Category Archives: News
City Hall Reprieve
They’re Gonna Rip Down Eugene City Hall. WHY?
Remodel our neglected City Hall for less than $15 million, and you get:
• The entire 75,000-square-foot structure refurbished, spruced up and brought up to modern earthquake and insulation standards
• The iconic round City Council Chambers and art work saved
• Some 35,000 square feet of office space ready for move-in, with another approximately 40,000 square feet of shell space available for future development as city offices.
• A phase-out of the $1.2 million a year the city currently pays to rent office space scattered around town, once city departments move back into the refurbished City Hall
• 125 parking spaces under the building saved
Spend $15 million to tear it down and build a new building, and you get:
• A small ceremonial building, not really a “new City Hall,” on one corner of the current square block, housing only council chambers and offices for the mayor & council, city manager and one or two city departments
• Three-fourths of a block of parking lot
• The need for a new city office building next door at a cost of $44 million or more in taxpayer money to house the rest of city offices. City officials aren’t talking much about this – for now.
City Hall was once a beautiful building – you need only to look at photos of when it was completed in 1964 to understand that. If it seems ugly now it’s because of years of official neglect. Deferred maintenance has become no maintenance. It didn’t have to be that way.
Its award-winning design by local architects Stafford, Morin & Longwood, is an outstanding example of Mid-20th Century Modern architecture. It is an historic survivor in a town that’s torn down too much of its history. The building is eligible for the National Historic Building Registry – which the city doesn’t want, willfully ignoring state historic preservation law.
Rather than destroying this public asset immediately, why not pause and consider all of the above? Even if the building will not to be saved as a City Hall, it has potential millions-of-dollars in value to the city for private redevelopment as retail/office/market space.
Why the rush to bring the wrecking ball to millions of dollars of value in our City Hall? DEFER DEMOLITION!
If you agree this is no time to Rush to Demolition, contact Mayor Kitty Piercy and Council members at (541) 682-5010 or mayorcouncilandcitymanager@ci.eugene.or.us. Do it now!
(Save City Hall Committee, 541-343-0892 or 541-342-3755)
Occupy Eugene Wins Protest Case in Federal Court
Without Public Bathrooms, Eugene’s a Latrine
SLEEPS and OE staged a Potty Protest in Kesey Square to put pressure on the City Council to reopen park bathrooms and keep downtown bathrooms open 24 hrs. People voted in a penny poll by pitching pennies into a toilet marked “Tax Breaks for Developers” or a toilet marked “Public Bathrooms.” It’s all about priorities.
Liberating Kesey Square
Some call it economic revitalization, we call it class cleansing. In Eugene’s “downtown activity zone” there were more police, more security, more people being hassled and vendors publicly selling their art told they had to be regulated. Kesey Square, the only public space downtown, was threatened. Occupy challenged that – and won.
Burrito Brigade Needs You (Who me? Yes, you!)
Burrito Brigade feeds the hungry of Eugene & Springfield through a community network of food banks and personal donations and engages our community in the fight to end hunger. You can become part of their family by volunteering to help with cooking and hand delivery of their nutritious burritos every Sunday. Even though Lane County has enough food to feed every hungry person, excess food is not widely distributed, and some don’t have the knowledge or resources to access the food. Burrito Brigade gives away hot burritos to hungry locals and travelers on Sundays, when free food is especially scarce. For more info about the project and ways you can help email burritosundays@gmail.com.
February 11th 2014 is The Day We Fight Back Against Mass Surveillance
Occupy Eugene calls on freedom loving Americans to speak out in solidarity next Tuesday, February 11: to stand together in support of our constitutional rights against illegal government surveillance. Please join us as we flood congress with the message that we support the USA Freedom Act and reject uncontrolled, secret mass surveillance of American citizens.
