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About Eugene weekly. (Eugene, Oregon) 1993-current | View Entire Issue (June 21, 2012)
letters TO THE EDITOR The city’s choice of delaying a vote on the Social Host Ordinance until summer when there is less resistance is an example of laws targeting the student community, and questions how valuable our voices truly are. What’s a democracy without debate? Besides, if you really want to address underage drinking, and the minor in possession citations aren’t solving the problem, then maybe turn to the furnishers of the alcohol who perpetuate the problem. The ordinance focuses on house parties, yet bars, liquor stores and markets are still profi ting without harassment of police, or the government reaching into their pockets. I want local politicians who happen to fi nd themselves on campus unscheduled. I want a government that doesn’t just acknowledge the students’ contributions to a city resistant to growth, but rewards them. I don’t want a written response, but discourse frequent and regular between the groups. Aidan R. Smith Eugene GREENHILL’S CHALLENGE Now that their proposal to step in for LCAS has been approved, Greenhill Humane Society has less than a month to fi ll some very large shoes. Taking over the soon to be vacant building is the smallest part of the transition. LCAS, with the help of an advisory committee, has worked very hard to become a progressive animal shelter that explores every option before resorting to euthanasia. I can’t say the same about Greenhill. In the last month Greenhill has killed animals for very treatable skin and teeth issues. If animals are being euthanized now while Greenhill can turn away less than perfect pets, what will they do with all the sick and stray animals that LCAS usually deals with? How will Greenhill maintain LCAS’s no kill status and will it really save the city as much money as everyone thinks? To ensure that Greenhill maintains ethical standards an oversight committee needs to be created. The committee should be made up of members of the community and should meet regularly or before an animal is euthanized. It was announced recently that the Eugene Police Commission will assume this role. While this is a move in the right direction, will the new committee be as informed about animal welfare as LCAS’s current committee? Will this overlap of two very different fi elds become confl icted? Will adding more responsibilities to the police department lead to cutting corners later? These are some of the concerns myself and members of the animal welfare community have. Kelly Coulter Eugene SHRINKING OLDGROWTH When most people envision Oregon, they picture swaths of pristine forest, salmon swimming up rushing rivers, and majestic mountains overlooking rustic logging towns and some of the most livable cities in the country. At least that’s what I pictured before I moved out here in 2005. It’s still a fairly accurate portrayal, but for how long? Those pristine forests, some of which are part of less than 5 percent of U.S. native forests that have never been cut, are disappearing at an alarming rate. The Elliot State Forest, one of the largest remaining sections of the original temperate rain forest that once covered the coast from northern California all the way up through southern Alaska, has had the allowance for logging almost doubled this year. My fi rst child was conceived in that forest. On a recent family trip down to the Elliot, we saw a spotted owl, as well as a small black bear. I can only hope that my daughter will be able to share experiences like those with her children, but with all the clear-cutting and “thinning” operations going on down there, I’m not sure if they’ll be anything left for either those beautiful creatures or ourselves to enjoy. Benjamin Pinkney Eugene NOT SO RELIABLE EWEB PUNCHING HIPPIES EWEB’s intransigence in not allowing divergent views on medical and other wired or wireless smart meter controversies on its website is disingenuous. Emerging health issues, fi res, explosions, privacy concerns, meter inaccuracy, hacking, smart grid insecurity and interference with pacemakers and other implants, amateur radios and wi-fi are absent. If this smart technology is transparent, why not inform the public about pros and cons? Staff refused at two May smart meter sessions controlled by EWEB to ask two questions submitted: Why not allow divergent opinions about this controversial technology on EWEB’s website? This is a suggestion Families for Safe Meters has recommended for 10 months. And why not include recent warnings by the American Academy of Environmental Medicine on smart meter hazards? No member of the public, doctor or engineer, was on the panel of three “Let’s Talk Smart Grid” meetings. A public records attempt to obtain copies of session evaluations was futile: EWEB “recycled” the 19 surveys. Per staff, respondents generally rated sessions a six on a scale of one to 10. EWEB’s board needs to be paid like EPUD — can we afford not to pay a few thousand dollars to encourage competition for board seats (two positions were unopposed in recent election; no woman will be on the board). A $30 million to $45 million smart meter decision, almost rubber stamped, has been postponed, possibly permanently, by alert citizens. Put the public in our publicly owned utility. Go to eweb.org to write to the fi ve commissioners and general manager. For information on Families for Safe Meters, email kathy@kathyging.com or call 342- 8461. Kathy Ging Eugene The extreme polarization in our country is a blessing in disguise, it shows the battle taking place in America and all you have to do is listen to the message of both sides to see which side you will land on. The boomer generation who are in their 50s and 60s must make changes that refl ect our values. The term “punch the hippy” is playing out all over the country and even in our locally The generation of hippies who chose to brake away from the ways of their fathers tried to spread peace around the world. We promoted civil rights, women’s rights and people of color. We wanted more environmental controls, organic foods, alternative energy, and the end to the Vietnam War. For many decades many of the hippy generation lay low, off the radar and enjoyed their lives quietly. Now is the time to stand up for our generation and to elect people with like minds into political offi ce. Women are still making 77 cents on the dollar that men make doing the same job. Feminism is not dead and hippy culture is alive and well, just look around at the Saturday Market and the local businesses that are run by hard-working people. So listen to the two sides. One side is driven by fear of change. Do we want the Tea Party and radical evangelicals to run this country? The progressives are inclusive and invite everyone to the table, the gay community, people of color, the young, and women. So what is so wrong with that? So let’s stop “punching the hippy” and next time you see witch hunts being done in our local government demand a loving, peaceful way for solutions. Is that asking for so much? Diane DeVillers Eugene LETTERS POLICY: We welcome letters on all topics and will print as many as space allows, with priority given to timely local issues. Please limit length to 200 words, keep submissions to once a month, and include your address and phone number for our files. Email to letters@ eugeneweekly.com fax to 484-4044, or mail to 1251 Lincoln, Eugene 97401. Go E ve verr ywhere re in Sty tyle 2012 Green Neighbors (Not Just) Bike Tours The NLCCoS is hosting our 5th annual tours of neighborhood sustainability efforts by bike, foot, or pooled transport. Please join us to visit neighborhood examples of grass-to-garden, permaculture, green energy, rainwater collection, beekeeping, chicken-keeping, ‘hood initiatives and more! Upcoming Tours: The Dorith is naturally comfortable and strikingly beautiful! utiful! W IS FOLLOW THE TIME YOUR FOR NEW FEET SHOES TO COMFORT WWW.EUGENEWEEKLY.COM Downtown Eugene &#SPBEXBZt 'BDFCPPLDPNGPPUXJTFFVHFOF .PO4BU4VO DATE June 23 June 24 July 21 August 4 August 11 August 18 August 18 Sept 8 Sept 9 NEIGHBORHOOD River Rd River Rd Area Crest Drive Friendly Area Neighbors South East Neighbors Active Bethel Citizens, Santa Clara Whiteaker Neighborhood, Amazon, South University LOCATION, START TIME Rosetta Park, Benjamin & Evergreen Sts, 11AM 1485 W. Hilliard, 11AM TBA TBA Avalon Lodge, 5210 Canyon Dr, 11AM Peterson Barn, 870 Berntzen Road, 10AM Awbrey Park, Time TBA Red Barn grocery, 357 Van Buren, 10AM TBA For more 2012 tour info please visit The Neighborhood Leaders Council Committee on Sustainability at eugenesustainability.org For more contact Doug at deeblack@gmail.com EUGENE WEEKLY JUNE 21, 2012 5
