Analysis: With advice from Bernie Sanders, can Eugene Democrats change course?

Presenter: Shortly after the November 2024 presidential election, Sen. Bernie Sanders said the Democrats lost because they abandoned working people. Here he is on Meet the Press:

Sen. Bernie Sanders: Look, the working people of this country are extremely angry. They have a right to be angry. In the richest country in the history of the world, today, the people on top are doing phenomenally well, while 60% of Americans are living paycheck to paycheck, and millions of families worry that their kids are actually going to have a lower standard of living than they do.

[00:00:38] You got the top 1% owning more wealth than the bottom 90%. We’re the only major country on earth not to guarantee health care to all of our people; 25% of our seniors are trying to live on $15,000 a year or less; we have the highest rate of childhood poverty of almost any major country on earth. And the gap between the people on top and everybody else is getting wider and wider.

[00:01:04] Presenter: What should the Democratic Party elites do? On State of the Union, Sen. Bernie Sanders:

[00:01:10] Sen. Bernie Sanders: Recognize it. Deal with it. Tell the working class that you understand what is going on in their lives. You’ve got to fight for them.

[00:01:18] Presenter: Could Bernie’s analysis also apply to Democratic Party elites in Eugene, Oregon? There are nearly 5,000 people living on the street. Incoming mayor, Kaarin Knudson:

[00:01:29] Kaarin Knudson (Eugene mayor-elect): Eugene had the worst per capita homelessness rate in the nation, ahead of both Los Angeles, who’s number two, and New York City, who’s number three.

[00:01:38] Presenter: Homelessness is increasing due to a low vacancy rate and high rents. 31% of Eugene renters are paying more than half of their income for rent and utilities. Eugene’s Principal Planner Terri Harding:

[00:01:52] Terri Harding (Eugene Planning): Goal #10 is the statewide goal that covers housing, and it requires all cities to plan for and accommodate a diversity of quality, affordable housing for all community members. However, we have not lived up to this standard, as the entire state is experiencing a housing crisis, with Eugene being one of the most rent-burdened communities statewide.

[00:02:14] Presenter: In January 2025, Eugene’s mayor and council will consider a new fee to raise $10 million a year, based on building square footage. That fee will make housing even more expensive.

[00:02:26] The working people of Eugene are angry, too. On Dec. 21, homeless advocates and two homeless persons protested city policies at an appearance by outgoing Mayor Lucy Vinis.

[00:02:38] Mayor Lucy Vinis: I appreciate the deep anger and frustration that inspired the throwing of a bowl of chili, the folks that are standing with their backs to me. I recognize that we are inadequate in our response, that our response is, falls short and in many cases adds to the trauma and the injury and the pain that people who are living unsheltered experience in our community.

[00:03:05] Presenter: How did we get here? We’ll review four policies Eugene Democrats pursued over the past few years: a ban on new natural gas pipes to homes, a neighborhood plan for Northwest Eugene, bus rapid transit on River Road, and Oregon House Bill 2001, which mandated zoning changes to allow what’s called middle housing. The state provided a model for cities to adopt.

[00:03:28] Local Democrats chose not to use the state model. They sought to allow even more housing on each lot, and then either censored or demonized those with different opinions. On April 18, 2022, Planning Commissioner Dan Isaacson:

[00:03:43] Dan Isaacson: And as always, change invites both pushback and fear from those who have enjoyed the benefits of a system that now seeks to include others… with every new proposal our city has put forward to grow and to be more inclusive, there have been voices of opposition and fear… with every expansion of the opportunities afforded to some, granted to the new, we hear the same arguments, the same fear, the same people benefiting from both.

[00:04:06] Presenter: One city councilor stopped a recording of a public meeting, in effect, preventing opponents’ views from being shared on the record. Councilor Matt Keating:

[00:04:15] Councilor Matt Keating: Is there a way to stop the recording for our conversation? So I can just have a frank—

[00:04:20] Zoom voice: Recording stopped.

[00:04:21] Councilor Matt Keating: Thank you. That worked! I appreciate that. I just want to have an open, honest dialogue with you all, and I really appreciate the advocacy and the positive tone by which you’ve communicated your concepts and heartburn and consternation.

