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About Eugene weekly. (Eugene, Oregon) 1993-current | View Entire Issue (Sept. 13, 2012)
slant • We’re pleased to finally see a pro-EmX group coming together in Better Eugene- Springfield Transit (BEST). The nonprofit will soon have a website and Facebook page, and we see a broad spectrum of noted community leaders on the board of directors. BEST will be lobbying undecided Eugene city councilors in advance of the council’s upcoming key vote on the West Eugene EmX Expansion and will be supporting local mass transit well into the future. So far the only mass transit group has been Our Money Our Transit (OMOT), an unincorporated citizen group that has financed the pervasive anti-EmX signs and advertising. OMOT has hired a Washington, D.C., law firm that represents a lot of oil and gas interests. See our cover story this week. • Just as County Commissioner Rob Handy predicted, months after the election, the investigation that was brought against him alleging he abused his office was dropped by the state Department of Justice on Sept. 11. The DOJ said it not find enough evidence to prove that Handy committed official misconduct or any other crime. The allegations were brought shortly before the election and might have led to Handy’s defeat by conservative Pat Farr. • The Lane County Interagency Narcotics Team crackdown on the Kannabosm medical marijuana dispensary last week is one more blatant example of why we need to reform our drug laws. This raid drives those who need medical pot to shady sources on the street, sources that are often supplied by the notorious international drug cartels that are actually a threat to our national security. Meanwhile, the Kannabosm investigation, bust and prosecution all cost money and human resources that would be better used for serious crimes. Passing Measure 80, the Oregon Cannabis Tax Act that would legalize, regulate and tax marijuana for adult personal use, won’t end our absurd and tragic national War on Drugs, but it’s a step in the right direction. • Eugene’s built environment has been called “butt-ugly” by at least one prominent local architect. Urban renewal projects in the past sterilized our once historic downtown with concrete, and today we have no effective design standards in our city code. Developers can build just about anything they want, regardless of aesthetics, solar access or compatibility with their neighbors. But change is afoot. Last week’s upbeat City Club panel on the People’s Choice Awards for architecture and landscape architecture was a shout-out to local designers who are doing remarkable, innovative work to make our urban environment more livable and inspiring. The People’s Choice show in the Broadway Commerce Center will continue for the next few weeks, and more examples of creative local architecture can be seen in the BRING Home and Garden Tour this Sunday (see News Briefs). • Our Best of Eugene Awards Show is coming up Oct. 26 at the McDonald Theatre, and ticket sales are traditionally a benefit for a local nonprofit. This year a big portion of the proceeds will go to our readers’ favorite nonprofit. Be sure to vote at bestofeugene. com or see the ballot in last week’s paper. • We heard through Lynne Fessenden of the Southern Willamette Valley Bean & Grain Project that local farmer Jeff Broadie of Lonesome Whistle had a serious accident last month while working on his combine. He will recover, but he and his family have no health insurance to pay for surgeries to repair his multiple facial fractures. Those who want to help can make checks payable to Lonesome Whistle Farm and mail to PO Box 41672, Eugene 97404. “We are also organizing volunteers for a few harvest work parties in the next month,” Fessenden says. Email isabelle@lanefood.org or call 345-0265 for work party information. 