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About Eugene weekly. (Eugene, Oregon) 1993-current | View Entire Issue (May 10, 2012)
letters TO THE EDITOR emanating from the NZ environmental community that called for an end to logging on all government lands, with virgin forest logging to be banned within a year. For decades now, there has been essentially no logging of native species on NZ government lands. The equivalent in Oregon would be to ban all Douglas fi r, western red cedar, western hemlock and ponderosa pine logging from State and federal forests. That is hardly what Andy Stahl and Congressman DeFazio are proposing for Oregon O&C and National Forest lands. New Zealand has provided a role model by banning the logging of all native old growth. The proposals by Stahl and DeFazio would be destroy many thousands of acres of Oregon’s ancient forests, our most precious natural heritage. Steve Raymen Walterville STAHL AND CREATIVITY I’m supporting Andy Stahl because we need to restore integrity to the South Eugene county commissioner’s seat. Pete Sorenson and his supporters would like to pretend that it matters who fi led the public meetings lawsuit against Sorenson. It doesn’t. What matters is that Sorenson tried to hide his secret budget group meetings by calling them the “book club” on his calendar. Then, when he got caught, Sorenson refused to take responsibility for his mistakes. And we, as taxpayers, got stuck with the $250,000 legal bill. Thanks Pete. Andy Stahl has spent years fi ghting for what he believes in, including protection for our old growth forests and for foster children. Andy’s honest about where he stands. No hiding behind “book club” smoke screens. Now the county fi nds itself in a huge fi nancial mess. Congressman DeFazio has a plan that would help. It protects all the old growth timber on O & C lands but allows some logging of second growth, which creates jobs and county revenues. Andy Stahl worked with DeFazio to develop the plan. Stahl is creative. Sorenson’s response: He doesn’t like the plan. So, you can vote for Sorenson and ride over the fi nancial cliff. Personally, I’ll put my faith in DeFazio. And I’ll give my vote to Andy Stahl. Doug Barber Eugene SCIENCE IS OUR GUIDE Smart meters can operationalize our community goals of conservation and wind power, only if we make night-time power signifi cantly cheaper than day-time rates. That’s complicated. Before we commit to new meters, let’s settle this question so we know the real dollar and energy savings at stake. There’s concern about health risks. EWEB’s report says there are more than 25,000 scientifi c studies investigating the potential health impacts of radio waves. Scientists even devised elegant ways to test cumulative effects over time. They evaluated retired radio operators, whose careers exposed them to 30 years of radio WWW.EUGENEWEEKLY.COM waves at much higher doses than what smart meters emit. No pattern was found. These results — based on evidence and scrutinized by peer review — are hard to argue with. Despite its imperfections, science is our best guide. It acknowledges the unknown and responds with fresh questions on behalf of the public interest. While we’re debating time-of- day pricing, millions of smart meters will be deployed in other communities. Scientists will report on these full-scale experiments. Firms will compete for contracts by designing better smart meters. Future meters will cost and emit less, be more secure, and offer better features. Meanwhile, overnight energy storage, which meets the same goals, is becoming cost effective. Savvy consumers of information and technology will see the benefi ts to waiting. Finally, EWEB won’t install smart meters where they’re not wanted. While this doesn’t address all health concerns, the compromise shows EWEB’s responsiveness to feedback. Three cheers for public ownership of our utility! Steve Mital Candidate for EWEB Board Offi ce visits starting at $99 Same Day Appointments Justin Montoya, MD 1410 Oak St, Ste 102 in the Keiper Spine building 541-228-3270 • www.prohealthfamilymedicine.com Wellness Centered Dentistry Safe Removal of Mercury Fillings Rob Whicker DDS • www.wcdentistry.com 4725 Village Plaza Loop, Ste 101 • 541-868-2008 SLEAZY TACTICS ABOUND Election season is characterized by an overabundance of persuasiveness on the part of untrustworthy sources. Citing the 2008 “Operation Chaos” push by Rush Limbaugh, the local daily recently urged readers not to fall for the similar cynical manipulation of primary elections by current candidate Matthew Robinson (editorial, 4/28). Those on the Republican right seem to feel that it’s perfectly appropriate to temporarily attest themselves as Democrats; to gerrymander voting districts; to monkey with voting machines and voter registration rolls; whatever it takes, including thinly veiled exhortations to assassination, so that their team can score. But these people who rationalize dirty-tricksterism in the name of winning don’t stop at the elections line. They follow through with questionable — legal, but not honorable — tactics aimed at bringing down sitting offi cials. They have a proud history of magnifying trivial matters (sex in the White House); bringing contrived lawsuits (Ellie Dumdi, Aaron Jones of Seneca Timber); running anonymous attack ads (Gang of 9); utilizing whatever weapons of mass distraction will suffi ce to grab the fi ckle attention of the public. Those who doubt my assertions need to read It’s Even Worse Than It Looks by Mann and Ornstein. I’m supporting DeFazio, Sorenson, Handy, Piercy and Obama. Republican sharks exploit the self- questioning attitude of play-fair Demos, who tend to eat their own. The R-G showed its inconsistency in editorializing against Matthew Robinson’s sleazy tactics, while also pitching support for Sorenson’s and Handy’s opponents. Apparently politicians don’t have the monopoly on fl ipping and fl opping. Vip B. Short Eugene The Emerald City Jazz Kings in Siri Vik Where Or When The Life & Lyrics of Lorenz Hart Fri, May 18 Sun, May 20 On The Road with Jimmy Van Heusen Thu, May 10, 7:30 pm - Sun, May 13, 2:00 pm Mike & Nancy Oft Rose The Shedd Institute Carrie Rodriguez Saturday, March 12 05.10-13 The Jazz Kings: On The Road 05.12 Carrie Rodriguez w/ Luke Jacobs 05.18 & 20 Siri Vik: Where or When - The Life & Lyrics of Lorenz Hart 05.31 Hugh Laurie (SOLD OUT) 06.02 Ledward Ka’apana 06.08 Dan Hicks & The Hot Licks Tickets/more info: 541-434-7000 - theshedd.org 868 High Street (E Broadway & High), Eugene EUGENE WEEKLY MAY 10, 2012 5
