slant
• Commissioner Rob Handy’s defeat at the ballot box this week is due to factors that have
gotten little or no attention in the other media. Gerrymandering made the North Eugene district
more conservative, favoring Pat Farr, but an even bigger impact was from the blatantly
deceptive, even libelous push-polling and mailing done by Farr’s industry-funded PAC on his
behalf. Farr is claiming to have run a clean campaign based on his background and experience,
but in fact this was the dirtiest and most negative campaign we’ve seen in years. These
shenanigans were ignored by the R-G. On the plus side, it will be good to see Farr depart the
City Council. We are happy to see Pete Sorenson keep his seat for four more years, but it will be
lonely for him being the only environmentally sane person on a board that deals with huge
enviro issues. As for Councilor Betty Taylor, the run-off in November against Juan Carlos Valle
will be a challenge for her, but contested races give the public an opportunity to focus in on the
issues. And pot-head power prevailed to make Ellen Rosenblum the new AG.
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• We just heard the opening game for the Eugene Metro Fútbol Club Azul has been delayed
until June 1 at South Eugene High School against the Spokane Shine. See our cover story last
week for a look at the new high-level women’s soccer team, part of the Women’s Premier Soccer
League.
• Now that the Multiple-Unit Property Tax Exemption (MUPTE) for the 1,200-student Capstone
building has been approved for downtown, we have a chance to look back at the decision-
making process. While the shift of students from other areas has the potential to be good or
bad — and more likely a little of both — no one wants to see more decisions made like this one.
From the ability of the developers to choose the timeline and deadlines to the lack of nuance
and guidance written into Eugene’s MUPTE provisions, this process clarified that changes must
happen. We hope that council looks north to see how Portland has made its plan encourage
affordable housing instead of pricy Taj Mahals.
• What’s going on over at Lane County government? Stand up for a liberal cause and lose
your job? Shortly after county attorney Pierre Robert defended Rob Handy and Pete Sorenson
in the Open Meetings lawsuit and argued the county should appeal the controversial Gillespie
ruling, he was replaced. Now Marc Kardell, who was arguing that Parvin Butte ought to have a
site review before it gets blasted away, has been laid off.
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• Speaking of Lane County and open meetings — under Oregon law: “In case of an actual
emergency, a meeting may be held upon such notice as is appropriate to the circumstances, but
the minutes for such a meeting shall describe the emergency justifying less than 24 hours’
notice.” We’ve asked Lane County what justified having a meeting with not much more than an
hour’s notice about releasing the letter and public records accusing Commissioner Rob Handy
of taking inappropriate donations as an “emergency,” but we’ve not gotten a clear response
from county officials as to why they couldn’t wait 24 hours, nor have the minutes from the
meeting been posted. So was the emergency meeting on May 3 really a lawful, open meeting?
• Buckley House in Eugene is one of the largest alcohol detox centers in the state, providing
residential, outpatient and short-term beds for drunks who are a threat to themselves or others
and might otherwise end up in the gutter. Buckley House saves lives and money, freeing up jail
beds, reducing crime and keeping people out of expensive hospital emergency rooms. But
proposed Lane County budget cuts and other reductions in funding are threatening to shut
down Buckley’s Sobering Station services July 1. The logic here escapes us. It’s a bit like feeding
your beloved family pooch only kitchen scraps to save money and then being puzzled by high
vet bills.
• Hey local musicians, it’s that time of year again and the Next Big Thing contest is about to
take off. If you think your band has what it takes to throw your hat in the ring, submissions begin
Thursday, May 17, in hardcopy form and Monday, May 21, via EW’s website. Prizes include cash,
recording time, publicity and respect. The finalists will gig the McDonald Theatre at the EW
30-year anniversary Best of Eugene Awards ceremony. Get in your original songs; we want to
hear them!
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EUGENE WEEKLY MAY 17, 2012 9