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Eugene Council Welcomes New Members, Denounces Insurrection At U.S. Capitol

City of Eugene

The Eugene City Council welcomed two new members on Jan. 6 during the State of the City Address. The event was held virtually and carried on as usual despite insurrection at the nation’s capitol. 

 

In a statement opening the event, Mayor Lucy Vinis spoke on behalf of the city denouncing the storming of the U.S. Capitol building. The move was meant to recognize both incoming and outgoing councilors and to honor civic leadership, said Vinis. Vinis was among five city officials who took oath of office on Wednesday evening

“The center will hold,” Vinis said. ”Our city government and elected leadership continue to do the important work on behalf of all of the people who call Eugene home and we continue tonight because we have faith and commitment in our government and we reject forces that would tear our democracy apart.

In her official address, Vinis said maintaining essential services, responding to emerging needs, and adding new voices to the table were some of the city’s biggest accomplishments.

“Our responses of 2020 reflect a commitment to equity. We know that people in poverty and people of color are disproportionately impacted by the public health crises, by the loss of jobs, and by environmental degradation,” Vinis said. She added that inclusion will continue to be a priority in the coming year.

 

Incoming councilors Matt Keating and Randy Groves also took their oaths along with Claire Syrett and Emily Semple who were both re-elected.

Meanwhile, councilors said farewell to outgoing colleagues Chris Pryor and Betty Taylor.

Note: Matt Keating serves as a board member for the KLCC Public Radio Foundation and Lane Community College’s Board of Education. Lane Community College holds the license for KLCC.

 
Copyright 2020 KLCC

Melorie Begay is a multimedia journalist for KLCC News. She was the Inaugural KLCC Public Radio Foundation Journalism Fellow. She has a bachelors in Multimedia Journalism from the University of New Mexico. She previously interned at KUNM public radio in Albuquerque, NM and served as a fellow for the online news publication New Mexico In Depth.
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