Last June, security contractor Edward Snowden confirmed our worst fears about the extent and intrusiveness of secret government surveillance on American citizens. Though regarded by the Obama administration as a common criminal or even a traitor, Snowden has been nominated for a Nobel Peace Prize for his disclosures about the nature of the American security state and the surveillance practices of the National Security Administration. Snowden’s disclosures have caused diplomatic and political turmoil around the world, yet the Obama administration continues to stonewall calls for reform from Congress, the advisory panel the President selected himself, the American public and the information technology industry, which has lost billions due to international mistrust of US information technology following disclosure of NSA abuses. On January 27, Snowden gave an extensive interview on German TV which has been withheld from the American people, but can be found at LiveLeak.com Why is there US media blackout on hearing Edward Snowden explain his case? Perhaps it’s because he accuses the US Director of National Intelligence of lying to Congress about NSA mass surveillance.
A chief author of The Patriot Act, Republican Representative Sensenbrenner of Wisconsin, chair of the House Subcommittee on Terrorism and Crime, has joined with the chair of the Senate Judiciary Committee, Democratic Senator Leahy of Vermont in calling for passage of the USA Freedom Act, which will force the Obama administration to rein in its illegal surveillance practices and bring some measure of public oversight to our government’s massive surveillance programs. Senator Sensenbrenner has pledged to lead a fight to de-fund the NSA if it continues in its lawless behavior of mass, illegal spying on American citizens, and he needs our support to be able to carry through on his pledge.
On February 11, Occupy Eugene will add our voice to a rising chorus in support of the USA Freedom Act. We invite everyone to join us, and to support Senator Ron Wyden in his efforts to bring our secret government to light.
There will be two key points expressed, in the message, to Congress
For more on Edward Snowden and NSA surveillance:
NY Times: Edward Snowden, Whistleblower
NSA insiders blow the whistle on illegal, ineffective surveillance
Where Does the President Stand on NSA Reform? | American Civil Liberties Union
Whoville Granted Reprieve Through February 28
On January 27, 2014, the Eugene City Council granted Whoville a 30-day stay of execution until February 28.
City Manager Jon Ruiz has assigned Deputy Chief of Special Operations, Joe Zaludek, to work with Whoville to find a new location. After our first meeting with him, we are hopeful. Our next meeting with him is scheduled for Tuesday the 11th of February.
We are informed the City Manager prefers private instead of public land for Whoville. All are aware that we are unlikely to secure private land within our thirty day clemency period. Therefore we are seeking public land for a short period of time (6 months) until we can develop an exit strategy and destination from that temporary site.
Three temporary sites on public land are currently being discussed for Whoville. All three sites are listed for future development. However, Whoville’s need is short term.
1. Eighth and Mill, directly south across the street from the new Federal Building which was on the City Manager’s original list of properties that meet Council criteria for a Rest Stop.
2. Under the Ferry Street Bridge.
3. Underutilized parking lot just west of Louis Chinese Restaurant on Franklin.
We currently perceive three possible choices that the Council might make though more may evolve. Obviously, the first choice is not acceptable and will require a dramatic and immediate response from the SLEEPS community. Choice three will require lots of us to help with the move and with the cleanup of the current site.
1. Shut Whoville down without providing a new site for them, forcing them back to the streets
2. Extend Whoville’s stay at the current location for a length of time to complete arrangements for a new site
3. Transition Whoville to a new site on the 28th.
Council members have noted that when Whoville first settled at Broadyway/Hilyard, Council members heard lots of objections. After four months at the site, objections have diminished greatly and increasingly, they are receiving email and phone calls supporting a “place to be” for Whoville!
Council Meeting Monday, February 10, 7:30. Arrive after 7:00 but before 7:30 if you wish to speak at the public forum. Your voice is VERY important….and if you prefer to simply attend in solidarity, then your presence alone is a powerful message (especially in this weather!).
A decision on Whoville will be made at either the Monday February 24th 7:30 meeting OR the Wednesday, February 26th Noon meeting. When we know which, we will let you know. In any event, please plan to attend the Monday 24th meeting as the last time our voices can be heard before a decision is made.
