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