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HISTORY.UOREGON.EDU 25 Classifieds 27 Savage Love LCHAOISNUTENOTRYY HIST MUSEUM History Cosponsored by the UO Department of History, UNCUT GEMS Lane County History Museum, and the UO Center for Environmental Futures a Force thank you burch’s customers of Nature editorial For every purchase you made in December, we EDITOR Camilla Mortensen ARTS EDITOR Bob Keefer donated a pair of socks to the Eugene Mission SENIOR STAFF WRITER Rick Levin STAFF WRITERS Henry Houston, Taylor Perse and the Oregon Assisted Living Program. CALENDAR EDITOR / COPY EDITOR Dan Buckwalter CONTRIBUTING EDITOR Anita Johnson CONTRIBUTING WRITERS Blake Andrews, Ester Thanks to you, Burch’s donated Barkai, Brett Campbell, Rachael Carnes, Tony Bamboo is the fastest growing Corcoran, Jerry Diethelm, Rachel Foster, Colin Houck, William Kennedy, Paul Neevel Alexis plant on Earth, reaching maturity in 3-5 years! 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POSTMASTER: SEND ADDRESS CHANGES TO EUGENE WEEKLY, M-Th 9am-7pm•F 9am-8pm•Sa 9am-7pm•Su 10am-6pm Sun. - Thurs. : 11-8 • Fri. - Sat. : 11-9 ©2020 W12H51A LTI’NSC HOALPNP SETN.I,N EGU GINECN.E A, LOLR R 9IG74H0T1S-3 R4E18S.E RVED. 70 W. 29th Ave. Eugene • 541-343-3295 1043 OR-99, Unit C, Cottage Grove • 541-649-1250 EUGENEWEEKLY.COM JANUARY 9, 2020 3 letters DAVIDSON RESPONDS life of trees in Oregon with higher tem- multifamily housing.  Currently about Eugene Weekly published two letters peratures and dryer soils. 90 percent of Eugene’s residential area (12/19 and 12/26) referring to my status Bob Keefer gave us a much-needed il- is zoned single family only. That needs as an Airbnb host. The authors also had lustration with his tree planting of Pon- to change. HB 2001 is a good start.   some things to say about Airbnb and derosa Pines as his Douglas Firs disap- Bryan Shephard the rental market. I appreciate the op- peared. If you didn’t have a copy of this Eugene portunity to clarify. informative change, do stop by the Eu- FLOOD OF ILLEGALS Here are some facts to get out of the gene Weekly office for a copy as we look way so we can address the principal for ways to save our Oregon forests. Re: “Nobody is above the law” (EW, drivers of our housing crisis: Temperatures are rising. It’s hap- 12/26): Most people spouting that man- I rent rooms in my home, short-term, pening here! tra today are left-leaning and disingenu- through Airbnb, and long-term on Ruth Duemler ous. That includes the elected officials month-to-month leases.   Eugene who supported the 12/17 demonstra- Approximately 35,000 houses are tions. MIDDLE CLASS BS available for rent in Eugene (Worldp- I agree wholeheartedly that nobody, PopulationReview.com), and 402 (AirD- The Dec. 26 “Think Again” column including the president, is above the law. NA.co) are short-term rentals. Of those, by Eben Fodor is a whole lot of bullshit. However, many, if not most, lefties can- 270 are non-owner occupied (AirDNA. Fodor is defending privileged middle- not honestly claim they believe that be- co). This represents less than 1 percent class homeowners, not working-class cause by their actions and statements of rental inventory. Airbnb pays tran- renters who will never be able to afford they clearly think illegal immigrants are sient room tax to Eugene. In 2018, this to buy a house. above the law. totaled $1.23 million (AirDNA.co). It doesn’t matter what people Sen. Jeff Merkley is the worst of the The city of Eugene incorrectly re- “want,” and the “American dream” is bunch, as he consistently opposes en- ported that Expedia, Priceline and Tri- dead. What renters need is apartments forcement of U.S. immigration laws pAdvisor buy properties and convert we can afford.  while bragging about how he’s “fight- them to STRs. The have since admitted We cannot allow homeowners to get ing” for American workers.  their mistake.                                      in the way and keep us out of “their” It is estimated that there will be an- Airbnb hosts include renters, artists, neighborhoods. They will have to be other two billion people on the planet by stay-at-home parents, retirees and peo- forced to accept increased housing den- 2050. They will need land, energy, food, ple paying their bills. The fastest growing sity, as now required by state law.  water, housing, education, transporta- host demographic is senior women.  Pay close attention to where Eugene tion, etc. In America and Europe, the What are some significant causes of City Council candidates stand on this growth has been and will be driven almost our housing shortage? Since the 1980s, issue. Elect renters, especially young entirely by immigration, much of it illegal.  the federal government has disinvested ones who can’t find a place to rent in Eu- Some Democrats seem to think that in human services and affordable hous- gene that they can afford. every oppressed person in the world ing. In addition to exclusionary zoning Lynn Porter has a de facto right to be an American laws, Eugene has hefty system devel- Eugene citizen. To that end, the Democrats opment charges and an outdated oc- who rule our state government have THINK AGAIN, FODOR cupancy ordinance. We’ve also had an been incentivizing illegal immigration increase in people coming here. What is Eben Fodor thinking (“Think to Oregon in the last several legisla- We can’t ban people from coming, Again,” 12/26)?  