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About Eugene weekly. (Eugene, Oregon) 1993-current | View Entire Issue (April 5, 2012)
letters The Magical Moombah! TO THE EDITOR microcosm of a larger issue we all need to face, sooner the better. The human species is in deepening stress from the beginning effects of climate change, from economic disparity, famine and drought, to fi rst world consumption gone amuck, expressed with increasing desperate violence. We all know there is a divide in the Northwest between the culture of business and consumption vs. sustainability and global health. Most of my life, I’ve existed somewhere in the middle — like most Americans — but I’ve come to realize that those of us straddling the fence, with head in the sand, need to get off on one side or another. To quote that cliché, you’re either part of the problem or part of the solution. It’s never been more true. The stakes are too great. The timber and business interests here are deeply ensconced, but here is a local issue we can decisively settle, on the side of sanity and hope. Dennis Hartley Eugene My wish is not for the cops to just go in and roust all the people living in the woods — although I do think the natural areas need to be protected — but instead to see an appropriate area set aside by the city for free tent and car camping, which would benefi t the environment, hikers and the homeless all at once. I realize there are legal, political and economic issues complicating such an idea, but clearly something needs to be done. Just hoping the problem will go away (or move to a different city) is not a viable option for anyone. Kate Winter Eugene LEAF-BLOWERS SUCK I hate leaf-blowers! Let’s ban them in Eugene. Who’s with me? Ron Ramsey Eugene Keola Beamer Raiatea Helm Dr. James J. Knackstedt Sat, April 28 Rumbles City Hop! Saturday, April 7 at 10 am & 1 pm Free Music Box Playshop included at 11:15 am Zoë Keating The Shedd Institute 04.07 Moombah! Rumbles’ City Hop 04.14 Spring Soirée 2012 04.21 Adrenaline Film Project 2012 04.27 Miguel Dehoyos & Alex Depue 04.28 Keola Beamer & Raiatea Helm 05.04-13 The Jazz Kings: On The Road 05.05 Moombah! No Manners Manor 05.05 Zoë Keating 05.09 DeJohnette, Corea & Clarke 05.12 Carrie Rodriguez Tickets/more info: 541-434-7000 - theshedd.org 868 High Street (E Broadway & High), Eugene Sat, May 5 DeJohnette, Corea, Clarke 7 p/9:15 p TIP YOUR TREE SERVICE ON THE WATERFRONT Your comment in Slant last week that EWEB headquarters “remain a public building”: Yes, but no offi ce building should be allowed on the waterfront — public, private or nonprofi t. Because the building is already there perhaps meeting rooms for all of the above — charging rent — with the money going into the same pot as property taxes. Frank Skipton Springfi eld WETLAND CAMPING Last weekend I went for a walk through the wetlands just off West 11th Avenue. To my dismay, I passed nearly a dozen encampments set up by homeless people right in the middle of these protected natural areas. I understand why they are there — that’s probably where I’d set up too, if I had no roof over my head — but their presence creates several signifi cant problems. There is a drastic impact on the environment (unfortunately many had strewn trash all over the place), as well as a safety concern for the other people who walk those paths (I realize that not all homeless people are a threat, of course, but there’s enough drug and alcohol use in the population to make it a legitimate concern). I’ve been seeing more of this in recent years, from the river to the parks to hiking trails, and the problem isn’t going away anytime soon. To the many Eugeneans with fallen or damaged trees: The men who you call to remove these dangerous trees work extremely hard and put their lives at risk to help you get your power back, fi x your roof or use your driveway. You might think since the charge for this service is not cheap that these men get paid well. The reality is a lot of that cost goes to insurance, fuel, and tool maintenance, and less of it goes into the actual pockets of the men climbing your trees and removing the brush. So, please, if you appreciate the service provided, appreciate a job well done, appreciate that it is now safe for you to live in your home and for your kids to play in the yard, then show your tree service this appreciation. When the tree service comes to your home to help you in a time of need, tip them as you would a waiter whom you wished to reward for a “job well done.” Johnathan Helling aka Stamper Eugene Welcome Back Saturday Market PICTURED: WOLKY OJIBWA W FOLLOW IS THE TIME FOR FEET NEW TO SHOES YOUR COMFORT INSTANTLY PISSED Walking around the Willamette River pedestrian path in Eugene is a favorite activity for many locals. For the purpose of exercise or a gentle stroll adjacent to the river, it is always a treat to experience the movement, fresh air, people, dogs, rose Downtown Eugene &#SPBEXBZt 'BDFCPPLDPNGPPUXJTFFVHFOF .PO4BU4VO Downtown Corvallis 48.BEJTPOt 'BDFCPPLDPNGPPUXJTFDPSWBMMJT .PO4BU4VO see what we ’ re pinning pinterest.com/eugeneweekly We Endorse Rob Handy ! Artistic Arborist Briggs Hill Vineyard )LUH¿JKWHUV±,$)) Lane Labor Council Mountain Rose Herbs 6DQGSLSHU,PSRUW6HUYLFHV Sperry Tree Care $)6&0( $)6&0( $)6&0(&RXQFLO 8)&: %DVLF5LJKWV2UHJRQ±*UHHQ/LJKW WWW.EUGENEWEEKLY.COM • BLOGS.EUGENEWEEKLY.COM More than 500 of your friends and neighbors endorse Rob Handy – See for yourself at ReElectRobHandy.com Join us! Re-elect Rob Handy County Commissioner PO Box 41449 Eugene, OR 97404 EUGENE WEEKLY APRIL 5, 2012 5
