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About Eugene weekly. (Eugene, Oregon) 1993-current | View Entire Issue (Dec. 22, 2011)
slant increase to taking 22 million gallons a day. The company used the water demand of an industrial park at the Port of Morrow, near Boardman, in its analysis to show how much water industrial and commercial users might need in its efforts to persuade the Oregon Water Resources Department it should be given a larger water right. WaterWatch of Oregon has contested the WWC claim that it needs the water, saying there is not substantial evidence to support that 22 million gallons a day are needed or could be beneficially used. Sandow says of the decision to develop industrial land in Goshen: “The concern I would have is I think it would just go to substantiate Willamette Water Company’s claim.” Commissioner Rob Handy says he, too, has concerns over the Goshen plan, but voted with the board majority on the goals because he didn’t want to see valuable goals such as improving infant mortality go by the wayside. Commissioner Faye Stewart, whose district encompasses Goshen, did not return a request for comment. Cuyler says at public hearings on the issue, “The staff I spoke to sensed a mixture of curiosity and skepticism” from Goshen residents. — Camilla Mortensen happening people SURVEY SEES GREEN LIGHT FOR HANDY A poll done by Washington, D.C.-based Lake Research Partners shows when it comes to the next election Commissioner Rob Handy “is the frontrunner in a race that would be challenging but surely winnable.” The survey says there were concerns that the “toxic political environment” created by allegations of open meetings violations had dimmed Handy’s chances for re-election but “the data from our survey paint a different picture” and “voters continue to support him by huge margins over the relatively unknown Mike Clark.” City Councilor Pat Farr has also thrown his hat into the ring against Handy in the newly and controversially redrawn district. In a post on the Forum Lane blog that he frequently writes for, Farr says he will work on bringing jobs to Lane County. The survey says that across all the precincts surveyed there was a solid 2-1 ratio of voters with a favorable impression of Handy (35 percent) versus 16 percent with an unfavorable impression. “These solid favorability ratings reveal that to the extent voters are aware of the lawsuit and related BY PAUL NEEVEL MICHAEL CROSS A graduate of Pleasant Hill schools, Michael Cross studied exercise science at the UO, then spent a couple of years working in the UC San Diego orthopedics department’s exercise program for seniors. “We used exercise as a preventative tool,” he says. “When we get them into better shape, they live longer autonomously and don’t develop diseases.” Returning to the UO for a master’s in human physiology, Cross designed an interactive web-based exercise curriculum for adult learners as his degree project. “I was teaching exercise physiology and physical education at the UO and LCC,” he says. “I’ve always wanted to teach, especially with adults.” Early in 2011, Cross saw an ad, interviewed and became the new program coordinator for the Eugene office of the Alzheimer’s Association, Oregon Chapter. “Every other employee is in Portland,” he says. “I take care of educational programs and outreach in Lane, Douglas, Coos and Curry counties.” All classes, support groups, and referrals are free, and half of the funds raised by the association go to Alzheimer’s research. Learn more at alz.org/oregon. Cross is also an avid abstract artist. His painting seen in the photo suggests the brain tangles of Alzheimer’s. See more artwork at michaelcrossart.blogspot.com. • The Vermont Workers Center sent Kate Kanelstein and Sarah Weintraub from its campaign team to Oregon last week to talk about how Vermont made a breakthrough on universal health care last June (see our cover story 12/8). The three-year fight against the powerful insurance industry and its advocates is not over in Vermont, but the legislative structure for reform is now in place. It can happen in Oregon as well, where work for reform has already been going on for years, from grassroots organizing such as Health Care for All Oregon to Gov. Kitzhaber’s efforts, past and present. What can we learn from Vermont? Reform legislation needs to be equitable, accountable and transparent. Organizing committees need to come together in every county and gain the support of unions, churches and even go door-to-door. The insurance industry will fight reform legislation