In the face a severe tive sessions. nor should we. But we can have a pro- housing shortage, he tells us that we I have no issue with law-abiding legal ductive, respectful discussion about should be very afraid of potential new immigrants. But please tell me how the how best to address the demand for the neighbors living in more compact hous- flood of illegals relieves our overcrowded variety of housing our growing popula- ing. Remarkably, they are going to be schools, the gridlock on our highways, tion requires. responsible for both “chaotic and un- our critical housing shortage, working Kate Davidson planned densification” and “sprawling class wage pressure, our strained social Eugene City Council development” at the very same time.   safety nets, and how does it stem the Ward 2 candidate Fodor suggests that everyone should tide of deadly narcotics brought into just follow the “American Dream” and Oregon by foreign nationals? How does FOR THE TREES live in a “single family home with a yard.” it reduce carbon emissions? Thank you for the very informative This is total fantasy. It’s not possible, Just asking. article on Dec. 26 (“Pining Away”). Cli- either economically or environmentally. Jerry Ritter mate change has already affected the The reality is that we need a lot more Springfield 4 JANUARY 9, 2020 EUGENEWEEKLY.COM EUGENEWEEKLY.COM JANUARY 9, 2020 5 letters The Shedd Institute www.theshedd.org - 541.434.7000 Magic Dick Chris Walton Lee Oskar Beth Sheehan Jerry Portnoy Duke Robillard Big Head Mark Hummel’s Jan 9 Blues Harmonica Todd and the Monsters Blowout 2020 Jan 16 w/ special guest Hazel Miller Superstars of Blues Rock Harmonica Diana Gardener microphilharmonic microphilharmonic Title Sponsor Harmoniemuisik III CORPORATE DEFAZIO REAGAN WAS NO JESUS Sunday, January 19th – 3:00 pm To correct Bob Warren, my letter Reagan loving Greg Williams (Letters, (12/12) in no way demanded that Rep. 1/2/20) is only remembering the B-grade Peter DeFazio “pledge to not accept slick actor turned politician and his very Juan de Marcos’ PAC money.” That ship has obviously small percentage of accomplishments. sailed. The detrimental legacy he actually left Afro-Cuban DeFazio’s business PAC money ex- was huge and typical for the conservative ceeds his small individual donations view of the world; i.e., no healthcare, vot- All Stars by four times, and for 16 of the past 17 ing rights, education, unions or sharing years he accepted money from the As- in the wealth. (That’s the conservative sociation of American Railroads, which norm in every country.) Jan 23 was determined to be “the most active Income inequality? There’s nothing organization in the climate denial move- wrong with being rich, but, inordinately, ment.”  the rich game the tax system, buy politi- Warren, a former advisor for De- cians to get selfish laws and subsidies, Next at The Shedd Fazio, argues that DeFazio’s strategy of buy their children special education and | full schedule: theshedd.org | welcoming such cash is how you beat a job opportunities and “create” slave wage 1.20 NAACP Martin Luther King 2.6-9 The Jazz Kings: It’s All Right “Trumpster” and their super PACs. We jobs (aka practicing top-tier socialism).  March Celebration With Me - Ella Fitzgerald ran that experiment in 2016 when Clin- Homelessness? Thank Reagan for de- ton handily outraised Trump, including funding the mental healthcare system and 1.23 Afro-Cuban All Stars 2.12 Ehud Asherie - Gershwin raising 2.5 times more in super PACs.  running up the U.S. deficit so obnoxiously 1.25 John Pizzarelli 2.16 Mark & Maggie O’Connor There is an alternative. Multiple high that there was only a pittance left for freshmen representatives take what social programs. And as much as conser- Warren calls “silly pledges” and still out- vatives hate social programs for the 99 Give Music raise DeFazio by using popular policies percent, they’re prudent and necessary. that attract small individual donations Even Jesus touted social programs. and votes. Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cor- Rod Serling was a great writer. He Shedd Institute Gift Certificates for the Holidays tez outraised all house Democrats in gave us allegorical stories that chal- the third quarter, including an unprec- lenged our minds. The Twilight Zone is 541.434.7000 | www.theshedd.org edented $1.1 million in small individual worthy of remembrance. donations alone. That’s more than De- Reagan was just a typical conserva- Fazio received in total through all three tive “on loan from God,” as they like to quarters. fantasize, and not worthy of more than a Bernie Sanders also takes these footnote in history. pledges, as does DeFazio’s primary Annie Kayner challenger, Doyle Canning.   