Eugene weekly., March 24, 2011, Page 5, Image 5

letters
TO THE EDITOR
TAXING OTHERS
THANKS, PHIL
In response to Jerry Smith’s letter
(3/17) about school taxes, not everyone
opposing this tax is rich, as his letter would
imply. I certainly am not rich and believe
in supporting the schools, but not this
particular tax bill for a number of reasons:
First, it allows individuals to vote to
tax others although they will be exempt
from the tax if they are state retirees or
earn under a certain income level.
Second, it does not make those who live
outside the city limits pay anything although
they have children in the school system.
Lastly, and most importantly, it is not
written clearly enough to stipulate exactly
how the money has to be spent.
If it passes I will have to pay although
I currently pay over $2,500 a year in
property tax which helps to support the
schools, although I have no children and
never have had children in the school
system (and don’t tell me it was my choice
to be childless because you don’t know
that to be the case).
I would support a tax only if the
responsibility is shared because as so
many have pointed out, the benefi ts are
shared by all. I would also support it only
if it were clearly defi ned as to exactly
how the dollars were to be spent, and also
if anyone who had a child in the school
system would have to pay it as well.
F.D. Ford
Eugene
From Duck hoops to Elton John to
monster trucks to professional bull riding,
the incredible Matt Knight Arena has
something for everyone. Yes, even class-
envying liberals who despise the “evil, fi lthy
rich” people that made it happen. Thank
you, Phil Knight and family.
Don Richey
Eugene
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Pam Whyte
Hilary Anthony
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tax & accounting professionals
Support Eugene Opera, Symphony, & Ballet!
25O5 W. 11th Ave • Eugene, OR 974O2 • 485-21OO
TECHNOLOGY’S MARCH
Japan, it is said, was well-prepared for
the massive earthquake, but technology
can only do so much to mitigate
devastation. But it is the general march of
technology that in fact greatly magnifi es
earthquakes’ effects. Death is multiplied
by big buildings, cars, mass transit and the
overall dependence on modern systems.
Last week (3/10) Robert Simms’ “Foot
Power” letter advocated walking paths over
whatever latest industrial transit plan is on
offer, calling for the “energy and freedom of
movement” of using our own feet. Speaking
of energy, we know that techno-industrial
life must be preserved at all costs. Whether
it’s nuclear power in Japan and elsewhere, or
biofuels that that bring more pollution and
starvation by growing energy rather than
food, the priority is plain.
Preserve that which never should have
been done in the fi rst place — or undo it?
John Zerzan
Eugene
PICK ANOTHER SITE
INSPIRING PROSE
As the UO and Oregon Research
Institute jointly move forward with
plans to build a private offi ce building
and parking lot on public lands next to
the Willamette River, the Associated
Students of the University of Oregon acted
decisively to begin a student-led process
of creating a new vision for the future of
the university’s riverfront property.
Using special funds, the ASUO
recently granted $56,000 to host lectures
and workshops throughout the coming
year, providing opportunities for students
and the public to learn how communities
around the world have protected and
restored urban riverfront land and an
opportunity to create a community vision
for our valuable riverfront.
The grant will also allow faculty
across disciplines to offer courses and
sponsor research using the riverfront as a
classroom. This could include gathering
ecological data, writing projects, or
preparing an economic impact study.
Students are hopeful that these events and
classes will provide the basis for a new
vision for the riverfront once the current
plan expires in 2012.
Unfortunately, the city of Eugene
issued a building permit to allow
construction of a parking lot for the
proposed ORI building. If constructed,
this building will foreclose on unique
academic and recreational opportunities
that students are seeking.
It is time to prioritize the education of
students and the needs of the community
by selecting another site for ORI.
Zachary Stark-MacMillan
ASUO Student Senate President
Climate Justice League Co-Director
I’ve known Mark Harris for 25 years
as an activist, troubadour, philosopher and
— with Cheri Turpin — our best (only?)
historians who tell the sorry tale of race
relations here in Joseph Lane’s county.
If Clarice Smart (letters, 3/3) intends
making a greater impact on our community
than Mark, I look forward to that very much.
It’s interesting to note that the best
public forum made available to Mark and
Cheri to present their cultural history of
Eugene was Orval Etter’s Pacifi ca Forum.
Mark’s last Weekly column (2/17) —
which seemed to have struck Clarice the
wrong way — was, to my privileged white
male point of view, the most inspirational
prose I’ve read in any local publication.
I wonder where he got that wheelbarrow ...
Fergus Mclean
Dexter
Fresh daffodils remind us that
spring is here and so are the
flower-topped flats from Børn.
Find Footwise Eugene on Facebook
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WHERE WERE YOU?
Last Thursday, March 10, I had an
opportunity to make a difference in my world.
Around 6 pm, as I was driving on Coburg
Road I noticed an older man struggling as he
tried to get his walker/shopping cart up onto
the curb. He had just crossed Coburg Road
near Albertsons and was headed towards the
bus stop. After I parked my car I walked back
to make sure he was OK. He was sitting on
the curb, his walker had tipped over and his
groceries had fallen out of the bags. People
just kept driving by!
As I helped him up, I noticed he had
a huge bump on the side of his forehead
from where he had fallen. He found his
glasses but the frames were bent. As I
stood steadying the man, another woman
came to help, and a third woman stopped
in the turning lane, offering to call 911. I
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EUGENE WEEKLY MARCH 24, 2011 5