Secretary of State candidates Kim Thatcher and Shemia Fagan squared off in a debate sponsored by the City Club of Portland. Kim Thatcher started off by saying that Oregon is at a crossroad and the next Secretary of State needs to get Oregon back on track. She is the longest serving member of the Legislative Audit Committee and has focused her attention of the Secretary of State’s office. The Audit Committee is where hard answers are found, such as why millions of Oregonians still haven’t received their benefits. She thinks the state should be doing more to help displaced voters. Small business experience helps her see the issues to administer the Secretary of State’s office as an advocate to get small businesses back to work.

Shemia Fagan began with her history-growing up in Wasco County as a struggling family, which led her to be a civil rights attorney to advocate for the underprivileged. Wants to make government work for everybody, making sure government has fair elections, auditing revenues and programs to make sure they make a difference in the lives of people who need them the most, and run a redistricting committee to make sure Oregon has equal representation for all.

Questioning covered campaign contributions, election, audits, public records, redistricting and the Oregon Land Board.

Thatcher thought that most of her campaign funds came from the forest industry with single donations around $10,000, but she has contributed more from her business. Fagan said public employees were her biggest donors with Emily’s list donating $55,000 and the Governor $50,000. They both support Measure 107 for its transparency and campaign limits. Fagan would like to see grassroots donations and limit a single entity to drown out small donors. Thatcher would put a multi-partisan committee together so no one party dominates.

Vote by mail has been in the news as fraudulent. Thatcher doesn’t believe Oregon’s system is ripe with fraud. There are safe guards in place you don’t see in other states. She did not vote for motor voter due to privacy concerns and not being able to register at the DMV counter. She does not support voter registration on election day. Fagan adamantly stated the widespread claims of voter fraud across the country is a meth stated by people who want to make it harder to vote. She first worked with then Secretary of State Kate Brown to mark out a path to motor voter. She supports same-day registration and would like to see ballot tracking statewide to give Oregonians comfort that their ballot is received.

Audits could be subject to legislative influence, how will they assure audits are free of partisan influence? Fagan would hire outside auditors to be nonpartisan with national guidelines, and thinks the audits should be on what affects people the most. Thatcher serves on the Legislative Audit Committee and says the auditors we have are free of influence. The committee fills the gap working together to identify what audits need to be made, and investigates a tip line for valid requests.

It was proposed to make Public Records office independent. Thatcher is on the Public Advisory Council and proposed a bill to make it independent, which she will again propose and they are working out the funding. The office and advisory council need to work together. Fagan also supports Public Records as an independent agency so the public has someone fighting for them.

When Fagan was asked if she could show her independence from her Public Employees Union supporters, she could not because that would mean going against her own principle. She is proud of their support and believes they should be paid a living wage, have health insurance, retirement security, paid sick leave, and have a say in the safety of their work place. She is on record to make public police records on discipline.

The most discreditable question went to Kim Thatcher equating her participation in the Senate walk-out as a dislike of the legislative process. Denying that statement, she affirmed that the legislative process is very important and that includes the ability for people to weigh-in, which includes quorum denial, which both parties have used. Had the public been given a chance to weigh-in on the issues that are bigger than the legislature, there wouldn’t have been a walk-out.

The Elliott State Forest is overseen by the State Land Board, which includes the Secretary of State. Both thought that the Elliott Forest has to stay in state hands. Thatcher would like to see a stakeholder committee to determine the purpose of the Oregon Land Board. There are lots of proposals for the Elliott Forest to consider. Fagan seemed sold on Oregon State University proposal to use the Elliott Forest as a research forest, which includes decoupling it from the Common School Fund.

They each had an opportunity to ask the other a gotcha question. Thatcher questioned Fagan on her jumping around from position to position and how could voters count on her not running for Governor in two years. Fagan said she had no intention to run for Governor in two years. Fagan tried to tie down Thatcher on her vote for President, which she gracefully deflected staying non-partisan as the position would demand.

Maybe the most interesting question was for each to identify a professional sport they would like to play and what would their walk-up music be. Fagan would play for the WNBA for the Oregon Ducks, and walk on to Lizzo “Good As Hell.” Thatcher would like to be a race car driver to “Radar Love.”

In closing they both asked for your vote reiterating key points.


--Donna Bleiler

Post Date: 2020-10-02 02:17:06

Last Update: 2020-10-02 13:22:18

A coalition of 11 governors, including Govs. Jay Inslee (D-WA), Kate Brown (D-OR), Gavin Newsom (D-CA), Phil Murphy (D-NJ), Gretchen Whitmer (D-MI), Tony Evers (D-WI), Tim Walz (D-MN), Ralph Northam (D-VA), John Carney (D-DE), Steve Sisolak (D-NV) and Michelle Lujan Grisham (D-NM), today released a statement on recent threats to the democratic process and reports of efforts to circumvent the election results.

