slant
• EWEB, our public utility, and the people who work for it
historically have made us proud. Now we wonder what’s going on
with EWEB. Why doesn’t management embrace the existing fine
headquarters appropriately on the banks of the Willamette? It’s
close to the city center, easy for staff and citizens to come and
go. Why the constant discussion about moving over to the
Chambers area on the west side, probably to a new building? Why
speculate with $2.5 million of the reserve fund on a vacant
factory in the west side?
• What now, Democrats? Dems in Lane County have a new chair
in Julie Fahey. The position had been vacant since March when
Matt Davis resigned to work on a PAC for Oregon House
Democrats. Fahey plans to focus on boosting Dem voter turnout
in the November general election, but we hope she also looks
seriously at damage control from the primary election when
some elected Democrats turned against Commissioner Pete
Sorenson. We may never understand why our local legislative
contingency lined up against one of the strongest and most
popular progressives in the state, but we do know it was an ill-
advised strategic blunder. Conservatives love it when they see
liberals eating their own. So come on Dems, mend fences with
Pete and move along.
• Where did the losing commission candidates go wrong? We’re
not sure Rob Handy could have done much more to counter the
effects of redistricting, biased coverage by the R-G, being
outspent 2-1, and the dirty tactics of the Pat Farr/ Lindholm/
timber industry onslaught. Handy made a few mistakes along the
way, such as trying to define Farr as an “ultra-conservative,” and
he had some awkward moments defending himself. He could have
spent more time reminding voters of the good he’s done, rather
than snarking at Farr. For example, voters never really understood
that the efforts by Handy and Sorenson to fund “personal
assistants” was for the sole purpose of improving constituent
services. Thousands of Lane County residents call their
commissioners each year seeking help dealing with county
services. Most, especially those in Faye Stewart’s district, never
get a call back. Handy, on the other hand, is known for personally
responding to concerns of residents throughout the county.
Where did Andy Stahl blow his campaign against Sorenson?
He never distanced himself from his connections to Randal
O’Toole and the libertarian Cato Institute. Libertarians are an
eyebrow-raising political fringe in progressive south Eugene. And
he was not very convincing in talking about how well he has
collaborated with others in the past. No one from his school
board days, for example, came forward to laud him for being a
creative and positive team player who gets things done. And
Stahl’s position on the controversial DeFazio bipartisan forest
plan was fuzzy at best. Sorenson’s environmental concerns about
the plan were clearly defined, but Stahl’s statements left a lot of
people scratching their heads.
• Interesting email from UO Interim President Bob Berdahl to
his faculty in mid-May included this about a proposed
independent board for the university: “We are not asking for
independence from the state of Oregon; we seek a new
relationship with the state and its higher education institutions.”
That was one of the demands from the UO to the governor and
chancellor after the firing of Richard Lariviere. We’re skeptical,
but maybe the power of the newly approved faculty union will
play into a proposal that builds on the excellence of the UO while
preserving the strength of the state system, plus winning
approval of the chancellor and governor. That’s a
huge assignment!
• Let’s show up and cheer for the opening game of the new
Eugene Metro Fútbol Club’s opening home game at 7 pm
Friday, June 1, at South Eugene High School’s soccer field. The
new league is co-sponsored by Market of Choice, Adidas and yep,
Eugene Weekly.
• Excellent turnout at the Mount Pisgah Wildflower & Music
Festival May 20 and a good fundraiser to support trail
maintenance, environmental education and habitat restoration at
the arboretum. This is one of those lively, unique celebrations
that bring out the best in people and make Lane County a
remarkable place to live, love and grow.
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, edi-
tor@eugeneweekly.com
WAR DEAD
In Afghanistan
1,965 U.S. troops killed* (1,961)
15,950 U.S. troops wounded in action
(15,858)
1,131 U.S. contractors killed (1,131)
12,793 civilians killed (12,793)
$529.8 billion cost of war
($528.6 billion)
$156.4 million cost to Eugene
taxpayers
($156.1 million)
In Iraq
The war officially ended December 2011 with a
total of 4,422 U.S. troops killed, 31,924 wounded in
action and undisclosed hundreds of U.S. military
suicides. But U.S. contractors are assuming a
larger role, high levels of U.S. spending continue,
and the body count from civil unrest grows.
1,563 U.S. contractors killed (1,563)
116,553 to 1.2 million civilians killed*
(116,458)
$803.7 billion cost of war
($803.5 billion)
$237.3 million cost to Eugene
taxpayers
($237.3 million)
Through May 18, 2012; sources: icasualties.org;
defense.gov, U.S. Dept. of Labor (contractor
deaths updated occasionally) * highest estimate;
source: iraqbodycount.org; based on confirmed
media reports; other groups calculate Iraqi
civilian deaths as high as 655,000 (Lancet
survey, 2006) to 1.2 million (Opinion Research
Business survey, 2008). Afghan civilian deaths
from guardian.co.uk tallied monthly.
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