CITIZENS CALL FOR A NEW VISION FOR CITY

This year's Citizens' State of the City Address at Harris Hall Jan. 12 had an unspoken theme of "we can do better," and included an unusual diversity of speakers. The presenters called for building neighborhoods and local culture, peace activism, racial and transgender justice, protection of urban natural areas, more pro-labor candidates for public office, hospital planning that benefits citizens over corporations, and improvements in air quality.

The presenters this year, introduced by Ruth Duemler, were Kara Steffenson of Friendly Neighbors for Peace, Hannah Persson of Community Organization of Lane County (CALC), Gary Gillespie of Eugene Springfield Solidarity Network, Lauri Segel of 1000 Friends of Oregon, and Becky Riley of the River Road Community Organization and Friends of Rasor Park.

New this year was a presentation on social justice from a gender perspective. "Marginalized groups, such as immigrants and transgendered people, bear the brunt of oppressive systems and it is hardly noticed," said Hannah Persson who also noted the "lack of commitment to social justice that we have here in Eugene."

Persson talked about the failed attempt this past year to add gender identity to the city code on non-discrimination. "A small but vocal group of people opposing transgender protections were able to persuade the mayor and City Council to exclude transgender protections," she said. "The opposers accomplished this by creating a serious public discomfort and phobia about transgendered people using public restrooms %Gโ€”%@ an issue that has very little relevance to what the code provisions would actually do, such as making discrimination of transgendered individuals illegal in employment, housing and other important public sectors."

Speaking on the city's environmental health, Becky Riley lauded the city for improvements in water quality and bike paths, but said we can do much more. She called for the city to not only educate the public about toxic runoff from yards, but also "set a high standard and lead by example by adopting a policy to minimize its own use of weed killers and fertilizers in city parks and ’กฤ minimize new paving projects in the city."

Riley said the ongoing discussions about getting "back to the river" have led to "destructive proposals" for more development along the river %Gโ€”%@ such as the Riverfront Research Park and the recurring proposal for a new Valley River Bridge over the Willamette.

"Let's challenge our 'pro-business' city leaders to also be 'pro-environment,' 'pro-public health' and 'anti-pollution,'" she said. "these goals should not be mutually exclusive."

Lauri Segel talked at length about citizen participation in land use planning and cited the West Eugene Parkway issue as an example: "We need to work together to craft alternative plans focused on fixing existing problems in west Eugene without causing more problems. We can and must protect our valuable wetlands and remaining fragments of native prairie. We must solve existing access and mobility problems. These challenges can be accomplished by starting with community dialogue and foregoing high stakes ballot box campaigns."

Segel also talked about the current shuffling of medical facilities in the valley and the problems that have arisen. "Now, more than ever, it is imperative that citizens get involved in pending hospital siting and related land use and transportation planning decisions." %Gโ€”%@ TJT