“We do not take for granted the sacred right of every American to cast a vote, and to have that vote counted, in the presidential election held every four years. It is a right that is foundational to our democracy and essential to the continuation of our constitutional system of government — something to be cherished, revered and defended by elected leaders at all levels.

“Any efforts to throw out ballots or refuse a peaceful transfer of power are nothing less than an assault on American democracy. There is absolutely no excuse for promoting the intimidation or harassment of voters. These are all blatant attempts to deny our constituents the right to have their voices heard, as guaranteed in the U.S. Constitution, and to know the will of the people will be carried out.

“As governors, it is our solemn duty to protect the people of our states. Today, we affirm that all votes cast in the upcoming election will be counted and that democracy will be delivered in this election. That means all valid ballots cast in accordance with state and local laws must be counted, and that all states must properly appoint electors in accordance with the vote. We will not allow anyone to willfully corrupt the democratic process by delegitimizing the outcome or appointing fraudulent electors against the will of the voters.

“Our nation has held presidential elections and upheld the results throughout our history, even in times of great peril. We did it during the Civil War and both World Wars, and we can do it during a pandemic.

“And if the outcome of this election means the end of a presidency, he must leave office — period.

“We recognize that democratically held elections are not an exercise in controlling power. By its very nature, democracy is an exercise in determining and honoring out the collective will of the American people, regardless of the outcome. Disenfranchising voters in order to retain power strikes at the very heart of this promise. We call on elected leaders at all levels, from both parties, to speak out loudly against such efforts in the weeks ahead.”

The group of Governors offered no comment on whether requiring photo ID to vote or register to vote would have a positive impact on the democratic process, nor any comment of the impact of the "crossfire hurricane" investigation performed by the FBI against Candidate, then President Elect, then President Donald Trump.


--Staff Reports

Post Date: 2020-10-01 15:05:40

Last Update: 2020-10-01 15:17:06

Editor's note: Oregon Abigail Adams Voter Education Project equips voters with information on how candidates stand on issues through a questionnaire process featured in comparison guides.

Candidate for House District 21 Jack Esp is challenging incumbent Brian Clem on his 8th run to represent a portion of Marion County.

Three major issues to Oregon voters are the economy, safety and education. Clem voted to increase taxes and fees including cap and trade, corporate gross receipts tax, and reduce the kicker. Esp indicates he would vote no on these issues and supports more in-depth study of problems “before throwing more money into the mix.”

Clem signed a letter to US Attorney General William Barr demanding “immediate withdrawal of federal operatives from the City of Portland.” He helped sponsor the bill that nullified Measure 88 passed by voters allowing undocumented driver’s license and he helped sponsor a bill that requires no proof of citizenship to obtain a driver’s license. Voted to require employers to notify employees of ICE investigations, and prevent courts from asking immigration status and notifying ICE. In 2020 he sponsored HB 4005 requiring firearms to be trigger-cable locked or in a locked container when not carried. Esp asks “what good is a locked self-defense firearm in an emergency?” He would vote no and support voters. He also thinks the courts and ICE are part of our legal system.

In the area of education, Clem voted to include in all curriculum’s contributions from every minority group such as immigrants, LGBTQ, disabled and women. He voted to require mandated vaccination with no exceptions and ban those from schools that don’t comply. Esp said forced vaccinations are “infringes on parental rights and religious freedom,” and would vote no on curriculum mandates to include minority group contribution on what he views as the left’s attempt to move education further left.



--Donna Bleiler

Post Date: 2020-09-30 11:45:18

Last Update: 2020-09-30 11:49:07

Representatives Daniel Bonham (R-The Dalles) and David Brock Smith (R-Coos Bay) released a statement on the Good Neighbor Authority and the recent investment made by the Legislative Emergency Board:

“We have let our natural and working lands become overburdened by fuel loads,” said Bonham. “Federal policy of containment and lack of investments into programs like the Good Neighbor Authority have put us in a position to suffer catastrophic effects from these mega-fires. Investments in this program are a step in the right direction to mitigate risks in the future. Conservation of Oregon’s forests, the communities around them, and the families that rely upon them must be our number one priority.”

Brock Smith added, “I’m grateful for the long overdue investment in this legislation that works cooperatively with our federal partners for resource management, focusing on the urban/wildland interface. Expanding these efforts will protect the health, life and safety of Oregonians and their communities.”

The Good Neighbor Authority allows the United States Forest Service to enter into agreements with states to enable states to perform forest management and watershed restoration services on federal lands. Together, Bonham and Brock Smith were chief sponsors of HB 4118 passed in 2018, which expanded Oregon’s Good Neighbor Authority.