Eugene While I disagree with Warren’s strat- NAUGHTY AND NICE egy, at least he’s honest about it. De- Fazio makes far-fetched claims of being I would like to thank Eugene Weekly “grassroots” and “powered by the peo- for publishing Paul Nicholson’s View- ple” while swimming in corporate cash point (1/2/20). I modeled some of my ap- The John G. Shedd Institute for the Arts that even his former advisor openly sup- proach to serving as an elected official Music School ports. My demand isn’t that DeFazio re- on Paul’s (and a very few others) work fuse corporate PAC money, it’s that he is ethic. Read all the materials. Ask all of honest about it — neither are demands I the tough questions, even if go-along-to- Winter Term begins January 5 need to make of Canning. get-along elected officials sitting nearby Colin Moran squirm and fret with honest discussion Contact the registrar at 541.434.7000 / [email protected] Eugene of issues important to many people’s val- 4 JANUARY 9, 2020 EUGENEWEEKLY.COM EUGENEWEEKLY.COM JANUARY 9, 2020 5 letters PLASTIC FACTS POLITICAL HYPOCRISY ues. Speak truth to power. Craft policy Due to city staff doing an inadequate and budgets and decisions based on the The recent letters to the editor dis- Abraham Lincoln was said to have job of researching and presenting rec- highest good, not what will make the few cussing the toxic legacy of waste incin- used the following example to define ommendations about STRs over the and powerful even more powerful, and erators have been shockingly emotional, a hypocrite: “A young man killed his summer, the city council was about to stop the wealthy from excessive feeding ignoring the facts. Of course, plastic bag parents, then pleaded for mercy on the enact severe regulations that would’ve at the public trough. and styrofoam bans have their validity grounds that he was an orphan.”   affected the lives of hundreds of peo- As part of the “nice,” wishing every- for green policies, but they make very The Trump administration recently ple.  A small group of local hosts were one a healthy and happy new year, let’s little difference with regard to plastic violated the sovereign airspace of Iraq inspired to gather actual data and to not forget the “naughty” of 2019. Nich- waste that ends up in our environment. and bombed Iraqi militia facilities. They, speak up for themselves.   olson highlights only a few instances of For now, incineration is still largely with Iran, have been fighting the Islamic The hosts who talked to the City Coun- coal-in-stockings. Let’s not overlook employed for plastic wastes (such as from State. The U.S. raid killed 25 Iraqis and cil on Dec. 9 weren’t “strident” or “spin- the folly of executive director Jacob Fox medical facilities) that cannot be depos- injured dozens more. It was a U.S. re- ning the issue.” Most were retirees, social and his Board of Homes For Good — for- ited in an open landfill. With the advance- venge attack.   servants, teachers and artists speaking merly HACSA (Resident Commission- ment of clean incinerators, many coun- In a rocket assault days earlier, Iraqi about how their STRs allow them to pay ers Michelle Thurston and Char Reavis, tries in Europe, especially Scandinavia, militias had killed an American on a U.S.- their bills, keep their houses or educate and Lane County Commissioners Pat saved significant amounts of energy that occupied military base in the Iraqi city of their children. They recognize a need for Farr, Jay Bozievich, Joe Berney, Heather otherwise would have been produced Kirkuk.  Media stenographers identified the city to protect neighborhoods and Buch and Pete Sorenson). from new fossil fuel resources. the fallen American only as a “contractor.”  were not advocating for absentee hosts, Fox adroitly pulled a bait-and switch, Landfills are only economical in ar- The events that have unfolded since, “clogging parking spaces,” “party hous- apparently with HFG board leaders eas with low population densities, and including the U.S. embassy demonstra- es” or Airbnb empires where neighbor- asleep at the wheel. Fox’s scheme of sell- only incineration will guarantee that tions, have been laid at the feet of Iran as hoods are like hotels. ing the Lombard Site, long slated for af- micro-plastics will not (eventually) af- if the Iraqis are incapable of thinking for After listening, the council realized that fordable housing, to the notorious out- fect the environment. Incineration when themselves. This, too, defines hypocrisy.  they had been misled and, at their Dec. 11 of-state, pave-and-run, market-rate (i.e. combined with recycling is a green tech- M. Reza Behnam, Ph.D. work session, agreed to convene an ad hoc expensive) apartments developer, Ever- nology that powers large population Eugene committee to document the local reality green Housing Development Group, is centers in Europe and Asia. and recommend relevant regulations. The HOT AIRBNB an outrage to our community. While toxics are present in the fumes delay in the process falls on city staff and Many view the land as the last local, of waste incineration, they can be fil- A recent letter about Airbnb and councilors, not on the local hosts. publicly owned parcel in our cherished tered out and deposited with about the STRs (12/26) makes negative assump- With the need for evidence-based data Willamette River Greenway. Moving it same risk a landfill is posing long-term tions and rushes to judge people in upon which to make decisions, shame on into private hands is not only naughty; it for nearby populations. the harshest ways. The author makes the letter writer and the Eugene Weekly is scandalous. Michael Lindenmaier an emotional appeal about imagining for inciting fear through misinformation.   