[00:04:36] Presenter: A city whistleblower said planners deliberately bypassed neighborhood opinion. Rene Kane:

[00:04:42] Rene Kane: My work as a neighborhood planner from 2009-21 was almost exclusively with neighborhood associations. I also sat on the implementation team for HB 2001 code amendments.

[00:04:54] However, I was never once asked how best to engage neighborhoods in developing this proposal. In fact, the only tool geared toward neighborhood associations and other community groups was developed without my input. There was no training on the tool and no follow-up to see how it was working.

[00:05:13] How effective was it? I was told by Planning staff that one neighborhood organization used it, resulting in one neighborhood response. What a failed opportunity.

[00:05:24] In contrast, the 2009 city-sponsored neighborhood survey resulted in 4,000 responses—4,000—largely through the effort of volunteer neighborhood boards. Talk about engaging people, literally where they live, in their neighborhoods.

[00:05:42] Presenter: Although public comments strongly opposed the city’s approach, Eugene Democrats plowed ahead. The council’s first middle housing vote considered adopting the state model code. On May 11, 2022, Mayor Lucy Vinis:

[00:05:56] Mayor Lucy Vinis: All in favor of the motion, please raise your hands. 1, 2, 3, 4, all opposed. 1, 2, 3, 4, and I oppose.

[00:06:08] Councilor Mike Clark: Your first one, right?

[00:06:10] Presenter: Councilor Alan Zelenka asked how everyone voted on adopting the state model code.

[00:06:15] Councilor Alan Zelenka: Mayor, can you tell me who voted which way?

[00:06:18] Mayor Lucy Vinis: Yes. (Councilors) Greg (Evans), Emily (Semple), Randy (Groves), and Mike (Clark) voted in favor. (Councilors) Jennifer (Yeh), Matt (Keating), Claire (Syrett), and you—including me—voted against it.

[00:06:30] Councilor Alan Zelenka: Thank you.

[00:06:30] Presenter: Mayor Lucy Vinis cast the tie-breaking vote and the Council would go on to approve its own ambitious middle housing ordinance, which would allow even greater density. Unfortunately, it has been tied up in the courts ever since. Eugene failed to follow state Planning Goal 11, which says the city must meet the needs for water, sewer, police, fire, and other public facilities and services.

[00:06:55] On Nov. 25, 2024, as the council passed its third ordinance relating to middle housing, Councilor Randy Groves:

[00:07:03] Councilor Randy Groves: City Manager, do we have an idea on how many staff hours we have wrapped into House Bill 2001, CFEC (Climate-Friendly and Equitable Communities), appeals, remands, etc.?

[00:07:17] Sarah Medary (Eugene city manager): A lot.

[00:07:18] Councilor Randy Groves: And cost.

[00:07:19] Sarah Medary (Eugene city manager): Yeah, we don’t, we don’t track by, I don’t think we’re tracking that by you’re working on (HB) 2001 or you’re working on this. But essentially, you know, a lot of our Planning staff have been working on these state mandates for the last couple of years.

[00:07:34] Councilor Randy Groves: And if we had just adopted the model code, we would have been done a long time ago, is that correct?

[00:07:40] Sarah Medary (Eugene city manager): I don’t know the answer to that.

[00:07:45] Presenter: Later in the meeting, Councilor Randy Groves.

[00:07:48] Councilor Randy Groves: My concern is that we are not getting to other important planning issues such as the health overlay zone, the Bethel area plan, the list goes on. Although it doesn’t involve Planning staff, we’re still waiting to finish up the Fire governance model as well. So we have these important issues that are staring us in the face, and we are still dealing with remands and appeals and there’s probably going to be more.

[00:08:15] Presenter: Some of the important projects on hold because the city is still working on HB 2001: The fuel transloading station; the Bethel area plan, a West Eugene satellite police station, and a public health overlay zone. Neighborhood leader Lin Woodrich.

[00:08:32] Lin Woodrich: Please hurry to finalize the public health development standards for at least the Bethel and Trainsong neighborhoods so we won’t be saddled with another JH Baxter-type business in our area. Until the city manager provides you with the health overlay zone language to review, there’s nothing to act on. Why am I not seeing this on your work session agenda?

[00:08:51] Presenter: Opponents say the city’s third middle housing ordinance will also be challenged in court.

[00:08:57] The Democrats’ second time-consuming and ill-fated council policy sought to ban new natural gas infrastructure, even though they were asked not to by many local union workers. In February 2021:

[00:09:09] Nate Stokes: My name is Nate Stokes. I’m a member of the Operating Engineers Local 701 and a proud journeyman operator who completed Local 701’s Union Apprenticeship Program.

[00:09:19] Shawn Basaraba: My name is Shawn Basaraba. I’m a Lane County resident and a member of Operating Engineers Local 701.

[00:09:28] Russ Benton: My name is Russ Benton. I’m a member of the Sheet Metal Air, Rail, and Transportation Union.

[00:09:33] Jeff McGillivray: Jeff McGillivray. I represent the workers from the Lane, Coos, Curry, Douglas Construction Trade Council.

[00:09:39] Karyn Morrison: My name is Karyn Morrison. I’m here on behalf of the Office and Professional Employees International Union, Local 11.

[00:09:46] Josh McClaughry: My name is Josh McClaughry. My full-time job is a business rep for Sheet Metal Air, Rail, and Transportation Union, Local 16. I’m also on the Lane Workforce Board of Directors and a delegate to the Lane, Coos, Curry, Douglas Building Trades. I represent around 2,500 members in the state.

[00:10:05] Presenter: Ignoring the union workers, the city council passed its ordinance banning new infrastructure in February 2023. Councilor Matt Keating:

[00:10:14] Councilor Matt Keating: It’s clear to me that the fossil fuel industry, NW Natural in particular, will stop at nothing to keep polluting with fossil fuels.

[00:10:23] Presenter: At City Club in March 2024, Councilor Keating.

[00:10:27] Matt Keating (Candidate, Ward 2): As your city councilor, yeah, I’ve made some, I’ve ruffled some feathers. As mentioned earlier, I may be the fossil fuel industry’s least-favorite city councilor.

[00:10:36] Presenter: But after a similar ordinance in Berkeley, California was thrown out by the courts, the city council repealed Eugene’s fossil fuel ordinance in July 2023. Councilor Alan Zelenka:

[00:10:48] Councilor Alan Zelenka: We still haven’t had a single metric ton or even a pound of greenhouse gas emissions reduced because of this tactic. So I think it’s time to move on and focus on things that actually reduce greenhouse gas emissions. This tactic has not worked. It’s not going to work. It’s also insignificantly small. It’s 0.4% of the greenhouse gas emissions we need to reduce over the next 20 years. So if we’re actually trying to reduce greenhouse gas emissions, this is not the place to focus.

[00:11:16] Presenter: The Democrats’ decision to go after NW Natural meant they missed the opportunity to cooperate on home energy conservation programs. On Dec. 9, 2024, Councilor Mike Clark:

[00:11:28] Councilor Mike Clark: We kind of declared war on NW Natural gas a while back and they stopped having productive conversations with us about what we might do together… I for one would like to see us improve our working relationship and I would like it to result in monies that come into the city that help our residents pay less for their electricity and I’m in favor of chasing down that road as a part of this conversation.

[00:12:01] Presenter: Besides middle housing and the fossil fuel ban, the city discarded thousands of hours of volunteer time on a Northwest Eugene neighborhood plan. Santa Clara Community Chair Kate Perle:

[00:12:13] Kate Perle (Santa Clara): I’ve been co-chair of the community advisory committee to the neighborhood plan since its inception in 2017. And, there has been, whoa, I can’t even, I don’t even have the words to describe how much community work has gone into this…

[00:12:29] Hundreds of residents spent thousands of hours working to build trust and craft a future they could live in. Our dreams have been downsized.

[00:12:37] Presenter: River Road Community Co-chair Jon Belcher.

[00:12:40] Jon Belcher (River Road Community Organization): This plan is a unique plan in that a large part of it isn’t a plan. It’s an action item list, and in my pessimistic days, I called it a ‘someday, maybe, possibly never list.’

[00:12:51] The neighborhood plan project charter signed by the two neighborhoods and city of Eugene and Lane County define the deliverables of this project, including a more detailed approach along the River Road corridor, as informed by the related FTA (Federal Transportation Administration) TOD (Transit-Oriented Development) grant-funded project. That was not part of the plan…

[00:13:09] So the agreement from the project charter has not met River Road Santa Clara Area Plan, and it joins the South Willamette Concept Plan as the second time the city of Eugene has failed to meet their promise from Envision Eugene.

