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STEWART SAVES BUCKS Recently two citizens commented on Commissioner Faye Stewart's vote to break a 2-2 deadlock which resulted in his father's Ballot Measure 37 claim being approved. As the administrator charged with presenting Measure 37 claims to the Board of Commissioners, there are two additional facts that need discussion. First, Measure 37 places a mandatory duty on a governing body to pay compensation or grant a waiver if a valid claim is presented. If the county failed to take final action then the following provision of the Ballot Measure, now codified into Oregon law, would apply: "If a land use regulation continues to apply to the subject property more than 180 days after the present owner of the property has made written demand for compensation under this section, the present owner of the property, or any interest therein, shall have a cause of action for compensation under this section in circuit court in which the real property is located, and the present owner of the real property shall be entitled to reasonable attorney fees, expenses, costs, and other disbursements reasonably incurred to collect the compensation." ORS 197.352(6). It is not hard to present a valid Measure 37 claim. Of the 45 claims Lane County has considered so far (with 56 still pending), 40 have been approved, three denied and two withdrawn. Bruce Stewart presented a valid claim. Faye Stewart's vote saved Lane County from having to pay the compensation and attorney fees. It was a prudent financial decision on behalf of the taxpayers' money. The second issue that has arisen is the fact that the vote occurred at the end of a board meeting without being separately listed on the agenda. That occurred because I raised the unresolved Bruce Stewart claim and asked the board how they wished to proceed. The chair, under the county's home rule charter, sets the order of business before the board. The chair said the board would consider it immediately. Faye Stewart then voted on the motion to approve after receiving advice from county counsel that he could do so under the rule of necessity. This all occurred in a public meeting with the TV cameras rolling in full public view. Bill Van Vactor, Lane County Administrator
WEP NOT DEAD YET The recent promise of the Oregon Department of Transportation to select "no build" for the West Eugene Parkway Environmental Impact Statement (EIS) is a positive development, but it is not permanent cancellation of the project. In June 2001, ODOT, the federal government, Lane County and the city of Eugene decided to select "no build," a promise that was quickly forgotten after the Papé clan and Mayor Torrey pushed to put the porkway on the ballot. (City votes cannot approve nor reject federal aid highways such as the WEP.) In 1996, the previous EIS was withdrawn after citizens sued the Federal Highway Administration. While that withdrawal stopped immediate construction plans, it merely meant that the highwaymen had to write a new EIS. Several other controversial, destructive highways have had similar bureaucratic histories — an EIS is withdrawn or rejected in court, but a revised EIS is quickly prepared. The Inter County Connector Draft EIS (I-370, part of Washington Outer Beltway) was withdrawn in 1998, but a new draft EIS was rushed through after Bush created an express method and the record of decision was signed in May (it will be in court shortly). The Chicago Outer Bypass (I-355) had its EIS rejected in court in 1997 (for a reason similar to the potential lawsuit against WEP). A new EIS was drafted under Bush and the road is now under construction. The Burlington, Vt., bypass (I-289) had an express path for the EIS worked out between Gov. Dean and the Bush administration in 2002. The EIS was rejected in court in 2004, but a new, streamlined EIS is now being prepared. The WEP will be dead when ODOT (and the City) transfer or sell their land for the WEP to the BLM for conservation and restoration. Details on the WEP's hidden history, legal violations and the WETLANDS alternative are at www.permatopia.com Mark Robinowitz, Eugene
TRIAD: BAD NEIGHBOR McKenzie-Willamette/Triad wants to relocate and build a medical center on the River Ridge golf course. Having a full service hospital in Eugene is good. Putting it on that site is ludicrous. Triad lowballed the traffic impact estimate. Traffic engineers say the increase on North Delta Road will be at least 50 percent, not the 4 percent cited in Triad's analysis. That traffic will have to pass through the Beltline/Delta Highway intersection, already one of the most congested and dangerous intersections in the entire state. Triad says they will fix traffic problems with a few ramp modifications and a traffic light at Delta and Ayres Road. That light will back up traffic on North Delta making it impossible for the residents of Delta Pines and Lakeridge manufactured home parks to enter or leave their neighborhoods. Given the current level of gravel truck traffic and other vehicles, left turns are already dangerous. Triad says they will be good neighbors. A good neighbor would, at the very least, put traffic lights at the entrance to Lakeridge and the two entrances to Delta Pines. A better neighbor would find a more appropriate place to put such a large commercial development. Mary Hoover, Eugene
