LET TERS
BRINGING MARGINS TO
CENTER
I want to thank the writers at EW for
regular coverage of the activism and sto-
ries of people of color, local and abroad.
I was touched by the “Unsung Hero” is-
sue that covered Johanis Tadeo’s important
work reconnecting Chicano youth with
their heritage, particularly the vulnerability
he showed when describing the effects of
racism on his life and his dedication.
This inspired me about what local ef-
forts to reclaim our communities can look
like and how far-reaching the effects of im-
passioned activism can be. I also appreci-
ated the “Defending the Defenders” issue
about lawyers, all people of color, defend-
ing environmental activists, giving a pic-
ture of just what we’re up against and who
is taking the biggest hits when we fight
within the system.
I enjoyed the choice EW made to focus
on immigrants in the food issue — how
smart! Hearing about Phung Tu’s story, the
way her community showed up to support
her when racist vandalism threatened her
business gave me hope about this commu-
nity.
Thank you for centering the stories of
black and brown people in Eugene and
Springfield in your journalism. Thank you
for giving white community members op-
portunities to plug into anti-racist efforts.
Let’s bring the margins to the center.
Dusty Bloomingheart
Eugene
THE S-WORD
I agree with Robert Bolman (Letters,
May 4) that fake sustainability is super-
trendy (i.e., sustainable growth, sustain-
able cities, etc.). Shameless marketing
hucksters relentlessly misuse the S-word,
in soaring flights of magical thinking. Eco-
logical sustainability, on the other hand,
is the uncomfortable, embarrassing and
vitally important subject that our culture
prefers to keep locked in the closet.
My third book, Understanding Sustain-
ability, is a learning tool. It’s a collection
4
May 11, 2017 • eugeneweekly.com
of 74 reviews of sustainability-oriented
books, including a number of classics. This
book is now available at the Eugene library,
where it joins Sustainable or Bust (64 book
reviews) and What Is Sustainable (a broad
introduction).
Richard Reese
Eugene
NOT SO PROGRESSIVE, EW
Hey Eugene Weekly, I’m confused by
your endorsement of Anne Marie Levis
for position 2 on the 4J School Board. I
thought you were a progressive publica-
tion of the people. Yet you endorse the sta-
tus quo, a member of the school board that
has decimated trust between teachers and
families and the district.
You pass over Maya Rabasa, who was
our hope to begin to restore those rela-
tionships. You endorse a person you say
“understands how to leverage” funds. But
she’s an eight-year member of a board who
did not endorse measure 97 and gave a
huge raise and buyout to their disastrous
superintendent hire.
Levis is a member of a board that has
added more costly administration positions
while cutting teachers and allowed count-
less dollars to be funneled into curriculum
purchases while our classrooms swell be-
yond comic proportions. Hopefully the
public has more sense.
Vote for change. Vote for Maya Rabasa.
Sarah Pedersen
Eugene
BETTER SCHOOLS WITH
NEWMAN
Judy Newman is the right choice for 4J
School Board. There are three good can-
didates running to replace Beth Gerot, but
Judy Newman is best suited to serve the
district and community as school board
member. She offers the educational ex-
pertise and leadership experience needed,
along with a strong commitment to educa-
tion equity.
I worked on several boards and
committees
with
Newman
over
the years, including United Way, Success
by Six and Early Learning Alliance, and I
really appreciate her ability to bring people
together around a common goal.
As co-director of Early Childhood
Cares she knows what it takes to lead an
organization, manage budgets and make
personnel decisions, all the while keeping
the focus on doing what’s best for kids and
families.
Newman will make adequate and stable
school funding a priority. She will fight for
more local control and less regulation from
Salem or Washington, D.C. She will ask
the tough questions and seek solutions to
the pressing issues faced by the district.
And she will push to include teachers,
parents and community stakeholders in
critical decisions that affect the future of
Eugene schools.
Please join me in voting for Judy New-
man for the Eugene 4J School Board.
George Russell
Eugene
ROSIEK IS PROACTIVE
Before running for school board, Jerry
Rosiek was already speaking out against
the new secretary of education’s poli-
cies. With a child in 4J, he’s vested in be-
ing pro-active.
Months ago, Rosiek was the only future
district 6 candidate to testify to the board
about the need to protect undocumented
students.
Rosiek was also the only candidate who
knew 4J students take 116 standardized
tests in K-12, and our district wants to add
even more Smarter Balanced assessments
yearlong, although they’re not required.
He’s already started a conversation with
state and local officials about this rather
than blindly accept whatever comes.
His broad policy experience is why
America’s foremost authority on educa-
tion policy, Diane Ravitch, has endorsed
him. He’s a former high school teacher,
now UO education professor and leader of
outstanding minority programs. His book
on education policy is an award-winner.
I’ve also witnessed his stellar ability to
talk with people across the political spec-
trum. After all, 4J doesn’t serve only liber-
als; he finds common ground with conser-
vatives concerned about reclaiming local
control.
Jerry Rosiek’s proactive and inclusive
approach would be a fantastic asset to the
Eugene School Board. He stays ahead of
the game.
Rachel Rich
Eugene
POLE-ITICALLY INCORRECT
The Oregon Country Fair board of di-
rectors recently voted to cancel the raising
of the beautifully carved story pole meant
to honor the dear lives of four fair mem-
bers who died in 2012. Hundreds of artists
volunteered their time painting and carv-
ing the monumental piece, while others
donated money. The tall cedar came from
British Columbia with the approval of The
First Nations.
This was not a commercial project; no
financial gain would be realized from it.
Tacky “Totem Pole Cookies” weren’t going
to be marketed; this has been a work of art.
When Oregon Tribes were originally
contacted for feedback on the art project,
none responded and the OCF board ap-
proved the installation. Now I must won-
der if just maybe some OCF Diversity Task
Force members may have stirred the pot to
get the intended response of outrage and
claims of “cultural appropriation” from
some in the Tribal community.
I guess I should stop shopping at the
Kiva because they’ve appropriated Native
symbols. And we should shame the Seattle
Seahawks into adopting a generic, more
mundane logo than the one inspired by
Native traditions. Henna tattoo? Forget it.
And if you don’t have at least .05-percent
African blood, you damn well better not
even think of wearing your hair in dreads.
For thousands of years cultures have
been informed by neighboring cultures
and those who came before. Cultures have
always borrowed beautiful ideas, religion,