LET TERS
PUBLIC TRUST
Only a dozen residents attended the
May 22 Department of Environmental
Quality Meeting regarding groundwater
contamination of the Trainsong and River
Road neighborhoods. This clearly is a mes-
sage of either poor public notification or
the apathy of residents whose private water
wells have been tainted for 25 years.
Since 1990, DEQ has been investigating
groundwater and soil contamination from
the Union Pacific Railroad rail yard in the
Trainsong and River Road neighborhoods.
DEQ’s plan is to monitor 15 test water wells
for five years and to manage risks to site
workers through on site controls and deed
restrictions.
The Public Trust Doctrine, in existence
since the Roman Empire, states governments
have a sovereign duty to protect the assets of
the public. The natural resource contamina-
tion of groundwater and soils by Union Pa-
cific Railroad violates this trust and the DEQ
has a fiduciary responsibility to protect the
trust from substantial impairment and restore
these assets to their original state.
The natural resources of Eugene are
part of the reasons we live here, and they
should be protected for present and future
generations. From herbicidal aerial spray-
ing to polluting industrial practices, resi-
dents have a responsibility to demand pro-
tection of air, groundwater, soils, shores,
waterways and watersheds.
Contact DEQ at Hanson.don@deq.
state.or.us before June 15 to submit ques-
tions and comments.
Jim Neu
Eugene
REMEMBER THE HEROES
Recently in Portland, several citi-
zens bravely stepped forward, like many
other stories of “ordinary people” risking
their lives and safety to help someone,
anyone, threatened with harassment and
possible death.
Two lost their lives and one was severe-
ly injured. Although they have received
timely support and acclaim, in the long run
this story is like that of many other news
stories of our time; it will probably be lost,
like tears in the rain, as society moves on to
the next new issue of the moment.
Rather than being forgotten, we would be
better served if acts such as these were pre-
served as a lasting inspiration for others. Ore-
gon could best do this by establishing one day
a year for recognizing selfless acts as these.
This event need not be limited to just
Oregon or Oregonians, but Oregon is a
good place to start.
William W. Trevarrow
Eugene
SUFFRAGE THE LITTLE
CHILDREN
The city of Eugene has the chance to
lead the nation as the U.S. pulls out of the
Paris Accords. Of course, we should re-
double efforts to meet goals of the Climate
Recovery Ordinance, but our response can
and should run far deeper and resonate
more meaningfully.
Pundits are fond of saying global
warming is destroying our children’s fu-
ture. At the same time, our children re-
main excluded from a political process that
gravely affects them. I propose that the city
of Eugene expand its democratic base and
give our children the vote.
Enfranchise children. It is their due as
citizens. They may, I am sure, exercise
the right more wisely than we have. They
could hardly do worse.
Otis Haschemeyer
Eugene
The Shedd Institute
www.theshedd.org - 541.434.7000
Shedd
Theatricals
2017
HOW TO BE A FEMINIST
Hi Mr. Chad Anderson [Letters, May
11]: In my last letter I promised you some
suggestions for how to be effective as my
feminist ally.
Support equal pay for equal work. Find
out if your female coworkers are paid less
than you are, and demand that they get
raises until they have pay equity.
Criticize the capitalist system that
profits off unpaid or underpaid female la-
bor. Demand that parenting become a paid
position, with guaranteed income for full-
time parents. Demand that childcare, elder-
care and care for disabled adults become
living-wage jobs. Support increased fund-
ing for welfare cash assistance for moth-
ers, remembering that the average welfare
mother is 30, divorced, with two kids and
fleeing domestic violence.
Stand up against the objectification of
women. Stop your friends from making
jokes and comments sexualizing women’s
bodies. Do not consume pornography.
Tell your male friends to get off their
video games and get to work. Recent stud-
ies show that among people aged 18-30
who are unemployed and not looking for
work, greater than 90 percent of women
are engaged in unpaid caregiving or house-
keeping, while greater than 90 percent of
men are playing video games.
There is plenty of unpaid work to do
in your family, household and communi-
ty, and there is no rational reason women
should be doing the bulk of it.
Kara Huntermoon
Eugene
Gypsy
June 16-25
The Mildred Baker
Fund for the Arts
Amy Adams, director
Th e Shedd Choral Society
George Gardiner: Six Choral Folk Songs
Tuesday, June 20 - 7:30 pm free
Nellie
McKay
Chow
summer
JUNE 15, 2017
CALL US TO ADVERTISE
541-484-0519
A Girl Named Bill
July 1
eugeneweekly.com • June 8, 2017
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