OUT OF FOCUS In response to "DeFazio Had Options" by John Hofer (6/1), it's the same old story. A politician NEVER focuses on the "issue." For a politician to demand enforcing existing laws will not get their name in the media — it might upset the career bureaucrats. So politicians always pass more legislation to show the voters they are really on top of everything. The issue is the criminals — but no politician ever focuses on the criminal. Frank Skipton, Springfield
HISTORY LESSON This is in response to Terry Heintz' letter of July 13, "Déjà Vu." During the last 113 years, the U.S. government has overthrown governments in the following countries: Hawaii, The Philippines, Cuba, Puerto Rico, Honduras, Nicaragua, Chile, Iran, Guatemala, South Vietnam, Panama, Grenada, Afghanistan and Iraq. Hawaii was overthrown in the 1890s because plantation owners were losing money. In fact the majority of these actions were taken to protect American business interests while innocent civilians were murdered. We are the users of products that may support businesses that influence this nation to go to war. We make a difference whether we're conscious or not of the global impact. Next time you vote (buy), make sure the company has your interest at heart. Richard Hughes, Eugene
MISGUIDED VISION Last week, world leaders gathered in Russia for the G-8 summit, one year after agreeing to cancel the debts of 18 impoverished countries in Africa and Latin America. However, most of the world has yet to see any benefits from the G-8 debt deal. Only one out of 10 people living in impoverished countries will benefit from the deal. Rather than working to build on last year's promises, the G-8 adopted a flawed plan of action on energy security. They are pushing increased oil investment in developing countries despite research showing oil production and exports increase a country's debt burden, undermining debt relief. Additionally, the push for increased oil development is contributing to climate change, to which the poor are most vulnerable. We must not allow the world's addiction to oil to undermine the fight against global poverty. In the months and years following this year's G-8 summit, we must demand a comprehensive, sustainable solution that focuses on renewable energy and puts an end to oil dependence and crushing debts. Greg Lief, Corvallis
MISSING TOKERS I had a great time at the Emerald Empire Hempfest! It was the first year for me as a vendor. The music was great, the food was great and the people were great — the ones who showed up. I met people from Santa Cruz, Humbolt, Seattle and even a woman from England. Oddly missing were people from Eugene. I thought this was a great business opportunity. Statistically 10 percent of Eugene adults smoke pot and 50 percent of Eugene adults smoked pot sometime in their life. That's 15,000 to 75,000 people! But they did not show. It's like finding out 10 percent of a city loves baseball, 50 percent of the city go to baseball games occasionally — I build a stadium and no one shows up. What's up with that? Maybe everybody went camping. I'm sure in this activist town all these people can't be afraid to show up at a Hempfest. Remember Hempfest is a political rally — we need support. Anyway, I had a great time. I heard a great reggae band, Henry Turner Jr. and Flavor — "I like to toke, toke, toke but I don't smoke 'dope'." I also got some legal advice: If you are pulled over and you have a locked box in your car, you do not have to open it for the police unless they get a warrant. The only problem I saw was on Sunday evening when a guy showed up with a sign that said, "REPENT!" He got into a yelling match with a vendor. We vendors don't like people insulting our customers. Hope to see you at next year's Emerald Empire Hempfest! Chris Pender, Eugene
REAPING WHAT WE SOW Like most Americans, I am watching the escalation of violence in Israel, Gaza and Lebanon with empathy and concern for the ordinary Israelis, Palestinians and Lebanese civilians being harmed. Responsibility for their suffering rests with the current administration, whose actions and inactions have combined to give us the current unfolding perfect storm. The American friendship with Israel should have resulted in a strengthening of Israel's inclination for peace, compromise and respect for human rights. Instead, we have supported and funded a failed political and military strategy. Together, our two nations have sowed misery throughout the region over the years, and we are now reaping the whirlwind. It is no defense of Palestinian and Lebanese terrorists to point out they both thrive in the absence of real prospects for peace. Our country's influence should be used to moderate Israel's reaction. The best course of action would include negotiation and mutual exchanges of prisoners. Martin Falk, Eugene
WHERE'S WYDEN?, PART 7 Roadless areas make up the largest remaining tracts of intact forests in the U.S. Incomprehensibly, the Forest Service plans on clearcutting some of these pristine wildlands in the Siskiyou National Forest in August. Logging Oregon's roadless areas would open the floodgates for roadless logging throughout the nation. Despite the efforts of citizens and advocacy groups, the fate of these forests is now up to the "big boys." So where does supposedly "green" Senator Wyden stand on this precedent-setting decision? So far he hasn't said a word. However could this be? Maybe the fact that in 2003, Wyden was second only to George W. Bush for the most timber industry campaign contributions (according to Willamette Week) has something to do with his silence. That year, Wyden had also sponsored one of the most irresponsible and destructive forest policies ever passed, the Orwellian "Healthy Forests Initiative," which — under the guise of fire prevention — authorizes a kind of pre-emptive strike of logging across more than 20 million acres of federal lands. Despite the senator's serious shortcomings, OLCV has given Wyden a 95 percent "green" record. Be that as it may, I hope the senator remembers from school that even if you get A's all term, just one zero averaged into your grade can flunk you. Josh Schlossberg, Eugene