--Ben Fisher

Post Date: 2020-09-30 10:50:37

Last Update: 2020-09-30 11:31:35

In Oregon over the past five years, 137 people lost their lives in crashes involving a distracted driver, and more than 20,992 were injured. Perhaps the saddest part of these statistics, besides there being real people behind them, is that these are preventable crashes.

“When you are behind the wheel, you have one job – to focus on driving safely,” said Kelly Kapri, Oregon’s Distracted Driving Program manager. “If you allow things to distract you, you could lose your life, the life of someone you love or cause another death or serious injury. It’s just not worth it.”

These kinds of tragedies are occurring all over the state so ODOT partners with law enforcement year round for focused enforcement for the law, but especially this October, National Distracted Driving Awareness Month. During October, a national and statewide public education and enforcement campaign will run to remind everyone who uses the transportation system to focus on safety and not allow anything to distract you.

Safety advocates hope that drivers will realize that distractions, such as using a phone, can hurt in more ways than one. From 2014 – 2018, there were 18 people killed and 1,752 suffered serious injuries from crashes where a driver was distracted by using a cell phone. Is that text or call really worth it?

In Oregon, distracted driving costs include not only the potential loss of life or injury, but can hurt the pocketbook as well:

First offense, not contributing to a crash: Class B violation; Fine up to $1,000.

Second offense – or first offense if it contributed to a crash: Class A violation; Fine up to $2,000.

Third offense in ten years: Class B misdemeanor; Fine up to $2,500; Could be up to six months in jail.

See the Oregon Department of Transportation 2020 Fact Sheet for more about distracted driving.


--Ben Fisher

Post Date: 2020-09-30 10:49:28

Last Update: 2020-10-01 15:01:50

Rachael Banks, who has served as the Multnomah County Health Department’s public health director since 2017, has been named director of the Oregon Health Authority’s Public Health Division.

Banks begins in her new role Oct. 27. She replaces Lillian Shirley, who is retiring this week after serving in the position since 2013.

OHA Director Patrick Allen called Banks “a leader with professional acumen combined with lived and worked experience around promoting equity.” These qualities are necessary as OHA makes “meaningful progress on health equity while guiding the state’s recovery from the COVID-19 pandemic — and continuing to advance programs that promote the majority of health that happens outside the doctor’s office, such as reducing chronic diseases, ensuring clean air and water, and urging immunizations.”

Advocating for health equity has been a major part of Banks’ career at Multnomah County since she began there in 2002. She has worked to prevent sexually transmitted diseases, HIV, hepatitis C and drug overdoses, and provided injury prevention education to families in populations unfairly impacted by health inequities. She also helped enforce Oregon’s Indoor Clean Air Act that created smoke-free workplaces to protect employees and the public, and she’s promoted health and equity by helping community organizations develop policies to reduced chronic diseases.

Banks has partnered with coordinated care organizations, health systems and insurers to improve how pregnant African-American women transition from clinical to community-based care. And she helped develop Early Learning Multnomah, an early learning hub that ensures kindergarten readiness for children of color ages 6 and younger.

As deputy director of the county’s Public Health Division, she helped develop its first disparity-focused Community Health Improvement Plan and led a unit that enacted culturally specific strategies in the African American/Black, Latinx/Hispanic, Native American/American Indian, Pacific Islander and immigrant/refugee communities. She’s also well known for her work as principal investigator for Racial and Ethnic Approaches to Community Health (REACH), a chronic disease prevention program reaching 75% of the Black population.

Banks has led Multnomah County’s response to the COVID-19 pandemic as public health director, including developing policies, securing resources and mobilizing the division’s workforce, and leading the creation of metrics that ensure the needs of Black, indigenous and people of color are met as the county begins the reopening process. She also has advocated for modernizing the state’s public health system by realigning it to focus on equity, epidemiology, community partnerships, policy and operations, and through strengthened relationships with neighboring counties to create a regional infrastructure to improve communicable disease control.

Banks will be crucial in helping OHA achieve its goal of eliminating health inequities by 2030, while continuing work to expand other important initiatives, such as public health modernization, the State Health Improvement Plan, climate and health, immunizations, opioid prevention, and ensuring clean air and water.

“Rachael’s perspective and skills on these and other critical agency efforts, such as our strategic plan and the roll out of our performance management system, will be an essential component of my leadership team, particularly as the state continues the reopening process and prepares for eventual recovery from the COVID pandemic,” Allen said.

Banks earned a bachelor’s degree in psychology from Gonzaga University in 2001 and a master’s degree in public administration from Portland State University in 2012.


--Ben Fisher

Post Date: 2020-09-29 16:00:58

Last Update: 2020-09-29 16:50:37

In light of the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic and the widespread devastation caused by wildfires, Governor Kate Brown today established a new moratorium preventing residential evictions for non-payment and other no-cause evictions between September 30 and December 31, 2020.

