Still not my mayor

Mayor Kitty Piercy cast the tie-breaking vote to permanently kill the West Eugene Parkway.  Once again, an elite cabal of five individuals has thwarted the will of the people.  This is in many ways similar to a single judge killing Measure 37.

Measure 37 is the reincarnation of Measure 7.  In both cases, an overwhelming majority of the people told the government that individual property rights matter.  And in both cases, one judge had more power than a million Oregonians.  The West Eugene Parkway has twice been approved by the people of Eugene.  And now one person has killed it.

I am so angry I can barely contain myself.  I live in the unincorporated Santa Clara region of Eugene.  That means I can't vote for or against Kitty Piercy come election time.  But my home is literally right next to where the West Eugene Parkway would have run.  It would make my life so much better.  It would help the city.  It would bring in jobs.  It would allow new businesses to come to the area.

This issue has a huge impact on me, and I get no vote.

Now it's dead.

The West Eugene Parkway was originally passed by the people TWENTY YEARS AGO.  Since then, traffic has only gotten worse.  Will it be another 20 years before a new road is built in Eugene?

The time has come for serious changes in our government, at all levels throughout the state.  We need a new Governor who will work for the people.  We need new legislators who will represent us instead of special interests.  But it goes beyond that.  We need a new Secretary of State who won't use the position to be a partisan hatchet man.  We need new County Commissioners who understand the importance of land use.  We need better voices in Washington.  And we need a new city council.  Eugene is becoming a wasteland as existing business close up shop or leave town and new business fear to tread.  The rest of the country is seeing an economic boom, yet Eugene has massive unemployment and economic malaise.

Our city council is run by environmental extremists who think that magically-defined "wetlands" are more important than roads, homes, and business.  What they don't tell you is that most of these "wetlands" were farmland a few generations ago, but have seen been redefined to stymie growth.  They think it's wrong to convert a farm to another profitable venture, but it should be mandatory to convert a farm into a swamp.

All we have to do is look across the river to see how it should be done.  Springfield is growing.  Springfield is building new roads.  Businesses are coming to Springfield.  There are jobs and new homes in Springfield.  In 20 years, Springfield will be the center of commerce in the Willamette Valley.  Eugene will just be a dried-up college town where ex-hippies go to die.

But it doesn't have to be so.  It's time to stand up and take back our government.  It's time for government to work FOR the people instead of against them.  And we need to send a message about the West Eugene Parkway.  I can think of no better way than to vote the bastards out of office.

Comments

[Brian B]

I keep telling my wife, if attitudes in this region persist, within my lifetime, Springfield will be the dominant city in Lane County.

[fmil]

Here! Here! I would really *like* to believe that those serving in our governments have the best interests of *all* of Eugene / Lane County / Oregon at heart, but it's obvious to anyone with two functioning eyes that they only have *their* version of the best interests at heart, whether it's based in common sense or not. As is also obvious, it's typically *not*. If it weren't for the fact that I can't afford to sell my house and have just begun some big repairs (including putting on a new roof and remodeling a bad bathroom), I'd be inclined to move to Springfield, Creswell, or Cottage Grove. Eugene is a hard place to live when you're a Conservative, a Christian *and* a Republican. It's time for conservatives, Christians, and Republicans to get off their collective butts and get to the polls and vote these idiots out of office ... or maybe run for office themselves. (stepping off soap box now)

[-keith in mtn. view]

Sounds like too many damn Californians moved up there in the late 70's, sorry!! We're experiencing many of the same troubles down here, for the same reasons, and the monied-greed interests of Eco-NIMBYs.

[Tucker]

Hey Gully,

I live in Santa Clara also. Grew up in West Eugene. I can tell you that I'm fed up with this city, and am going to begin actively working to changes some things. Let me know if I can help.

Tucker

[Geoffrey Davis]

Pretty much summed it up...

[Tucker]

response I got from the mayor to a pointed e mail I sent her:

Dear Tucker,
I drive the roads as well and am familiar with the traffic issues in West Eugene. Do you know the proposed WEP would at best address 6% of those issues? That does not seem like that would be worth the 169 m. I want those issues addressed and will pursue them. I also know the parkway plan has changed dramatically since the original proposal, costing more and putting more of those costs as a city responsibility. Originally they said they had the money but only have 17m out of the 169m needed. And a partnership of BLM, Nature Conservancy, Fish and Wildlife and private partners have gone together to build a nationally recognized wetlands out there. It seems that they may not legally be able to destroy something that Federal dollars have built there. So the WEP could go unbuilt for many years to come. I am trying to find a way to address the issues and move us forward.

I know this answer may not satisfy you but I thought I would tell you my views.

Kitty

[pave it]

If you live in Santa Clara, then you definitely do NOT live next to the proposed Porkway route.

So I assume if you're so in favor of this, you and your Republican friends will be happy to vote for tax increases to pay for the true cost of this project (the cost increases are merely a reflection of the fact that Torrey and his friends deliberately downplayed the cost of the highway).

The WEP is a federal aid highway, not a City of Eugene project, and there is NO MONEY for it.

Why not ask those who want to turn more farmland (which makes food) into shopping malls if they plan to contribute toward construction costs?