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e nership between our two cities, Eugene and Springfield, Lane County, the University, and the business community. Likewise, the decade of the 190s will be filled with opportunities. I want to outline some of the opportunities that I believe are important, and to ask you to join me in working toward the objectives we share: objectives of achieving a safe and caring community, a competitive economy, a vibrant downtown, fairness and tolerance toward all people, and reasonable taxation. We want Eugene to be a safe and caring community, but we fall short of that goal. No city worth its charter can continue to let people who lack decent housing live in its City parks or sleep in unsafe buildings. People without shelter should have safe places to sleep. People who are hungry should have a place to receive a warm meal. People who want to work should be given a hand in finding a job. People who are mentally ill should have access to help from trained professionals and to emergency psychiatric care. People who are slaves to drugs and alcohol should be able to find the trained people and the modern facilities that can help to set them free. Therefore, during the next four years, I will work with the council, the City of Springfield, Lane County, and the State to provide emergency shelter for our citizens. I will not settle for the expedient solution of letting sick, homeless, and helpless people live in our city parks or in cars parked in our neighborhoods. That solution is neither safe nor humane nor socially accept- able because it is no solution at all. e We must focus not only short term on emergency shelter, but also long term on our lack of low-income housing. That is why I support the current efforts of the council, the County, the school district, and the University to find solutions to these problems. We must also stimulate private-side investment in long-term, bricKs-and-mortar solutions to our shortage of low-income housing. But even as civic conscience moves us to shield our needy from the social crimes of cold and hunger, we must shield our city from the drugs and violent crimes of those who show no conscience. We should and we can enforce the laws we have written to protect all our citizens. Eugene's police officers do a fine job, but their ranks are understaffed. Even with that understaffing, however, Eugene has a low crime rate for a city its size. But we can be better. Even with a relatively low crime rate, we all know citi- zens who are afraid to use some City parks. Some people in our community are harassed by individuals who have little respect for social order or for common-sense rules. It is no secret that the local manufacture and use of methamphetamines far exceeds the national average. For too many citizens, the words IImeth labll are not only an abstract phrase in the news but also a vivid reality in their neighborhoods. e Toleration of these meth labs endangers our citizens, breeds crime in our neighborhoods, and sets an abhorrent example for our children. To help our officers respond more effectively, we must continue to implement the sound recommendations of the Crime Action Task Force. Our community cannot afford the luxury of the status quo if we hope ever to deal effectively with today.s cr1mina1s. We must clearly, resolutely, and uncompromisingly commit our- selves to eliminating the manufacture and use of illegal drugs in our commu- State of the City Address Jeff Miller January 9, 1989 Page 2