letters
TO THE EDITOR
a split second I was fl at out on the
sidewalk, scraped knees, broken glasses,
blood on the shirt from a pinhole lesion
over one eye, a scuffed left hand,
a swollen right hand, and a sore left arm
that I couldn’t seem to work. Tons of cars
driving by, no one came to help or inquire,
but then I suppose it’s not so unusual, an
elderly man with a backpack sprawled out
on the sidewalk. The old sot is sleeping
it off. I did meet kind people, just not at
that spot. I made my way back to Oakway
Fitness Center and got my dear wife off
the rowing machine to drive me to Eugene
Urgent Care, into the good hands of the
wonderful medical personnel at that
facility. Ragland and others like her are
what keep the world turning.
Jim Wood
Eugene
UNDO THE TECH
I think it’s fi tting that John Zerzan’s
letter ran last week alongside those of
Shannon Wilson and Don MacQueen.
Zerzan’s point is irrefutable: Techno-
industry must be undone. It will be undone
at some point, the only question is how
much damage it will do fi rst. Concerns
like Wilson’s continue to advocate
techno based, false green, mine reliant,
short term solutions like heat pumps
and, like MacQueen’s, concerned about
the loss of capitalism and its potentially
devastating impact that may have on us
few privileged humans who benefi t from
it, bring us further away from a planet
that can maintain life. There’s no time for
such useless and privileged debate, how
many species need to die off for people to
recognize that? How many rivers, oceans,
lakes and land areas will be declared dead
zones before you stop worrying about
heating your home and your ability to
conduct business?
Jason Gonzales
Walton
EMX PATH
In response to Tom Schnieder’s (3-17
letters “Bikes Help, But…”), I agree. But
if EmX cuts through the bike path that
goes through the city wetlands preserve
between City View and Oak Patch, walking
would take a serious hit, as well as biking.
Who wants to walk or bike along West
11th? Not I. The bike path offers quiet and
relatively non-polluting walking (except
for the offending car-fi nishing place that
lets fumes into the surrounding air) along
the beautiful green wetlands and stream,
with the many birds, and even sheep. To
destroy this would be a serious mistake,
not only for walkers and bikers, but also
for those whose apartments border this
area!
Joan Swift
Eugene
EMX ESSENTIAL
Some EmX opponents have argued that
West 11th businesses are “autocentric,”
oriented only towards shoppers with
cars. This is incorrect. I recently rode
a bus along West 11th and counted the
businesses of various types.
Only about 30 percent require that
shoppers come by car, for example, car repair,
mini-storage, tool rental, veterinarian.
For the remaining 70 percent of
businesses along West 11th, shoppers can
easily travel and carry purchases by bus;
for example, restaurants, banks, insurance
agencies, grocery stores, beauty salons,
and many others. A few businesses require
truck deliveries; for example, furniture,
mattresses, carpeting, whether shoppers
come by car or bus.
The time when Americans can go
shopping cheaply in personal cars is
ending. Buying and repairing cars already
costs too much for many individuals
and families. And the cost of gasoline
is soaring. Soon many more residents of
Eugene and Lane County will be joining
those who already do most of their
shopping by bus.
It’s surprising that West 11th businesses
opposed to EmX can’t see that their future
depends on whether customers can travel
quickly and cheaply to and from their
stores. EmX is a modern, effi cient bus
rapid-transportation system that will be
essential for many Eugene families as
they do their shopping, and for the future
prosperity of the West 11th business
community.
Jack Meacham
Eugene
Opens THIS Saturday, April 2!
Clb
Celebrate
S Spring!
i !
Local Artisans, Great Food, Live Music,
& People & More People! See you there...
e...
Ever y Saturday y • 10 am - 5 p
pm • R ain or Shine • 8th & Oak
w w w.eugenesaturdaymarket.org
CIVIC VILLAGE
In my opinion the Fred Meyer proposal
is the best all around solution for Civic
Stadium. Less traffi c congestion than
an Em’s game getting over. The Fred
Meyer proposal will create jobs during
construction for local workers, and once
fi nished will provide many new jobs not
only for the Fred Meyer, but also for the
housing and other commercial businesses
planned for the build. More local jobs
and commerce will help stimulate our
depressed economic climate here with this
very popular retail outlet. This is an “if
you build it, they will come” project. As
a bonus this project is not dependent upon
government funding to succeed.
As an added bonus, the stadium’s
wooden grandstand would be taken
apart and much of it reused in buildings
throughout the development, including
the store. “Certainly, the history of the
site will be well documented in the Fred
Meyer,” as quoted from Forrest, the
regional real estate manager in charge of
store development for Fred Meyer.
Plans also include a Civic Stadium-
themed pub that features photos and
memorabilia of the stadium that was built
by the Works Progress Administration
during the Depression.
Sometimes we have to make hard
choices and sacrifi ces to bring about
positive change in a time where money is
tight and jobs are few. Saving this historical
stadium would be a wonderful thing to do
in opulent times. But with Eugene’s 4J
School District in dire straits, and jobs
hard to fi nd, I believe the Fred Meyer build
to be of great benefi t to our community.
It would also give the residents of south
Eugene and campus area a closer grocery/
variety store to shop at.
I believe this will be a home run for our
community, and all involved.
Mike Weber
Eugene
HOW ARE THE SCHOOLS?
Would these people be against food
for widows and orphans if that were the
issue? I’m talking about the handful of
WWW.EUGENEWEEKLY.COM • BLOGS.EUGENEWEEKLY.COM
W H I S K E Y
R I V E R
R A N C H
P R E S E N T S
THE
HANK
SHREVE
BLUES
SHOWCASE
SPECIAL GUEST
TY CURTIS
UPCOMING SPECIAL GUESTS
G A RY M A Z U R E A P R I L 1 4
J OA N N E B R O H A P R I L 2 1
VICKIE STEVENS APRIL 28
EVERY THURSDAY FROM 8PM TIL MIDNIGHT • 4740 MAIN STREET, SPRINGFIELD
EUGENE WEEKLY MARCH 31, 2011 5