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About Eugene weekly. (Eugene, Oregon) 1993-current | View Entire Issue (July 13, 2023)
letters WHY SUBSIDIZE A PRIVATE BASEBALL BUSINESS? Like Rachel Bitecofer (“A New Civic Stadium,” July 6), my family and I have enjoyed attending Eugene Emeralds baseball games over the years. However, I have a hard time moving beyond feel- good memories to the assertion that “the city of Eugene should … build a new stadium for the Eugene Emeralds.” Minor league baseball teams are businesses. At least one student of mine who looked into the matter found that they can be highly profi table businesses. We are told a new stadium will serve as a gathering place where new friendships can be formed and we can strengthen social bonds. Never mentioned by Bite- cofer was an estimate of the cost of a new stadium or an estimate of the economic benefi ts it will bring. Also not mentioned is that using city money to fund a new stadium may merely serve to line the pockets of already wealthy team owners. Rick Mowday Eugene FAIRMOUNT NEIGHBORS CLARIFIES ITS POSITION In Eugene Weekly June 29, there was a full-page paid advertisement titled “Re- quest to Stop Franklin Blvd Transforma- tion.” To some readers, the top portion of the ad attributes opposition to the project to be from Fairmount Neighbors, the formally recognized neighborhood association serving Eugene's Fairmount neighborhood. We are aware that there are individu- al residents and business owners within the Fairmount neighborhood who have concerns about the project. However, the neighborhood association has not taken an offi cial position on the pro- posed changes to Franklin Boulevard. Thank you for the opportunity to cor- rect any potential misinterpretations of the advertisement’s message. Karen Dunne Co-chair, Fairmount Neighbors Board of Directors Eugene CITY HALL ABIDES First the good news. Eugene’s long wait for a new City Hall may fi nally be over. The rag-tag assortment of satellite offi ces has found a nest. Years after our City Hall was prematurely demolished, the subsequent embarrassment of leaving the site an ugly eyesore of a parking lot lingered while the powers that be dithered over costs, design and suitable locations, a solution was mi- raculously discovered — purchase the old EWEB headquarters, a proposal which was advanced at the outset of this debacle. Now the bad news. While the EWEB building’s new residents will enjoy a beautiful view of the Willamette River, its new cousins, currently under con- struction — the new fi ve-, seven-, 12- and whatever-story “market rate apart- ments” fl anking the Fifth Street district and Ferry Street Bridge — will obliterate the public’s view of our beautiful eastern skyline. Don’t believe me? Drive across the bridge and look. In all fairness, one new building will have four fl oors of dedicated parking — all on top! Why not dig a hole and park underground, thus preserving the view? Thanks to misguided fi scal policies and poor public planning, big holes in the ground and gravel parking lots in the middle of town are nothing new to Eu- gene. Market economics evidently trumps Eugene’s livability and aesthetic appeal, apparently rendering our citizens’ opin- ions insignifi cant and bothersome. Pan- dering to corporate interests smacks of bureaucratic eff rontery and public dis- respect. Eugene deserves better than this. To quote Jeff rey Lebowski, “This aggression will not stand, man!” William Crutchfi eld Eugene Sit With Me Intuitive Practitioner Assisting with release of negative life experiences. Guiding you on a journey of self empowerment. www.sitwithme.info Call/text Rich 541-600-0784 State Rep. Paul Holvey Champion for Working Oregonians Join His Supporters And Decline To Sign The Reckless Recall! US Senator Ron Wyden US Senator Jeff Merkley US Congresswoman Val Hoyle Senator James Manning Senator Floyd Prozanski Representative Nancy Nathanson Representative Julie Fahey Representative John Lively Former Senator Lee Beyer Former Senator Tony Corcoran Former Representative Phil Barnhart Lane County Commissioner Laurie Trieger Lane County Commissioner Heather Buch LCC Board Member Lisa Fragala Former Eugene Mayor Kitty Piercy Reverend Dan Bryant Reverend Dan Shankle Justin and Audra King Peter Sorenson Doyle Canning Rob Zako Kathleen Fitzgerald, MD Steve Lambros, MD Judith Newman Jean Tate Patricia Atkins Merri Steele Steve Dustrude Don Colgan Harriet Merrick Paul Kaplan Jane Squires Chuck Sheketoff Ann Todd Stuart Perlmeter Margaret Hallock Bob Bussel Marcus Widenor Steven Hecker Maureen Smith Pat Riggs-Henson Tina Rinaldi Cheryl Crumbley Eric Gunderson Frank and Mary Lou Vignola Jon and Barbara Carroll Dan and Maureen Williams Douglas L. Bovee, MD Rob Barnes, MD Janet Barnes, PhD Byron Chell Tom Barkin Jonathan Manton Pat Albright Patrick Allender Laurie Gerloff Jim Bernau Sara Rich Rick Henson Gina Cacioppi Bradley Cook Nancy Shankle Heather and Richard Borgaro Phil and Ann Craver Holly Berry Wende Bennette Sabel Fleshman Jody Thomas Donald Hunt Ann Huntington Kate Barry Jered Mason-Gere Betsy Boyd Learn more at www.PaulHolvey.com. Paid for by Paul Holvey for State Representative, Committee ID: 4788 E U G E N E W E E K LY . C O M J U LY 1 3 , 2 0 2 3 3
