02/13/1978 Meeting - Laserfiche WebLink

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- Manager said the matter had been discussed at Council meeting December 21, resulting in a number of problems raised regarding a number of staff and Councilors going to meetings. He noted attached to the agenda for Council were some alternatives to the proposal, and Council may want to consider other alternatives. He noted the hearing was not on the question of the ERA amendment, but rather on the request by the Women1s Commission or a possible alternative. e Linda Wilson, 51 Braeburn, member of Women's Commission, said the Commission was asking the Council to abstain from sending elected officials or staff persons to meetings which are held in states not yet ratifying the ERA. The Commission felt there was a commitment to moral issues, and noted this was not an easy decision. Regarding whether the boycott was necessary, she noted there were only 13 months left for the states to ratify the amend- ment. She said the ERA proponents had used more gentle forms of pressure up to this point, but those had not been successful. It was felt more severe measures were needed, thus, the boycott was being implemented. As for whether the boycott would work, she said in Chicago, $1 million worth of business had been lost, with $14 million in future bookings being lost as a result of the boycott. The effectiveness of the boycott depends on the participation, and she noted about 90 organizations had pledged already to uphold the boycott. She cited examples of Presidents Lincoln and Carter, and Martin Luther King, Jr. using such methods to correct fundamental wrongs in moral issues. She again re- iterated time is running out and there was need for effective and immediate action. To compromise and allow City staff to attend a meeting in such a state she felt would be much too little, too late. She urged the Council to make a strong commit- ment to the boycott as requested by the Women's Commission. Public hearing was opened. The following persons spoke in favor of the boycott: Mabel Armstrong, 2580 Mc~1illan, representing the Oregon Women's Political Caucus. She noted Council would be supporting discrimi- nation by its silence. Economic sanctions are not easy to con- sider, but the supporters of the boycott felt they had no other alternative to influence what happens in other states. She pro- tested Eugene taxpayersl money going to other states which refused to enfrancise women. Iris Dudman, 209 East 30th, said she knew it would be an incon- venience and sacrifice for Council, but felt they had to make certain choices. e 2/13/78--7 qt