We were excited to host Governor Kate Brown this week for a formal signing of the transportation bill. This is not “business as usual." This bill moves beyond a focus on cars and highways to include support for electric vehicles, biking and transit, as well as our Safe Routes to School program. We’re grateful to Rep. Nancy Nathanson , Sen. Lee Beyer, and the Governor for their persistence and determination.
Also on Tuesday, the Performance Auditor Study Group met to review and expand their matrix. The matrix outlines performance auditor scope, cost and accountability for seven cities and Lane County, including the proposed initiative for Eugene. More information and cities will be added to help inform our community choice about instituting a performance auditor. These meetings are open to the public. The next meeting will happen the week of September 11th. Information is available at http://www.eugeneperformanceauditor.org/
I closed the week at the graduation ceremony of the Community Court. This one-year old program offers homeless adults a pathway to stabilize their lives rather than continuing to revolve through the court system. The people who graduated today have connected to housing through nonprofit partner agencies, completed required community service hours, and most importantly, remained clean and sober. Their success is hopeful and promising, and affirms the value of this weekly program housed in the Bascom Room of the Public Library.