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About Eugene weekly. (Eugene, Oregon) 1993-current | View Entire Issue (Feb. 24, 2011)
letters TO THE EDITOR CUTS BOTH WAYS Betty Taylor’s invocation of Yeats (Letters, 2/3) is interesting insofar as the line she quotes suggests, unintentionally, that Handy and Sorenson lack all conviction. Within Yeats’ poem, the conditions of best and worst are relative distinctions arising within the context of a dysfunctional society. The poet is not saying it is good to lack all conviction, but that in the moment a society becomes critically incoherent, the best lack all conviction while the worst are overly full of it. The point is not that the best are good and the worst bad, but that both and all have gone wrong. Understood in this way the line seems to me quite accurate, both as a general description of the dynamic of social dysfunction and as a specifi c indictment of our times. I get the sense Taylor intends it as an indirect means of disparaging Handy and Sorenson’s foes without realizing the blade cuts both ways. Timothy Shaw Eugene MISLABLED Dear Kathryn Mason and so many others: Breasts are not obscene. Sorry. Megan Hinkel Eugene WE DESERVE BETTER On Feb. 9, the R-G published a story titled “County meeting limits sought.” This article described the wall of secrecy around the fi nancing of the suit against Commissioners Sorenson and Handy for violating open meetings law, really, I’m not kidding. The folks who criticized Sorenson and Handy for secrecy are being secretive in who fi nanced their attacks against two of the most progressive and effective leaders we have. Clearly the only principle at stake for them was their desire to destroy political foes. They’re showing us the principle of openness is not really important to them. And recently I heard a city staffer say they are all looking closely at city policy and their email habits because “open meeting and quorum laws suddenly don’t mean what everyone thought they meant.” It’s all so disappointing. The idea here is to work together to bring a shared vision of our community to life. I want our elected leaders to work to make this a better place to live and not be afraid to be creative, to have conversations, or be afraid of sneak LOC AL NATURAL ORGANIC GOURMET SPECIALTY VARIETY attacks by people with a hidden agenda. All of us deserve better than that. Tim Mueller Eugene CIVIC STADIUM With all of the discussion of the Civic Stadium options, no one seems to be mentioning that not only would the Fred Meyer/ apartments/ shops proposal get more immediate cash for the school district, but as a tax-paying entity, a project valued at $40 million to $50 million, would generate an additional million dollars each year for the city, county and school/community college districts. The other two proposals, from tax- exempt entities, would not. Martin Henner Eugene TRUMPED-UP CHARGES I think what the few are doing to Pete Sorenson is wrong and mean spirited. I have lived in Eugene for 22 years and know that Sorenson has served our community well. With his progressive ideas (since when was progressive a dirty word anyway?), he has fought for Eugene, Lane County and Oregon time and time again in his work as Lane County commissioner. The letters in the local papers are downright nasty and make a villain out of this civic leader who has done everything to represent the majority of people in this town. A few disgruntled people are trying to ruin his reputation but they won’t succeed; he has far too many people who are behind him. Over the years Sorenson has fought hard to keep Eugene one of the most progressive and green cities, and this is the thanks he gets. No wonder people are not willing to serve on boards as they risk a few misguided people going after them in some trumped-up charges. I only hope that Sorenson knows that there are people out here that support him and would not want him to step down, and that we will continue to vote for him in upcoming elections. Diane DeVillers Eugene LETTERS POLICY: We welcome letters on all topics and will print as many as space allows, with priority given to timely local issues. Please limit length to 200 words, keep submissions to once a month, and include your address and phone number for our files. E-mail to letters@eugeneweekly.com fax to 484-4044, or mail to 1251 Lincoln, Eugene 97401. Treat Yourself Right: Shop at Eugene’s World-Class Neighborhood Grocery Store 25th & WILLAMETTE • EUGENE • 541-345-1014 OPEN DAILY 8AM-10PM • www.capellamarket.com Wall to Wall City Cycling Gear Bicycle packs, racks, baskets, bells, lights, fenders, rain gear, saddles, helmets, locks, reflectives, tires, tubes, mirrors, pumps, storage hooks, tools, Xtracycles… One stop urban cycling ease! 2705 Willamette Ê-ÌÊUÊx{£°{n{°x{£ä qÀÊ££qÇ]Ê->ÌÊ£äqÈ REPAIR SALE Sale ends February y 28th Bring in your Birkenstock footwear during the e month of February and SAVE 10% % on repairs* * S al e l i m i ted to cl as s i c B i r k ens tock , B i r k i ’s, Papi l l i o and s el ec ted Tat am i and Foot pr i nt s. L i f t s and m odi fi cat i ons exclu ded. Note: Footwise-Corvallis Repair Sale starts March 1st SANDALS SHOES CLOGS BOOTS &#SPBEXBZt%PXOUPXO&VHFOF t.PO4BU4VO 'PPUXJTFJTPO'BDFCPPL NOTICE TO FAMILIES It’ss school choice time Visit your neighborhood hb h d school—and h l d more! It’s school choice time in Eugene School District 4J. Families who live in the e district may enroll their children in any 4J school, provided there is space availabl ble. You can enroll in your neighborhood school at any time. To request enrollment rollmen in n another district school for 2011–12, turn in a school choice request form m any t time me before the deadline for your student’s school level. Placement order is determ determined ned by the annual school choice lottery. find it School Visitation Weeks Monday, Feb. 28–Friday, Mar. 4 Monday, Mar. 14–Friday, Mar. 18 fresh tracks 9a to 3p mo to fi 4J schools are open for visitors! Each school offers different activities and times when parents can visit. Please phone ahead or visit www.4j.lane.edu/choice for details. School Choice Information Meeting ngs 4J Education Center, 200 N. Monroe nroe Stre Street Thursday, Feb. 24, 7–8 p.m. Saturday, Mar. 5, 9–10 a.m. .m. Thursday, Mar. 10, 7–8 8 p.m. p Learn about the school choice c process. proce Spanish transla slation will ll be provided. More information is available at: www.4j.lane.edu/choice 541-790-7570 Eugene School District 4J 200 N. Monroe Street, Eugene WWW.EUGENEWEEKLY.COM • BLOGS.EUGENEWEEKLY.COM School o Choice Forms r Due: High School: o March 18 at 5 p.m. Elementary y & Middle School: April 22 at 5 p.m. EUGENE WEEKLY FEBRUARY 24, 2011 5