every step of the way and try to dilute it if they can’t kill it. Opponents will insert wedge issues, such as citizenship or abortion rules, and fund disinformation campaigns. Elected officials cannot carry the load alone, and officials on the fence might join the campaign and take credit for it once they see the eventual outcome. Opponents will always say “slow down” and “you’re going too fast,” even though uninsured people are dying from lack of medical care. And a highly effective campaign pounds in the messages that health care is a human right, and that health care transcends just about every social, political and economic issue confronting us today. • People tend to be generous in the holiday season, and this year perhaps even more so. The Letter Carriers Food Drive last week exceeded its goal by 9 percent and brought in 163,951 pounds of food donations, equivalent to 128,000 meals for the hungry. Associated Press reports that “secret Santas” are busy all over the country paying off layaway balances at Kmart and other stores so that struggling families will have toys and clothes under the tree. Donations of warm clothes and sleeping bags are keeping homeless people alive in Lane County. Cascadia Wildlands’ annual Wonderland Auction Dec. 10 generated a record $60,000 for the environmental nonprofit, covering about one-fourth of the organization’s annual budget. A letter from Keith Eddins this week talks about a voluntary “tax” for the Eugene Education Fund. Let’s keep the generosity flowing on all fronts. • KFLY’s The Donkey Show was the winner of Best Radio Show or DJ in our Best of Eugene readers’ poll. The folks from The Donkey Show went to the Occupy Eugene camp at Washington-Jefferson Park on Dec. 15 with a man dressed as Santa. Rather than handing out gifts to the homeless youth and war vets down there, “Santa” reportedly mocked them by handing out soap and job applications instead of gifts. We’ve gotten comments from readers who are appalled that The Donkey Show would make fun of those in need during the holidays. Some have called for us to revoke the Best of Eugene award, but our readers vote and choose the winners, not us. We say let your votes in our next readers’ poll tell The Donkey Show what you think. And we’re curious, what do people think? If you’d rather help the homeless than mock the homeless, check out our Give Guide this issue. • If you’re one of those independent voters who doesn’t yet have a favorite candidate in the 2012 presidential race, try these names. Jeb Bush is surfacing again. With Gingrich sinking and Romney unable to rise above 25 percent favorable, Republicans are looking for a winner. This Bush seems smarter than his brother, his wife is Latina, and Florida liked him as governor. He has that formidable Bush fundraising capacity. The Dec. 18 New York Times mentioned NYC Mayor Michael Bloomberg again as a candidate, probably as an independent. Bloomberg is rumored to be considering a self- financed run, especially if Newt is likely to win the nomination. Neither appeals to us on the left, but maybe America would go for a big city billionaire or another Bushie in these tumultuous times. • Everybody loves a happy ending! EW is pleased to report the Red Cross hero dog and deaf pit bull Sasha has a forever home. The Lane County Animal Services rescue and her trainer Micaela Frank worked with kids at the Serbu Juvenile Justice Center and were featured on the cover of EW’s summer Pets issue. Sasha’s new adopter William Novorolsky was moved to adopt the dog after reading her story; he works with developmentally disabled people who are deaf. But he was unable to find a rental willing to take a pit bull and her person in Eugene. EW did a story on the issue and Novorolsky says, “My current and new landlord was reading the pit bull prejudice article the Thursday after it was printed. While she was reading it her then-tenant called to give notice of leaving.” The ball rolled his way, he says, and now Novorolsky and Sasha have a new home. Here’s to hoping more LCAS and local rescue dogs get homes for the holidays! 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 LIGHTEN UP BY R A FA E L A L DAV E WWW.EUGENEWEEKLY.COM • BLOGS.EUGENEWEEKLY.COM An investigation found that County Commissioner Handy’s body language and facial expressions at board meetings were not retaliatory behavior aimed at County Administrator Liane Richardson. Although no other explanation was offered for Handy’s behavior, possible causes include Four-Alarm Chili and tight shorts. EUGENE WEEKLY DECEMBER 22, 2011 9
