Eugene Weekly Views -- Opinions, Editorials, Letters

Viewpoint : A New Baseline: Livability requires a living wage.
Letters: EW readers sound off.

A subject that's been on the agenda of cities across the country — basic economic fairness — will be taken up by the Eugene City Council Monday, Aug. 12, when councilors discuss a Eugene living wage (LW) ordinance. Since Baltimore passed the first LW ordinance in 1994, more than 80 communities have followed suit (including Ashland, Corvallis, Albany, and the Port of Portland), responding to a national grassroots movement that is asking local governments to take the high ground in paying workers a fair wage for a day's work.

"The living wage movement is one of the most promising labor-community initiatives of the last decade," notes Bob Bussell, director of the UO Labor Education and Research Center. "It opens up the right kind of debate — engaging issues of income distribution, the needs of low-wage workers, and race and gender inequalities, since the lowest paid are often minorities and women."

Spearheading Eugene's living wage effort is the Eugene-Springfield Solidarity Network, the local Jobs With Justice affiliate. Lucy Lahr, ESSN co-chair and a longtime case worker with low-income families, points out that "minimum wage jobs keep people in poverty. A living wage, while it doesn't go far enough, means people will need less public assistance — less cash support for rent, fewer food stamps and less Medicaid."

Lahr sees multiple benefits in a Eugene LW law: it would establish a community standard that would carry over to the private sector; it would reduce dependence on public services; it would allow more workers to buy homes and provide working parents with more time to spend with their kids. It's also a moral issue: "As a taxpayer," she says, "I want my tax dollars spent in ways that benefit the entire community."

ESSN calculates a living wage in Eugene is $11.42 an hour plus health benefits, or $14.28 an hour without health insurance. These figures come from a study of Eugene's cost of living by the Economic Policy Institute, and provide a "no-frills" budget for a working parent with one child that comes to $23,500 a year, still well below the national average of $32,000. To bring city workers up to the LW standard would cost the city about $800,000 per year — or less than half of 1 percent of the city's proposed 2003 budget of $338 million.

Opponents of a living wage include the business lobby as well as some government bureaucrats who prefer the flexibility of farming out government services to low-wage subcontractors. For example, the U.S. Chamber of Commerce has filed a legal challenge to a New Orleans living wage law, claiming it would "lessen job opportunities for those at the bottom of the economic ladder while increasing costs," and that "instead of allowing market forces to determine pay, living wages put the interests of employees above all other considerations."

But ESSN's Sarah Jacobson says communities with living wage laws can expect to save taxpayer dollars and see increased productivity. Welfare costs will decline, and government will be able to attract a skilled workforce with less turnover. "Business groups say it's not the role of government to set standards, but what we're really talking about is how we as taxpayers are behaving as employers." She notes that government sets livability standards all the time for things like green space, affordable housing, and good schools — "Why not a baseline for wages, too?"

Ellen Teninty is into "ethical edutainment." A Eugene resident, she's run lively training sessions on economic justice issues for ESSN and other groups around the country. She frames the living wage debate in ways that resonate with U.S. cultural beliefs: "People need to know their values are the bottom line in economics — they come before the math."

Teninty says the idea that wages should enable workers to meet their basic living needs "is an ethical question, and it's fair to ask" if that is as important as an executive's claim that "I have the right to make (and keep) as much money as possible." For Teninty, "It's hard to butt heads with powers like Exxon" directly, but "if you have the argument over the moral question — if someone's working hard, should they be in poverty? — you're gonna win."

ESSN hopes the council will direct city staff to begin formulating a LW ordinance for adoption this year. The Monday session is at 5:30 pm in the McNutt room, and is open to the public.

NOT A BAD GIG
In regard to Bill Storms' letter ("Pay the Pipers," 7/25): It is tough for any artist to earn a living, but the Oregon Country Fair is not the problem.

I made a meager living as a musician for about six years. During that time I scrambled, took on students and played all kinds of music — a lot of which I didn't particularly like. I was happy and proud to be out in the trenches, and I met a lot of tremendous people who are still my close friends, but at a certain point it became obvious that I had to either move to the big city where I might make some money or step away from the bong and get a day job! If I could get paid even an additional thousand dollars once a year at the OCF, it wouldn't have changed that decision.