Rob Handy Eugene “nightmare” and “worst-case scenarios,” Kristin King Eugene but fails to support them with any facts. Eugene Local Vocandal VIEWPOINT BY MARTY WILDE Helping Our Veterans protected person to a more secure and sustainable con- dition. To fully meet the needs of Oregon’s population of 4.2 million people, OPG would need about 30 employ- IT’S NOT TOO LATE TO GET VETERANS THE AID THEY DESERVE ees. Right now, we have only funded a few positions statewide. As a result, many people who could receive assistance do not. It would take only three guardians W e will lose 50 percent of Oregon’s leverage it several times over by using it to connect vet- to meet the needs of Oregon’s 300,000 veterans. With veterans over the next 20 years. erans to their federal benefits. them, we could connect veterans with HUD-VASH Currently, 54 percent of them The VA is a famously bureaucratic organization. vouchers, Veterans Homes, supportive housing, dis- are over age 65. Many of those Mentally ill, houseless veterans are often not in a posi- ability benefits, VA healthcare and any number of oth- served in Vietnam and never tion to fill out forms to make healthcare appointments, er programs. We could save lives. received the appreciation for connect with disability benefits or find a place to live. During the 2020 short session, I’ll introduce a bill to their service that our World War Too often, they end up in the emergency rooms of our fund those positions and to help fulfill Abraham Lin- II veterans and newer ones like me enjoy. hospitals, where their physicians struggle to stabilize coln’s promise in his Second Inaugural Address. Every night, 1,300 Oregon veterans sleep on the them because they can’t make decisions for themselves “With malice toward none, with charity for all, with street or in shelters. We lost Maj. Tom Egan 11 years and don’t have family members who are able or willing firmness in the right as God gives us to see the right, let ago this winter, when he succumbed to the cold while to help. Our county Veterans Services officers do great us strive on to finish the work we are in, to bind up the sleeping outdoors. It’s too late for us to save him, but work, but they can’t help individuals who aren’t capable nation’s wounds, to care for him who shall have borne it isn’t too late for us to give others the honor, respect of making decisions for themselves. the battle and for his widow, and his orphan, to do all and housing they deserve. Oregon started a public guardianship (OPG) pro- which may achieve and cherish a just and lasting peace Often, the resources to help are available, just inac- gram in 2015 to care for people unable to care for among ourselves and with all nations.” cessible. The federal Veterans Administration spends themselves. OPG will intervene only in cases where (1) Lincoln realized what we must remember — that about $10,000 per year per veteran in Oregon, includ- the lack of a guardian would present a safety risk to achieving a just and peaceful society takes more than ing health and housing programs. These programs in- the protected person, (2) no less restrictive measures just ending a war. It requires us to care for our veter- clude health care, disability benefits, long-term care at would address that safety risk, (3) the protected per- ans. We will lose too many of them in the years to come. a Veterans Home, rehabilitation services and housing son lacks funds to pay a private guardian, and (4) no Let’s give a last measure of dignity and respect to those vouchers through the HUD-VASH program. friend or family member will serve as the guardian. who once promised to give the last full measure of their It can be difficult for even healthy, housed veterans The protected person has the right to contest a lives to protect us. ■ to access these benefits. At the state level, we are able guardianship and be heard before a judge. The guard- Marty Wilde represents House District 11 in the Oregon Legislature to allocate only about $50 per year per veteran, but we ianship lasts only as long as necessary to restore the and is a military veteran. 6 JANUARY 9, 2020 EUGENEWEEKLY.COM EUGENEWEEKLY.COM JANUARY 9, 2020 7 LIVES IN CRISIS tal hospital with bars, chains and challenged staff. When I arrive at cell front, Steve is sitting on his bunk waiting for an ambulance. The guard is pissed off. Paperwork. Steve talks. I avoid the obvious ques- tion. He is frustrated, angry, unable to explain. The A lifer works to save lives in an Oregon prison, ambulance arrives. A week later, Steve is back. which increasingly houses the mentally ill BY WIL There’s a guard standing outside my cell telling me to report to the mental health building. Long walk. I Steve is sitting on his bunk waiting for an ambulance. n one Oregon prison, when a prisoner is experi- Crawl. A litany of complaints following, whin- He has ripped open his sternum-to-pelvis radio re- encing a crisis, another prisoner may be called in ing… It’s not my fault scenarios, my child- trieval incision. His guts are in his lap. to calm emotions. These crisis companions are on hood was… The guard is pissed. Paper- call 24 hours a day. I am one of them. I began serv- I listen. Two hours die. I work. The ambulance ar- ing my life sentence 28 years ago. listen. No magic wand, de- rives. *** mons survive. I use words; A week later, Steve is Jerod won‘t come out of his cell. The guard has the right words don’t ex- dead. called me to E540. Hiding? You can’t hide in prison, ist. When afraid of snakes, *** even under your sink. Fear is a mind shadow, at- handle snakes. Jerod can’t Twenty-two veterans kill tached, dark, an inaccurate representation of self, see his snakes, coils of his- themselves every day. I am a vet- without detail or feature, always on the opposite side tory hiding