Recently I received a letter opposing Measure 20-388, the Eugene Clean Energy Fund, on the general election ballot. It was from Laura Sedwick, who introduced herself as “a neighbor.” I live in southeast Eugene. Friends in the Jefferson Westside, Whiteaker, Churchill and River Road areas also received such a letter. So apparently Sedwick’s idea of a neighbor is not someone who lives within a mile or two. The return address on the envelope was the Eugene Chamber of Commerce address, though that was not stated. Sedwick didn’t mention her ties to the Chamber in the letter.

A description of her online said she “served as Director of Business Advocacy for the Eugene Area Chamber of Commerce, where she championed pro-business policies and initiatives.”

In the letter, she says the ECEF “will raise prices.” She used the Portland Clean Energy Fund, which started in 2018, as an example, stating that, “After Portland passed its fund, Winco put the fee right on customers’ receipts.” 

Left unmentioned is that a lawsuit was brought against Winco concerning the way they did this charge. A settlement was reached. A recent KLCC article said “KLCC reviewed receipts from a Portland Winco and a Portland Safeway this month which included non-food items, and they did not appear to list any added taxes.” Other claims in the letter cite no sources to substantiate them.

Maybe the experience of this letter gives us an opportunity to open a discussion about what we might do about the deterioration of the decency and honesty of our public discourse. Could we find ways to hold people and entities accountable for their half-truths, misleading statements and misinformation? Our being disgusted isn’t going to change such behavior by itself. Can we take steps to curb this behavior, or at least make it less rewarding? These insults to the public discourse are not going to go away on their own. For now, be aware that this occurs. Don’t accept statements worded as fact without the inclusion of sources that can be checked.

Nancy Ahnert
Eugene