Downtown plans gain traction - Portland developer buys empty pit, vacant building (Register Guard - July 12, 2008)
Many see a trash-strewn empty pit and a vacant building at Broadway and Willamette street, in the heart of downtown Eugene.

“This is a great day for Eugene...an important point in the redevelopment of our downtown.” --Kitty Piercy, MAYOR (more...)

Next up: City planners endorse proposal for student apartments (Register Guard - July 12, 2008)
Eugene planners recommend that the City Council pick a Portland developer to build 201 student apartments on the excavated pit and parking lots north of Eugene’s public library. (more...)

City plans to repave roads plus fill hole (Register Guard - July 7, 2008)
With an extra $1 million to spend during the next 12 months, Eugene’s public works crews could patch a lot of potholes. (more...)

Guest Viewpoint: Let’s cooperate to solve traffic problem.
By Kitty Piercy and Jack Roberts (Register Guard - July 7, 2008)
What can people accomplish when they put differences behind them and look for solutions together? Perhaps they will be able to solve the serious long-term traffic and transportation problems in west Eugene. (more...)

What Lies Ahead - Truth spins out in mayor race (Eugene Weekly - June 12, 2008)
From police to potholes, slippery spin abounds in the tight race that continues on to November between Jim Torrey and Kitty Piercy. 

What follows is a guide to rhetoric and reality for voters to avoid the hazards to truth on the road to the run-off election for mayor. (more...)

New challenges call for a fresh approach to governing By Kitty Piercy and Marie Due (Register Guard - June 6, 2008)
Challenges offer opportunities for people to talk and work together, and to do things better and smarter. We in Lane County have the opportunity to choose how we manage the challenges confronting us. (more...)

Police review needs time - Eugene activists offer a timely defense of the system (Register Guard - June 5, 2008)
“...Piercy has left no doubt about her unqualified support and her resolve to give the system the time and backing it needs to build a solid foundation. Without such support from the mayor and other officials, there’s little chance the system can provide the accessible, impartial and transparent oversight that’s essential to restoring and maintaining this community’s trust in its police.”

“Torrey says police oversight has been turned into a “political football” by its proponents and the union. He’s right about the union, although it’s unclear what auditor proponents have done other than back a system mandated by voters. Actually, it’s Torrey who is playing punt and catch with the program by proposing that a citizen panel review it and recommend changes, instead of giving a system that’s still in its infancy time to mature.”   (more...)

Portland developer signs deal to renovate downtown corner (Register Guard - May 24, 2008)
After months of discussions and analysis, Beam Development of Portland has signed an agreement to buy and renovate a key corner in downtown Eugene.

The development firm on Friday signed a long-awaited deal with the city of Eugene, clearing the way for the $3.6 million purchase of properties at Broadway and Willamette Street. (more...)

Hospital revisits Eugene’s city center (Register Guard - May 23, 2008)
McKenzie-Willamette Medical​ Center is looking again at downtown Eugene for its new hospital site.

McKenzie-Willamette officials on Thursday said they are interested in building on property in downtown Eugene that includes a medical clinic operated by PeaceHealth — McKenzie-Willamette’s chief rival in the local health care market. (more...)

Proposed deal would help downtown project (Register Guard - May 18, 2008)
A $1.1 million drop in sales price. A pledge to reimburse the city of Eugene for a down payment. A promise by the city to rent space.

Those conditions are part of a proposed deal between the city of Eugene and Beam Development of Portland to buy and renovate the Centre Court building at Broadway and Willamette Street, in the heart of the city. (more...)

Eugene offers a backstop - City commitment jump-starts downtown project (Register Guard - May 18, 2008)
In recent weeks a Portland developer’s plans to refurbish one of downtown Eugene’s most blighted corners seemed caught in a circular trap. (more...)

TORREY'S PARKS BAIT & SWITCH (Eugene Weekly - May 15, 2008)
Mayoral candidate Jim Torrey and other conservatives have been bashing Mayor Kitty Piercy and south Eugene councilors for supporting purchasing parkland in the Amazon headwaters for a park.

