CC Minutes - 03/08/10 Meeting - Laserfiche WebLink

Home Browse Search

washing up on the beach. She thought having the marine reserves would also aid scientists in a better understanding of oceanic health. Juan Carlos Valle, 1040 Horn Lane, introduced himself as Board President for the Centro Latino Americano, Vice Chair of the Police Commission, and an active member of the United Coalition of Color, and indicated he was speaking as an individual in support of the DREAM Act resolution. He considered it to be a part of writing our history. He stated that kids faced a lot of challenges including accountability and expectations. He said the most important expectation was to generate pride in them. He averred that we ask our youth to be mindful of their actions, to be cognizant of the kind of world they want to leave behind, and to give back to the community. He felt that some would not have the opportunity to demonstrate any of that unless the Legislature acted in support of the DREAM Act. He listed the many states that had already resolved to support the act. He believed that the immigrant youth would make the world proud with their accomplishments. Eugene Drix, 307Y2 High Street, said he was celebrating a goal of becoming a verb. He felt he connected dots for the community by connecting people. He averred that being connected was what made a community. He observed that the rains caused worms to come out and they made "worm parades." He thought that since worms could not see or hear it helped them to be moved from sidewalks. He related that Eugene was the number one city for the blind, because of the amenities available here. He thought that Eugene was a special city because it accounted for everyone. Cynthia Kokis, 2465 Jefferson Street, spoke on behalf of women Action for New Directions (WAND), and urged the council to adopt the resolution in support of the DREAM Act. She said WAND endorsed the act. She underscored that youth depended on their support. She averred that if they meant that no child should be left behind, they must support and enable immigrant students to continue their pursuit of education. She commented that she would be proud to be the grandmother of the children she saw at the council meeting. Alexandra Harper, 2422 Willamette Alley, thanked the council for considering the resolution to support Oregon marine reserve policies and the proposed Heceta Head and Cape Perpetua reserve sites. She related that she had grown up in Florida in an area that had engendered appreciation for the ocean and for civic service. She recalled her first visit to Cape Perpetua, at which she had been struck by the "prime real estate" that had not been developed there. She considered this to be evidence of a unique land use ethic. She had also been struck by the "sheer enormity" of the Pacific Ocean, which covered about 59 million square miles of the earth's surface. She declared that everyone everywhere was connected to and dependent upon the ocean because it drove the weather and absorbed carbon dioxide. She discussed the proposed marine reserves and the protections they would receive. She said it would be part of a network of protected areas, and she believed that they needed a well- designed network of these reserves. She asked the council to support the resolution. Chuck Willer, 1303 Northwest 13 Avenue, Corvallis, Executive Director of the Coast Range Association,_ noted that he would support Resolution 5001, in support of the DREAM Act, as well as Resolution 5402, in support of the marine reserves. He used to live by the Cape Perpetua area and he knew that quite a few people from Eugene used that area. He said the Coast Range Association had "cut its chops" on forest issues. He commented that forest issues always ended up with a win -lose situation; one entity always lost something. He stated that marine reserves were in contrast, a win -win situation for everyone. He said the boost in small marine life meant a boost in fisheries and diversity in the ocean. Jose Manuel Ibarra, 788 Blackfoot Avenue, Chair of the Oregon Commission on Hispanic Affairs and United States Council on Latino Affairs, said one main focus of the Commission on Hispanic Affairs was the advancement of Latinos through education. He cited the following statement issued by the United States Supreme Court in 1992: "It is difficult to understand precisely what the state hopes to achieve by promoting the creation and perpetuation of a sub -class of illiterates... surely adding to the problems being caused by unemployment, welfare and crime." On behalf of the Commission on Hispanic Affairs, he urged the council adopt the resolution MINUTES Eugene City Council March 8, 2010 Page 2 Regular Meeting