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Happy Sunday, Lookout Eugene-Springfield,
We’re a few weeks away from Earth Day, and the environment has been on the minds of plenty of Lookout letter writers lately. That’s largely because of the big vote looming in next month’s primary election on Lane County Measure 20-373, the Watersheds Bill of Rights.
Passing it could put us on the national forefront of local control over our watersheds. Or, it could open up what one opponent called “a Panda’s box” of unintended consequences.
For Lily Pearl Johnson, a Eugene guest columnist, waiting to cement our rights to a clean environment isn’t an option.
(Would you rather just read each of the 12 letters to the editor and eight guest columns I’ve published in the past week? Scroll down to the “Other letters to the editor” and “This week’s guest opinion” sections.)
Climate-friendly choice or bad budgeting?
The watersheds bill wasn’t the only environmental issue grabbing readers’ attention this week. Eugene City Council’s recent 5-3 vote to advance a plan requiring home sellers to obtain an “energy score” for their house did more than just divide the council. It divided Eugene residents like Ted Coopman and Meredith Tufts.
Coopman wrote a letter decrying the program as exemplifying “everything that is wrong with Eugene governance,” arguing that the city is foolishly investing money in plans that may or may not save energy while neglecting bigger budget challenges.
But Tufts argued the Home Energy Score program is exactly what Eugene needs to reduce carbon emissions while giving residents “a stronger sense of what their energy costs might be and helping to avoid surprising bills after moving in.”
And a different kind of environmental issue is brewing at Mount Pisgah, where Lane County is contending with a growing number of coyote interactions along the county park’s popular trails. The recent shooting of a coyote there prompted Eugene letter writer Bev Hollander to implore park-goers not to leave food for the animals, and for park staff to reconsider the creation of a new trail near where coyotes den.
The hidden costs of sprawl
This guest column by Alexander Chamberlin is a bit deep in the policy weeds, but there’s a clear environmental connection.
Chamberlin argues that Eugene’s development choices have encouraged low-density urban sprawl, which requires more public investments in infrastructure to maintain than higher-density developments near the city’s core. With more sprawl comes more reliance on cars.
His solution? A Transportation Utility Fee, which would charge residents and businesses based on how much demand their property puts on the city’s road network.
Infinite doom loop
My wife and I have been talking about our phones lately. More specifically, how much they consume us. Neither of us uses social media much, but we still find endless ways to waste time scrolling as we head down internet rabbit holes.
That’s why this recent New York Times guest essay, “The Terrible Cost of the Infinite Scroll,” caught my attention. It discusses the recent precedent-setting case in California where a court ruled that Meta and YouTube harmed a young user through the intentional design of their products.
Among the most harmful features? “Infinite scroll,” the feature on popular social media apps that keeps loading content, no matter how far down a page a user goes.
Do you have trouble putting down your phone? Are you trying to change your habits? If so, let me know. I’ve been trying to put my phone in the kitchen while I work, but wouldn’t you know it, it’s right next to me as I type this.
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OTHER Letters TO THE EDITOR
Remember the Eugene Emeralds stadium saga? Something similar is happening up north | Letter to the editor
Eugene makes a wise investment with Home Energy Scores | Letter to the editor
Why can’t Eugene seem to support a LGBTQ+ space? | Letter to the editor
About that ‘No Kings’ name … Maybe it’s time for a change? | Letter to the editor
Recent shooting of coyote at Mount Pisgah should be a wake-up call | Letter to the editor
Writer’s claim of ‘no difference in care’ with PeaceHealth ER switch defies common sense | Letter to the editor
Sean VanGordon’s work ethic has earned bipartisan support | Letter to the editor
Eugene City Council chases a shiny object to nowhere with home energy score push | Letter to the editor
If PeaceHealth’s ER staffing change benefits patient care, show us the data to prove it | Letter to the editor
Let’s think hard before erasing Cesar Chavez’s legacy | Letter to the editor
Substitute teachers do a hard job. Shouldn’t their pay reflect it? | Letter to the editor
David Loveall’s lawsuit against Lane County follows a Trumpian playbook | Letter to the editor
This week’s guest opinions
Eugene’s shifting drag scene points to a need for more inclusive spaces
When is a fee the right choice?
Courtrooms can make people feel heard or feel lost. Running them fairly is crucial.
Government protects speech and property rights. Aren’t environmental rights just as important?
What do we get when we pass a tax levy? Look up.
As Oregon’s Speaker of the House, our work this session rose above D.C. politics
Eugene’s fiery Sen. Wayne Morse and ‘the greatest threat to world peace’
Improving mental health care requires rethinking the “front door”
Send us your letter to the editor: lte@lookoutlocal.com
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