TO THE EDITOR
I did a double-take when reading (9/27
cover story) about the BLM’s proposal to gut
the heart out of the roadless country above
the Wild Rogue with a clearcutting proposal.
Is this the same Wild Rogue south of us that
people from around the world come to float,
fish and become awe-inspired by? I think the
BLM’s meds must be a little off. And it is
tough to fathom why Rep. DeFazio would
blink twice at a proposal that would safe-
guard this area as wilderness forever. Why
endure 10 years of “we need wilderness”
from whining enviros while the Rogue’s na-
tive fish runs are plummeting and its forests
are about to transition into stump fields? The
time to act is now.
John Maxwell
Goshen
ROOFTOP PARK
Greetings! Here’s a compromise idea re:
what to build across from the Eugene Public
Library. A park, on the roof of a one-story
building, which has street-level stores, java
haunts to granola shops, facing Olive Street,
10th Avenue and Charnelton Street. The first
floor interior could have an inner green-
spaces courtyard and access ramps to a below
ground parking garage much like the li-
brary’s. The excavation work for such a
garage is already half-done. (Of course, hav-
ing a downtown public pool is an alternative.)
On the rooftop’s park, tables and chairs
surrounded by plants and small trees in
raised-beds, ivy growing on 8-foot high
wind-blocking wooden lattice work — all ac-
cessed during library hours and for special
events.
No doubt two or three small cart vendors
would love to get a contract for such a rooftop
park.
So, what do you think? Is it evident to you
that any urban renewal work must be envi-
ronmentally responsible and contribute to
lessening, not increasing, the effects of global
warming?
Charles F. Thielman
Eugene
FOR THE KIDS?
There’s a very fundamental reason to vote
no on Measure 50. This law amends the
Oregon Constitution, saying it’s OK to single
out one group of people to pay a tax.
The proponents of this measure say it’s for
the kids, and it’s against smoking. Well, if
you’re for the kids, pass a law that’s equitable
and spreads the tax evenly across the entire
population. Take your share of the responsi-
bility. If you want people to stop smoking,
you aren’t going to do it by increasing the
price. The Oregon Legislature knows this.
Truly addicted smokers aren’t going to stop,
and the Legislature doesn’t really want them
to. Over half the price of a pack of cigarettes
is already tax. What would the state do with-
out that revenue? They don’t really want
smokers to go away. They just want more
money, just like a drug pusher who’s profit-
ing from stuff they don’t approve of!
Vote no on Measure 50. It’s un-American
to single out a group of people to pay a tax.
And it’s un-American to build taxes into a
constitution! There’s better ways to help kids
get healthcare. If you’re for the kids, step up
to the plate and say, “I’ll help.” Your first
word should be NO on Measure 50.
Len Goforth
Springfield
INSTANT DOWNTOWN
Look at the downtown furniture store on
Willamette, Scan Design, an inside-and-out
perfectly good building. The building south
of it also looks sound and substantial. Can
you imagine a bulldozer smashing it all? But
that is what our city government is support-
ing by asking a developer to give us an instant
downtown, his kind of downtown, on nearly
two blocks along West Broadway.
It really hurts me to think about that.
Many years of throwaway society have re-
sulted in today’s precarious state of the envi-
ronment. We cannot afford to continue it. I
strongly believe in sustainability and will
vote no on measure 20-134
We all want to revitalize downtown and
we can start immediately doing it by develop-
ing the Sears and Aster pits with commercial
on street level and housing above. We have
local talent to do it and the city has the money
for it without increasing the urban renewal
fund. A good explanation on how this fund
What do these
landmark buildings
in downtown Eugene
have in common?
They are targeted
for BUDGET CUTS!
Urban renewal financing may have helped
construct these public buildings but the
proposed urban renewal amendment
20-134 steals $44 MILLION from Eugene’s
General Fund that is needed for the library
and Hult Center’s operation and maintenance.
We cannot afford to subsidize private development
when we can’t afford to take care of our own public
assets or provide essential services like public safety.
2008 PROPOSED BUDGET - SIX-YEAR GENERAL FUND FORECAST
from page A12, City of Eugene Fiscal Year 2008 Budget
$ IN MILLIONS
TIME TO ACT
15
10
5
-
(5)
(10)
(15)
(20)
FY08
FY09
FY10
FY11
FY12
FY13
Annual Operating
Surplus/(Deficit)
(2,525,832)
(3,024,000)
(2,766,000)
(3,074,000)
(6,295,000)
(5,428,000)
Reserve for
Revenue Shortfall
6,066,616
3,042,288
276,288
(2,797,712)
(9,092,712)
(14,520,712)
VOTE NO on 20-134 to restore funding to Eugene’s General
Fund so we can operate, maintain, and secure the public
places we care about and be the great city we all want to be.
For sensible downtown development
and responsible use of taxpayer dollars —
VOTE
NO
on 20-134
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State Representative Paul Holvey • Lane County Commissioner Peter Sorenson
Eugene City Councilors Bonny Bettman and Betty Taylor
Gavin McComas – Owner, Sundance Natural Foods
George Brown – Owner, Kiva Grocery • Paul Nicholson – Owner, Paul's Bicycle Way of Life
John Ebeling – Owner, Sandpiper Import Service • Scott Landsfield – Owner, Tsunami Books
Michael Wooley – Owner, Long's Meat Market • Tom Tracey – Owner, The Horsehead
Greg Bryant, The Tango Center • Paul Webber, Alpine Catering
Southeast Neighbors Board of Directors • Rob Handy – Member, West Broadway Advisory Committee
Howard Bonnett • Roscoe Caron • Michael Carrigan • Jerry Diethelm • Jim Dotson
Kathyrn Gorham • Chris Helm • Art Johnson • Ilona Koleszar • Ginnie Lo
Terry McDonald • Bob O'Brien • Mary O'Brien • Cary Thompson • Jan Wostmann
For a complete list of endorsements and more information visit:
www. SensibleDowntownDevelopment.org
Paid for by Taxpayers for Sensible Downtown Development — No on 20-134. Gavin McComas, Treasurer
OCTOBER 25, 2007 9