The City Club of Eugene Podcast

Oregon has an substance addiction problem: #1 for use of marijuana and misuse of pain relievers, #2 in use of methamphetamines, #4 in the use of cocaine and alcohol. Oregon ranks fourth in substance abuse disorders. Our youth are #2 nationally for the use of pot. What can be done to respond to the need for treatment? We'll hear from Tiffany Brown, PhD and senior lecturer and clinical director at t...

The Jan. 6, 2021 invasion of the U.S. Capitol made it clear that extremism is part of our national politics. What does this mean for the republic and, in particular, the Republican Party? This City Club of Eugene podcast episode features three experts to help us understand the motivations of the far right and what the movement means for our political future. Our speakers include investigative jour...

If we use CRISPR technology to improve, modify, delete or add DNA to a fetus, have we benefited or harmed our species? In this episode, Dr. Francoise Baylis, a bioethicist, walks us through the safety, efficacy and ethics we should consider when creating designer babies. Baylis is the 2021 Chair of the Wayne L. Morse Center for Law and Politics at the University of Oregon. Watch this episode on Yo...

An eviction is recognized as a property owner's nuclear option in attempting to solve owner-tenant disputes. While behavior may prompt delivery of an eviction notice, the COVID-19 pandemic has highlighted renters falling behind on paying rent. In Lane County, one in three renters is paying more than half of their income for rent; in Oregon, one-quarter of renters are severely burdened by the cost...

"Do the math, create the path." The speakers in this episode discuss the barriers to affordable housing and some of the work-arounds that will help people achieve the American dream of home ownership. The path forward may include community land trusts, cooperative housing, limited equity cooperatives and more. The idea is to create affordability by design. Speakers include Jeff Albanese, who works...

Eugene is developing its implementation of Oregon House Bill 2001, which requires "missing middle" housing in Oregon cities. Part of the planning includes a deliberative planning review panel, consisting of randomly selected residents representing all demographics. In this presentation, City Planner Teri Harding explains the concept of missing middle housing and the way that the city is approachin...

"Without the pure and bountiful McKenzie, we are, as Barry Lopez said, 'somehow a little bit less'." (Jeannine Parisi) It's been months since the September 2020 devastating Holiday Farm Fire along the McKenzie River east of Eugene. City Club of Eugene checked in on the progress - or the lack of it - on clean up and rebuilding. Three speakers gave us the status of their work and visions for the are...

The Oregon Coast is beautiful, but many of its residents suffer economically. The region's recovery from the 2008 recession has been very slow (below, left). In addition, factors such as lower life expectancy (below, right) play a role in the coast's ability to create and sustain a healthy economy. City Club of Eugene developed this program to highlight the perspectives of coastal legislative, tri...

What is implicit bias? How does it operate in the classroom and the courtroom? How are hiring decisions and discipline affected by implicit bias? Erik Girvan, law professor at the University of Oregon Law School, provides a broad overview of implicit bias; Rhonda Nese, professor of education at the University of Oregon, discusses steps that teachers can take to counteract implicit bias; and Justic...

Bethany Grace Howe used to be Barton Grover Howe. In this episode of the City Club of Eugene podcast, she talks about her personal experience with transitioning as well as her research on it. Since this program, Bethany has received her doctorate from the University of Oregon School of Journalism and Communication. "Every single thing that happens, you wonder if it's a point of contention, you won...

When COVID-19 closed schools, Eugene, Oregon School District 4J's BEST Program had to pivot its after-school programs to online-only. This episode explains the program and highlights five nonprofits who converted their usual hands-on projects to online learning. The pivot is an example of creativity developed from the desire to continue serving at-risk students. The problem-solving highlights the...

On Sept. 7, 2020, a wind-driven fire exploded into the Holiday Farm Fire along the McKenzie River. This program covers the death, destruction of towns and homes, and the environmental damage from the wildfire; the fire's aftermath; and the "inspired community response" in the moment and in the long-term recovery of the valley. Three speakers address the impact of the fire on the ecosystem, geology...

Why can't people go from owing to owning? While income inequality has been studied, a newer area of research is asset poverty: income consumed by expenses. With fewer available funds, families have less help when things go wrong; they have less power over what occurs; they have fewer opportunities. Two out of three families are asset poor, according to Dr. David Rothwell, assistant professor of pu...

What if we approach gun violence as a public health issue, not a binary "gun rights vs. gun control"? Nearly 40,000 deaths each year are due to firearms, and 80,000 non-fatal firearm injuries occur yearly. Firearms are often used to commit suicide. Gun violence is predictable, which makes it preventable. Public health experts are pursuing harm reduction, using education, technology, policies and s...

What causes suicides and suicide attempts? How can family and friends, and all of society, help people considering suicide? Lane County, Oregon, has a suicide rate 50% greater than the national average. One in 4 suicides is a veteran. The highest rate of ideation is among young LGBTQ+ residents. In this episode, you will learn more about local and national statistics and services, hear from a surv...

Lucy Jones, Ph. D., is an earthquake expert. She spoke to City Club of Eugene about seismic safety and its connection to climate change. From her experience in California earthquakes to her policy work with then-Mayor Garcetti in Los Angeles, Dr. Jones is focused on preventing 'future piles of rubble." In this episode, she discusses building codes, seismic safety policy, mandatory retrofitting and...

College students and incarcerated students learn together in the prison system, thanks to a University of Oregon prison education program called "Inside Out." It is the largest such program in the world. Our speakers include Professor Shaul Cohen, an Associate Professor of Geography and Director of the UO Prison Education Program and the Carnegie Global Oregon Ethics Program. He is a member of the...

After Pearl Harbor was attacked by Japan, America declared war and began taking Japanese residents to internment camps. This podcast of the City Club of Eugene, Oregon looks at the impact of internment on the detainees and their descendants as well as America's reaction at the time of the internments. You will also hear about how the internment was carried out here in Eugene. We'll hear an overvie...

When studying police reforms, how can we cultivate and enforce greater equity and justice, and implement safety in our community? Is Eugene, Oregon committing sufficient funding and support to the people and programs that can provide alternatives to law enforcement? City Club of Eugene takes a look at accountability, transparency and law enforcement through the lens of racial justice and defunding...

After the death of George Floyd, Breonna Taylor and Armaud Arbery in the spring of 2020, City Club of Eugene, Oregon developed a focus on racism, police accountability and local issues related to racial justice. Part 1 of this 2-part series brings people with varying perspectives together to discuss the issue: Mark Gissiner, Police Auditor, City of Eugene; Dr. Michael Hames-García, UO Professor &...

Air BnB ranked Eugene #2 in the U.S. as a popular place to visit. It has been ranked by Realtor.com as #2 in constrained housing in America. How would city regulation of short-term rentals like AirBnB and VRBO affect the owners, neighbors and the City of Eugene, Oregon? Hear the perspectives of those who could be impacted by regulation.  Our speakers include Kathryn Dunn is a realtor and member of...