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About Eugene weekly. (Eugene, Oregon) 1993-current | View Entire Issue (Oct. 27, 2005)
TO THE EDITOR KLCC DRIFTING Allow me to indulge in a little media advocacy. While I’m happy to donate my musical talents on the Garden Tour fund-rais- er for KLCC, and my sole commentary (on racial profiling) in 2004 won an AP award for Best in Oregon, I often wonder, “Who is KLCC’s community, and am I represented in it?” Increasingly, I’d say no, though I’m rep- resented in the donor age bracket reported in your paper. While NPR has drifted to the right, increas- ingly using conservative think tanks to com- ment on the news, KLCC has also drifted away from its left-center roots, where you could have actual live community of color-ori- ented radio educating about issues of concern. Back in the day, “Black Is” was more than just a music show, and in prime time, not in the “Liquid Beat” spot. I’ll give a nod to “Ahora Si!,” “Latino USA” and “Earthtones,” but there is a reason I stopped doing KLCC commentaries, even during the obvious stereotypical news peg ghetto of Black History Month in February. With Tripp Sommer’s editing and engi- neering, I originated the Spectrum commen- taries. The idea was that communities of color (hence the name) would be given air- time to comment about relevant, longstand- ing, current, and ongoing issues, outside of being mere entertainment (jazz, blues, Air Jamaica, Tropical Beat, etc). I stopped commenting, though there is sufficient material to do weekly community related commentary, even a show, like I hear on Pacifica and NPR in California. Oops, rii- iight, this is Eugene. Mark Harris Eugene MORE FLAVOR It appears that the dictatorial administra- tors of KLCC (10/13 cover story) are con- vinced that their word is the best word, that programming is best determined by the low- est common denominator. That would be any numerator over stale to the 10th. Open up, guys, and allow that messy con- cept, democracy, to have some influence on the airwaves. Otherwise more members will find themselves alienated from your subjec- tive tastes and withholding of their donation to “public” radio. There is a big world of creative new music and insights into the news out there. How’s about a little flavoring? Richard Gross Deadwood WINNERS DISSED Some of your readers might be wonder- ing how the Best of Eugene Awards Show went. Here’s my take: It was all about the presenters and the MC, and the winners were treated with disrespect. The MC waxed effu- sive about what great pals he was with the next presenters, then the two presenters came out and wasted time reading lame jokes. Then they read — often inaudibly — the names of nominees in the next category, announced the winner, and then, as the win- ner came happily up to receive the award, they jumped to the next category, often ignoring the winner’s presence. There was no spotlight on the winner, no really focused moment of acclamation, and certainly no chance for the winner to speak. Organizers probably chose not to give winners the mic because of time, but if they had cut out the presenters’ jokes, removed the MC entirely, axed some categories, and allowed entertainers only one song each, there would’ve been plenty of time for short comments from the winners, and THAT would’ve been fun! Some of the musical guests (all volun- teering for the same good cause, FOOD for Lane County) were wonderful, and the first segment of the evening — multiple render- ings of Zappa’s “Black Page” by the Oregon Percussion Ensemble — was extraordinary. But most of the event was like a TV infomer- cial-Chamber of Commerce back-slapping (and apparently a major party back-stage among the presenters) in the guise of an Police Review Measure 20-106: Yes. W e join the ACLU, Citizens United for Better Policing, Eugene Police Commission, Whiteaker Community Council, Community Alliance of Lane County, Sexual Assault Support Services, and hundreds of citizens and elected officials in supporting Eugene Ballot Measure 20-106. Measure 20-106 is a modest, conservative attempt at police reform. The char- ter amendment would allow the Eugene City Council to hire an auditor and appoint a citizen board to provide independent, external reviews of complaints against police. The auditor/board would have no direct power — its recommenda- tions on police discipline would be advisory only. Almost no one questions the need for an auditor/review board for the police, including the police chief. Recent police sex abuse scandals have made the need for oversight abundantly clear. Unable to argue against 20-106 on the merits, opponents have resorted to flimsy arguments about the city manager system and the cost of the program. Because the board/auditor is advisory only, the measure wouldn’t undermine the power of the city manager. The council already appoints a municipal judge, so the measure wouldn’t even set a precedent. The measure would save more money than it costs by reducing the risk of future lawsuits, rogue cops and erosion of citizen trust. The same opponents who argue that the measure is too costly would create a manager-controlled internal police review system that would cost the same, but be far less effec- tive. 4 OCTOBER 27, 2005 awards show. Next year, spotlight on the winners, please. Jeff Harrison Eugene IMMODERATE FIX As a law student interested in land use, and as a citizen of Oregon who cares deeply for our great state’s rural lands and its won- derfully livable cities, I welcome the recent court decision that finds Measure 37 uncon- stitutional. In Measure 37, the people of Oregon clearly demonstrated their consternation with the status quo; few deny the need to revisit our laws. However, Measure 37 is an irre- sponsible solution; it is poorly drafted, ambiguous, and radical. It purports to benefit people like Dorothy English, yet it creates a windfall for land speculators and developers. While the people want change, we did not intend a wholesale abdication of our right to control growth and plan for a better future. The court’s decision is yet another signal to our Legislature that Measure 37 has thrown our land use laws into chaos. It is time to revisit them, not with the purpose of pandering to special interests, but rather for the purpose of ensuring fairness, livability, and a beautiful and healthy state for our chil- dren. I ask of the governor and the Legislature, please do not permit such an important issue to be decided by courts in a piecemeal man- ner, and by ballot measures that, while well- intentioned, go too far and benefit too few at too high a cost. Do your job! Make the hard choices, find middle ground, and give the legislative process a chance to succeed so Manager-controlled police review is what we had for years with Roger Magaña, the Eugene cop who sexually abused a dozen women over six years. Magaña’s victims complained to at least six of his fellow officers, but the EPD failed to act. Another police officer, Juan Lara, plead guilty to a smaller sex crime spree. A manager-controlled review process would be more police policing themselves and wouldn’t be trusted by citizens. After Magaña/Lara, the police promised to clean up their act. But they haven’t come clean. The police chief promised a public investigation into Magaña-related wrongdoing by other officers but never did it. The department also balked at a consultant recommendation to prioritize resources to adequately supervise and discipline officers. The current internal review process remains mired in secrecy and citizen distrust. Although advisory only, the most valuable thing about the proposed external review board and auditor may be the light they will shed on police discipline. Without that light, the department won’t be able to restore citizen trust. The police need that trust, but citizens need it, too. Cities with police who aren’t trust- worthy aren’t safe. T his measure is hardly radical. Hundreds of cities, many with city manager forms of government, have successfully adopted similar independent review processes. Some cities do it in response to chronic problems, other cities do it to prevent chronic problems. All do it with the recognition that effec- tive policing requires community involvement and support. City managers come and go. Police chiefs come and go. Eugene needs a stabi- lizing, permanent method for dealing with police issues that don’t seem to want to go away. Measure 20-106 is a modest first step towards police reform, but a very important one that everyone who cares about public safety should support. Please get your ballots in by Nov. 8.
