Eugene weekly., December 08, 2011, Page 10, Image 10

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NEWS BRIEFS
• This week’s court ruling on whether redistricting can go to the
voters was delayed until just after we went to press. We didn’t hear a
reason for the delay but we do know that Circuit Court Judge Charles
Carlson does not have any easy precedents to support whatever his
decision might be. County administration, perhaps at the urging of
the conservative majority on the commission, claims redistricting is
simply administrative and therefore not subject to referral to voters.
But redistricting is done by ordinance and according to the Lane
County Code, “a referendum on any ordinance enacted by the board
shall be held following the filing with the county clerk responsible for
election matters according to the proper form and procedures of a
referendum petition.” The only exception is for ordinances containing
an emergency clause, which this one does not. Seems clear to us, and
if it’s not clear to the judge, we hope he errs on the side of
democracy and sets a precedent for other cities and counties fed up
with gerrymanding.
• Imagine this grassroots campaign: Faculty, staff and students at
the UO who advocated so fiercely for Richard Lariviere joining with
Occupy Eugene activists to repeal Measure 5, the property tax
limitation that voters passed in 1990 and continues to
cripple Oregon’s tax structure. That repeal could help reach into the
pockets of the 1 percent, direct more revenue into education at all
levels and lift funding for human services. It should be possible for all
of us to direct our combined energy, frustration and anger toward a
goal of real progress and excellence in Oregon.
• Several people have suggested to us that the unused Civic Stadium
would make a near perfect long-term home for Occupy Eugene and
our local homeless population. EW reader Michael Hinojosa points out
that the sturdy old stadium and its grandstands were built to
accommodate thousands of people, and the grounds are fenced and
gated to provide some control over who comes and goes. Of course
School District 4J, which is trying to find new owners for Civic, is in
no position to take on the utilities, security, maintenance and liability
of such an Occupation. But the move would give a whole new
meaning to the activist cry of “Take a stand!”
• No simple solutions exist to deal with homelessness, but one of the
best temporary program that Lane County has come together on in
recent years is the Egan Warming Center. Various locations in
Eugene and Springfield are now up and running, providing a safe and
warm environment for homeless people to stay overnight when the
temps drop below 30 degrees. Let’s not be complacent and think this
community effort is any kind of long-term solution to our growing
population of people without adequate housing. But it does save
lives. The next volunteer training is 9 am to noon Saturday, Dec. 10, at
First Christian Church, 12th and Oak, Eugene. See eganwarmingcenter.
com for more information.
• Suicide rates among veterans in Oregon have been updated and
the news is disturbing. Vets account for 20 percent of our nation’s
suicides and 27 percent of Oregon’s suicides, according to the Oregon
Partnership, which operates a free 24/7 Military Helpline at (888)
457-4838 or online at www.MilitaryHelpline.org Post traumatic stress
disorder is a huge contributing factor, the poor economy exacerbates
issues, and many troubled vets balk at seeking help. Friends and
family will often observe depression or anger, but don’t know how to
help before it’s too late. Check out www.orpartnership.org for advice
and resources. And of course we can work to end our endless wars.
Talk about trauma, just last week more than 130 U.S. military
personnel were wounded in action in Afghanistan.
• Climate change? What climate change? It’s frustrating to see that
the U.S. is once again sidestepping and delaying any kind of
substantive action on climate change through the U.N. or even
nationally. California, on the other hand, is not waiting for Congress
to act and is implementing its own tougher restrictions on the
pollutants that contribute to global warming. When progress bogs
down on the national level, regardless of whether it’s the
environment, health care or any other big issue, it’s up to individuals,
cities, counties and states to fill the leadership void.
SLANT includes short opinion pieces, observations and rumor-chasing notes compiled by the EW staff. Heard
any good rumors lately? Contact Ted Taylor at 484-0519, editor@eugeneweekly.com
Later on, Eugene Taiko, a popular local
Japanese drumming ensemble, will play its
unique rhythm using multiple drums.
We “always try to incorporate music
into the event,” said Sorom.
The event is free with a donation of three
nonperishable food items to FOOD for
Lane County. Following the event will be
the museum’s free Open House Weekend
from 11 am to 5 pm Dec. 17-18.
— Ted Shorack
GROUPS ENDORSE
OCCUPY EUGENE
Several community organizations have
come out in support of Occupy Eugene and
will be represented at the City Council
meeting Dec. 12 when councilors decide
whether or not to extend the OE camping
permit.
Among the groups publicly endorsing
OE is We the People-Eugene, a grassroots
organization intent on abolishing the
Supreme Court’s “corporate personhood”
decision, aka Citizens United.
“If the U.S. wasn’t in such dire straits,
economically, socially and politically, the
Occupy movement would probably have
never happened,” reads a statement from We
the People. “Consequently, the city of
Eugene would not have to decide whether to
extend its compassion in the form of allowing
a large group of committed activists to spend
the winter camping in the mud.”
The statement goes on to say that in OE’s
“inclusive and often rocky endeavor to live
the democratic process, they have begun to
recreate the United States of America,
literally from the ground up.”
Eugene Friends Meeting has also released
a public statement that says, in part, “We
support Occupy Eugene and other current
nonviolent protests and actions seeking
justice, equitable ways of organization and
communication.
We support OE in
continuing to peaceably assemble at
Washington-Jefferson Park and encourage
the City Council to continue the exemption
to the ‘no-camping’ ordinance.”
LIGHTEN UP
BY R A FA E L A L DAV E
10 DECEMBER 8, 2011
EUGENE WEEKLY
AWARDS TO
LOCAL LATINO
FARMERS
Eugene’s Latino community has been
farming its way to national acclaim.
Huerto de la Familia, a local nonprofit,
received a $132,000 grant from the Meyer
Memorial Trust. Furthermore, Heifer
International selected a business founded
by Huerto, the Small Farmers Project, to
receive its prestigious Golden Talent
Award.
Executive Director Sarah Cantril
founded Huerto de la Familia (“Family
Garden” in Spanish) in 1999. She says she
is thrilled to have received such a “hugely
competitive” grant. Huerto has offered the
local Latino community instruction in
organic gardening for the last 12 years.
Currently, Huerto works with 51 families
in three different locations in the Eugene
area. With the grant money, Cantril plans
to expand the scope of the group’s current
project and to initiate a micro-development
program that teaches Spanish-speaking
families the skills they need to
independently capitalize on agricultural
business ideas. “We see what we do as
social justice,” Cantril says.
The Small Farmers Project (SFP), an
independent business, grew out of a
partnership with Huerto in 2008. Based in
Santa Clara, SFP is a farm that cultivates
organic strawberries and raspberries. Five
families work for the organization — they
market their produce and preserves to
local farmers’ markets and businesses.
SFP was the only project in the U.S. to
receive a Golden Talent Award in 2011.
This honor is given to an organization that
has successfully converted minimal
resources into a sustaining source of
income while also positively impacting
the community. Speaking in Spanish,
SFP’s President Margarito Palacios says
that he dreams to continue “helping more
people succeed in agriculture … that way
we can change the world.”
Message from the State Board of Higher Education: Go
Ducks! President Lariviere won’t be going with you because
he made a paper hat out of the organization chart.
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