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
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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