FURTHER REDUCTIONS
troleum, pesticides, arsenic, asbestos, lead
and volatile organic chlorinated solvents
were found in the rail-yard soils.
Under Eugene City Code (section
6.340-6.365), if these contaminants were
found in a residential or commercial prop-
erty, the city would make the owner reme-
diate the property of toxins whether it was
for sale or not.
In the state of Oregon, Union Pacific
does not have to file emergency response
plans, does not pay taxes on oil by rail
shipments to fund disaster preparedness,
does not have to show whether they can
cover the cost of a worst case oil train spill
or clean up their contaminated rail yard. In
no state do they have to alert fire depart-
ments of shipments of volatile crude oil by
rail unless there are more than 35 rail cars
or 1,000,000 gallons.
The Resolution to Oppose the Move-
ment of Crude Oil by Rail through the city
of Eugene submitted to the mayor and city
council by 350.Eug on Nov. 28, 2016, ad-
dresses these impacts to the public.
Jim Neu
Eugene
UNITED WE MARCH
I am so proud of our women across the
nation and here in Eugene for organizing
the Women’s March on Jan. 21. I feel we
are missing an opportunity.
I was told on several occasions that, as
a man, I was not welcome to participate
in the event. What? Just think of all of us
coming together for this march — people
of color, people with disabilities, LGBT
and, yes, men. To do otherwise is playing
into “his” hands. Separation leads to fear,
fear leads to weakness.
United we stand, divided we fall.
Jerry Vrzak
Eugene
Editor’s Note: The official stance of the Women’s March is
that it was open to those who believe in and support the
rights and humanity of women and girls, and that includes
those who identify as men.
KING GEORGE
It was nice to read Alex V. Cipolle’s
positive interview with outgoing city coun-
cilor George Brown [EW, Jan. 5]. I got to
know George through his support for the
cause of preserving Civic Stadium and can
attest to the energetic, thorough and con-
scientious approach he takes to work.
I believe George ran unopposed for his
two council terms, but when he announced
his departure, two well-qualified candi-
dates vied to take his place representing
Ward 1.
I like to think it’s because George
helped restore a good name to civic ser-
vice. I’ll miss him from the council.
Dana Magliari
Eugene
FEDERAL WAR POWERS
Five years ago, Obama signed into law
the 2012 National Defense Authorization
Act (NDAA), which controversially au-
thorized the indefinite military detention of
American citizens inside the U.S. without
charge or trial.
Over the past five years this law has
been ruled unconstitutional by a federal
judge, reinstated by the Court of Appeals
and officially denied for review by the
Supreme Court. This leaves the Trump ad-
ministration with one of the most uncon-
stitutional war powers since the internment
of Japanese-Americans during World War
II.
As fears grow over the unpredictability
of the Trump administration, Americans
are relearning the constitutional powers
that states and local communities have to
protect their rights. Unfortunately, in 2014,
when citizens attempted to pass county and
state laws that attempted to guarantee Or-
egonians the right to a trial, not only did
Lane County officials refuse, but top state
officials and their legal representatives said
it would be unconstitutional to do so!
To see a new three-part documentary
that fully explains these unconstitutional
war powers and the documentation and
analysis of Oregon’s attempts to stop them,
search “Federalism in the Era of Terror” on
YouTube.com.
Colin Farnsworth
Eugene
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INITIATIVE OF THE PEOPLE
Local direct democracy is on the chop-
ping block again.
After his endorsement of the Lane
County Commission usurping the people’s
initiative authority failed, old-boy attorney
Stan Long has now sued Lane County to
stop the same initiatives now in circula-
tion. He wants to keep Lane County vot-
ers from having a say at the ballot whether
aerial herbicides should be banned and if
we have a right of local self-government.
Please join Community Rights Lane
County and other supporters of local de-
mocracy at a hearing at 1:30 pm Friday,
Feb. 3, at the Lane County Circuit Court.
We the People must witness and shine
the light on the continued backdoor efforts
to dismantle the people’s initiative power.
Join us!
Jane Farrell
Eugene
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eugeneweekly.com • January 26, 2017
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