Image provided by: University of Oregon Libraries; Eugene, OR
About Eugene weekly. (Eugene, Oregon) 1993-current | View Entire Issue (Oct. 20, 2011)
letters Taking Care of Your Four-Legged Family for Over 30 Years Full Service Clinic: • Well Pet Care • Orthopedic Surgery • Cancer Management • Behavior Consultations • Dental Care Cameron Jones, DVM Barbara Maki, DVM Cary Heyward, DVM Appointments Available 8am-6pm Weekdays 9am-4pm Saturday info@amazonparkvet.com • 541-485-0161 • 725 E. 25th Ave. Eugene TO THE EDITOR introducing yet another, unseen-by-the- public proposal having the same effect. Commissioner Pete Sorenson was quoted in the daily paper: “an outrage ... (that will) increase the cynicism... about people who are in power.” No, Pete, I have not lost faith in our elected offi cials entirely; just the ones who pull dirty tricks, and their fellows who roll over and play deaf to the citizenry. And these days, they all happen to be Republican or right-of-Republican. Their methods are frankly disgusting, and are anything but democracy in action. Vip B. Short Eugene EXPOSED BRAINS Bravo, EW for publishing two pictures of bicyclists without helmets in your Back to Campus issue Oct. 6. “Hey sailor, new to town? No prob, check this out!” On the cover we have a young man in a snappy yellow cap. On the fi rst page of the article, we have a young lady with a fashionable hair-do, or is that some kind of wrap? Can’t tell due to the shitty picture. Yep, both of those looks will keep you safe from a head- fi rst skid due to the falling leaves, etc. Is the message you want to convey to newcomers: Go chic — no need for helmets here? Clap … clap … clap! Jeff Albertson Springfi eld TELEVISE THEM Ridgeline Montessori Public Charter School Southtowne Merchants Support Our Schools Give to “Ridgeline Rising” October 22, 2011, 11:00 -3:00pm at 28th & Oak Street It’s a Fundraiser Kick-Off Event for Ridgeline’s Capital Fund Campaign Activities Included: Ridgeline Choir Ridgeline Bhangra Dancers A Raffle A Silent Auction Longs’ BBQ Bouncy House Oregonians have a right to have public meetings televised and placed into the public domain on the internet. The technology is not cheap, but if public bodies want support from the public for the work they do, those public agencies should conduct their meetings with the full glare of television. In our state, the Oregon Legislature has had many of their sessions (fl oor debates) and committee meetings televised for years. When I was a state senator I was often assisted by people who had seen a particular meeting on TV and gave me some thoughtful advice. Similarly, as the senior member on the Lane County Board of Commissioners I’ve seen in our meetings, which have been televised for many years, that the members are more respectful toward each other, knowing that they are being watched by maybe 20,000 Lane County residents. Also, good ideas can fl ow in from people who catch a replay of the board meetings. Those who oppose televising meetings can be expected to use money as a reason to shut off public access. I reject this idea, because the benefi ts of televising meetings are very strong. Thanks to you who support televising public meetings! Pete Sorenson Lane County Commissioner SHAMEFUL CLOSURE The recent closure of the Boys and Girls Club due to lack of money is more than just shameful. As a positive, safe and healthy place, the club has provided supervised programs and activities that not only keep kids engaged and out of trouble, but served as the only responsible option for many working parents. Those parents are now left with no choice but to leave their young kids with a house key and the hope that things will be okay until the adults get home from work. If this were a contentious political campaign, hundreds of thousands of dollars would have been raised for a cause or candidate. I hope that enough money can be raised to reopen the Boys and Girls Club. Surely Eugene wants to show other cities that it has its priorities straight. Les Weinstein 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. Email to letters@ eugeneweekly.com fax to 484-4044, or mail to 1251 Lincoln, Eugene 97401. At the Eugene Water & Electric Board, we’re empowering citizens with resources to save money and energy in their homes and businesses — like James Cupp, who proves that even the smallest change can make a big difference. James helped his mom replace their home’s incandescent bulbs with compact fluorescent lamps (CFLs) that use 75% less energy and last 10 times longer. To find out about EWEB’s energy-saving programs for your own home, visit eweb.org/saveenergy or call 541-685-7000. Maybe yours will be the next powerful tale we tell. 6 OCTOBER 20, 2011 EUGENE WEEKLY WWW.EUGENEWEEKLY.COM • BLOGS.EUGENEWEEKLY.COM