Please! Continue to contact your representatives on the Council (info below).
To write the Eugene Mayor, Councilors and City Manager all at once, email to:
mayorcouncilandcitymanager@ci.eugene.or.us
If you prefer to write to them individually, email to:
MAYOR, Kitty Piercy: 541-682-5010 Kitty.Piercy@ci.eugene.or.us
WARD 1, George Brown: 541-682-8341 George.r.brown@ci.eugene.or.us
WARD 2, Betty Taylor: 541–338-9947 Betty.L.Taylor@ci.eugene.or.us
WARD 3, Alan Zelenka: 541 682-8343 Alan.Zelenka@ci.eugene.or.us
WARD 4, George Poling: 541-517-3110 George.A.Poling@ci.eugene.or.us
WARD 5, Mike Clark: 541-682-8345 Mike.Clark@ci.eugene.or.us
WARD 6, Greg Evans: Greg.A.Evans@ci.eugene.or.us
WARD 7, Claire Syrett 541-682-8347 Claire.M.Syrett@ci.eugene.or.us
WARD 8, Chris Pryor: 541-682-8348 Chris.E.Pryor@ci.eugene.or.us
CITY Mgr., Jon Ruiz: 541-682-5010 Jon.r.ruiz@ci.eugene.or.us
Occupy Eugene Launches Sustaining Donor Drive
Occupy Eugene’s overhead is minimal. With no paid staff, its expenses consist of office rent, supplies for actions, and the printing of the Eugene Occupier five times a year. These costs total $5000 a year. While we were at Washington Jefferson donations came in steadily. However, these days donations are few and far between and all too often organizers and activists are spending much of their volunteer time raising funds, time that would be better spent doing the work of Occupy
If 40 people were to donate $120 a year, $10 a month, Occupy Eugene’s costs would be covered, freeing up people to do the work that brought them to Occupy in the first place. Becoming a sustaining donor is easy and there are several ways you can do so. You can make a direct deposit to Occupy Eugene’s account at Oregon Community Credit Union. Or you can mail a donation to P.O. Box 744, Eugene, OR 97440. Or, visit our website, occupyeugenemedia.org, and click on the link on the left below “Donate to Occupy.” There you can set up a recurring donation by downloading the form on the page to arrange for automated monthly debit from your bank account. The form can be mailed to the post office box or returned at the 3rd Friday GA at Growers Market, 454 Willamette. This form can be accessed by clicking on the Direct Debit button. Or, donate using the WePay button on the page,though please understand that 3% of your donations goes to WePay.
Donations below the sustaining donor amount of $120 are gladly accepted, as are amounts over. You may donate anonymously if you prefer. If you are unable to donate financially, the donation of your time is greatly valued. Join our mailing list, on our website’s left column, to receive Occupy Eugene Announcements which notify you, once a week, of various actions and events of Occupy Eugene and its allies.
Judge Rules for Free Speech
From the Register Guard
By Greg Bolt
The Register-Guard
Published:
SLEEPS protestors Peter Grotticelli (left) and Bethany Clement walk their tents down Sixth Avenue in Eugene from their campsite near the Ferry Street Bridge to the Wayne Morse Free Speech Plaza at the Lane County Courthouse after being evicted by Eugene Police. (Chris Pietsch/The Register-Guard)
Lane County is 0-for-2 in its efforts to control the use of a public plaza after a judge on Thursday threw out trespassing citations issued to 21 protesters earlier this year, again saying the action violated their free speech rights.
It’s the second time in a week that the county’s actions against protesters in the Wayne Morse Free Speech Plaza have been found to violate the state and federal constitutions. Last week, the same judge dismissed a trespassing charge against a single protester who remained in the plaza after the county said it had to be closed for cleaning.
Eugene attorney Lauren Regan, executive director of the Civil Liberties Defense Center, said the two rulings show that government must tread lightly when it comes to rules that put any kind of burden on the rights of people to assemble and speak out.
