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About Eugene weekly. (Eugene, Oregon) 1993-current | View Entire Issue (Oct. 6, 2011)
letters TO THE EDITOR practices. Smart metering is a portion of that effort, and I would expect it to be initially restricted to the main meter and, perhaps, smart water heaters to address peak load constraints and the intermittent nature of renewable resources. It is just a test and will be reviewed in fi ve years. Demand management can involve both feedback about use and pricing sig- nals. Both are required to change any consumptive behavior, not just energy use. I would urge Dr. Lee, and others who share his concerns, to turn from worrying about their extraordinary claims to a more pressing concern: The absence of pricing signals for behaviors that increase green- house gas production. Global warming does have evidence to warrant concern. Shawn Boles Eugene COME ON DOWN Our downtown, it’s coming back! Now it is time for us as a community to come back as well. The holes are fi lled in; now let’s fi ll the streets. I am quite excited and even getting my hopes up that my downtown is on the verge of making a recovery. I know it is early and that the economy is seriously struggling. But, I wish to remain optimistic. Those holes have been eyesores for as long as I can remember (which I know as I get older is not all that long), still! The big issue, in my opinion is will the people come back? Everyone talks a good game and speaks fondly of times past, when downtowns fl ourished. There was a Kresge’s drugstore, a movie theater, a local hardware store, a department store and not a big box store in sight. Ah, those were the days, eh ? So I am challenging all those who say they desire a thriving downtown to come on down. Support those diehard local businesses who have stuck it out through the tough times. We already have restaurants, bars, galleries, rug stores, furniture stores, etc. As the movie says, “Build it, and they will come.” Well they are building it; will you come? For those who feel scared to come down, come with a group of friends; together we can create the foot traffi c necessary to make all feel comfortable and welcome. Developers can build on every square inch of our downtown, but it won’t make a comeback until we come back. What do you say Eugene, do you want a thriving downtown? Tim Boyden Eugene INDEFENSIBLE RAISES UO administrators recently granted themselves raises that far exceed the rate of infl ation and are an order of magnitude that is indefensible. The argument that “without raises, executive talent will be lost” is specious at best. The university recruits all the time; and with unemployment at record levels, qualifi ed talent is readily available. Why does a provost making one third of a million dollars need a raise? Even the registrar, making $100,000 or more per year, would receive at least $17,000 increase. That’s outrageous! No employee is indispensable, including President Lariviere. This decision will EUGENE WALDORF SCHOOL antagonize a staff already suffering from low moral and fed up with subsidizing administrators. I trust the Legislature will remember this situation the next time the university pleads poverty. There needs to be accountability. Pat Reilly Eugene NO HEALTH PROBLEM? Open House Saturday, October 8 •10:00 am-12:00 pm Windows on Waldorf Wednesday, October 12 • 8:30 am -12:30 pm 683-6951 • 1350 McLean Blvd. • www.eugenewaldorf.org Ignite a love of learning. © Northwest Exposures Photography Seneca’s biomass plant fails fi rst pollution tests, and Lane Regional Air Protection Agency Director Merlyn Hough doesn’t believe it poses a health problem. The American Lung Association, the American Heart Association, many medical societies across the country and our Lane County Health Advisory Committee disagree! They are all against the high rate of pollution from burning biomass (wood). What kind of protection are the many asthma sufferers in our community getting from Hough and his agency? I believe tax- payers should all be angry when they realize they paid millions to be polluted. In addition, many expect forests to be cut and rivers to be polluted to produce power with this very ineffi cient method of giving a few houses electricity. I can think of a cheaper and less polluting method such as an effort at conser- vation like wearing a sweater, insulating the attic or turning out the lights. Ruth Duemler Eugene PERMIT TO POISON I read about Seneca’s biomass plant failing its fi rst pollution test. Despite all the rhetoric, what it boils down to is that people are risking our health to make money. It doesn’t make sense to have a biomass burner in this valley. Even our home wood stoves create too much pollution. What good does it do for us to have Seneca pay a fi ne to LRAPA? I would like to know how much energy it takes to gather, load and drive 30 semi truckloads of biomass from the forest to the biomass burner a day compared to the whole 13,000 homes it lights. It would be better for the forest and our health to let it lie and enrich the devastated land. It seems to me that LRAPA is supposed to be for the people of Lane County; instead, it permits as much poison in the air as it legally can. Jean M. Denis Eugene THINK BEFORE INK When I was in college, I was privileged to hear famous “’60s radical” Abbie Hoffman. One highlight of his speech was a caution that “fashion” and “fascist” are next to each other in the dictionary. Our “brave new world” has perfected social control through entertainment and distraction. I thought of this warning when I read EW’s Fashion issue (8/11), especially the article promoting tattoos. Perhaps it is a consequence of EW taking ads from tattoo parlors but not from dermatologists — it is not in EW’s fi nancial interest to suggest there might be medical problems from this practice. The Food and Drug Administration report “Think Before You Ink: Are Tattoos WWW.EUGENEWEEKLY.COM • BLOGS.EUGENEWEEKLY.COM Ashland Springs Hotel E XPERIENCE THE E SSENCE OF A SHLAND AT OUR N ATURE I NSPIRED H OTEL , R ESTAURANT , S PA & S ALON YtÄÄ fÑxv|tÄá4 Ashland Springs Hotel is offering October discounts on all our room types, as well as the Oregon Shakespeare Festival package. Guest room rates start at $139 and the theatre package at $229! Not planning to see a show this season? Join us in Ashland for an unforgettable fall getaway. Enjoy dinner at hotel's Larks Restaurant or rejuvenate at Waterstone Spa. Other packages include: Wine Tasting, Golfing, Romance, and Couples Retreat. Endless possibilities! ! For more details or to book your stay visit A SHLAND S PRINGS H OTEL . COM or call 5 4 1 - 4 8 8 - 1 7 0 0 Built in 1925 & recently renovated landmark located in downtown Ashland offers 70 guest rooms with all modern amenities. Overnight guests enjoy complimentary breakfast, late night snack, free wireless internet & parking. EUGENE WEEKLY OCTOBER 6, 2011 5
