SLANT
• Eugene’s proposed ordinance requiring paid sick leave time for employees
who work in Eugene inspired a majority of Lane County commissioners to vote to
prohibit such an ordinance in the county, but it’s not clear why these reactionary
commissioners are so offended by an improvement in working conditions for their
constituents (who vote, by the way). It’s a turf battle that may end up in the courts.
Meanwhile, one thing is clear: The more cities and counties that enact common-
sense ordinances such as paid sick time, the more likely it is that the Legislature
will be forced to do something statewide to resolve the conflicts; so let the games
begin. The Eugene City Council had a lively public hearing this week on the
ordinance and is expected to vote yea or nay at its meeting beginning at 5:30 pm
Monday, July 28, at Harris Hall, 125 E. 8th Ave. See Councilor Betty Taylor’s
Viewpoint this week on page 4.
WTF?
It’s possible to drive down Barger Drive in west
Eugene and not notice this mailbox high above the
street. It would make a fine birdhouse. Check it out a
short distance west of the Beltline and Barger
intersection.
Actual Spectrum Residents
• Certainly no other Oregon community can boast the performers, audiences
and diversity that have come through ours so far this summer. Start with the Bach
Festival in late June, the Oregon Country Fair two weeks ago and now the IAAF World
Junior Track and Field Championships, and we haven’t even hit August. By Monday,
July 21, the checkers at Market of Choice on Franklin had chalked up young
athletes from about 40 countries walking past their cash registers. The games
started Tuesday, bringing more than 1,500 athletes and their fans from 167
countries to Hayward and the streets of Eugene and Springfield.
• The anti-EmX signs that litter West 11th Avenue and elsewhere around town
should be an embarrassment to the property owners and businesses that display
them, particularly since a U.S. District Court has dismissed a lawsuit against Lane
Transit District and the Federal Transit Administration. The complaint by Our Money
Our Transit (OMAT) claimed LTD and FTA ignored public opinion, did not pursue
reasonable alternatives and did not consider the impacts of extending bus rapid
transit into West Eugene. The court rejected all of the complaints as without merit.
Most grumblings we hear about EmX have their roots in the bad information pushed
by Bob Macherione and OMAT (a very small but vocal minority), but the court has
spoken. Time to take down the silly signs. Construction on the EmX extension will
happen throughout 2015 and 2016, despite OMAT, the Koch Brothers and others
who are ideologically opposed to public transit.
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• No faerie-tale ending: Faerieworlds is hosting its last year at Mount Pisgah
July 25-27. Since relocating there from Veneta in 2009, Faerieworlds has been a
beloved music and arts festival fixture at Emerald Meadows. Both Faerieworlds and
the Dirty Dash were collateral damage in the fallout banning large events by the
county at Pisgah after the July 2013 Kaleidoscope Music Festival provoked
complaints of noise, traffic, drug use and trespassing from the community. It’s too
bad one bad apple soured the bunch and we wish Faerieworlds the best of luck in
finding a new home for 2015.
• Eugene custom bike frame builder and racer Rob English was featured on the
cover of our annual bike issue May 15 and we heard he crashed while racing at the
front of the July 13 Tour of Aufderheide near Oakridge. English suffered multiple
broken bones and other serious injuries and is still in the hospital, facing a long road
to recovery. An outpouring of support includes an online fundraiser at wkly.ws/1se
that has raised nearly $12,000 so far toward a goal of $20,000. Donations go
directly to English and his family.
(541) 636-0665
2951 Coburg Road, Eugene, OR 97408
CrescentParkSeniorLiving.com
A SPECTRUM RETIREMENT COMMUNIT Y
eugeneweekly.com • July 24, 2014
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