People who have money to pay a cover charge just don't go out to hear music much on weeknights. A lot of them probably have to get up too early the next day. Some people would rather stay home with their families than sit in a bar until midnight. This makes gigging in a small city largely a weekend proposition.

A gig where happy freaks dance to your music dressed like Dr. Suess characters? Priceless.

ON THE LINE
It's ironic that Tim Lewis, who has had his own run-ins with the police while trying to videotape news events, would call Register-Guard reporter Jeff Wright "spineless" (News 8/1). Six years ago, Jeff put his freedom on the line to cover the breakup of the Warner Creek blockade and the arrests of forest activists who had successfully prevented the fire-burned area near Oakridge from being logged.

Instead of getting the story, Jeff became the story himself when federal law-enforcement agents arrested him, confiscated his notes and threw him in the Lane County Jail, simply for trying to cover a news story. I've known Jeff for more than 15 years as a (former) colleague and a friend. Spineless? No, integrity is the word that comes to mind.

JOINT PROMOTION
A while back the L.A Times editorial side got caught when they did a joint promotion with a local business. I note that just by chance, the same week EW featured the Ems baseball team with a front page and feature article, there was a full page ad for the Ems on the Bijou Movie Guide announcing the EW T-shirt Night. Can we readers have an explanation of any overlap between your editorial and business sides?

Reporter Aria Seligmann also fell into a common trap of sports boosters when she discussed the money flowing into Eugene from the Ems for hotel rooms, food purchases and payments for stadium rental. But she presented only half the picture. She failed to note how much money is spent annually by fans at the Ems for admissions and refreshments, which would otherwise be available for them to spend at local bistros, coffee houses, concerts and plays; even toy stores and home remodeling centers.

Whether Seligmann's statement, "The Ems pump a lot of money into the community," is true or not requires a bit more sophisticated analysis than she gives. If she isn't able to consider both the cost and the benefit side of the analysis, then she should refrain from drawing conclusions.

EDITOR'S NOTE: We confess we are Ems fans and EW is one of the Ems' corporate sponsors. The tie-dyed T-shirts were a fun staff project and great PR. But the main reason for doing the cover story was to break the news that Eugene could lose the Ems to Springfield.

OUR ENEMY AT HOME
We are living in an age when we need folks like Woody Guthrie to write songs to decry each tragedy as it happens. Then maybe people could see more clearly the horrors with which we are living.

Nearly a thousand still detained since 9/11. Fast Track imminent. Homeland Security passed. The U.S.A. Patriot Act stripping from us our Constitution.

I know, no one can find anything nice to say about Jose Padilla — but he is a U.S. citizen. He deserves due process, to confront his accusers, a right to a speedy trial. Yet he has disappeared into a military brig with no hopes of ever having a trial. This is America! Padilla is a citizen like you and me — but Bush has named him an enemy combatant, discarded his rights, and we stood by and let it happen. I hope Bush doesn't ever name you a terrorist or enemy combatant.

When the civil rights commissioner calls for detention camps and racial profiling, we've reached yet another new low in a series of amazing lows. Guess what? Arab-Americans are citizens! They also deserve due process. To jail them for their ethnicity is not the work of a democracy. I wrote a protest sign in September which said Bush = Hitler; I was criticized for being too dramatic.

Who wants to tell me now that the Bush administration isn't mirroring Hitler a bit too eerily? He's got his Homeland Security Department. He has murdered more than a million innocent human beings through direct bombing, threat of war and subsequent starvation. He plans to invade Iraq without a peep from anyone. Neville Chamberlain appears on the face of Tony Blair and the rest of the world that does not stop this tyrant. We, the people, must stop this tyrant, this unelected fascist.

If there is another terrorist attack on the U.S., it will be more chickens coming home to roost. Instead of learning from his horrific errors in foreign policy, Bush is fomenting more hatred abroad, creating the potential for more terrorist attacks on the U.S.

GRATUITY SPEAKS
Hello folks, I am writing this memo in hopes of it being published to bring awareness to a small but significant issue.

I have been a server in a popular local restaurant business that caters to families and the "younger" crowds for about four years now. It seems that no matter how well you cater to these "younger" people, or how big you wear your smile, the tip (gratuity) at the end of the service is anything but. I'm not saying that it happens all the time, but definitely more often than not.

I understand that sometimes "young" people don't have a lot of money when they want to treat themselves and others to a good meal, but I want to stress the fact that if you get good service, you should reward your server for the outstanding job he or she has complimented you with. Remember, these servers are working to pay school bills, domestic bills and car payments. We pay these bills with the "gratuity" from our patrons. A server's paycheck is anything but substantial, and we in the industry rely on these tips to make ends meet.

SOME DIALOGUE
Public dialogue about the "inevitable" war on Iraq has been one-sided in favor of attacking Iraq and the Senate Foreign Relations Committee hearings on Iraq that began July 31 will do nothing to even the balance.

This committee has not invited anyone who does not support another war to participate in the hearings, not even Scott Ritter, the former U.N. weapons inspector in Iraq, a former Marine and a Republican, who has said there is no justification for invading Iraq. Ritter says (and who should know better?) that Iraq does not have weapons of mass destruction, nor does it have threatening ties to international terrorism. That's why even our NATO allies aren't lining up behind us. Iraq, Ritter says, is no threat to the U.S., but war with Iraq is. Ritter predicts that if (when) the U.S. attacks Iraq, many Iraqis and Americans will be killed, Iraq will be devastated and the credibility of the U.S. will be destroyed.

Ritter has offered to appear before the committee when it debates the invasion of Iraq. Other witnesses critical of the Bush administration's plans — including former U.N. humanitarian coordinator in Iraq Denis Halliday and former ambassador to Iraq Edward Peck, as well as many others — have also offered to appear. Considering the great risks involved, there should be vigorous public debate about attacking Iraq, but if it's up to the Foreign Relations Committee, it won't begin in the halls of Congress.

BALANCED MODEL
Contrary to assertions contained in a letter from Mary O'Brien to the Eugene City Council (News, 7/18), Eugene is not "about to lose" federal funding for wetlands conservation because of the West Eugene Parkway (WEP).

Congress has supported wetlands conservation in this area for some time. Each year, though, is a different experience. Congress has not appropriated acquisition funds every single year. They have, though, consistently maintained their support for the project, and most years, they have approved acquisition funds. In some years, acquisition funds have been in the president's proposed budget and both the Senate and House appropriation bills, and in some years, in only one or two of the three. This year is no different from any other. The House Interior Appropriations bill contains acquisition funds, the Senate bill does not. There is a very good chance that when the Senate and House appoint a conference committee to resolve differences in the two bills, the final version of the bill will retain the wetlands acquisition appropriation. Both the Senate and House have indicated they remain supportive of wetlands conservation in west Eugene. If acquisition funds are not approved this year, there is a strong likelihood they will be in the very near future.

I am proud to have been part of the United Front delegations over the years that went to Washington, D.C., in part, for the purpose of promoting the West Eugene Wetland Plan (WEWP). Our work has made this balanced WEWP a model for the country.

ANY OTHER NAME
Your new "Treadmarks" column deserves a fun title, like "Skidmarks," or a reflective title like, "The Arrogance and the Ignorance." Or How about a nitty gritty "Suicide Cult?" Thanks for asking.

HIGH ON HEP
When I found out the UO had the HEP (High Equivalency Program) that permitted adults to earn their GEDs, I went to the HEP offices with fear and reservations. There, I was cordially met and I registered for what was, at that moment, a dream for me: obtaining a GED.

It was a time of intense activity. I had left my studies behind many years ago, but I found the HEP staff and professors ready, willing and able to teach their students. The instructors Armando Bravo, Mario Lobo Hernandez, Eduardo Martinez, David Wagner, Eusebio Herrera, Pamela Smith, la Sra. Nora Aguilar and the tutors make a homogenous group with the same objective — to give their maximum with an excellent academic level that is in agreement with the standards of the university.

Today, what was a dream for me has crystallized into a reality. For this, I am thankful to the director of HEP, Sr. Emilio Hernandez, for his ability, all the professors and the university for this kind of opportunity.

God willing, this thanks will be read by people who have put these dreams aside and by reading those lines they will feel animated to begin their studies again.

STALKING GOD
The "intelligent design" advocates are stalking God the way they stalk deer or bear: by looking for scat. But God doesn't leave droppings. He doesn't leave hoof prints, either. That's the other guy.

