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Hello Friends and Neighbors,
Last Friday marked the 6-month anniversary of the first public report of a coronavirus case in Oregon. Six months. The Oregonian takes a look back and compares our experience to neighboring states in this article. Over the past few weeks, Oregonians have worked hard to slow the virus and lower the number of new cases. These actions show how much we care about protecting one another, protecting businesses, and reopening in person school. As we move towards another holiday weekend, continuing this trend is incredibly important. We must remember to celebrate in a safe way, avoid groups or gatherings, stay home as much as possible, and to observe face-covering guidance when out. Here are two stories recently cited by state epidemiologist Dr. Dean Sidelinger about the risks that come from social gatherings:
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In the first example, 10 people got together for a family party, and two people at the party were likely infectious at the time, though they did not have symptoms. In total, those two cases have led to 20 reported cases spread across 10 households. At least two of the people work with vulnerable populations. One person lived in a multi-generational house with family members with high-risk conditions. So even though the people who went to the party weren’t at higher risk for complications, many of the people who got sick potentially exposed people who are more vulnerable.
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In the second example, 20 people rented a beach house for a celebration and were together for three days. No one had symptoms during the trip, but four were potentially infectious at the time. Twelve people from the trip got sick, all adults of various ages. These cases then had links to five workplace outbreaks, with a total of more than 300 cases so far.
As we head into the Labor Day weekend, it is really important to downsize gatherings and wear masks!
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Foreclosure Protections Extended
This week Governor Brown extended the state’s existing pandemic-related foreclosure protections until the end of December. The Legislature passed these protections in June with the passage of House Bill 4204, and the requirements had been in effect until the end of September. The law requires lenders to defer both residential and commercial mortgage payments if a borrower is unable to pay due to the COVID-19 pandemic.
I applaud the Governor for extending the foreclosure moratorium, and we’re all aware that we also have to do more to protect people at risk of losing their housing. You can read her statement on her executive order here.
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September is Suicide Prevention Awareness Month
September is Suicide Prevention Awareness Month. If you or anyone you know is struggling: know that you are not alone. To reach the National Suicide Prevention Lifeline, please call 1-800-273-8255 and check out resources here: National Suicide Prevention Lifeline
More Resources:
Crisis Text Line | Text HOME to 741741
Oregon Youthline | Call 877-968-8491 or text teen2teen to 839863 between 4pm - 10pm to text with another teen.
National Youth Crisis Hotline | 1-800-442-HOPE (4673)
Oregon Partnership 24 Hour Youth Helpline | 1-877-553-TEEN (8336)
NAMI Oregon | 503-230-8009 or 800-343-6264, email [email protected] - Live support from 9am - 5pm, M-F.
The Trevor Project | 1-866-488-7386 - 24/7 suicide prevention for LGBTQ.
Senior Loneliness Line | 503-200-1633 or 800-282-7035 - For Oregonians 55+ years old. Get ongoing support, resources, and listening sessions.
Veteran Crisis Line | 1-800-273-8255 - Call, chat, or text options, with deaf and hard of hearing support available.
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Something Different is Possible
Congratulations to the Harmony Academy 2020 graduates! I was thankful to hear from the brave graduates of Harmony Academy, the only recovery high school in the state. Thanks for sharing your battles with addiction and your dreams for the future! I wish there had been a Harmony Academy for my brother when he faced addiction as a young adult. I'm so glad this community has the support we need when and where we need it. To learn more about this highschool check out their website.
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Washington County is Reopening the Second Grant Opportunity for Small Businesses
Washington County’s next round of small business economic assistance grants of $3,000 reopened on Monday, August 31 at 8 am and will remain open until this Friday, September 4th at 5 pm. Please share this news with any small businesses in your network.
Because there were additional funds after the last round of applications, Washington county is reopening the process for businesses. These $3,000 grants are intended to be spread across the county to meet the ongoing challenges and address businesses’ most pressing needs during the pandemic.
In addition, some cities opted to participate in the county program. Businesses located in Durham, Gaston, King City or the Washington County portion of Wilsonville are also eligible to apply for a grant.
To help us administer this program, the County is continuing to partner with Micro Enterprise
Services of Oregon (MESO). MESO is a Community Development Funding Institution focused on providing opportunities to businesses that are traditionally hard to bank.