WANTON SLAUGHTER I think it's wrong for our government to support the Israeli bombing of Lebanon, and I hope after reading this letter, you'll agree with me and write letters, send emails, and participate in demonstrations to express your views. If supporting the wanton slaughter of hundreds of innocent civilians and the purposeful destruction of a small, weak country's infrastructure doesn't bother your conscience (as it does mine), consider the political implications of this policy. The bombs and missiles the Israelis are using to create this vicious hell for the Lebanese people have an American return address on them — hardly the way to "win the hearts and minds" of the people of the Middle East or encourage them to emulate our supposed democracy. Like our government's longtime support for Israeli's persecution of the Palestinian people (often in violation of UN Security Council resolutions) — not to mention our illegal war on Iraq and the bombing and crippling sanctions that preceded it — allowing the Israeli bombing of Lebanon to go on for at least a week more is destabilizing the Middle East, making Syria and Iran stronger, and adding to the ranks of Hezbollah and Hamas. Finally, this government-sponsored terrorism increases the likelihood of terrorist reprisals — further attacks on the U.S. and Israel. If you really want peace, you negotiate — you don't add to the violence. It's time for the U.S. and Israel to stop blocking the will of the rest of the Security Council, and even more that of the General Assembly — as it has for years with these vetoes — and allow the U.N. to fulfill its purpose: creating and maintaining a world in which all nations and peoples can live in peace and security and begin to pursue the goal of nuclear disarmament, rather than have to sit helplessly watching a world spinning out of control with violence and destruction. Margaret Springer, Eugene
WEP ALREADY BUILT On Wednesday I observed the open-to-the-public board meeting of WREN, the non-profit that leads efforts to sustainably build a wetland education center near West 11th and Danebo. It was great to hear how close the Education Center is to becoming a part of the West Eugene Wetlands! Inspiring kids to become scientists and industry leaders by encouraging their close observation of the natural world. I decided to head downtown for a bite to eat before another meeting at 7 pm after a short walk around Balboa Loop with a meadowlark chirping and lupine flowers dancing in the breeze. I wondered if I'd have time to drive all that way without the now-defunct West Eugene Parkway. Well, I'll try. I'll time it and just see how long it would actually take. At 5:58 pm, I left where I was parked near West 11th and Danebo and headed north along Danebo to Roosevelt. I got a green light across the Beltline along the parkway-looking Roosevelt over to Highway 99. Wow, another green light! I'm now at Chambers at 6:02. Over the railroad tracks by going south on Chambers, on to 2nd then 5th. I'm parking near the Steelhead at 6:07. Wow, 9 minutes and we didn't have to spend $131 million. Reminded me of Al Gore's movie with the gold bars on one side of the scale and the beautiful blue Earth on the other! A hard choice? I think not. What was fast for me, an occasional user, is one thing. I do not commute daily at 7:40 am and caught a of couple green lights. But I rediscovered: the parkway is already built. It's called Roosevelt! Perhaps some additional easy access points when EWEB moves out there would help. But thank you, Eugene, for some common sense. And thanks to WREN and all the volunteers who are working hard on an Education Center at the West Eugene Wetlands. Tom Schneider, Eugene
NANO THREATS In the history of the universe, nanoparticles have never existed in our terrestrial environment. These infinitesimally small man-composed elements are already being used in products such as fabrics, make-up and car wax — with absolutely no scientific study on how they affect biological life and the health of the planet itself. Once they are off-gassed, sprayed out, or, in whichever way become disengaged, they will waft through the air, be breathed in, embedded in the soil and water, absorbed by plant and animal tissue or passed through human skin and other membranes such as the blood-brain barrier. It is a gamble what will happen from there. Like other chemicals, high-frequency digital radiation and GMO's, nanoparticles are the most recent example of profit for the very few at the expense of the environment and ourselves. There is no cleaning up these microscopic rogue agents. Should not the fact that development [at UO] needs to be underground surrounded by solid rock be cause for question and opposition? Helen Reilly, Veneta
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