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About Eugene weekly. (Eugene, Oregon) 1993-current | View Entire Issue (Sept. 13, 2018)
LET TERS DON’T END SANCTUARY In November we will vote on Ballot Measure 105. It proposes to overturn Or- egon’s 30-year-old sanctuary law. The measure is sponsored by Orego- nians for Immigration Reform (OFIR), an organization designated a hate group by Southern Poverty Law Center. Just in case it is not enough to know who is behind the ballot measure to let us understand we should oppose it, consider these points: If the measure passes, we will be less safe. When our local law enforcement of- ficers start working as immigration police, some people in our community are less likely to report crimes, less likely to help solve crimes and less likely to testify to help convict criminals. Our police officers are already stretched too thin; even now they are sometimes un- able to respond when their help is needed. Don’t ask them to take on the work of the federal immigration police. Vote “no” on Ballot Measure 105. Judy Boles Eugene A KINDER DOWNTOWN What if, in downtown Eugene, the ex- tra planters were removed along with the chain-rope fencing and the other misplaced fencing and the misplaced bicycle racks? Then public seating and perhaps outdoor art could be installed. This would make the downtown look less crowded and maybe more attractive. And then, just maybe, more people could sit and chat and people watch and relax and do all those other things that people might want to do when they go downtown? Beverley Mowery Eugene GET SMART As the new school year begins, now is the perfect time to sign up to volunteer in our schools. One wonderful way to help encourage books and the love of reading is to register to be a SMART Reader. SMART (Start Making a Reader Today) is a program unique to Oregon. We recruit volunteers to read one-on-one at schools throughout Oregon, reading with the same kids every week for half-hour sessions. In most cases, the volunteers work an hour a week, reading with two kids per week. However, you are welcome to volunteer more often if you choose. We are not a tutoring program, but an enjoy-books-and-reading program. Each school decides which student groups they wish to serve. Generally, SMART kids are K-3 as well as Head Start. It is extremely rewarding to see your SMART Kids every week as they pick out books to share with you and to share their excitement. We are currently recruiting readers for Eugene, Springfield and the rest of Lane County. We start reading with the SMART kids in mid-October, but we need to have our volunteers signed up well before, so each child can be matched with a reader. Go to our website at getsmartoregon. org to register, or call the SMART office at 541-600-8035 to request a paper appli- cation. Barbara George, SMART coordinator Cesar E. Chavez GUNS AND PANCAKES The other day, as my kids and I were at IHOP waiting on our pancakes, a man came in the restaurant with a large-caliber revolver hanging in a holster on his hip and a small child jumping and hugging him around the waist, hand inches away from it. I got a manager and told her about it, and asked what their firearms policy was. At first she tried to tell me that in Oregon anyone can carry a gun anywhere, but I re- minded her that in Oregon companies can set their own rules for their premises, and told her I needed to know what their com- pany’s policy was. She said she would ask her manager, then came back a few min- utes later to tell me that concealed guns were not allowed but openly carried guns were. I told her we were leaving immediately and that we weren’t coming back, then we left. There are plenty of other places to get a pancake without worrying about some yahoo with a gun. Baldr Odinson Junction City BEWARE THE GESTAPO We are traditionally a melting pot of racial, ethnic and religious diversity. The state of Oregon introduced the sanctuary law 30 years ago to protect the rights of individuals from unwanted harassment and persecution. As a concerned Oregonian, Salsa Dancing! Satur day, Sept 15 Satur day, Sept 29 Satur day, Oct 6 Son De Cuba, Salsa band! Cover $15 Dina Y Sus Rumber os! Cuban Salsa Band, Cover $15 Conjunto Alegre! Salsa band Cover $20 Salsa Dance Lessons @ 9pm - 10pm Live music @ 10pm - 2am Plus Dj Mar io Mora 21 & Over 6 September 13, 2018 • eugeneweekly.com The Lounge 2043 River Rd. Eugene, Or. overturning this law would be a green light fro the government to pry into our privacy in violation of our human rights. If Measure 105 passes, who would the next victims of profiling be? Would they be some poor person with dark skin and an old car, stopped by the police simply for looking a certain way, or diving a certain way? Or could the next victim be your next-door neighbor with whom you just shared a friendly over-the-fence chat? Or a schoolmate, a colleague or even you? Or would it open the door to neighbors de- nouncing neighbors to the police? The police have a duty and a responsi- bility in keeping our community safe. We need to keep our neighborhoods free of criminal activity, but also with the recogni- tion of the right to privacy. If Measure 105 passes, not only would Oregon police departments have to take on additional responsibilities, they would be the instruments of violating our very pri- vacy. Our right to live in a democratic na- tion would be violated. I do not want the streets of a politically progressive community like Eugene to be- come a police state where people live in fear, not hope. Thomas G. Romano Eugene U.S. as the only realistic option for a new mass working-class party. Greens fought to obtain ballot access in 45 sates in 2016. No other progressive party comes close to this access to voters. The nationwide organization and inter- national affiliates make the Green Party (Pacific Green in Oregon) the obvious choice for socialists (newmenu.org/mike- beilstein). Mike Beilstein Pacific Green Candidate for U.S. Congress Corvallis SERIOUS SOCIALISTS WHO IS YOUR NEIGHBOR? The Democratic Socialists of America (DSA) grew from less than 5,000 members in 2016 to more than 50,000 today. DSA is now the largest socialist organization in the United States since World War II. This phenomenal growth was inspired by Bernie Sanders’ open identification as a “democratic-socialist,” and spurred by the Democratic Party’s rejection of Sanders and the ensuing oligarch take-over of all branches of the U.S. government. DSA is not a political party — some DSAers are loyal Democrats — but many new members joined out of disillusion- ment with the Democratic Party. One of the strongest groupings within the DSA is the Refoundation Caucus, which explicitly calls for a new mass working-class party. I support the Refoundation impulse and see the need for a party that is not tainted by dependence on the oligarchy. I am a serious socialist committed to a real alternative to the corporate controlled duopoly. I support the Green Party of the I rely on my neighbors to look out for me, my safety and my well-being. We give each other our excess produce and take care of each other’s pets. When my hus- band is out of town, I feel safe, knowing my neighbors will help me if I need it and have an eye out for my safety. When I was in danger at home as a child, my neighbor, who is an immigrant, stepped forward and protected me. I’m concerned that if Measure 105 passes, my neighbors will be afraid to call the police for fear of racial discrimination. I can’t expect them to prioritize my safety over their own. If Measure 105 passes, it will open the door to anti-immigrant behaviors by local police. This law has been working as in- tended for more than 30 years, giving clear guidance to local law enforcement on com- plicated immigration issues. We all want to live in a community where we can turn to our neighbors for help. Erica Barry Eugene NO TO MEASURE 105 Measure 105 proposes our police re- sources be squandered pursuing a Federal agenda rather than local issues. The mea- sure, backed by what that The Southern Poverty Law Center has deemed a hate group, would divert attention from real problems facing our community like do- mestic violence, substance abuse and traf- ficking. One does not have to look far to find many ways that time could be better spent instead of harassing our fellow citizens on the off chance they may be undocumented. Cliff Haney Springfield
