LETTERS IN THE EDITOR'S MAILBAG.

Byline: The Register-Guard

Stan Lee wasn't a cartoonist

The reproduction of Spiderman's first appearance from Amazing Fantasy No. 15 was a welcome supplement to Sunday's paper; I hope that it will be enjoyed by both nostalgic older fans and by newer ones. Anything that encourages reading, particularly among adolescent and younger males, is to be applauded.

However, the accompanying article refers to Stan Lee as a "celebrated cartoonist." For his work as a prolific writer, and later as editor-in-chief at Marvel comics, Lee deserves celebration; but he has never drawn a cartoon or a comic book in his life. Spiderman's costume was designed by the late, great Jack Kirby, co-creator of Captain America, and later, with Lee, of innumerable Marvel heroes, including the Fantastic Four, Thor and the Hulk. It is Kirby's illustration that graces the cover of Amazing Fantasy No. 15.

The interior art was by Steve Ditko, almost as legendary as Kirby among fans of the genre, as much for his reclusive personality and idiosyncratic politics as for his extraordinary creative imagination.

It may seem slightly pedantic to ask that The Register-Guard set the record straight and acknowledge Lee's enormously talented co-creators. But if a similar error about a fine artist or author had slipped under the editorial radar, wouldn't the paper immediately print a correction? For those of us who admire the still under-appreciated idiom of the comic book, referring to Stan Lee as a "celebrated cartoonist" is on par with describing Beethoven as a major novelist.

BEN SAUNDERS

Eugene

County could enact income tax

The Lane County Board of Commissioners has enacted by ordinance an income tax, conditional upon passage of a charter amendment. The amendment would establish a limitation on the rate and dedicate the money to fund public safety.

According to the "Proposal for Funding Public Safety," found on the official county Web site, if the amendment fails at the polls "the Board will retain its full authority to adjust the income tax rate and to allocate the revenue produced for public purposes." It looks to me like this is going to be imposed whether we like it or not.

So if we defeat the charter amendment, they can just hit us with a larger tax when they enact the ordinance at a later date and claim it is our own fault for not passing the amendment to establish a cap. Please, carefully read the information found on the Web site.

Oh, and don't worry about how the county is paying for the recent public relations campaign. They will have an extra $45 million in the general fund when this all takes place.

DOUG SULLIVAN

Eugene

Why is PERS income exempt?

I read with interest the editorial regarding barriers to the successful implementation of a new Lane County public safety income tax (Register-Guard, June 27). I am not yet fully conversant with the proposal and don't have an opinion.

I received a note regarding exemptions to the proposed tax. There are apparently several, including exemptions on ordinary income up to a certain level for all taxpayers. However, there is also apparently one exemption category that I think should be highlighted by the county commissioners in the interest of establishing the trust, credibility and need addressed in the editorial.

In the document "A Proposal for Funding Public Safety," Item 4.522 Deductions on page 29 states the following in part: `(3) The income deduction amount shall be increased by any retirement benefit paid out of the Oregon PERS retirement fund pursuant to ORS 238.445 and any federal retirement benefit that is taxed as income by the state of Oregon."

My reading of this section is that the county proposes an additional income tax on all residents except those who have income from the Public Employees Retirement System or the federal government. Retirees who have income from privately funded retirement accounts will be subject to the tax while those with income from publicly funded accounts will be exempt.

That does not seem like a particularly equitable tax proposal. This exemption could have been included in the editorial's analysis of things that need to change to improve the prospects of the proposal.

NILES HANSON

Eugene

Torrey seeks solutions for all

We have known Jim Torrey both personally and professionally for many years. Jim Torrey, the friend, is the same person as Jim Torrey, the businessman and community leader.

His word is his bond. He is a tireless worker. His commitment to family and young people is exceptional. We are supporting Torrey's campaign for the Oregon Senate.

