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About Eugene weekly. (Eugene, Oregon) 1993-current | View Entire Issue (April 17, 2014)
1 Year Anniversary Party saturday april 19 $ 2 specials food & drink raffles 10 am-midnight | live music 9-11pm 345 E 11th • 541-345-5435 theeugenecannery.com GET GOING THIS SUMMER! BUY THE NEWS EUGENE DONOR COMMITS $400,000 FOR NEW SHELTER SITE As Eugene city leaders floundered last week in relocating the former residents of the Who- ville homeless camp, an anonymous benefactor took up the issue, offering a $400,000 dona- tion to establish a sanctuary on private property. The pledge came as a direct response to, among general grievances, the unyielding posi- tion of City Manager Jon Ruiz and others willing to leave the destitute in limbo. “I wanted to step up,” the donor tells EW, “because I saw the city making an attempt to push these people out. They’re citizens, not strangers.” A Eugene native with capital to spare from the success of a local family business, the do- nor says the wealth was a matter of pure chance, adding that a privileged position in society obligates one to prevent a human rights catastrophe when no one else will. For the donation to be seen through, the money has to be channeled properly through the fiscal sponsorship of a nonprofit organization. This would be accomplished through an existing entity with 501(c)(3) status, such as Opportunity Village Eugene or Community Alli- ance of Lane County. An alternative could be for SLEEPS (Safe Legally Entitled Emergency Places to Sleep) or the Nightingale Public Advocacy Collective to attain such status — the latter is already pending. It’s now up to Mary Broadhurst, an attorney and advocate for the unhoused, and others representing the advocacy group Homeless Health Sanctuary, to coordinate sponsorship and fulfill the multiple stipulations attached to this unforeseen act of philanthropy. “We’re looking to buy private property — a single site for something that goes beyond a 30-person rest stop,” Broadhurst says. “Initially, it would be tents on platforms, but it would transition into micro-housing.” Semi-permanent occupants would be expected to share the space with those seeking single use overnight stays. The site would also include a health stop, where twice a week residents and passers-through could be evaluated, presumably by Occupy Medical or like volunteers. An information station would be developed to point the weary toward free meals and other community resources. The donor put a specific focus on the site needing to be self-sustaining beyond land purchase and startup costs. The donor remains anonymous to keep the focus on the issue not the donor, and to avoid criticism from a business community where some might shame the donation: “Developers don’t want the parents of university students to see all these homeless people. It decreases the property value. They have a lot to gain from sweeping them under the rug.” — Adrian Black $50 Ages 18 and Under On sale at LTD and Willamalane facilities WHIT RESIDENTS ATTEND A COMMUNITY COUNCIL MEETING SNIT IN THE WHIT OVER ELECTIONS, NOISE ORDINANCE P HOTO: RICK L E VIN FREE ENTRY: SPECIAL DEALS: • Willamalane Center • Willamalane Park Swim Center • Splash! at Lively Park • Lane Transit District • Camp Putt Adventure Golf Park • Eugene Emeralds Games • Skate World • Springfield Museum • Timber Bowl TIMBER BOWL is nontransferable. Good 5/26-9/1/14. Other rules and restrictions may apply. The Whiteaker Community Council (WCC) got a surprise at its annual elec- tions meeting Wednesday, April 9, when upward of 80 residents of Eugene’s hippest district packed into the small room at the Whiteaker School to air concerns about a proposed noise ordinance. Within minutes, the standing-room only crowd, comprised largely of neighbor- hood artists, musicians and small business owners, achieved its aims when WCC chair Brad Foster quickly moved to reschedule board elections for two weeks out, when everyone present at the meeting will be eligible to vote. WCC bylaws require residents attend at least one meeting in the past year in order to vote. Many of those concerned about the proposed ordinance had not attended previous meetings. The meeting was evidence of grassroots democracy in action, as residents and board members exchanged ideas on the future of the Whit. Many in attendance expressed concern that a suggested city-wide noise ordinance, which would have to be passed by the Eugene City Council, does not have broad community support and would effectively kill the ability of clubs like Tiny Tavern and Sam Bond’s to con- tinue to operate as venues for live music. >>> CONTINUED ON P. 10 8 A pril 17, 2014 • eugeneweekly.com