under a dark sink. eran. I am alive. Steve is dead, of light. Jerod is afraid. *** hanging from a braided rope I sit down outside his cell. He is trembling, wait- Steve has eaten his ra- in his cell. I couldn’t reach ing for someone to wave a magic wand, say the right dio. There’s a guard stand- him. I’m supposed to help. words. I am not him. ing outside my cell telling I’m a mental health worker. I “You’re going to starve.” me to report to the mental couldn’t help. No reaction. health building. It’s a long walk I’ve been dead. Is this how I “You’re going to be taken to the mental health in the early morning cold — dark, looked? I’m alive. How do I look? Is building.” wet, gray walls, dripping buildings, silence. life ugly? Causes are caused by causes No reaction. Half awake, I’m wondering: Why would by causes by causes. Understanding is “Talk to me or I’m going to leave.” anyone eat his or her radio? How much time, what impossible. “Please don’t leave.” degree of determination, would it require? Every day He left me a note: “Fuck the world.” ■ Progress. “Get your ass out from under the sink. is different for me, but this is very different, as un- Wil, an 81-year-old crisis companion and yoga teacher, is serving a You look ridiculous. This is not working and you know common as the many mental health issues infecting life sentence at an Oregon penitentiary. He is a member of Lauren it.” this maximum-security prison. It’s becoming a men- Kessler’s Lifers Writers Group. 6 JANUARY 9, 2020 EUGENEWEEKLY.COM EUGENEWEEKLY.COM JANUARY 9, 2020 7 Local Vocandal HEAR YE, VIEWPOINT BY THOMAS COFFIN 15-35% OFF CBD* HEAR YE !! Murdering IN JANUARY LEGAL HUGELY EXPANDED SELECTION OF CBD & HEMP NOTICES Democracy We have several NEW brands including Non-Cannabis CBD Capsules v Liquids v Topicals v Edibles place your legal notices FOR PEOPLE & PETS in the Eugene Weekly AFTER THREE YEARS WITH TRUMP, IT IS TIME TO Our Well-Informed Staff Can Help You Choose FAST, EFFICIENT DECIDE THE DIRECTION AND FATE OF THE COUNTRY The Right One For You SERVICE I f three years of the Trump administration have demonstrated anything with *CV SCIENCES, IRWIN NATURALS, BARLEAN’S, TERRY NATURALLY, GARDEN OF LIFE, GAIA, call: 541.484.0519 clarity, it is that 2020 presents the nation with stark choices between integrity SOLARAY LEAF THERAPEUTICS, & more! ________________________________________________ email: offi [email protected] or corruption in government, the rule of law or the chaos of caprice, the survival 1653 Willamette Street fax: 541.484.4044 of the Constitution or its demise, democracy or autocracy. M-F 9-6 • Sat 10-5 • Sun 11-5 FREE OFF-STREET PARKING Eugene Weekly qualifi es for Never before have we witnessed the arrogance of a president claiming he 541-485-5100 posting legal ads may murder at will without being investigated, much less prosecuted, for his www.evergreennutrition.com crimes. Never before have we been informed by a president that the Constitu- tional remedy of impeachment is unavailable if he declares it so, and that he has the power to order witnesses not to cooperate with impeachment proceedings. Never before have we imagined, much less heard, a president invoke the specter of civil war if he were to be impeached. There are alarming reasons to believe that our country’s foreign policy is driven by the personal interests of the president. He has described the emolument clause of the Constitution as “phony,” hotels operated by his business enterprises are booked by foreign officials, some of whom don’t even bother to stay there. He refuses to disclose financial documents such as tax returns, which are pertinent to his economic entanglements with foreign entities and countries. He has withdrawn support for allies in a war zone at the request of the leader of a foreign nation where his enterprises reportedly do business — an act that was immediately followed by that nation launching a military attack against the abandoned allies. Most disturbing of all is the revelation that the president withheld foreign aid to the Ukraine, appropriated by Congress to bolster its defense against an ongoing Rus- sian invasion, and conditioned its delivery on the initiation of a criminal investigation that would implicate a domestic political opponent in the 2020 election. This is an unprecedented abuse of the office of the presidency to further the personal politi- cal interests of the individual holding that office. Rather than serving the paramount security interest of our country, he is serving only himself. Articles of impeachment have been drawn, but there is virtually no reason to be- lieve that the party in control of the Senate will perform its solemn duty of addressing the merits of the charges. Notwithstanding the gravity of the conduct at issue, we have already been treated to the spectacle of dozens of the president’s party storm- ing a supposedly secure hearings room to disrupt the process. This is nothing less than blatant contempt of the very Constitutional function that is the ultimate safe- guard of our democracy. The president himself suggested that whistleblowers reporting his conduct that triggered the proceedings were “close to spies,” who should be identified and “han- dled like in the old days” (executed). Witnesses with personal knowledge who have come forward to testify at the proceedings have been vilified for doing so. The pejo- rative “deep state” epithet