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, editor@eugeneweekly.com ACTIVIST ALERT • The Latin America Solidarity Committee will host a benefit concert from 6:30 to 9:30 pm Friday, Sept. 14, at New Day Bakery, 449 Blair Blvd. Call 485-8633 or email lasc@efn.org for more information. • A “Mental Health Empowerment Gathering” will be from 11:30 am to 12:30 pm Friday, Sept. 14, at the LILA Peer Support Club, 990 Oak St. Hosts will be Biff Hazelton and David Oaks from the Lane County Consumer/ Survivor Advisory Council. Call 345-9106 for more information. The meeting will include discussion of an upcoming public forum on mental health issues with Rep. Val Hoyle from 1 to 3 pm Tuesday, Sept. 25 at Lane County Behavioral Health Services, 2411 Martin Luther King Jr. Blvd., Room 198. • A public forum on student success in higher education will begin at 3:30 pm Monday, Sept. 17, at LCC’s main campus Building 3, Room 216. Hosted by the governor’s Task Force on Higher Education which plans to submit a report and recommendations to the Legislature in October. • A City Council work session on coal trains is scheduled to begin at 5:30 pm Monday, Sept. 17, in the in the Bascom- Tykeson Rooms of the Eugene Public Library. It will be followed by 7:30 pm public hearings on other items. The session is open to the public, but no public testimony time is scheduled and no council action is planned. • A free screening of the award-winning film Bitter Seeds is planned for 6 pm Monday, Sept. 17, at Cozmic, 199 W. 8th Ave., followed by discussion. Hosted by Beyond Toxics and GMO-FREE Eugene. • A City Hall Week public gathering for both Eugene and Springfield will be held at 10 am Tuesday, Sept. 18, at the Eugene Public Library’s Bascom/Tykeson Room. City officials, legislators and candidates are invited to share ideas and perspectives prior to the 2012 legislative session. Office visits starting at $99 Same Day Appointments Justin Montoya, MD 1410 Oak St, Ste 102 in the Keiper Spine building kjg7hhn7ihmf5R51118*,)"&." '#&3'##(8)' VOTE NOW! BESTOFEUGENE.COM 6DWXUGD\6HSW DPWRSP )$50)(67 ))/&<RXWK)DUP )ODPLQJR$YH 6SULQJÀHOG KHLUORRPWRPDWRWDVWHRIIIDFHSDLQWLQJ VKRSRXUSURGXFHVWDQGVDPSOHIUHVKSURGXFH WRXUWKHIDUPIUHH\RXSLFNÁRZHUERXTXHWV KHUEDOSURGXFWVE\)RONURRWV+HUEDO&DUH PXVLFE\7KH$YDORQLDV IRRGIRUODQHFRXQW\RUJ SUSHI SEOUL SUMMER LUNCH SPECIAL SERVING SUSHI,TERIYAKI, FRESH GRILLED SEAFOOD, KOREAN FOOD & BUBBLE TEA HAPPY HOUR 20% OFF SUSHI & TERIYAKI 3PM-5PM & 9PM-11PM KARAOKE AVAILABLE AT NIGHTTIME BY RESERVATION BENTO BOX 95 5 $ REG. $10.95 12PM-3:00PM EXP. 9/12/12 2532 Willakenzie Eugene across from Sheldon HS | 342-6861 | 10am - 11pm Daily “FEED YOUR CRAVINGS!” NEW PARKING LOT FOOD BOOTH @BATES STEAK HOUSE TRI TIP & PULLED PORK SANDWICHES BURGERS & FRENCH FRIES COOKED FRESH FROM OUR BRAND NEW EVENT TRAILER! EVERY WEDNESDAY-FRIDAY NOON-4PM )22'%227+021)5,122130 ',11(5'$<6$:((. Employment First — Success begins with you! Jake was hired by Newman’s Fish Market in October 2004 to prepare shrimp for sale to restaurants and within the store itself. This is a multi-step process that involves using different settings to peel and devein the shrimp before cutting them to customer specs. Jake had never been employed before, and was a little unsure about working in the seafood industry, as he had never been fond of fish. Before initial training ended, he was learning to scale fish and prepare the breading for to-go orders. Over the next 8 years, Jake learned to take phone orders, run the register, and provide excellent customer service. Jake is a valued member of the Newman’s team and one of many Supported Employment Services, Inc. success stories! For more information contact: www.supportedemploymentservices.com Employment First is a statewide initiative to help create opportunities for adults with developmental disabilities to secure appropriate and meaningful employment. Funded by a grant from the Oregon Department of Human Services, Developmental Disabilities Services EUGENE WEEKLY SEPTEMBER 13, 2012 9