[00:13:23] Presenter: Local Democrats’ approval of a bus rapid transit system for River Road consumed even more time in partisan squabbling and name-calling. It led to the first recall of a city councilor in city history, and then a prolonged partisan battle to identify her replacement. River Road City Councilor Claire Syrett:

[00:13:42] Councilor Claire Syrett: I don’t believe I’ve received one communication from a property owner along River Road who has concerns about this proposal.

[00:13:49] Presenter: Recall organizer Meta Maxwell:

[00:13:51] Meta Maxwell: We gathered over 464 petitions against MovingAhead, including over 150 that were from people in Ward 7 and close to River Road. We turned in all of those signatures to them before the vote and Claire Syrett still voted to advance the MovingAhead project, which would remove the two lanes for cars, remove 132 medium and large-size trees, put in miles of CO2 concrete and run big diesel buses.

[00:14:30] Presenter: In downtown Eugene, as he turned in recall petitions, Mark Osterloh.

[00:14:34] Mark Osterloh: This is about making money for the bus manufacturers and for the road construction people. This is not what’s going to be good for this city. Small buses going to many more routes is a much better option.

[00:14:47] We gave petition signatures to Claire Syrett, and she ignored them. And then she lied about receiving opposition and then she ignored us and insulted us.

[00:14:57] So we feel it’s time that we make this known to the public and we get some people on the City Council that’ll actually do a job that represents us and our needs.

[00:15:08] And when the city government doesn’t listen to you, it’s time to do something drastic. And that’s why we’re doing a recall.

[00:15:15] Presenter: Eugene Democrats once again demonized the opposition. Helping Claire Syrett during the recall campaign, Dan Isaacson.

[00:15:23] Dan Issacson: If you look at Eugene’s history, you see a pretty strong opposition to almost any forward momentum going back decades. We have the same people saying the same things, usually the same tactics, because to a certain degree, they work, and some people profit off of that. And that’s really unfortunate.

[00:15:42] Presenter: Councilor Keating suggested the recall organizers should go to prison.

[00:15:46] Councilor Matt Keating: Read the Oregon state constitution. It makes it very clear that the statements to recall a sitting city councilor, duly elected, elected official must be true. And supplying false information comes with consequences. Supplying false information may result in a conviction of a felony with a fine of up to $125,000 and/or prison sentence of up to five years.

[00:16:13] Ward 7 voters were sold a bill of goods in regards to MovingAhead, and EmX used as a wedge issue, a punitive wedge issue… Councilor Syrett is studious, tentative, empathetic. Councilor Syrett’s service… arises to the point to be the best among us.

[00:16:35] I find it disturbing that someone who served with such dignity and such attention to detail and caring over a decade was treated so unfairly based on what I interpret and what I hope the court interprets as baseless lies. I thank you for your service, Councilor Syrett. You are to be commended.

[00:16:59] Presenter: After the recall, the council spent yet more time in partisan politicking, rather than helping the working people of Eugene. Councilor Keating lobbied aggressively for Dan Isaacson as the new River Road councilor. Councilor Greg Evans thought he went too far.

[00:17:15] Councilor Greg Evans: I am not impressed with the backroom dealings and the backroom politics that, I don’t know about the rest of you, that I’ve been personally subjected to in this process…

[00:17:29] I am not going to be influenced by racial politics played by certain people in, at this table, okay? I reject, resent that repugnant behavior on the part of a certain councilor, and I am going to make my vote based upon what I think is right for this city at this time. But I will tell you this: I won’t put up with those shenanigans anymore.

[00:18:05] Presenter: We reached out to Planning Commissioner Isaacson, Councilor Keating, and Mayor Vinis. Will our local Democratic elites take Bernie Sanders’ advice?

[00:18:14] Sen. Bernie Sanders: Tell the working class that you understand what is going on in their lives. You’ve got to fight for them.

[00:18:19] Presenter: None of them responded. In January 2025, a new mayor and council for a city with over 4,800 homeless people living on the streets will consider what to do about an $11.5 million budget deficit. In our severely rent-burdened city, their current plan is to charge a fee on housing.