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About Eugene weekly. (Eugene, Oregon) 1993-current | View Entire Issue (Jan. 19, 2006)
Anti-war activist Peter Chabarek and six others, wearing black mourning garb, approached the podium. Chabarek handed Wyden a bouquet of white roses and a packet of photos of Iraq War casualties. The other mourners, wearing dark veils, began to weep as if at a funeral. “Senator, you are aware that the reasons for going to war have all proven to be false,” Chabarek said. “Hence, our invasion of Iraq was an act of aggression … and you, sir, are an ac- cessory to mass murder.” He challenged Wyden to sign a pledge to vote against any future funding for the Iraq War. “Don’t sign it!” yelled several City Club members, booing. “I have no intention of signing this,” Wyden replied. City Club President Tom Lininger pulled Chabarek away from the microphone, but several other protesters remained kneeling in front of the podium, weeping softly while Wyden and City Club members returned to the subject of taxes. Chabarek stated that the action, part of the Iraq Pledge National Campaign for Nonviolent Resistance, “was intended to dramatically imprint in Sen. Wyden’s heart the human tragedy of the war, and the out- rage we feel about his consistent votes in favor of every appropriations bill to fund the war, despite his claim to be a ‘progres- sive’ Democrat.” — Kera Abraham QUESTIONABLE CITY SURVEY Every year the city of Eugene spends more than $10,000 on a survey of its citi- zens, but every year the city neglects to ask the burning questions city policy makers are struggling with. Should Eugene subsidize growth? Should the city give tax breaks to Hynix? Should the city look for alternatives to the $170 million West Eugene Parkway through rare wetlands? Should Eugene spend $150 million for a new City Hall? Are the police doing enough to reform after recent sexual abuse scandals? Should Eugene hire an independent city auditor to prevent waste? Should Eugene’s riverfront be devel- oped or protected as a park? Do you sup- port urban renewal diverting tax money from schools and government services to build parking garages and roads down- town? Should Eugene be run by elected of- ficials or an unelected city manager? Does city government waste money? It’s not like their isn’t room for such big questions. The 2005 survey included 81 questions. While missing the big ques- tions, the survey is full of trivial or mean- ingless queries. For example, how is the city doing on nuisance complaints? Only 2 percent of respondents have actually ap- plied for city land use permits, but that didn’t prevent the city from asking about it’s land use permitting system. The re- sult— 48 percent don’t know. The city’s survey has been like this for years. Elected officials could direct staff to make the survey more meaningful but have been passive, largely leaving the political survey up to the city bureaucracy. Despite the off-the-mark questions, the survey does provide hints that the majority of citizens value the environment over the city’s current policies of subsidizing sprawl and big business. Growth combined with related traffic rated as the most impor- tant problem facing Eugene. Economic de- velopment didn’t make the top five list of leading concerns. Asked what they like most about Eugene, the city’s small size and scenery/terrain were top answers. Forty percent said the city population is growing too fast, up from 30 percent last year. Only 8 percent think the city is growing too slowly. Fifty-four percent said it was very important for the city to engage in sustain- able practices, but only 5 percent said the city was doing an excellent job at it. Twice as many people (41 percent) think the city is doing a below average job at managing growth as think the city is above average. — Alan Pittman military actions; and an overview of alter- natives. For more information, call 485-1755. SWOOSH SUCKING HOW TO GET OUT OF IRAQ The U.S. occupation of Iraq is a politi- cal and economic quandary not only for the U.S., but also for Iraq and the world. No positive resolution is in sight, so what are our options and alternatives? Community Alliance of Lane County’s (CALC) Progressive Responses is spon- soring a forum titled, “Which Way Out? Beyond Iraq: Getting To The Big Picture.” The event begins at 7 pm Tuesday, Jan. 24, at the United Methodist Church, 1376 Olive St. in Eugene. The discussion will be moderated by Alan Siporin, and scheduled speakers will include representatives from the offices of Rep. Peter DeFazio and Sen. Ron Wyden. “Beyond the Iraq crisis, there are three major global challenges facing us now and in the near future,” according to a state- ment from the organizers. “Declining pe- troleum and natural gas, the pace of global warming and the severe inequities that exist between citizens of rich and poor na- tions.” Forum speakers will lead discussions that will highlight alternative approaches that rely on multilateral cooperation, cre- ative citizen involvement and enlightened leadership from elected officials to solve these problems. Discussion topics include why the Iraq occupation is bad for Iraq, bad for the U.S., and bad for the world; the benefits of com- plete withdrawal; broader U.S. foreign pol- icy considerations; the effectiveness of The UO has earned a national reputa- tion, not for academic excellence, but for sucking up to Nike tycoon Phil Knight. ESPN.com investigative reporter Mike Fish featured how Knight “lords his money” over the UO as Exhibit A in a se- ries last week on meddling by college boosters. UO officials have to “genuflect at his Nikes,” ESPN reports, describing how UO President Dave Frohnmayer “waxes glow- ingly” about Knight, who has given an es- timated $60 to $70 million to the athletic program, with a major chunk of a $160 million basketball arena planned. The article notes how the UO withdrew from the Worker Rights Consortium, a group critical of how Nike treats its sweat- shop workers, five years ago and forced out a track coach this year, each time after Knight threatened to stop contributing. “The Swoosh cast a wide shadow over the university.” ESPN describes Knight as the “godfa- ther of Oregon Ducks athletics,” paying for “glittery” facilities, and describes how uni- versity officials “coddle and fawn over their rich uncle at every turn.” Every year the UO football coach and his assistants travel to Knight’s home outside Portland “spending a few hours talking football and drawing up plays.” Frohnmayer responded with a letter to ESPN.com that he was “offended” by the article and again spoke glowingly of Knight as a “distinguished individual.” The UO president denied that Knight had any “undue influence” over the university. But Frohnmayer asked, “Is it any wonder that we would value his ideas and views?” — Alan Pittman Help end Busheconomics, support local businesses! IER MA RKE RONT F T W E N $5 OR $15 NOT VALID UNTIL 1/25/06 8 th & Van Buren • Eugene, OR • 541-345-7401 BUY $25.00 WORTH OF GROCERIES & WE’LL TAKE $5.00 OFF!!! or $70.00 WORTH & WE’LL TAKE $15.00 OFF!!! ONE COUPON PER CUSTOMER, ONE COUPON PER PURCHASE, NOT VALID WITH ALCOHOL. JANUARY 19, 2006 9
