LETTERS IN THE EDITOR'S MAILBAG.Byline: The Register-GuardRoad projects go smoothly Over the past couple of years, I have spent a lot of time annoyed by the inconvenience caused by road construction on Game Farm Road, Crescent Avenue and Interstate 105. As a resident of the North Gilham area, it was with great consternation that I anticipated this year's construction on Delta Highway The Delta Highway is a short limited-access freeway in Eugene, Oregon, United States, linking downtown Eugene with the Beltline Highway, northern Eugene and the Riverridge golf course to the north. . I have been very impressed with the efficiency with which this work is being completed and how smoothly the flow of traffic has continued. Good work! FRANCIE TAYLOR Eugene Fuzzy math Not to be confused with fuzzy logic. Fuzzy math (also called "reformed math", "whole math", "constructivist math" or "new-new math") is an educational approach to the teaching of basic mathematics for children. on stormwater fee Have you ever wondered how many different ways the poorer among us subsidize sub·si·dize tr.v. sub·si·dized, sub·si·diz·ing, sub·si·diz·es 1. To assist or support with a subsidy. 2. To secure the assistance of by granting a subsidy. the richer? I came across a surprising one recently. Would you believe stormwater fees? According to according to prep. 1. As stated or indicated by; on the authority of: according to historians. 2. In keeping with: according to instructions. 3. the pamphlet "Annual Rate Notification July 2006,' sent to households by the Eugene Public Works Department Many governments worldwide have had departments or ministries referred to as the Public Works Department either formally or informally. In Australia: - New South Wales -
International waterways
The largest part of the stormwater fee is based on the size of the building "footprint." The footprint is the combined square footage of the garage/carport and the first floor of the house. The roof that covers the footprint sheds rainwater that is carried away by the stormwater system. Bigger house, bigger roof, more rainwater to carry away. Bigger fee. Right? Well, not quite. The footprint fee for 1,000 square feet is $4.42 per month. The fee for 3,000 square feet should be $13.26 (three times $4.42). But it's not. The fee is $7.35. Can anybody tell us why? HERB MATTHEWS Eugene Parkway funding wasn't there Some people think that if voters merely vote for something - but don't come up with the money to make it happen - then, magically, government will make it so. Five years ago, then-Mayor Jim Torrey, Lane County Commissioner Bobby Green and company sold the West Eugene Parkway The West Eugene Parkway was a proposed re-alignment of Oregon Route 126 through the western parts of Eugene, Oregon and its suburbs. Highway 126 through western Eugene currently runs along several surface streets (including West 11th Avenue); this route is well-known in the Eugene to voters, saying it was "thoroughly planned and ready to go" and that the money to build it was "there." Since then, the Eugene City Council has approved the parkway at every turn - until recently. Since then, the Oregon Department of Transportation has spent millions of dollars more planning and re-planning the parkway. Today, the parkway still isn't "thoroughly planned and ready to go." Moreover, the estimated $169 million to build the parkway isn't there either - unless Eugene wants to follow the example of the $350-million Newberg-Dundee Bypass and turn West 11th Avenue into a toll road. Rather than spending millions of dollars and years more on the parkway boondoggle boon·dog·gle Informal n. 1. An unnecessary or wasteful project or activity. 2. a. A braided leather cord worn as a decoration especially by Boy Scouts. b. , I'm glad Mayor Kitty Piercy "Kitty" Piercy is the current mayor of Eugene, Oregon, sworn in January of 2005. The press dubbed Piercy's election part of a "shift to the left" for the Eugene City Council. had the wisdom and courage to say, "enough is enough." It's too bad ODOT ODOT Oregon Department of Transportation ODOT Ohio Department Of Transportation ODOT Oklahoma Department of Transportation wasn't willing to collaborate to find such a solution, but perhaps the agency will reconsider. Yes, democracy is important, but so is the idea of paying for what you want or cutting your losses when it no longer makes sense. ROB HANDY Eugene Where are Lincoln Republicans? I think it is generally understood that The Register-Guard is a liberal newspaper. I do, however, appreciate that conservative letters and editorials are printed with some frequency. But the kind of letters published leads me to wonder if the newspaper has a more insidious agenda than offering a balance of viewpoints. The only conservative letters chosen for print are full of inflammatory and offensive language meant to demonize de·mon·ize tr.v. de·mon·ized, de·mon·iz·ing, de·mon·iz·es 1. To turn into or as if into a demon. 2. To possess by or as if by a demon. 3. liberals and The Register-Guard. Johnston Phillips' July 26 letter is a case in point. With extreme distortions and inaccurate portrayals of liberal positions, the letter makes its writer seem ignorant and intol- erant. Opinions of this emotional and irrational sort make their writers look foolish. I wouldn't be surprised if such letters were invented just to undermine the conservative cause. Where are the letters from true philosophical conservatives - Republicans of Lincoln? Shame on The Register-Guard for deviously presenting such a negative picture of the opposing political philosophy. BEN WALLER Eugene |
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