Letters to the Editor

DOING THE IMPOSSIBLE

Frequently, significant events are supported by a long history of effort. That is true with the upcoming visit of His Holiness, the Dalai Lama.

In 1998, members of a diverse community formed under the name of the Universal Peace Celebration Committee. Many civic, business and political leaders endorsed our efforts to bring the Dalai Lama to Eugene and to Oregon for a second visit. Our efforts are now coming to fruition.

A BINDING ORDINANCE

To clear up misinformation regarding the use of the proposed city service fee, the duration of that usage and the low-income exemption, here is the ordinance language.

HELPING RECOVERY

As the newest treatment team member at Lane County’s Methadone Treatment Program (LCMTP), I was pleased to see EW’s discussion of our community’s multi-faceted opioid dependency issues discussed in the March 28 article “Gettin’ Clean in Eugene.” The issues discussed in the article are complex, but it is the individuals behind these issues that inspire each of the committed and passionate LCMTP team members to continue working hard to make a positive impact in the lives of each person they serve. 

TEACHERS OUTVOTED

The recent controversy around the common schedule in District 4J’s middle and high schools is a reflection of a bigger problem in the district. The process of centralization and standardization has been going on for several years but has dramatically accelerated recently under the new superintendent. 

LESS HOT AIR

Casting a myopic eye on the state Legislature, former Sen. Tony Corcoran [“Hot Air Society” column, 2/21] avers that we ought to be optimistic about Gov. Kitzhaber and the Democratic majority he enjoys. He touts Kitzhaber’s Oregon Health Plan and Salmon Plan as having “already established his legacy.”

KILLING MY BEES

As winter sets in I spend my evenings worried about my honeybees. I have been noticing a lot of dead bees on the bottom screen boards and it alarms me. I know my bees have visited all my neighbors’ yards. The city of Eugene and some of my neighbors are not only poisoning our bees but our water supply.

ABUSE OF POWER

The “Neighborhood Groups Exonerated” news brief Jan. 31 accurately reported how City Councilor Chris Pryor instigated a formal investigation of neighborhoods’ involvement in a land use appeal without having any supporting evidence of wrongdoing, and how the city attorney’s investigation completely exonerated neighborhood leaders. However, some important facts weren’t mentioned.

A PAINFUL DEATH

Sweet Pea has died. Many of you might know him as the kid who sold his artwork out in front of Circle K and the Pita Pit.

He was homeless. A few weeks ago, he was violently attacked simply for being homeless. They beat him so badly that they caused severe nerve damage. So badly in fact that he literally could not move without horrible pain shooting through his body. He was homeless and had nowhere to go after they kicked him out of the hospital.

CIVILIZED SOLUTIONS

America: 350 million guns, 47,000 psychiatrists. We have a constitutional right to bear arms. We have no constitutional right to health care.

America is the most heavily armed nation in the world. America also leads the world in mental illness. Half of all Americans develop at least one mental illness. Half of all cases begin during childhood.

Nearly half of all Americans have at least one gun at home. The human brain controls the gun. People will find ways to end their pain.

GUNS FOR TEACHERS?

In the wake of the recent school massacre it seems one response [Letters, 12/20] proposes letting teachers bring guns to school.

HOME FOR THE HOLIDAYS

’Twas the weeks before Christmas, when all through the land,
parents were wondering, how it got out of hand?
Some were sleepless and worrying, almost sick with their scare,
being homeless at Christmas, ’twas too much to bear.