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About Eugene weekly. (Eugene, Oregon) 1993-current | View Entire Issue (Feb. 8, 2018)
proposals, they will be distracted from the larger strategic intent, which is to kill the project altogether. Given the ease in collecting the 13,000 signatures to put an elected performance auditor initiative on the May ballot, it is reasonable to expect that Measure 20-283 would pass. I’d guess at around 60 percent yes to 40 percent no, but it could be much closer. If the city accedes to the request to place its competing measure on the same ballot, a yes vote would inevitably become split and the no vote would win. In a 30 yes-30 yes-40 no split, for example, the 40 no vote would have the majority. It’s a perfect way to argue with tongue in cheek for choice and democracy. Honest democracy is to let people vote on the measure they have worked so hard to put on the ballot and then, if that measure is defeated and an auditor is still desired, to modify and improve a next proposal. Competing for the elected auditor yes vote is just a veiled strategy for supporting no. Jerry Diethelm Eugene THE TREE-CUTTING UNIVERSITY Thank you, Rebecca Snowdale, for your recent letter to Eugene Weekly (1/18) concerning the removal of the female ginkgo biloba tree on the University of Oregon campus. Unfortunately, the current university administration appears to have lost any understanding of the value of trees on campus, choosing instead to adopt the worldview of former President Ronald Reagan when it comes to trees as living, breathing entities with invaluable contributions to life on our planet. In early August 2017, the university removed 22 beautiful trees near the Johnson Hall Administration Building in order to make room for the construction of Tykeson Hall. One spokesperson, Martina Oxoby, stated that “[w]hile the campus realizes the ‘great loss’ of these trees, we take comfort that none of the trees to be removed are ‘one-of-a-kind trees.’ There are other trees of the same species on campus and none of the trees to be removed have ‘outstanding historical value.’” This statement reminds me of what Reagan said when visiting a grove of redwood trees: “If you’ve seen one redwood tree, you’ve seen them all. You know, a tree is a tree; how many more do you need to look at?” For an institution that is purporting to be a ‘research-oriented’ university, someone needs to take to heart the massive amounts of research already published about the invaluable contributions that trees provide to the health of our planet and the creatures that reside here. Coyote Connelly Eugene The Shedd Institute www.theshedd.org - 541.434.7000 Saturday, Feb 10 Search For Pie Town! 10 am & 1 pm at The Shedd! Don’t miss the Music Box playshop at 11:15 am! Fri, Feb 16 Tommy Castro Our 2018 & The Painkillers Seed Varieties Are Here! • Adaptive Seeds • Green Journey • High Mowing Organic Seeds • Renee’s Garden • Seed Savers Exchange • Siskiyou Seeds • Thyme Garden • Territorial Seed Company 5th & Olive Street 541-342-6820 Monday-Saturday 10-6 Sunday 10-5 downtoeartheugene.com Agriculture and seeds provide the basis upon which our lives depend. We must protect this foundation as a safe and genetically stable source for future generations. For the benefit of all farmers, gardeners and consumers who want an alternative, we pledge that we do not knowingly buy or sell genetically engineered seeds or plants. Small Town Sat, Feb 17 Bill Frisell & Thomas Morgan Next at The Shedd |full schedule: theshedd.org| 2.21 2.23 2.24 2.28 3.1 Lisa Fischer & Grand Baton Honey Whiskey Trio A Night of Vocal Arts 2018 Masters of Hawai’ian Music Taj Mahal Trio eugeneweekly.com • February 8, 2018 5
