Eugene weekly., January 10, 2013, Page 7, Image 7

TOMO TSURUMI
One objection to the deal emailed to the mayor and City
Council compared the settlement to extortion, and another
decried the power of neighborhood organizations. Conte
says his actions weren’t as a part of any neighborhood or-
ganization.
MUPTE could be changing in the near future. Conte
says, “Looking forward, however, Councilor Brown has
indicated an interest to other councilors in an ordinance
that would suspend MUPTE entirely for new applications
until council can really carefully examine what they can
get out of these very large tax exemptions.”
Conte cites Portland as a place that uses tax breaks to
accomplish community benefi ts by capping the exemp-
tion and requiring benefi ts such as low-income housing to
qualify for the exemption (see wkly.ws/19j for more). “If
we can’t do those, one alternative is to just get rid of it.
I don’t think we’re getting the benefi ts out of the current
program, especially not being used to produce more stu-
dent housing when the market’s already fl ooded,” he says.
— Shannon Finnell
DRUNK BASHES
SAX IN THE CITY
At bar close in the Barmuda Triangle on Tues-
day, Dec. 4, Tomo Tsurumi — saxophonist for Voli-
fonix and origami artist — was attacked by a twen-
ty-something Caucasian male with fair, long curly
hair. Tsurumi, who has been busking with his alto
saxophone in downtown Eugene for the past seven
years, says he had stepped into Jameson’s for one
beer before bar close. Upon exiting, Tsurumi was
approached by a “drunk and happy” man.
“He tried to mosh pit me,” Tsurumi says, whose
saxophone case was strapped to his back. Tsurumi
dodged the attack and says he then tried to explain
to the man that he was carrying a valuable instru-
ment. “Without saying anything, he lost his smile
and pushed me against the Jameson’s cement wall.”
The attack broke the saxophone case and caused
$1,000 in damage to the saxophone. Tsurumi has
raised $100 and is hoping to raise more to fi x the
instrument at Pacifi c Winds. He is hosting fundrais-
ers on Jan. 15 at Cozmic and Jan. 26 at The Granary.
Tsurumi will be performing with his tenor sax and
will be giving away origami art.
“Without my saxophone, I would have been
hurt,” he says. Tsurumi only remembers the offend-
er hopping on a truck bed after the attack because he
left immediately, not wanting to be attacked again.
He reported the incident to the police but he says
there’s little they can do besides take down informa-
tion. Tsurumi has returned to busking but says he’s
more suspicious of people now.
“People shouldn’t use their power for harass-
ment,” he says. His message for Eugene? “Drink
responsibly.”
Tomo Tsurumi plays 5 pm Tuesday, Jan. 15, at
Cozmic and 9 pm (opening for Garin Reese) Satur-
day, Jan. 26, at The Granary. — Alex Notman
The Lane Board of County Commissioners had sched-
uled a vote to appoint Senior Assistant County Counsel
Stephen Dingle as the new county counsel at their Jan. 8
meeting, but postponed the issue of Dingle’s contract, voting
instead on another part of the agenda item — to re-create the
Offi ce of Lane County Legal Counsel as a separate county
department.
Alex Gardner, the Lane County district attorney, has been
simultaneously serving as the acting county counsel, and
when the decision was made to appoint him in November
2011, the county counsel’s offi ce was added to the DA’s of-
fi ce and called the Civil Division.
The County Commission voted to transfer control of the
county counsel’s offi ce back to the board’s control. “I’m glad
the board transferred back the function,” Sorenson said. He
and former fellow progressive commissioner Rob Handy
had previously voted against transferring the functions of the
>>> CONTINUED ON P. 8
PHOTO BY TODD COOPER
BOARD DISCUSSES DINGLE
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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eugeneweekly.com • January 10, 2013
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