EW Election Endorsements (Eugene Weekly - May 5, 2008)
Developers, land speculators and timber, construction and gravel interests have dumped a record $200,000 into closet Republican Jim Torrey's campaign to oust moderate Democrat Kitty Piercy. As a return on their investment, the development interests will expect radical urban sprawl and environmental destruction. (more...)

The Register Guard endorses Kitty Piercy for reelection as Mayor of Eugene (Register Guard - May 4, 2008)

'Electability,' Dang It! - Obama fervor will carry over to local races (Eugene Weekly - May 5, 2008)
Jim "I'm-Still-a-Republican" Torrey must be defeated. He and his developer gang, who've held Eugene's pockmarked downtown hostage for public tax breaks, have made this a personal attack against current Mayor Kitty Piercy. (more...)

Torrey vs. Piercy Debate - Torrey misleads with crime ad, unfunded spending (Eugene Weekly - May 5, 2008)
Developers, gravel, construction, timber and other pro-sprawl and freeway interests have spent nearly $200,000 to defeat Eugene Mayor Kitty Piercy. (more...)

Eugene voted second-best small city for commuting (KVAL TV, May 3, 2008)
According to Forbes.com, Eugene is the second best small city in the country for commuting. (more...)
In Depth: Best And Worst Commutes In Small Cities: Best: No. 2: Eugene, Ore. (Forbes.com)

‘Stark choices’ in mayoral race (Register Guard - May 3, 2008)
In a debate, Piercy says the differences are clear between her administration and that of former mayor Torrey. (more...)

MAYORAL FACE-OFF The incumbent is battling her predecessor in a race fueled by ideology and record fundraising (Register Guard - May 2, 2008)
It’s a Eugene mayor’s race unlike any other in recent times.

Mayor Kitty Piercy is facing the well-funded former mayor, Jim Torrey, in the May 20 election. Local political observers cannot recall an election where a present and former mayor have competed. (more...)

Mayor's Race: Torrey vs. Piercy choice could shape Eugene's future (Eugene Weekly - May 1, 2008)
The position of Eugene mayor is often viewed as largely ceremonial with the city manager and council majority holding the real power.

Then why have developers, gravel, construction, timber and other pro-sprawl and freeway interests already poured a record-breaking $180,000 into Jim Torrey's campaign to unseat Kitty Piercy? (more...)

The Race for Eugene Mayor: A conservative vs. a progressive (Blue Oregon - April 26, 2008)
In this primary season, most of the races feature candidates with similar ideologies running against each other - progressive vs. progressive, conservative vs. conservative.

But in Eugene, there's a progressive versus conservative showdown - featuring Mayor Kitty Piercy against former Mayor Jim Torrey. (more...)

Endorsements go Piercy’s way (Register Guard - April 23, 2008)
“I’m the only candidate endorsed by labor, environmental and human rights organizations,” Piercy said. (more...)

Big Bucks for Mayor: Pro-sprawl interests invest heavily in Torrey (Eugene Weekly - April 24, 2008)
Jim Torrey has raked in record-breaking donations from developer, land speculator, sand and gravel, construction, timber and other special interests who stand to make huge profits from the urban sprawl and freeways he envisions as mayor. (more...)

Who's trying to buy the Eugene Mayor's race? (Oregon League of Conservation Voters- April 18, 2008)
Back in 2006, former Eugene Mayor Jim Torrey ran for the State Senate, powered by more than $170,000 in funding from polluters. Fortunately, Senator Vicki Walker narrowly prevailed in her reelection.

Now, Torrey wants his old job as Mayor back and is raising tens of thousands of dollars from developers and other deep pockets. He's already raised $160,000, breaking the past spending record in a Eugene Mayor's race by 10% with a month more to go. (more...)

Cities ponder pedestrian fixes (Register Guard - April 18, 2008)
Eugene Mayor Kitty Piercy plans to lead an evaluation of the 13th and Hilyard intersection where Lucy Lahr was struck and killed last year by a pickup. (more...)

Mayor Piercy Releases Comprehensive Green Economic Plan (Eugene, Ore., April 16, 2008)
Recognizing the success of her first economic plan, Mayor Kitty Piercy has released her second policy paper on shaping our economic future. “Building a Sustainable Economy – Creating Good Jobs and New Opportunities," outlines 12 policy proposals in four key areas: