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About Eugene weekly. (Eugene, Oregon) 1993-current | View Entire Issue (Jan. 23, 2014)
the water go “elsewhere,” please explain how their plans respect the surrounding community of people who are currently above fl ood level, but may not be above the water diverted around the new houses? How is building on pyramids of fi ll dirt respectful of those whose homes will be lower than those pyramid houses, and whose homes will be in the path of the water diverted around the pyramids? This is not respect. It is starting a “race to the top.” Oh, that phrase has been appropriated — appropriated to describe exactly the same kind of behavior. The same kind of behavior is sponsored by our paternalistic federal government that knows what is best for our children’s schools. And this fl ood-plain example proves that the monsters who dreamed up that schools program know that’s what it is. You win by drowning your neighbor. It’s a zero-sum game, like sports. Will our Eugene city government sponsor this climb-on-your-neighbor’s- back-and-drown-him behavior, or will they do the right thing and stop this race to the top along the Willamette River in Eugene? As they will soon discover along River Road, what you do to your neighbor also can be done to you. Ann Tattersall Eugene THE PROMISED LAND I am a pioneer on the Cover Oregon trail. I started the journey to the promised land months ago, with a folksy jingle stuck in my head. Yes, I want to live long in Oregon. I immediately hit a road block as the gold- plated Oracle of failure refused to let me through its portal. So I took the other pass through Paperwork Canyon. After fi ghting through the blizzard of paper, I urgently waited at the trailhead for a reply. This trail would soon be closed to me, as winter set in. I called out for help, a high-school girl took my call and was confused as I was. After much delay and time on hold I was fi nally able to get confi rmation for my passage into the promised land. Ironically, my Escher-esque journey turned out to be a Mobius-strip path, as I returned back to my same old coverage, from the same old company. Déjà vu! But now instead of paying $350 a month for a useless $5,000 high-deductible “bronze” plan, I will now be paying $50 a month. Cue the jingle. “To care for each one, every daughter and son, long live Oregon.” Maybe. Maybe not. Michael T. Hinojosa Drain GET SMART ABOUT METERS Last fall, there was considerable buzz after each of two showings of the powerful new fi lm Take Back Your Power. People who participated were, for the most part, strongly affected and incredulous that this technology is as invasive as it appears to be! Some of the issues discussed in the fi lm may have direct bearing for EWEB customers. We will be “asked” to pay the hugely expensive costs for the smart-meters program, which is currently in the planning stages, and then asked to opt in to having these electric and water meters installed on our homes and businesses — with little to no substantive public discussion of any of the related issues so far, by EWEB. Bear in mind that once you opt in, you may not be able to claim court damages for negligence or harm in the future. The EWEB service area is the only place in the country that I know of where concerned citizens have rallied to avoid automatically having these meters installed. We have an opportunity here, people, because important issues need to be understood about this technology before we make these permanent choices. If you care to be an informed citizen, then come to the next free showing of Take Back Your Power at 6:30 pm Wednesday, Jan. 29, at Tsunami Books, 2585 S. Willamette St. There will be further discussion afterwards. It you cannot make this showing, please go to TakeBackYourPower.net and watch it for a nominal fee. Robin Bee Eugene Office visits starting at $99 Same Day Appointments Justin Montoya, MD 1410 Oak St, Ste 102 in the Keiper Spine building kjg7hhn7ihmf5R51118*,)"&." '#&3'##(8)' The Survival Center, Multiculteral Center and Native American Student Union Present: Undoing Border Imperialism BOOK LAUNCH w/ the Author Monday, January 27th 7pm McKenzie 240C University of Oregon Kalapuya Territory LOWELL VINDICATION Recently recalled Lowell Councilwom- an Pam Bryant fi led a complaint in Lane County Circuit Court on Jan. 7 against “Recall For Lowell’s Future Committee” [members] Kenneth Hern and Nancy Gar- ratt. It cites ORS 260.532, “False Publica- tion Relating to Recall Election,” as the al- legation against the defendants. She did so in an effort to clear her name of the defen- dants’ prior written and verbal statements against her. I look forward to reading the facts of this case as they come out under oath and become public, and are adjudicated in a court of law, as well as any subsequent vindication of Mrs. Bryant. It was important for her to take this fi rst step in an effort to clear her name, and to protect our American way of honest elections, keeping it sacred for all citizens. It’s my personal opinion that no abuse of our election process, by the condoning or permitting of false statements or publications against an elected offi cial, should be allowed to take place, go unchallenged or unpunished. Let the truth be heard by all, and may it ring out loud and clear across this state! Gary Lynn Reese Lowell Undoing Border Imperialism is an exciting new book that situates immigrant rights movements within a transnational analysis of capitalism, labor exploitation, settler colonialism, state building, and racialized empire. EUGENE FAMILIES: School’s open! See what our schools offer. It’s school choice time. In Eugene School District 4J, every school offers an excellent education. You can enroll in your neighborhood school at any time. To request enrollment in a different school for 2014–15, apply online at www.4j.lane.edu/choice by February 28 at 5 p.m. Requests will be accepted in an order determined by lottery. School Showcase Saturday, Jan. 25, 9 a.m.–12 p.m. Monday, Jan. 27– Friday, Jan. 31 Monday, Feb. 24– Friday, Feb. 28 4J Education Center, 200 N. Monroe St. 9–10 a.m. School choice information presentation 10 a.m.–12 p.m. Talk to representatives from every 4J school. Apply by Feb. 28 at 5 p.m. Schools Open for Visits Each school offers activities and times when parents can visit. Please see www.4j.lane.edu/choice or phone ahead for details. School Choice Information Meetings Thursday, Jan. 23, 7 p.m. Saturday, Jan. 25, 9 a.m. (part of the School Showcase) Thursday, Feb. 20, 7 p.m. 4J Education Center, 200 N. Monroe St. Learn about the school choice process. Eugene School District 4J www.4j.lane.edu/choice • 541-790-7570 eugeneweekly.com • January 23, 2014 7