ELIGIBILITY REQUIREMENTS:
Eligible businesses MUST:
- Be physically located in:
- Washington County outside a city; OR
- Durham, Gaston, or King City; OR
- The Washington County portion of Wilsonville
- Have been impacted by COVID-19 by:
- Closure because of the “Stay Home. Save Lives.” Executive Order; OR
- Loss of 30% or more revenue in any one month when compared to the same month the year prior
- Have been in operation since March 1, 2019
- Have 25 full-time equivalent employees or fewer over the last year
- Be a for-profit business
- Be compliant with all federal, state and local regulations and taxes
- Be registered with the state or be exempt from registration requirements
Eligible businesses MUST NOT:
- Be a passive real estate holding company or other entity holding a passive investment in a small business with no operational ties to the business
- Be an adult-orient business (meaning businesses that emphasize sexually oriented products or services, for example a strip club or adult bookstore)
- Get a majority of income from gambling activities
- Have more than $5 million in gross revenue in 2019
- Be a franchise that is not individually owned (meaning it is a corporately-owned chain)
- Have previously received a grant from the county or WCVA
Only one application will be accepted for a business owner. A business owner may apply on behalf of any business in which they have any ownership stake, but may not apply on behalf of a second or any subsequent business. If that same person owns less than 51% of another business that second business may apply under another owner’s name.
CLICK HERE TO LEARN MORE AND APPLY
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2020 Census
You may have heard that the Census bureau will be closing their data collection earlier than planned, on September 30th. A complete count is vital to make sure Oregonians get the federal funding and representation we deserve. If you have not yet completed the census, there are lots of ways to do so! You can complete the census online, by phone, or by mail.
It only takes 10 minutes to ensure Oregon gets fair representation for the next 10 years! If you have friends or family in hard to count circumstances, like RVs, nursing homes, congregate living, or rental homes, please share these resources to ensure we all get counted!
There are no citizenship questions on the census, and it is available in multiple languages. Again, you can complete the census online, by phone, or by mail. More information can also be found at Oregon2020Census.gov or 2020Census.gov.
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SNAP Benefits Update
Emergency SNAP supplemental allotments will continue in September, which means all SNAP recipients will receive the maximum amount for their household size. These emergency SNAP benefits will be distributed on September 11th and additionally at the end of the month for those that were missed in the first distribution or new applicants. View fliers in English and Spanish.
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Don't Forget to Take ODOT’s Survey on Tolling
It is crucial members of our community continue to participate in this conversation and make their voices heard. ODOT has set up a virtual open house full of information about their plans for I-205, including eight stations:
- Raise funds and improve traveL
- The I-205 Toll Project
- Leading with equity
- Environmental review
- Compare the alternatives
- Share your ideas
- Stay involved
- Contact page.
You can access ODOTs virtual open house for I-205 here. Under the “Share your ideas” station there is a survey that will be open through September 16, 2020. You can also access that survey here.
They have heard from me but they MUST hear from you too! Your comments about how tolls affect you and your community are critical. Please continue to encourage the community to share their views on the plans by taking the survey. I truly believe we’re gaining traction which helps the fight in Salem.
For some history on the subject: For the past few years, the Oregon Department of Transportation (ODOT) has been developing plans to address the I-205 bottleneck and the Abernethy bridge seismic updates. I have been vocal about my thoughts on tolling, and I continue to oppose ODOTs plans where the cost of these projects unfairly impact residents of House District 37. We must look for regional solutions that won’t negatively impact our communities or lead to traffic diversion onto our neighborhood streets putting our communities at risk. Over the last year I have fought tirelessly to find funding for the 205 and have been very vocal in standing strong against ODOT’s tolling plan; even leading a bipartisan effort in doing this.
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Thoughts on Portland Protests
I took an oath over twenty years ago when I began my medical career. Part of doing no harm means doing everything I can to keep others from harm. It’s fundamental to who I am.
As a gun violence survivor, the shooting in Kenosha and Portland strengthened my resolve to fight for the safety of all Oregonians from gun violence. Violence tears communities apart.
In my first campaign for state representative, my signs were graffitied with antisemitic slurs. Hate didn't stop me then and it won't stop me now. My priority as a nurse and as a state representative is the health and safety of all Oregonians, not just my constituents. So while my district ends at the Clackamas and Washington County lines, and I do not represent Multnomah County or Downtown Portland, I do not condone violence against protesters, bystanders, or police. I have urged leaders in the tri-county area to work toward solutions since the Portland Mayor has not. And each of us, individually, must commit to protecting our communities from being consumed by this tension – especially by criminal activities that divide us and keep us from our shared goals of peace and safety. We must arrest and prosecute individuals who mace nonviolent counter-protesters from their vehicles. We must hold individuals accountable when they intentionally seek to injure police officers, break windows, or commit arson. And, we must hold police officers accountable for confrontational and violent crowd control tactics. We need solutions, not political rhetoric and finger-pointing. I believe in the power of Oregonians to bring about healing because we know Black Lives Matter.
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Please email me if you have specific concerns. Our office will do all we can to help and protect all Oregonians.
You can subscribe or read past newsletters here.
For up-to-date Covid 19 information from the Oregon Health Authority, please check this link
Governor Brown’s COVID-19 Resource page.
And if you want to follow Up-to-date Statistics from the Oregon Health Authority for case counts, testing counts, breakdowns by geography, demographic, and hospitalization information go here.
Thank you for reading! We will get through this together.
Sincerely,
Rachel Prusak
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