Maco Stewart is a junior political science major and was a candidate in the 2002 ASUO Executive election.
Q: Why are you running for the city council?
A: Students have no representation in city government. I think it’s ridiculous they pass ordinances that target students exclusively, which I am against for any group of people. City councilors don’t pay attention to what students want, and it’s not because they’re bad people; it’s because they don’t understand. There’s not a single person on the city council under the age of 45, there isn’t a single recent university alumnus. How are they supposed to understand what it’s like when they don’t come from the same walk of life as we do? Being a student, I think I have a much deeper understanding of student issues than any city councilor does or could have.
Q: What are the key issues facing Ward 3 residents?
A: It’s a really diverse ward. We have a huge number of students but we also have wealthy people in the east hills. It has special needs. But most of all, it is a university ward. It’s centered around the U of O. There’s always a back and forth between environmentalists and developers. Decent employment is a big issue. Of course, there is the housing code issue. Housing is, in some instances, horrible here.
Q: Are students adequately represented in the city council? How would you facilitate communication between students and city councilors?
A: I know a lot of people in the ASUO, I know a lot of people from student groups, and I know the Greek system. I’m in constant contact with students and other student representatives. One thing that really has been a cause of the division between students and the rest of the community is city government. Things like the party patrol and the special response fee ordinance didn’t have a practical effect. But students feel really affected by these things. They feel the city is stigmatizing them, and I personally feel that way too.
There are a lot of student voices already speaking, but they’re not being heard because there’s no one there that listens — there’s no forum. I would make sure student issues are brought up at every city meeting. Also, I’d be here to listen to what students have to say. I’d like to keep office hours somewhere on campus, if possible.
Q: Recent assaults on campus have heightened concern about public safety. Is the area safe?
A: It could be safer. What police do for the most part is bust people walking around with open containers, bust people smoking weed or write tickets. I’d like to see the EPD take an active role, especially since we have an area that’s been targeted time and time again by predators. I’d like to see them patrolling the cemetery. I’d like to see them patrolling the area around the Knight Library.
Q: Would you support drafting a city housing code?
A: We need, maybe not a comprehensive housing code, but housing standards, like what the ASUO endorsed. You outlaw the things you want to get rid of, then you enforce that.
Q: What should Eugene do to attract businesses and create jobs?
A: The city has a very bad reputation for business. We shouldn’t be giving big tax breaks, but we should be sending messages. One thing we could do is have a unified permit system. Now, if you want to get a business permit, you have to go through three different offices, one at a time, and each has a 60-day waiting period. Other cities, like Springfield, have what’s called the unified permit system, where you still go through the same agencies but with only one 60-day waiting period. That would not lower the level of oversight, but would send the message that we want to be more business-friendly.
I’m really concerned with the environment and about having a nice place to leave. However, environmentalists and developers don’t speak. They’re just militantly opposed to each other. I’d like to bring them to the point where we’re talking. You can’t have commerce and environmentalists fighting with each other.
Q: What are your concerns about the departure of Sacred Heart Medical Center?
A: Sacred Heart is, after the U of O, one of the biggest technology resources this city has. It’s a big employer, and now that it’s leaving, Eugene isn’t going to be the largest city in Oregon without reasonable housing standards, it’s going to be the largest city in Oregon without its own hospital. Also, it’s a big deal for students, because students can intern there; students can get their foot in the door if they want a medical career.
Q: Should the city council support construction of the West Eugene Parkway, an $88 million project that would build an expressway in West Eugene to reduce traffic congestion?
A: I voted against the West Eugene Parkway. I consider myself an environmentalist. But since then, it’s progressed to the point where it would be more harmful not to build it. The state of Oregon has already spent more than $10 million on the project. Once we made the commitment and went to the voters, we passed the point of no return. While I’m concerned about wetlands, I think that it’s time we pushed it through.
Q: The city council has been criticized of being uncivil and deeply divided. How would you operate in that politically charged environment?
A: I don’t have any enemies in the Eugene city government. I could go in there with a clean slate and could help people sit down and figure things out. I’ve spoken with several current councilors and with the mayor, and they’re all reasonable people. But I think a lot of what’s going on is a clash of egos — people commit to one side, take their stand and fight it out for all its worth. I’m not like that. I like to reach agreements. I even like to reach consensus.