Image provided by: University of Oregon Libraries; Eugene, OR
About Eugene weekly. (Eugene, Oregon) 1993-current | View Entire Issue (March 22, 2018)
LET TERS NOT NICE, EUGENE Our “fair and welcoming” city has just done something clearly ugly and unwelcom- ing: They just spent thousands of dollars put- ting up big yellow eyesores at the north ends of Lawrence and Washington streets to pre- vent vehicles from entering the west end of Skinner Butte Park. Why? I imagine the only purpose of these gates is to prevent people from parking there, especially at the end of Lawrence. For years, this has been a place where folks with no- where else to go for a night, or a week or so, have been able to survive, only periodically “checked on” by the police, with whom they have not, as far as I can tell, had any serious altercations. A large RV was broken down there for a while recently, but caused no trouble. The chicken bus has been an irregular resident, and a pleasure to have in the neighborhood. I live at the end of Lawrence and have gotten to know several of the folks who have parked in that block over the years. I’ve nev- er had, or known of, any problems. Now, with that big gate, even people who just want to go to that end of the park for an afternoon can’t park there. Where will they park? Probably in front of my house, which will make it difficult for my kids to park when they visit. Wasteful and mean? Obviously. Stupid, too, in my book. Whose idea was this, anyway? Jeff Harrison Eugene STUDENT WALKOUT This morning, at the same time students all over our community were demonstrating symbolic collective common sense by walk- ing out of school for 17 minutes, I happened to walk into my south Eugene neighborhood sporting goods store. I was startled to see a long row of rifles openly displayed for sale right inside the door. Naively, I had no idea these were bra- zenly sold blocks from where I live. I turned around and walked out. We cannot wait for the government to come to this good judgment our youth embodied to- day. We can take action in our daily deeds and choices. We can gather as a local community and ask our retailers to come to common sense and collective conscience. Christopher Guilfoil Eugene when you try to pass off Muzak in the middle of the night as programming. It is an insult to our ears and we know we aren’t on an elevator. It is obvious to me lately that current man- agement at the station has its own agenda and, really, they might want to actually talk to the volunteers and listeners to find out what we really want to hear. Management might want to wake up and smell the coffee. There is great talent in this town. It should not be that difficult to find people with great music collections and a few hours to volunteer to share their music. Please stop the Muzak, and please lighten up a little on the news programing that seems to be taking over. L.L. Stoner Eugene DRAIN THE LANE SWAMP RELIGIOUS BIGOTRY EW appropriately celebrated the Wayne Lyman Morse federal courthouse in EW’s Design Issue (3/8). Troubling to me was Bob Keefer’s stating that District Judge Michael Hogan is, or was, “an evangelical Christian spearheading the project …” I have spent many hours inside the won- derful courthouse litigating federal mat- ters. There is nothing on or in the courthouse that could be interpreted by anyone as hom- age to any religion. Thus, it appears to me that Keefer’s com- ment about Judge Hogan’s religious beliefs was gratuitous and inappropriate. David Jensen Eugene HIGHER EDUCATION On March 14 at 10 am students at South Eugene High School, the University of Or- egon and other schools across the country walked out of their classes. When I told a University of Oregon School of Law professor that I would be missing a few minutes of class to stand with them, I was told that while I have that right, it is unprofessional. Specifically, I was told: “I expect professionalism, and participating in beads LEFT OF THE DIAL Re: Daniel Henry’s letter “Radio Radio” (3/9): Those of us who are loyal to your sta- tion (KLCC) keep track of what is going on there because, after all, it is the people's radio (just try to survive without the money you re- ceive from us at pledge time). We notice every little nuance, including ld Educating Children for Life or fro m a ro und the w 2833 Willamette • (541) 683-5903 www.harlequinbeads.com 4 this walk-out, however brief, does not meet that standard.” It’s been 20 years since the Thurston shoot- ing and, as we know, school shootings haven’t stopped. The outrage, the sadness, the fear — none of it has stopped, but this time the young people have had enough. This time students are doing what adults couldn’t. They’re de- manding action, and we should, too. Protesting for student lives isn’t unpro- fessional. I don’t think the actions of these young people are unprofessional — in fact, I think it shows us a lot about their character and the character of the people who find their passive resistance to be “unprofessional.” Kimberly Koops-Wrabek Candidate, State Representative, House District 11 Public Law & Policy Fellow, University of Oregon School of Law March 22, 2018 • eugeneweekly.com Serving preschool through grade 8 County races do affect us. Land use is- sues, garbage dumps, pay equity for work- ers, healthy environments for us all … not toxic aerial sprays! It’s time to vote for Lane County commissioners who work for us, not just their friends. East Lane County’s Gary Williams won’t even speak with constituents. There’s a pack of people running, but James Barber is the standout. He’s an honest businessman who’s not afraid to stand up and fight for important local issues that matter. I’ve seen him at county, city and other public meetings for the last two years. He’s smart, a good family man, thoughtful, progressive and respectful to everyone he encounters. The obvious choice to replace Spring- field’s Commissioner Sid Leiken is lone challenger Joe Berney. Joe has a long his- tory of business acumen; connecting well with people; economic innovation; jobs cre- ation; mentoring youth; and promoting clean energy and conservation. Ten years of “ser- vice” is enough, Sid. In West Lane, the only people who con- nect with Bozievich and the three others are timber and developer “friends,” and they get everything they want. Lone challenger Nora Kent, environmental activist and educator, would inject some much needed feminine en- ergy and smarts into that mix of do-nothings. Robin Bloomgarden Eugene WEEDING OUT All around the Lane County Elections headquarters (10th and Lincoln), weed-killer The Eugene Waldorf School is a non-profit, non- sectarian, tax-exempt organization incorporated in the State of Oregon. We do not discriminate on the basis of race, color, national origin, ethnicity, religion, age, sex, sexual orientation, disability or marital status in the administration of our educational policies, admissions or board membership policies, financial programs, or athletic and other school-administered programs. 541.683.6951 • 1350 McLean Blvd. • EugeneWaldorf.org