God's hand in evolution, as in all things, is revealed through prayer and reflection, not through material evidence. The rocks and fossils are mute as to their ultimate meaning. Most scientists agree with this, despite the frantic exertions of certain lawyers and promoters to try to manufacture proof of a creator out of material things.

We can no more use fossils or biology as evidence for God than we can use gravity or rocks or automobiles or the price of eggs. God is not subject to empirical proof or demonstration; therefore science is silent on questions regarding God.

RIPPLE EFFECT
I agree with Ethen Perkins' (7/11) idea of treating CEOs like drug criminals and confiscating their assets. If one looks at the "ripple effect" of a drug dealer of, say, a pound or two of pot/cocaine and say they affect maybe a hundred people directly and a couple hundred indirectly, then look at the thousands that were affected directly by Enron, WorldCom, Adelphia, etc., with losing their jobs and/or pension plans and then the many thousands who were affected by drops in stock market.

When you look at it this way, who is worse? And shouldn't the CEOs lose their fat "severance" packages and "dirty" money profits to reimburse the "victims" who lost their jobs and retirement plans? Then what about all us taxpayers who have to come up with more taxes to make up for "lost revenue" as the economy drops and face big cuts to the school system?

FRIJOLE FLYER
I, too, was somewhat appalled at reading the "Rice Rocket" headline ("Treadmarks," 7/18), and though I appreciate your apology, I cannot understand how such a big, bold headline "slipped by" you folks.

I, being of Latino heritage, also wondered if future articles introducing new cars would be headlined "The Frijole Flyer," "The Wienerschnitzhicle," "The Tea-Toter," and of course, the American "Burger Boat." Really!

LIVE YOUR IDEALS
The current corporate scandals are leading to some reforms of accounting practices. This is good, but hardly begins to get to the crux of the issue of corporate accountability. Their books can be clean as a whistle while they create economic havoc around the globe and in individual lives through mergers, layoffs, shifting production to third world countries, etc.

If it were only economic chaos they created, it might be manageable. An even bigger issue is the ecosystem abuse they cause in raw material extraction and their production of pollution and toxic waste. They sell products that are destructive to people and the environment when used as directed, such as cigarettes, pesticides, gas hogs and all forms of armaments.

So what's an ordinary person to do? Vote for campaign finance reform in Oregon in the fall election, if we get the chance. If we don't, volunteer to gather signatures for the next round. It's really important! Make decisions with your heart, informed by knowledge when making consumer purchases. If we all stopped buying gas hogs, they'd stop making them. Speak out against the madness. If enough of us do it, they will have to listen. Most of all, live as if you really care about the well-being of future generations.

NATIONAL EMERGENCY
In recent months, EW's Letters pages have been devoted almost exclusively to local issues and especially questions about violence and social change. While these matters deserve public discussion, I am frankly baffled as to why your correspondents seem to be ignoring our national emergency. No, its not terrorism, though that danger is real, but the vastly greater danger to civil liberties, to the Constitution and Bill of Rights of our country, to the environment, to America and world economies and to world peace that the Bush administration presents.

The administration — let us remind ourselves — is illegitimate, having been installed extraconstitutionally by a bitterly divided Supreme Court that actually stopped the counting of votes in a presidential election. It is also incompetent, a collection of fools, has-been cronies of Bush, Sr., war-mongers and recently, ex-corporate executives whose business practices are now rightly being called into question.

In our violent retaliatory attacks on Afghanistan, the military command let almost all the al-Qaeda and Taliban escape. Now, Bush is chafing to launch another ill-considered war against Iraq, mainly, it appears, to settle a Bush family grudge.

The Bush people, though not overly bright, have been bright enough to recognize that an open-ended "war" on terrorism allows all kinds of excesses here against our constitutional rights, along with the implementation of a draconian right-wing agenda that is being overseen by Ayatollah Ashcroft. The latest refinement is a proposed 800-line for turning in your neighbor (or you) for "suspicious activity" — Stalinist Russia comes to mind.

The main political parties, as Michael Moore points out, cater overwhelmingly to the corporatocracy. But if the concerned and energetic people of Eugene, Oregon have given up, as I fear from their apparent silence, to whom can we turn to help rescue our liberties, our Constitution, our government, our planet?