“Our intentions in bringing this case before the court in this way was to have a court rule on what our constitutional rights are at this very public forum in this community,” she said. “We will continue to zealously advocate on behalf of our community’s First Amendment right to exercise free speech and to protest.”
Anne Marie Levis, a spokeswoman for Lane County, said county officials hadn’t had a chance to review the ruling Thursday and couldn’t yet comment on it. But she said the curfew rule that sparked the protest is likely to come up for discussion by county commissioners at a future meeting, possibly in two weeks.
Some protesters returned to the Morse Plaza Thursday night, both to continue a protest over the rights of homeless people and to celebrate the court ruling. The group moved to the plaza from a site under the Ferry Street Bridge next to East Sixth Avenue, where they had been camping to protest police treatment of homeless people.
“We’re exercising our rights to freedom of speech and that was our goal, to protest for the homeless for safe places to sleep,” said James Chastain, a protester who was helping to erect tents at the plaza early Thursday evening.
Thursday’s court ruling centered on a county-imposed curfew on the Morse plaza that closes the public space from 11 p.m. to 6 a.m. In January, a group of activists defied the curfew in a protest over free speech rights and the county asked Eugene police to cite them for trespassing, charges that were then challenged in court.
Attorneys for the protesters asked Eugene Municipal Court Judge Karen Stenard to dismiss the citations, saying the curfew does not pass constitutional muster. In her ruling issued Thursday, Stenard did not strike down the curfew itself but agreed that the citations were unconstitutional.
Stenard said she empathized with the county’s challenges in maintaining its facilities with a limited budget and its claim that the curfew was not aimed at stifling speech but keeping the plaza safe and clean.
“Nonetheless, enforcement of a curfew which closes the very area that the county designated ‘Free Speech Plaza’ (much of which is barely distinguishable from a sidewalk) for a third of every day significantly limited defendants’ rights to speech and assembly, regardless of the curfew’s intent,” the judge wrote in her decision.
Even under the least stringent analysis of the case, “the curfew does not withstand constitutional scrutiny,” Stenard wrote.
Regan said she is willing to work with county officials to rewrite the curfew rule in a way that doesn’t infringe on people’s legal rights. She said that would be cheaper for the county than facing another lawsuit in state or federal court asking that the rule itself be revoked.
Stenard stopped short of saying that the curfew rule itself was unconstitutional, limiting her ruling only to the 21 citations issued in this particular case. She suggested that a city judge might not have jurisdiction to rule on the constitutionality of what is essentially an internal county rule.
But given the judge’s analysis, it’s unlikely anyone else brought before her for violating the curfew under similar circumstances would be convicted. Regan said that essentially makes the rule unenforceable, and she called on the county to change it.
“If there is common sense among any of our county officials, they will sit down with us and figure out a way to resolve this situation in a way that protects the constitutional rights of all our community members,” she said.
The curfew was added to the county’s administrative procedures manual by former county administrator Liane Richardson, who has since been fired over alleged improprieties in how she was paid. She made the change in December after she shut down a protest, claiming she had smelled human feces in a planter and needed to have the plaza cleaned, an argument that Stenard also rejected as unconstitutional in her earlier ruling.
Although the curfew rule allows people to apply to use the plaza at night, Regan said the county did not have any clear procedures or application form for requesting an exception and no clear criteria for deciding whether to grant such requests. One protester testified that she tried to get a permit to use the plaza at night but was told she didn’t need one and that county employees seemed unaware of any process for granting one.
Stenard said she found that testimony troubling and indicated it weighed in her finding that curfew citations were unconstitutional.
“Any permitting or exception process should be so transparent and accessible that all government staff involved in the process are well aware of it, can explain it to the public and laypersons can navigate the requirements,” she wrote. “The curfew imposed by the administrative procedures manual is unconstitutional as applied to the defendants.”
Reporter Samuel Stites contributed to this report.
“We’re exercising our rights to freedom of speech, and that was our goal.”
— James Chastain, protester