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About Eugene weekly. (Eugene, Oregon) 1993-current | View Entire Issue (March 19, 2020)
letters SPEND WHAT YOU CAN My wife and I were going out for din- ner last night, but changed our minds due to concerns about exposing our- selves to COVID-19. So we talked about going to a movie. We scrapped that for the same reason. Multiply these decisions times 150,000 and you begin to see how this is going to affect many of the businesses in Lane County. It’s going to be staggering for many that rely on daily customer visits like restaurants, movie theaters, sand- wich shops, possibly health clubs, etc. No customer traffic means jobs will be lost and the effect will spiral. Many businesses may close, more jobs will be lost and so on. If each of us bought a ticket or sea- son pass to the movies, even if we de- cided not to use it, that could help. If we bought meals to go or to be delivered, or a gift card to a restaurant for use later on, that could help, too. You get the idea. If each of us who has the financial abil- ity would help out a little now, it may ease some of the problems down the road. And if you can spare it, put an extra dollar in the tip jar. That person behind the counter is probably struggling to buy essentials, since they may not be working as many hours now. Fred Ledgard Eugene MORRIS STANDS OUT When I look at City Council Ward 1 candidates, Tim Morris stands out. I have seen him in action for four years, and he works tirelessly, contributes fresh ideas and helps move conversa- tions to a resolution that can be sup- ported and implemented. I am looking for a candidate who has problem-solving skills and solid prin- ciples for decision-making. Although we can’t know all issues that will emerge over the next four years, Tim’s good judgment and creativity in crafting solutions give me confidence in his ability to address whatever challenges present themselves. He is passionate about real-life con- cerns, for instance, providing affordable and accessible housing for Eugene to ad- dress our environmental problems with compact communities that reduce trans- portation costs and greenhouse gas emis- sion and reduce taxpayer burden in pay- ing for more unnecessary infrastructure. Morris serves on a rule-making advi- sory committee for HBs 2001 and 2003, so he is knowledgeable about the im- pacts they will make on our community. He proposes that we take more control of our community’s future by writing our own rules for zoning codes so Eu- gene remains unique. Vote for Tim Morris in the May election. Carleen Reilly Eugene SNEAKY KASHINKSY Eliza Kashinsky is a master at irony, if not outright deception. Eugene Weekly reports (3/5): “Kash- insky describes her own area of living, the Jefferson West Side neighborhood, and says it historically has allowed more housing types than other areas. ‘This creates neighborhoods like mine. And I like my neighborhood.’” That Kashinsky “likes” her JWN neighborhood will surprise many of her neighbors who’ve witnessed her relent- less attacks on JWN members and our past efforts. Kashinsky repeatedly denigrates ground-breaking work by JWN residents and property owners that led to unanimous City Council approval of the Jefferson- Westside Special Area Zone in 2009. Ironi- cally, when Kashinsky landed in Eugene years later, she bought her single-family de- tached home in that very same zone. In 2018, Kashinky demonstrated more neighborly “love” by appealing, unsuccessfully, to the Land Use Board of Appeals to declare the S-JW [the Jeffer- son Westside Special Area] Zone in viola- tion of state housing statutes. Recently Kashinsky appealed to LUBA again, with another attack on the S-JW Zone in mind. She’ll fail once more, because the S-JW Zone has satisfied every statutory requirement since its inception. The S-JW Zone allows all housing types, including accessory dwellings, “middle housing” and apartments. JWN members crafted the S-JW Zone to pro- mote affordable infill, while preventing “gentrification” and displacement of lower-income households. Ward 1 voters aren’t fooled. Current City Councilor Emily Semple strongly supports JWN members’ efforts. All we’ve ever seen from Kashinsky are sneaky, behind-the-scenes attempts to impose her “I know best” opinions on JWN residents and property owner. Paul Conte Eugene Former Chair, Jefferson Westside Neighbors SUPPORT LCC BOND One of the fastest growing areas for employment is healthcare. Job demand is extremely high and employment rates near 100 percent. Our population is out- growing the number of skilled health- care workers available. Lane Community College trains the vast majority of the first responders and healthcare workers for our area. Appli- cations for these programs exceed the current space available for training. After six years in a temporary space, the LCC Dental Clinic needs to come back to campus! Education needs to be affordable, and the teaching spaces need to be updated for safety. A “yes” vote for the LCC bond can help fix this! Go to LaneCC.edu and click on the LCC Bond 2020 link to see how. If the bond passes, LCC gets an $8 million matching grant for Health Pro- fessions programs. Please invest in the education and health of our community. Vote "yes" to help LCC train the people that are so needed to meet our health- care demands. Leslie Greer Dexter He has a gift for explaining his posi- tions in terms we can understand and for setting priorities with a view to the long haul. This is especially clear in his new infrastructure package. DeFazio’s proposal details a strategy to fight climate change while promoting economic policies that will lift the work- ing class and move us toward a zero car- bon pollution transportation system. His proposal accommodates the com- plex demands of the whole community, which needs sustainable solutions that improve environmental justice and pro- tect natural resources, while creating good jobs that pay family wages. The transition to transportation systems that are resilient, prudent and environmentally sustainable will not be easy. Each of us can expect some changes in our lives. But with DeFazio’s leadership we will find ways to succeed, sharing the costs and handing down the benefits for generations to come. We need DeFazio in Washington, D.C., to continue his work for things we all need: good jobs, sustainable infra- structure and a green future. Mary Leighton Eugene APPRECIATES PETE Being represented by Peter DeFazio is one of the many reasons I love living in the 4th Congressional District. DeFazio is smart, honest and hardworking. Even when I disagree with some step he takes along the way, I can see that he is taking a path I respect and operating with values I share. THE GARAGE SALE PARTY For Sale: A large pile of shit, accumu- lated since January 20, 2017. I’ve made many attempts to rid myself of this shit, but it won’t go away. I deal with it daily and the abiding stench can keep a fellow from both sleep and tranquility. I’m hop- EMGE WHYTE SERVICE & certified public accountants eugene d. emge pam Whyte Hilary anthony EXCELLENCE IN tax & accounting professionals Support Eugene Opera, Symphony, & Ballet! 25O5 W. 11th Ave • Eugene, OR 974O2 • 485-21OO 4 M A R C H 1 9 , 2 0 2 0 E U G E N E W E E K LY . C O M
