LETTERS IN THE EDITOR'S MAILBAG.

Byline: The Register-Guard

City needs urban renewal tool

As former mayors of Eugene, we support Measure 20-134 and urge Eugene voters to vote yes!

We are on the verge of something wonderful happening downtown. Plans aren't final and the public will have many more opportunities for comment.

One thing is certain: It will take a sizable investment from both the public and private sectors to create the downtown Eugene wants and deserves. In city after city, where there are successful downtowns, the investment comes through urban renewal funding. Portland is a good example.

What we choose to do with our urban renewal funds is up to us, but without these funds, we have no funds to dedicate to downtown redevelopment. Let's keep this tool in our toolbox.

Now is the time to attract businesses back to our downtown - enough businesses to generate enough customers so businesses will be successful. Now is the time to build housing downtown so we have the critical mass and around-the-clock street life that will keep downtown safe and vibrant.

When we put the creative minds of Eugene's citizens together with the funding tool of urban renewal and the business investment of the private sector, we can finally have a downtown worthy of our great city. We need each of these elements to make our downtown work.

Please join us in voting Yes on Measure 20-134. Let's put our urban renewal district to work and build a better downtown.

Ruth Bascom

JEFF MILLER 

JIM TORREY

Eugene

Iraq was always blood for oil

Shameful. Contemptible. Abominable. Vile. It's hard to find words strong enough to describe the loathsome, disgraceful act of taking the United States to war against Iraq.

I marched to try to prevent our government from invading Iraq. Even back then it was known there was no Iraq/Saddam Hussein connection to al-Qaeda, or to the attacks of Sept.11. United Nations arms inspectors were crawling all over the country finding nothing, stating with certainty there was no nuclear arms program. Why was President Bush taking us to war? The only plausible reason was to control the oil.

But Bush didn't actually spend American blood and treasure to secure Iraqi oil for America. America always had access to Iraqi oil, whether they sold it to us or not. As soon as Iraq sells its oil, it's on the world market to be resold to whomever can afford to buy it.

The reality is much worse. Bush, Vice President Dick Cheney and others were spending American treasure and spilling American blood to secure Iraqi oil for American oil companies! A successful takeover would have been worth billions of dollars to the oil companies. Ironically, the oil companies still made billions, as the loss of Iraqi oil on the oil markets drove up the price of their oil.

More than 3,800 American lives for corporate profit. Blood for oil. Despicable. The worst president ever.

Jack Van Dusen

Eugene

Birth choice belongs to women

As someone who gave birth naturally at home to a baby in a footling breech position, I was saddened to read Kelsie Koberstein's story (Register-Guard, Sept. 16), and disgusted at the cruel treatment she received after her child's death. Koberstein is wise and strong beyond her years.

Two of my children were born in the hospital. I was deeply disappointed in certain aspects of each birth experience. I wanted to birth my next child in a different way.

Pregnancy is not an illness or a medical emergency. Birth is a natural physiological event that is deeply spiritual and personal. Birth is not 100 percent safe, but neither is life. Things can and do go wrong in the hospital as well. There is abounding evidence that shows that many procedures that happen in hospital birth rooms are not evidence-based, but insurance-company mandated. Such procedures often result in more procedures. Each procedure comes with risks.

Current training in the obstetrical field is severely lacking in the area of normal, physiological birth. Obstetricians are surgeons. Many women do not wish to see a surgeon for a normal physiological event. Midwives are the experts in normal birth.

My daughter was born quickly and safely at home. She was born feet-first, attended to by three midwives, all trained and experienced in breech birth. My only choice at the hospital would have been surgery. That choice, and the responsibility that comes with it, rightly belongs with women.

Amy Metzger

Midwifery apprentice

Elmira

Hult Center a gift from citizens

The Register-Guard's "Encore" section Sept. 14 gave special honor and recognition to the myriad individuals who have given special service to the arts through their involvement with Eugene's Hult Center, which just celebrated it's 25th anniversary.

While many individuals have contributed much during the history of Eugene's Performing Arts Center, one contributor was significantly slighted by omission. The lone reference, "While $18.5 million of the center's $22.5 million funding came from city sources," ignores the essential contribution made by Eugene's voters.

During a time of economic recession, Eugene voters were asked to tax themselves in order to provide the region a conference center and a performance hall. Before the first bucket of concrete ever was poured, the citizens of Eugene agreed to provide more than 80 percent of those initial costs.

Eugene residents were assured that their contribution would be recognized. The Hult Center should be remembered as a monument to a total community and its willingness to collectively support art and development.

While the efforts of leaders in the local arts community are appreciated, the contribution of each citizen of Eugene, each taxpayer, each ticket buyer should not be ignored. They are the life's blood that has kept this center of the community alive.

Pat Albright

Eugene

Doctors could help midwives

When I read the Sept. 16 article "Dilemma Upon Delivery," I felt sad for the mother who had worked to give life to her child.

Then I felt angry because some wanted to put the blame of her baby's death on her and her midwife. As a mother of eight, all of whom have been delivered at home by a midwife, I have experience with "taking risks."

In the beginning, I made my choice out of ignorance. I chose a midwife because that's what my mother did. Now, I make my choice with more insight. I have attended a number of hospital births. When there was an intervention (painkillers, induction, etc.), there was also a complication or fetal distress.

If doctors were patient and let our bodies do the work, how many C-sections and complications would be avoided? There have been issues during some of my pregnancies where my midwife would seek the counsel of a doctor. It took some time before she could find a doctor who would even talk to her, let alone answer her questions. Most doctors will not acknowledge her expertise in the field of childbirth.

If doctors and hospitals would work with home birth midwives, maybe more mothers would choose to have their babies at the hospital when the need arises. Let's prosecute those who actually commit crimes and leave this woman and her midwife alone to grieve.

Diana Waggoner

Veneta

Hold parents accountable

I can't believe the story about the Bethel area teenage vandals (Register-Guard, Sept. 19) did not even mention the word "parents."

What's going on? Is there no such thing as parental responsibility any more? Is the newspaper familiar with that term and its meaning?

In my opinion, the teenagers should receive severe sentences, and their parents should do a little jail time in addition to the fine. Their parents' names should be made public. If they do not have parents, then those in custody should be held as responsible as the teenagers.

Do that every time and our streets will be safer.

Phil Schnabel

Eugene

Make health care a priority

As a nation, it is time to get our priorities straight. Let's face it - millions of people cannot afford basics such as housing, decent food or health care. Funding for health care must be renewed so as to create a healthier future generation and avoid excessive emergency room visits.

It makes good sense and cents.

Alicia Solomon

Eugene

Be fair to all school workers

I have been a classified employee in the Eugene School District for the past 10 years.

I regret having to write this letter, but I feel the community needs to be informed about the injustices in the school district. I recently attended the Eugene School Board meeting in protest of our current contract negotiations and left feeling demoralized and discouraged.

The librarian at our school was cut and then her job was given to me, but of course at one-quarter of the salary she had been receiving. Then, in addition to running the library, I am expected to do three recess duties, assist teachers with a first-grade reading group, assist with a fourth- and fifth-grade reading group and help out daily as an aide in the kindergarten.

Now, I am supposed to take a cut in pay, which is what the health insurance increases will amount to! Don't get me wrong, I do enjoy my job and being busy. I love working with children, but it is hard to feel positive and upbeat with the current situation.

While some administrators have been given an 18 percent increase, the district is trying to hit the lowest-paid employees. It is unconscionable that the school district is trying to give more to some, while taking away from others. We need to have fair, equitable and affordable health insurance coverage for all work groups within the district.

Nancy Diskin

Eugene