letters
TO THE EDITOR
in New Jersey with once-excellent schools
and economy. When children were victims
of unrest, the result was the departure of
many, leaving abandoned businesses and
real estate values negatively impacted.
Will this happen in Eugene?
Let’s make the decision to shore up a
temporarily distressed economy by saving
institutions which are dear to us. Vote yes
for the morale of educators, children and,
indeed, everyone. We need the temporary
income tax and to preserve Civic Stadium.
Phyllis Kesner
Eugene
after, the event repeats itself. Not once
have I heard any long-term solution for
this ongoing problem. This “kick the can
down the road” philosophy only makes the
problems worse in the future. What exact-
ly do we owe our children: a duct-tape fi x,
or a rebuild? What’s to prevent this cur-
rent crises and proposal from falling into
the same pattern?
Convince me this proposal is a long-
term solution that will create greater
prosperity for future generations, and I will
vote “yes.” Otherwise, I’m voting “no.”
Tim Haley
Eugene
Sporty Comfort
Veda
MUSHROOM DIVE
I think I speak for most local mush-
room enthusiasts in expressing my simul-
taneous disdain and appreciation of Wil-
liam Kennedy’s poorly contrived “The
Fungus Among Us” in the April 7 Chow.
On one hand, it’s astounding EW did not
fi nd anyone with any experience or en-
thusiasm for enjoying wild mushrooms in
all of Eugene (maybe a vegetarian should
have been sent on a quest to fi nd the city’s
best burger). On the other, its lackluster
vagueness surely couldn’t have inspired
any newbies from picking over our prized
hunting spots as morel madness kicks into
gear. So what was it? A last-minute article
to justify the cute cartoon on the cover? Or
did EW just take a dive?
Peter Ratzloff
Eugene
LONG-TERM SOLUTION?
I’m not a Tea Partier, nor am I on
the other extreme. I’m a construction
worker struggling to pay my bills, earn a
bachelor’s degree and put money aside for
the future. This proposed income tax will
cost me two months of savings each year,
or one three-credit class at LCC each year.
As a lifelong Oregonian, I can’t re-
member more than a few years at a time
without some sort of school budget crises
of some sort, usually ending in either tem-
porary new or raised taxes that become
permanent, or teachers getting laid off and
school days being cut. Then, shortly there-
TOUGH LOVE TIME
No thank you, I’m passing on this bond
measure.
As much as I would like to see our
school district make needed repairs, I
cannot vote to saddle our community
with such debt. This bond measure for
$70 million will likely cost, over 21 years,
$83 million in interest, and that fi gure
includes the federal interest subsidy.
Using this kind of fi nancing, the district
will pay twice the amount for every item
on the needs list. Is this the best use of our
community’s funds?
Twenty-one years is a long time. The
kindergartners of today will be young adults
when these bills from the fi rst years of their
education will fi nally be paid. What about
the intervening years? As of June 2010,
the district’s outstanding debt to be paid
by property taxes was $121 million plus
interest. Should we really be adding another
$153 million of debt to that fi gure? In 2010,
those property taxes totaled about $16
million and paid both interest and principal.
We have a long way to go. Of course, what
if we were not paying off that debt? At $16
million a year, in 5 years, $80 million. That
would take care of that needs list.
It is time for tough love. Only us voters
can cut up the credit bond cards. Let us
live as a community within our means.
Vote no, thank you.
Barbara Bochnovic
Eugene
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EUGENE WEEKLY MAY 12, 2011 7