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
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Downtown Corvallis
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We Endorse Rob Handy !
Artistic Arborist
Briggs Hill Vineyard
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EUGENE WEEKLY APRIL 5, 2012
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