BIER Premises or To Go AUGUST 11, 2005 9
