LET TERS
IMMIGRANT LOVE
Love seeing the last issue about immi-
grants (EW, 4/6). It’s always important to
hear the stories of the newbies. It connects
us to our past. As the spouse of a recent
immigrant I understand the struggles of
newcomers. It is not always easy to fit into
our American culture.
Dan Russell
Eugene
GOOD COPS
Thank You Eugene Police Department.
I appreciate that you placed no-parking
signs along the route of the Women’s
March in Eugene. This made the area easy
for everyone to move through and kept
cars out of the picture.
I’ve been in other cities that do not
make these carless corridors for the march-
ers and the flow is hampered. I appreciate
your planning for this event.
Rouanna Garden
Springfield
HELPING MORNING GLORY’S
JERRY COLLVER
I’m writing about sudden and dire circum-
stances that have recently dealt a blow to one
of our most loveable community members.
Jerry and Sandy Collver have owned
and operated Morning Glory Farm for the
past 27 years. The farm is where they’ve
raised high quality fruits, vegetables and
three remarkable children. Growing and
nurturing plants while conserving the
soil and water and scenery is their prac-
tice. Their customers are important to them,
so the Collvers follow nature’s pathway to
harvest only the tastiest, organic foods.
They’ve loved living in the beautiful
place where they work, and working around
friends and neighbors where they live.
Earlier this year, Jerry was diagnosed
with cancer in his lower esophagus, and lo-
cal doctors held out little hope for him. The
couple searched until they located a clinic
in Phoenix that offered a promising course
of in-patient treatments. The Collvers im-
mediately packed up their car and drove to
Arizona, not knowing where they’d stay or
what insurance would cover.
HOT AIR SOCIETY
It’s been a few weeks now, and Jerry
is feeling optimistic about his care, but
increasingly concerned about finances.
Insurance is paying a share of the medical
costs, but the expense of living in another
state has drained their savings. Friends set
up a GoFundMe account for Jerry Collver
of Walton so he can afford to complete his
therapy.
People have said they want a way to
try to repay him for his many kindnesses
and generosity. If anyone isn’t comfortable
putting personal info online, donations can
be mailed to: Jerry Collver, 19540 Hwy
126, Walton OR, 97490.
Ethel Bassett
Walton
RELOCALIZE FOOD
PRODUCTION
The Portland City Council just passed a
resolution stating that city will be 100-per-
cent powered by renewable energy de-
cades from now. No mention that this will
happen anyway due to depletion of finite
fossil fuels or that this would disrupt the
economy of supposedly “green” Portland.
Before then, there will be intense need
to mitigate social impacts of gasoline ra-
tioning as the Alaska Pipeline reaches low-
flow shutdown and fracking for unconven-
tional oil and gas shifts from boom to bust.
Portland Mayor Ted Wheeler was pre-
viously Oregon state treasurer and there-
fore on the State Lands Board. I asked him,
then, at an event in Eugene, if he would
promise not to give our Elliott State Forest
to timber barons. He declined.
Meanwhile, the Legislature is consid-
ering a requirement to consider climate
impacts for fossil fuel projects, but they
ignore state permits for corporate clearcuts
and the planned $18 billion in new and ex-
panded highways.
So far, our society’s main response to
peak everything is homeland insecurity
and wars to control Middle East oil fields
and pipeline routes.
Most of the food we eat in Ore-is-gone
is transported by fossil fueled trucks from
other states (and even some from other
countries).
Solar power is great (I’ve used it since
BY TON Y CORCOR A N
Greg Walden Has Abandoned Me!
HE NEVER CALLS … HE NEVER WRITES! BROTHER: WHERE ART THOU?
D
ear reader, I think I got off on the
wrong foot with the congressman from
eastern Oregon. May need your help.
As you remember, I was inspired
by my congressman, Peter DeFazio, to
take action and resist the Republican/Trumpistanis! I
reasonably assumed that the most important Repub-
lican in Oregon today is Congressman Walden from
the 5th congressional district. I found his website, on
which he assured me that email was “the quickest and
easiest way to get in touch” with him.
Being the shy wallflower that I am, I emailed him
in late March and asked him to let me interview him
for this column. And for good measure, I also emailed
his press guy, Andrew Malcolm — a man so important
he has two first names. Anyway, being the shameless
ex-political whore that I am, I tried to charm Andrew.
I pulled out every slimy name-dropping drool in the
book.
Here’s the actual March 25 email, sent the day af-
ter Republican House Speaker Paul Ryan announced
he was pulling the Ryancare/AntiObamacare bill be-
cause they didn’t have the votes to move it. Now we
all know that Greg was Ryan’s lead man on devel-
oping this failed plan. And, as you’d guess, I wasn’t
necessarily unhappy with that failed outcome! But I
tried not to gloat:
Hello, Mr. Malcolm,
I served with Greg in the Oregon Legislature back
during the Pleistocene era (1995). As a Senate majority
leader he treated me well; especially being that I was a
lowly freshman minority whip in the House at the time.
6
A pril 20, 2017 • eugeneweekly.com
Anyway, I’m a retired geezer now, and I write an
occasional column for the Eugene Weekly. I would
appreciate the opportunity to interview Greg either by
phone or in person. (I assume after yesterday, he’ll
have a lot of free time on his hands… just kidding). I
realize I’m not a constituent, but we spend a lot of time
in Bend because my brother-in-law owns East Bend
Liquors.
Anyway, you have my email. My phone number is
XXX-XXXX. In addition to the Republican health in-
surance Trump debacle, I’m curious what Greg sees
with Trump’s tax reform and its impact on Oregon
companies like Nike, Intel, etc.
Thanks for your help. If you need a character ref-
erence, my longtime buddy Pete DeFazio will verify I
am indeed a character. I understand, of course, your
office may not think much of the characters Peter
hangs around with.
Tony Corcoran
Despite my meticulous manners, I have not re-
ceived any response as of Palm Sunday, arguably the
most hopeful Sunday of the year for many of you.
And Passover begins the next day, for Christ’s sake!
So maybe, dear reader, you can send an email or call
and ask to leave a message for Greg.
Don’t be deterred if you’re not a “constituent” of
Greg’s because you don’t live in his congressional dis-
trict. We Oregonians are all Greg’s constituents. Just
as when he served in the Oregon Legislature, he took
a congressional oath of office to represent all Orego-
nians, not just the ones in his predominantly Repub-
lican district.
Like I said last week: There’s a reason why Or-
egon has elected only one Republican member of the
U.S. Congress since Jeff Merkley defeated incumbent
Senator Gordon Smith in 2008. I believe Greg has
a lot of questions to answer. Is it true that 400,000
Oregonians would have lost health care coverage by
2020 under the plan you created for Speaker Ryan’s
consideration? Why? Is it true that two-thirds of all
Medicaid spending goes for services for seniors and
disabled citizens? If so, why create such a plan? Is it
true that, per capita, Oregon is the worst hit among
all the Medicaid expansion states! Why would you do
that? Finally, Greg, seriously man, are you guys think-
ing of trying another repeal plan? Really?
So help me out: Please get in touch with Greg. I
just happen to have his contact info:
You can email him by going to his website, walden.
house.gov. Otherwise, here are his district contacts:
Medford Phone: 541-776-4646, Bend Phone: 541-
389-4408, La Grande Phone: 541-624-2400. The
Washington, D.C. office phone is 202-225-6730. For
all press inquiries, contact Andrew Malcolm phone
202-225-6730.
On April 13, Rep. Walden held his first town hall
in Bend since 2013. It didn’t go well. But it’s a start.
However, I remain undaunted. I will contact Greg and
the mysterious man with two first names again. Stay
tune.
Former state Sen. Tony Corcoran of Cottage Grove is a retired state em-
ployee.