was applied to career government employees who cou- rageously braved retaliation by placing loyalty to country over loyalty to a president and his malfeasance. Other potential witnesses with personal knowledge kept their silence and refused to testify, either because of the president’s order or lucrative looming book deals, or a combination of both. In an historic moment reminiscent of Profiles in Courage, the impeachment process is separating the wheat from the chaff. There are few signs, however, that the president’s party will break ranks and take any action to curb his abuse of power or his siege against our Constitution. In that event, it will be squarely up to “We the People” to decide the direction and fate of our country. The Constitution is not a partisan document. The rule of law is not a partisan principle. Democracy is not a partisan model of governance. These are the very foundations on which our nation is constructed, and they are threatened as never before. The prophetic warnings uttered by the great Roman orator Cicero some 2,000 years ago when his Republic was crumbling from within are worth reiterating today: “A nation can survive its fools, and even the ambitious. But it cannot survive trea- son from within. For the traitor appears not a traitor — he speaks in the accents fa- miliar to his victims, and he appeals to the baseness that lies deep in the hearts of all men. He rots the soul of a nation — he walks secretly and unknown in the night to undermine the pillars of a city — he infects the body politic so that it can no longer resist. A murderer is less to be feared.” ■ A former federal prosecutor, Judge Thomas Coffin was a U.S. magistrate for the District of Oregon until his retirement in 2017. He writes as a private citizen. 8 JANUARY 9, 2020 EUGENEWEEKLY.COM EUGENEWEEKLY.COM JANUARY 9, 2020 9 A PLANE DROPS FIRE RETARDANT ON THE AUGUST 2019 MOUNT PISGAH FIRE New Life at Mount Pisgah LEARNING FROM FROM FIRE AND INDIGENOUS FIRE MANAGEMENT PRACTICES By Jessica Douglas P lant life is thriving at Mount Pisgah Arboretum and Howard Buford Recreation Area after a wildfire engulfed almost 50 acres of the county park in August 2019. Oak seedlings can be seen sprouting from acorns in the ash and charcoal- laden ground, green leaves grow from the tops of oak trees crisped by the fire and new sprouts are making their appearance at the base of strong and resilient madrone trees. Despite a widespread belief that fire is inherently all-destructive, the plant life along the southeast side of Mount Pisgah suggests a different perspective. Missing from many conversations about fire are the practices of Indigenous nations who having been living and tending to the land with fire for thousands of years. Maybe fire isn’t inherently bad, after all. The fire at Mount Pisgah, which erupted shortly after noon Thursday, Aug. 15, was accidental, according to an Photo by Anna Lowden investigation by the Oregon Department of Forestry. “Approximately 75 percent of the fire’s spread was it. When settlers arrived in the Willamette Valley and ODF spokeswoman Bobbi Doan said the investigation stopped by nightfall, while crews worked on completing forcibly removed Native nations, many tribes, including found the fire erupted when a contractor’s mower hit a a combination of handline and dozerline around the the Kalapuya people, were outlawed from practicing their rock, sparking the flame. perimeter of the fire overnight,” ODF’s Doan says. traditional ways of fire management. Brad van Appel, executive director of Mount Pisgah The park remained closed throughout the weekend; The Willamette Valley has been in a period of fire sup- Arboretum, says the contractor was performing regular firefighters established full containment by Saturday, pression for almost 100 years. Norgaard says, “federal, maintenance at the park, mowing brush that would be Aug. 17. state and local government agencies are starting to in- used in a few weeks for a prescribed fire. creasingly recognize Indigenous burning as an ecosystem “They weren’t planning to actually start the fire until COMBINING INDIGENOUS KNOWLEDGE component and restoration technique.” conditions changed. This was prep work that was being AND WESTERN SCIENCE Organizations such as The Nature Conservancy and done weeks in advance,” van Appel says. “Fire is a natural part of ecology, of nature,” says van Friends of Buford Park and Mt. Pisgah have been regularly Lane County spokesperson Devon Ashbridge says the Appel of the Arboretum. “The Native Americans were performing prescribed fires at Mount Pisgah, drawing in- county follows ODF’s Industrial Fire Precaution Levels very successful in managing a sustainable ecosystem in spiration from Indigenous communities like the Kalapuya within its parks, including its contracted work. She says, this area using fire for thousands of years.” people. Friends of Buford stewards public and private “The IFPL level on the day of the wildfire was IFPL II and The Kalapuya tribe of the Willamette Valley, whose lands outside the Arboretum throughout the 4,700-acre review afterward indicated that all of the appropriate ancestral lands include the cities of Eugene and Springfield, greater Mt. Pisgah area, and TNC works with Lane County requirements attached to IFPL II were followed.” used fire management to tend to the land. Typically, fires and the Friends on a 1,270 acre restoration near Buford. This includes the time of day mowing occurred were burned at low intensity, allowing for the regrowth Because the wildfire occurred in an area that had been — between 8 am and 1 pm. Ashbridge says, “While mowing of native grasses and keeping competition between a previous prescribed burned spot, van Appel says, “It may not be explicitly listed under IFPL II, we tend to take Douglas-fir and oak trees low, letting the Kalapuya staple may have been a benefit in this case since there wasn’t a very restrictive view of allowable activities so that we food of acorns and camas, prosper. as much dry underbrush as there could have been.” can reduce risk as much as possible while still performing Kari Norgaard, associate professor of sociology and While parts of the wildfire at Mount Pisgah did burn at restoration work that is seasonal in nature.” environmental studies at the University of Oregon, has high temperatures, killing some non-fire-resistant trees, Fifteen minutes after the initial spark, the fire covered researched Indigenous fire management practices with the van Appel says, “Ecologically, there is not really a lot of 400 square feet, about the size of a two-car garage. Karuk tribe in Northern California for more than 10 years. downsides to the fire. However, socially, economically, It quickly grew to eight acres, about the size of seven “While fires can be dangerous, they are inevitable and you could say there were downsides to the fire.” football fields. The winds carried the fire, nourishing it necessary in many ecosystems, and humans have long As for the future of fire management at Mount Pisgah, and moving it upland. adapted to them,” she says. van Appel says the window of time in which a contractor Every fire station east of I-5 was called to the scene; Euro-American settlers were shocked by the rich performing maintenance and preparing for a prescribed Oregon was having a mild wildfire season and resources biodiversity of California and Oregon forests, woodlands fire may change. Ultimately, he says, “Fire is a natural part were available. In total, four helicopters, three aircraft and prairies, Norgaard says, but they didn’t understand of ecology, of nature, [and it] has been a huge part of the and 85 firefighters were brought in to put out the fire. that Indigenous people’s use of fire was responsible for history of this landscape for thousands of years.” ■ 8 JANUARY 9, 2020 EUGENEWEEKLY.COM EUGENEWEEKLY.COM JANUARY 9, 2020 9 news Empty Houses overnight stays, including hotels and bed and breakfasts. According to Oregon law, the tax money is to be used for tourism purposes. Rental sites like Airbnb work with users on the Block to ensure they are complying with the transient room tax. “Here, it funds cultural services. The rental housing stock of Eugene needs to be protected or expanded,” Shultz says. She adds that she has been disappointed in EUGENE’S LACK OF REGULATIONS FOR THE SHORT-TERM RENTAL MARKET the council’s previous lack of action on the topic. MAY BE TAKING AWAY ROOMS FROM RESIDENTS Another path the city can take in regulation is setting limits on how many rentals an owner can operate. Ryan Moore, City Council candidate and co-founder of the By Taylor Perse Eugene-Springfield Tenant Association, says in some neighborhoods a single owner will buy out multiple homes O ver the last decade, Airbnb has changed affordable housing already plaguing the city. An Airbnb for the purpose of renting, leaving mostly empty houses the way people book their vacations, press release noted that Eugene saw a 213 percent increase in residential areas. allowing homeowners to make extra in booking from year to year. “The problem is, when a whole house is being purchased money and travelers to enjoy more op- Eugene was also listed as the West Coast’s top des- with the expressed purpose of being a short-term rental.” tions in where they stay. tination for Airbnb, preceding the Olympic trials in this Moore says. But as this short-term rental market coming June and 2021. People coming to town for these Syrett disagrees. in Eugene exponentially grows, Eugene events can pay anywhere from $40 to upwards of $600 “That’s a fear,” she says. “But it’s not happening. Do housing advocates believe these rentals are taking rooms a night to rent rooms or entire houses. we need to regulate for something that isn’t happening?” away from an already depleted and costly long-term rental According to Airbnb and Shultz’s research, there are Syrett also says she is not convinced these rentals take market. The Olympic trials and the 2021 World Athletic 1,154 Airbnbs in Eugene. About one to two-thirds of those away from the rental market. She says she would need to Championships are getting closer, and experts are criti- overnight stays are entire-house rentals, and others are see more data. cizing city leaders for their lack of action. bedrooms or backyard cottages. Two other popular home “I understand why that’s a worry. I don’t think it’s a Sherri Shultz, creator of the group Eugene Micro- renting websites, HomeAway and Vacation Rentals By huge number and I think there are many other things Dwellers, a community resource for discussing smaller Owner (VRBO), list an additional 198 properties. the city has control over to help housing,” Syrett says. living spaces such as tiny houses and co-living situations, The Eugene City Council discussed creating ordinances When short-term rentals are discussed, Shultz says the says not having regulations on short-term rentals is regulating short-term rentals in its Dec. 11 work session. conversation often revolves around someone wanting to robbing citizens of housing. Councilor Claire Syrett argued that many of the issues make money versus a disgruntled neighbor upset about “What I do know is 32 Oregon communities have already were assumptions. The council decided to conduct more parties in the neighborhood, but that the problem is much regulated this. It’s not like some crazy scheme that we just research before creating new policies. more widespread and needs to be dealt with quickly. thought of,” Shultz says. “We are way late.” Shultz says the city has a few different options in “We are talking about the overall health of the Shultz says she believes timing is crucial because of regulating short-term rentals. One is to find a way to community. Nobody on the City Council is talking about Eugene’s rising popularity as a destination and the lack of increase the transient room tax. This state tax applies to all that,” she says. ■ slant • We are delighted offer “technical expertise” but is not funding the foot and proud to be send- patrols. We can only hope the patrols also watch for ing more of our ex- drunken frat boys. cellent interns to the Wall Street Journal. Last year, Michael Tobin, • PSA: Slant is an editorial column. Editorials are now editor of the Daily Emerald at the University of where newspapers express opinion. We get a little Oregon, held the F. James Pensiero Summer Report- nervous when we see folks referring to a Slant item ing Internship. For summer 2020, our intern Renata as an “article.” We don’t really mind when readers Geraldo will have the Pensiero internship, and intern say Eugene Weekly has bias. We do, and to pretend Donny Morrison will be breaking news for the WSJ at otherwise would be untrue. We are pro-local, pro- its Los Angeles bureau. In addition to being Eugene environment, pro-the underdog, and if you haven’t Weekly interns, Morrison is the managing editor of figured it out by now, anti-Trump. We are also pro-free the Emerald and Geraldo is the editor-in-chief of speech and diverse opinions, which is why you will see Ethos magazine, also at the UO. opinions that differ from ours in our Local and Vocal viewpoints and letters. • Last Friday, Jan. 3, Sen. Ron Wyden hosted a program transitioned 72 people into stable housing. town hall meeting at Roosevelt Middle School as part More than 2,000 parents and children were served • Take it if a friend offers you a ticket to an of his original campaign promise to hold the meetings at the First Place Family Center. Seventy families (84 Oregon women’s basketball game at Matt Knight in every Oregon county once a year. The room was percent) who enrolled in the Night Shelter program Arena — you might not be able to even buy a ticket packed (they had to set up more chairs), and the exited to stable housing. As a community we need to to these popular games. Ranked No. 2 in the country, discussion was moderated by Mayor Lucy Vinis. Wyden do better in 2020, but St. Vinnies is an inspiring leader. the Ducks are drawing 10,000 to 11,000 fans even answered questions, and he discussed health care, when the students are on holiday and the other team homelessness, the climate crisis, immigration and • From the “What could go wrong?” department is nowhere — like losing by 50 points. Seats will be impeachment. He said that several of these issues were comes this piece of fear-piercing news: The University sold out for the Stanford and Oregon State games competing to be his top priority for this year. And on of Oregon, the school’s sororities and Eugene Wake Up for sure, probably for all the rest of the home games. Jan. 6 Rep. Peter DeFazio spoke to media about the are combining to create privately funded foot patrols Don’t despair. You can watch their games on Pac12 situation unfolding with Iran. He printed and read to fight “lawlessness” — crimes Eugene Wake Up Network and have as much fun as these amazing aloud Trump’s tweet claiming it was a notification to believes are being committed exclusively by homeless athletes seem to be having. Congress that if Iran targeted the U.S., the country men and women. Stephen Sheehan, the owner of Elk would strike back. “This is just outrageous,” DeFazio Horn Brewery near campus and one of the founders of • How about a Democratic ticket of Warren- said of Trump’s actions and use of Twitter. Eugene Wake Up, told local television media and KLCC Castro in November 2020? Elizabeth Warren this week he’s working with sorority mothers to add welcomes Julian Castro’s endorsement, but says it is too • In case you need some good news today, consider patrols around his restaurant and nearby sororities early to be talking about vice-presidential candidates. a few numbers from our local St. Vincent de Paul Society on East 15th Avenue. College kids as vigilantes? Saul Oregon probably is still Bernie country, but wouldn’t of Lane County. In 2019, St. Vinnies’ Dusk to Dawn Hubbard, a UO spokesman, notes that the UO will it be great to watch a woman beat Trump this time? SLANT INCLUDES SHORT OPINION PIECES, OBSERVATIONS AND RUMOR-CHASING NOTES COMPILED BY THE EW EDITORIAL BOARD. HEARD ANY GOOD RUMORS LATELY? CONTACT [email protected] 10 JANUARY 9, 2020 EUGENEWEEKLY.COM EUGENEWEEKLY.COM JANUARY 9, 2020 11