Eugene weekly., May 29, 2008, Page 9, Image 9

• Eugene’s Police Employee Association needs to be
reined in if the embattled EPD is ever going to regain the
respect and support of the majority of Eugene’s resi-
dents. Several reactionary union rants in the R-G against
civilian oversight of the police were followed by the latest
arrogant idiocy sponsored by the union: a personal attack
on Councilor Bonny Bettman. The disturbing website cari-
cature and threatening words show not only a serious
lack of judgment and discipline but also outright insubor-
dination against an elected city official. Is this acceptable
behavior for city employees in any department? The best
action Police Chief Robert Lehner can do right now is to
fire the responsible officers and discipline anyone in the
chain of command who knew about it and said nothing.
How powerful is the police union? We will find out if
Lehner does nothing.
Attacks against Bettman are nothing new. Her persis-
tent and assertive calls for transparency, accountability
and environmental responsibility in city and regional gov-
ernment have made her a target for ultra-conservative
interests. The cartoon drawing of Bettman on the union
website (www.epea1971.com) was copied directly from the
anonymous Gang of 9 cartoon campaign in the R-G back
in 2001. Bettman was one of the targets of the secretive
campaign against progressive city councilors led by John
Musumeci and including Liz Cawood, Ed Anderson,
Jennifer Solomon, Otto Glausi, Dave Hilles, Chuck
McGlade, Bob Mylene and Susan Selig. None has ever
apologized for the offensive and insulting cartoons.
• Is our city charter amendment regarding External
Review of Police strong enough to survive future chang-
es of leadership by Eugene’s elected officials? As we go
to press this week, we hear from Councilor Bonny
Bettman that she intends to propose a council resolution
that removes elements of choice in the amendment.
Language such as “is authorized to” and “may” in the
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charter would be replaced by “shall.” Bettman says the
changes, which would have to go to the voters, would
ensure the “ongoing and consistent functioning of the
Independent Police Auditor’s Office and the Civilian
Review Board.” The police union and mayoral candidate
Jim Torrey are adamantly against the independent over-
sight, preferring that the police police themselves.
• As first reported on our blog a week ago, the city of
Eugene has proposed siting a new McKenzie-Willamette
hospital on a downtown site centered on the Eugene
Clinic. The excellent location would do wonders to revive
downtown, reduce sprawl, traffic congestion and global
warming and save citizens and the hospital money on
infrastructure. An urban hospital design with parking
garages could easily fit on the largely underused parking
lots and one-story buildings downtown. In the interest of
time, money, the community and reality, McKenzie-
Willamette should give up on its golf-course design for a
suburban hospital and jump at the chance to locate in
this prime spot in the heart of the community.
• Now that the ashes have settled from the fireworks of
the May elections, we can look forward to more smoke
and flames in November. The primary once again showed
the flaws in our election system. Democracy is not served
by an expensive and distracting rehashed campaign
between Piercy and Torrey, or Green and Handy, but
we’re stuck with it. We are pleased to see movement
toward campaign reform at the local and state level (see
News Briefs this week for a description of instant runoff
voting). Voter Owned Oregon is moving ahead toward
publicly financed elections, along with the Citizens’
Initiative Review that would objectively analyze ballot
measures.
One state initiative likely to be on the November ballot
is a variation on the open primary concept. Under this
proposal, the top two vote-getters in a state-level primary
would go on to the November election, regardless of
party affiliation. For example, in the secretary of state
race, Democrats Kate Brown and Rick Metzger would
complete against each other in November. The
Republican candidate Rick Dancer, who got fewer votes
than either Brown or Metzger, would get dropped from
the ballot. Makes sense in this case. Dancer is wholly
unqualified to be secretary of state. The only reason he’s
on the ballot is his Republican Party affiliation.
• Disposable grocery bags are doomed (see News Briefs
last week). It’s only a matter of time before we decide as
a city or county to do something about the waste and pol-
lution of handy-dandy bags. Sooner is better. If we are
required to pay for grocery bags, we will stop using so
many of them. Billions of plastic bags each year end up in
landfills or floating around in our oceans. Paper bags are
not much better, considering the costs and energy that
go into their manufacturing and transportation. And
here’s a fee/tax with minimal impact on low-income peo-
ple. Anyone, rich or poor, could avoid the cost by simply
getting into the cloth bag habit.
Could the bag fee plan also generate much-needed
funding for county services? Let’s look at it.
• Did you notice that Sen. Jim Webb (D-Va) was the
cover story in the May 18 Parade magazine inserted in
both the R-G and the big O? A light little publication,
Parade is one of the best-read magazines in America.
Makes us wonder if Webb is running for veep on the
Obama ticket. Not that two senators make sense, but
Webb is a smart guy with the right national security cre-
dentials. He served in Vietnam; his son is in Iraq.
SLANT includes short opinion pieces, observations and rumor-chas-
ing notes compiled by the EW staff. Heard any good rumors lately?
Contact Ted Taylor at 484-0519, editor@eugeneweekly.com
EUGENE WEEKLY MAY29 , 2008 9