LET TERS
BENCHES FOR PEG
As a relative newcomer to Eugene,
I don’t remember when Kesey Square
had benches, but it certainly needs them.
Among other amenities, I recommend
a few sectional benches for community
convenience, dedicated to Peg Morton,
whose letter Dec. 17 was a comment on
this very need.
Patricia Spicer
Eugene
ST
BE UG
of E 15
OREGONMICROGROWERSGUILD.COM
VOICES NOT HEARD
20
Everyone Over 21
is Welcome
Seeds Available
for Sale
Grown with
Organic Practices
Separate Rooms
for Medical & +21
CBD Specialist
Your Friends at the Oregon Microgrowers Guild
do not operate a vehicle under the infl uence of this drug - for use by adults 21 years of age or older - keep out of reach of children
1395 CROSS STREET EUGENE, OR • 541-246-8972
I know that the voices of the unheard
are the voices of those who need help.
They are the ones who need to move away
but they can’t. These voices come from
low-income families, big families and
young families. They are from people who
can’t speak the native tongue, the voices
are from people who are disabled. These
voices are from west Eugene.
These people can’t move away
from chemical-spilling factories. These
chemicals can cause miscarriages, cancer
and asthma. Some people can’t even go
outside their houses without feeling sick.
Some kids aren’t able to go outside for
recess because they say they can’t breathe
properly.
This is in west Eugene. This isn’t a
faraway land. This is only a few blocks or
miles away, or it’s right underneath your
feet and around you. Why can’t we fi x our
problems without causing more of them?
Can we help our neighbors before we help
our wallets?
Zoe Beauchamp
Eugene
KESEY SQUARE MOMENTUM
tomorrow
exchange
buy * sell*trade
I would like to contribute some positive
ideas to what has been referred to as a
poorly designed space. Kesey Square could
easily become a success story of public
activity. Bicycles, downtown residents, bus
riders and students all have direct access to
the plaza area. It would take some funding,
but I can envision the plaza offering a real
sense of purpose. Saturday Market could
expand to weekdays and offer local foods,
music and crafts. Along one wall you might
see built-in vending stands for produce,
even ones that collapse to open up the
plaza, or a decent stage for performers and
yet still lots of plaza space for weekend
events. Wellness fairs, public speeches, the
list is endless and each contributing to the
livelihood of our downtown economy.
Robert Howarth
Eugene
HISTORIC RESOURCES
'VJ#Xé
Buff aloExchange.com
6
JANUARY 14, 2016 • EUGENEWEEKLY.COM
I’m writing to appeal to EW readers
because I believe you are an interested,
intelligent, open-minded and sometimes
activist group of local folk. The Springfi eld
Historic Commission (SHC) is looking
for candidates to fi ll four open positions,
as previous commissioners' terms have
ended or they have decided to focus on
other endeavors. We’ve been an energetic
group in the past and need to maintain that
momentum as we move on with plans to
complete our Lumber Heritage Historic
Context Statement — and follow through
on actions that result from it. We also must
serve our existing mandate of stewardship
for the Washburne Historic District and
other identifi ed historic resources in the
city. The directive for the SHC is monitored
and directed by the City Council and staff.
There are a few qualifi cations:
Candidates must live within the
metropolitan boundary, or vote or own
property in the city of Springfi eld. You can
be an appointee of Willamalane Park and
Recreation District or Springfi eld School
District #19, as those bodies already
manage signifi cant historic resources. And,
fi nally, we ask that you are in a fi eld related
to archaeology, history, architectural
history or architecture. We have public
meetings every other month on the
fourth Tuesday at 5:30 pm in Springfi eld
City Hall. At that time we may have
public feedback, or be asked to review
development and restoration requests from
owners of historic resources.
The deadline to apply is 5 pm on Jan.
22. Interviews will be conducted by the
Springfi eld City Council at the Feb. 22
work session. Confi rmation of the chosen
candidates will be at the City Council at
the March 7 regular session.
Copies of the application packet are
available at the City Manager’s Offi ce in
City Hall, 225 Fifth Street, Springfi eld,
726-3700.
Tim Hilton, Chair
Springfi eld Historic Commission
CAMPING FIRST
I was encouraged by Mayor Kitty
Piercy’s State of the City address mention
of the “housing fi rst” model for dealing
with the homeless crisis because, although
city and charity offi cials have been talking
about housing fi rst for years, this might
mean that they are ready to implement that
model in Eugene.
That would be a positive step because,
unlike current projects, the housing fi rst
model would make housing available to
people who are not sober and mentally
healthy.
Judging by previous city-sanctioned
charity efforts, we might expect to see
a pilot project that would house 20 to 30
people within a year or so, but little else.
My fear is that while this is being
implemented, city offi cials will still allow,
or even encourage, police to break up
homeless camps and cite those waiting to
be sheltered in a sanctioned project for
trespassing on public property.
A more compassionate path would be
for them to implement a “camping fi rst”
policy, which would allow homeless
people to set up and maintain camps on
public property where they would be able
to take care of themselves and one another
while they are waiting for more permanent
shelter.
This should be done as soon as possible,
because the way we are going, it will be
decades before all those who need shelter
will have it.
Steve Hiatte
Eugene
LETTERS POLICY: We welcome letters on all topics and
will print as many as space allows, with priority given
to timely local issues. Please limit length to 200 words
and include your address and phone number for our fi les.
Email to letters@eugeneweekly.com, fax to 484-4044 or
mail to 1251 Lincoln, Eugene 97401.