Monday, November 23, 2009

Recent emails ... Meeting Reminder

I really like the 1st article about John Brown and he is right--the election cycle you need to hammer that home. (signed by a concerned citizen and taxpayer)

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Has anyone talked to other cities about how they handle their situation. I responded a week or two ago and mentioned a real life experience I have had visiting in the Bay area of California. Emeryville is a part of Oakland, and we all know what that says. But obviously the people there have come up with a viable way to handle what seems like a similar situation. It is a very pleasant vibrant area, built from what was a seedy warehouse area of Oakland, with law enforcement and security that actually makes you feel comfortable there day or night. Although I realize that they probably feel that successful business and visitors are more important than infringing on street people's rights to "do their own thing". I'd even bet their carbon foot print is pretty good :)

(signed by a taxpayer and concerned citizen)

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Another Advocate says:

I have been to Emeryville off and on over the years. It went from a warehouse type area in the downtown area to a trendy upscale community area over a 6 to 8 year time frame.

(signed by a taxpayer and concerned citizen)

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I feel Eugene's government and staff truly believe that it is the private sectors responsibility or obligation to resolve their safety issues. They also appear to believe that making mediocre concessions to the private and non-profit sector is enough to entice them into the area, though arena is a more appropriate term. Then those entities can hire security firms to manage the city's problem. The placement of Network Charter School is a classic example of their irresponsible logic.

They don't get it and until key individuals are ousted from council and staff, the necessary paradigm shift will not occur.

One of the major environmental hurdles, which probably cannot be overcome in downtown, is the LTD complex. You cannot effectively control the caliber of people LTD brings to the area.

... New York is a classic example of it can happen.

(signed by a taxpayer and concerned citizen)

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A starting point would be the adoption of James Q. Wilson's "Broken Windows" policing strategy. If it could clean up Times Square it could easily clean up Eugene.

(signed by a taxpayer and concerned citizen)

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Dear EA,

I am in support of the efforts but due to the short week, I along with a handful of others that support your action are unable to attend. Would it be possible to find out when the next meeting will be?

(signed by a business person and concerned citizen)

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Any place that isn't secure first will never prosper. As a developer you can't walk tenants around and say what it will or might be like. You must talk in the present. Enterprise rent a car has not enjoyed their time downtown.

(signed by a Eugene business person)

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For those that can make it the Mayor and Council work session will be tonight at the City Hall in the McNutt Room at 5:30pm today to discuss and hopefully create a course of immediate action for the City Manager and Chief of Police to help with the lawlessness in downtown Eugene.

EugeneAdvocates for a Clean City