11/10/1975 Meeting - Laserfiche WebLink

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Alice Plymell, 1887 Fircrest Drive, member of the Mayor's Committee on Limited Mobility, said the Human Rights Commission as now constituted was unable to deal with problems of those with limited mobility. That group, she said, had been try- ing for over a year to have someone from their group appointed to the Human Rights tit Commission. A separate commission made up of people of limited mobility, she said, would be much more effective in dealing with their problems. John Craig, 2042 Washington Street, thought the proposed structure would divide the community into special interest groups. He felt a senior member on a re- structured and revitalized Human Rights Commission with a specific membership number could better handle the rights of senior citizens. He said if the proposed ordinance was adopted, there should be further study before its implementation. Jewell Baker, representing the Senior Lobby, commended the women's groups for taking the lead in guaranteeing a more equitable way of life for those relegated to second- class citizenship. She read a prepared statement and said she thought the proposed women's commission would set a new standard for justice for men and women in the community. Don Husband, member of the Mayor's Committee on Aging as well as the Lane County Senior Service Action Committee, said the proposed ordinance had come to the attention of the Committee on Aging for the first time today. He hoped the Council would not pass it until senior citizens had an opportunity to review it. Sharon Posner, president of the League of Women Voters, supported the proposed ordinance and said it was a first step in eliminating discrimination against women. She recognized the amount of work necessary to select the.initial member- ship for the four commission but urged the use of open applications and inter- views by the Council. Also, that effort should be made to make as many people -- as possible aware of the openings. Ms. Posner continued that co-ordination of the four commissions by the proposed human rights council was crucial to avoid confusion and duplication, and to give an on-going evaluation of the work. She hoped that if the ordinance was adopted at this meeting, the machinery for appointment would be set up immediately, so that the women's group would not have to wait on all the others to begin its work. Cuma Smith, a member of the Emerald Empire Council on Aging, asked that the name of the commission for senior citizens be changed to Commission on Aging. Also, provision should be made for one-third of the membership of that commission to be from the older community itself, and each commission should have at least one member older than 55. In addition, Ms. Smith thought the Mayor's Committee on Aging should be given preferential treatment when appointments are made to this commission. Mary Klonoski, 2795 Central Boulevard, noted ways in which a women's commission in Eugene could work with the Governor's Commission on Status of Women, of which she is a member: Informing women of their legal rights and significant changes in the law; informing women of ways to redirect sex discrimination; and pointing to positions in local and state gover-ment where women could be elected or appointed. Pearl Gischler, 900 East Hilaire, spoke in opposition to the idea that the pro- posed ordinance would separate the citizenry into individual groups. Rather, she said, it would designate certain groups to make a special effort to study the problems of people in whom they are interested. She suggested four people on each commission would be sufficient, with one from each commission becoming -- a member of the human rights council. Jean Reeder, 1645 Fairmount Boulevard, president of Fairmount Neighbors, said that that organization agreed there was need for a women's commission. However, 11/10/75 - 6 5'BI