Torrey will champion all of Lane County if he is elected to the Oregon Senate. He has stood for and supported important improvements in our community, including programs to prevent drunk driving, for additional school funding and after-school programs, for improved transportation planning, and opportunities for family-wage jobs. He will carry the Lane County banner into the Oregon Senate. There's not another person we would wish to represent us.

Torrey is a tireless seeker of solutions to problems. He understands that no one achieves consensus without understanding multiple points of view. Torrey makes himself available to listen to new ideas and the perspectives of others. When he doesn't know something, he looks for the explanations.

Torrey is as much committed to finding win-win solutions as a person can be. We believe that all of Oregon will win with Jim Torrey in the Oregon Senate.

MAURIE DENNER

CAROL DENNER

Eugene

Tailgaters unfairly targeted

Our family has been blessed to be University of Oregon football season ticket holders for 29 years. We have now watched families grow up and enjoy our beloved Ducks.

Tailgating has become our ritual - with other close friends and family members showing up for the feast. This goes on across our great nation in every stadium that has a home team. Along with the feast at these tailgaters, most of us like to have a sip of some spirits. We never get stupid, but do enjoy a glass of wine or a beer.

When we received our tailgating information - which is, by the way, on private property - we received a notice from the Eugene Police Department. They are taking a stance that is truly bizarre. Instead of "Serve and Protect," they are going to fine and imprison normal Duck fans for having a drink at a tailgater.

Most fans cannot afford a sky box, where you are allowed to drink at the stadium during the game. It is also OK to drink at the Moshofsky Center. Both are public places.

I feel the Eugene police should arrest any drunk and disorderly fan, but to put a blanket enforcement on normal fans is not right. I will bet you across the nation at the other games, the social sip before the game goes on every week.

If you want to serve and protect, go catch the meth addict who is stealing from me while I am at the game.

BRENT McLEAN

Eugene

DA's case was a waste of time

As one who recently did jury duty at the Circuit Court level, I came away with some distinct impressions.

One of the principal beneficiaries of the proposed Lane County income tax was involved: the district attorney's office. The DA's case was weak and poorly argued. The police called to testify against the accused only drew attention to their lack of a set procedure in serving a warrant.

I sat there wondering why the DA's office, if it is so starved for personnel, was wasting its time on a case like this. The defendant was acquitted, and all went home having wasted the time of 12 jurors, a judge and a courtroom staff.

One often hears of the DA's office having to prioritize the cases it prosecutes for lack of personnel because of funding. I personally witnessed a lack of judgment in that regard, which no amount of funding would have helped.

ANDREW LAGERQUIST

Springfield

Why does Florence lack books?

The Siuslaw School District doesn't have enough textbooks for students to take home to do homework? Book drives are beginning in Florence? Florence taxpayers are being asked to provide books as well as other learning materials?

In view of this unthinkable and unreasonable crisis with this school year about to begin, why did the Siuslaw School Board and administrators rather recently spend hundreds of thousands of dollars on providing a world-class high school track as well as a handsome football stadium with solid aluminum alloy covered stands for both local fans and visitors? Why wasn't at least some of the money used to provide textbooks?

In the past month more than $31,000 was raised for Siuslaw High School athletics, with more funds on the way. But not for needed textbooks as well as critically needed materials for departments that have become almost non-existent, such as music and art, not to mention new science equipment and materials.

Fearing my future financial contributions may not be used for needed books and other academic necessities, my book purchases will be presented personally to needy students.

JERRY COPELAND

Florence

World needs all kinds of love

The definition of marriage that I read recently in one of The Register-Guard's letters to the editor is so beautifully stated: "Marriage is a social and legal recognition of the highest level of love and commitment between two people."

Another definition I have read is "in a relationship of loving couples, each person will put the needs of the other person above her own."

I have seen such relationships many times in my 80 years and they have existed between homosexual and heterosexual couples. We need all the love we can get in this world today. Let us be thankful for all expressions of it.

ALEA DE JUNG

Eugene