Governor Brown took immediate action in March and April through executive orders to keep Oregonians housed during the pandemic. In the first special session of this year, the Legislature passed House Bill 4213, establishing a residential and commercial eviction moratorium through September 30, 2020, with a six-month repayment period. The Governor’s new executive order will help keep Oregonians in their homes until the Legislature can convene later this year to address housing issues.

“Every Oregonian deserves a warm, safe, dry place to call home,” said Governor Brown. “Since the Legislature passed House Bill 4213, thousands of people have been displaced by massive and devastating wildfires, and the global pandemic continues to make it difficult for many Oregonians, including Oregon's veterans and many families with children, to pay rent, through no fault of their own.

“Keeping economically vulnerable Oregonians in their homes has been critical to the State’s COVID-19 response throughout this pandemic. Having a safe and stable home allows individuals to practice effective physical distancing, helps facilitate quarantine and isolation, and helps to prevent families and individuals from being displaced from their homes into more crowded multifamily or congregate living conditions, where the virus can spread more easily.

“Housing is a critical human need, and, as we enter cold and flu season during a pandemic––and as many students learn remotely from home––it is absolutely critical that people not be turned out of their homes. While my action today will address the immediate issue of preventing residential evictions through the end of the year, it is my hope that, when the Legislature next meets, they will take up the larger issues we need to address regarding housing relief.”

EO 20-56 establishes a new, temporary residential eviction moratorium through the end of the year, due to the urgent need to prevent a wave of evictions during simultaneous wildfire and pandemic emergency response and recovery efforts. Both crises have had an acute and disproportionate impact on Oregon's communities of color, including Black, Indigenous, Latino, Latina, and Latinx, Pacific Islander, and Tribal communities, as well as families living in rural Oregon.

Added Governor Brown: "Many of the Oregonians most impacted by the pandemic and wildfire crises are those who can afford it least, and who have already faced housing discrimination and vast disparities in the availability of affordable housing. My action today will provide immediate relief, but we still have much work to do to address the systemic racism that lies at the heart of the affordable housing crisis in our country."

Many housing providers, especially small ones, have become uncomfortable with their lack of legal standing in their contractual relations with tenants, and these kind of executive orders call into question the ability of the state to impede contracts.


--Ben Fisher

Post Date: 2020-09-28 15:47:47

Last Update: 2020-09-29 10:27:12

The City of Scappoose Economic Development Committee (EDC) is looking to fill one member and two alternate positions. The responsibilities of the EDC, as stated in the Committee bylaws, are as follows:

1) Design, develop, and promote an economic development strategic plan

2) Provide oversight and review of economic development marketing strategies and products

3) Enhance communication and understanding of economic development strategies, and build relationships between the local public sector, community, and business community

4) Act as a forum for sharing information on best economic development practices, current issues, and resources available for communities and businesses

5) Encourage connections and coordination with other local, regional, and state organizations working for the benefit of economic growth and enhancement of the local economy

6) Respond to additional matters relating to economic development as requested by the City Council

If you are interested in joining the EDC, please complete the Citizen Interest Application, which is located on the City’s website. The City will accept applications until the positions have been filled. Should you have any questions regarding the application, and/or would like to receive a copy of the Committee Bylaws, please contact Program Analyst Huell White at 503-543-7146, or by email at hwhite@cityofscappoose.org.


--Ben Fisher

Post Date: 2020-09-28 12:11:43

Last Update: 2020-09-26 12:53:11

Many people are fed up with Ted Wheeler’s handling of Portland riots. It doesn’t leave Portland voters much choice for mayor when opponent Sarah Iannarone is an open supporter of Antifa and refuses to condemn the violent antifa rioters. Portland uses a nonpartisan system for voting for mayor making it an open primary with the top two candidates advancing to the General Election if no one receives a majority of votes.

Sarah Iannarone claims that she is “ready to enact community-led plans to clean up the mess we’re in.” Accusing Mayor Wheeler of no leadership on civil unrest or public safety, she also is voicing the same anti-federal and anti-police platform.

Enter Joseph Whitcomb asking Portland if they want an alternative, he is stepping up to run a write in campaign for Mayor of Portland. “Tired of the violence and destruction,” he says he is seeking "justice for all" and "equality for all!"

Joseph Whitcomb was born and raised in Portland, married with four daughters and five grandchildren, a degree in Criminal Justice, CCP, OCDL, and rides his mountain bike to work. He’s a rural Oregonian at heart camping, hiking, bicycling, and loves the outdoors. He has worked 23 years in the Materials Department Audit group.

Whitcome says, “I consider myself a conservative, I support our constitution, our law enforcement, and our military. God, Family/Friends and Country. My values have come from these 3 areas of my life. I want to see them strengthened and not diminished. I am running for Mayor because I see these 3 areas being attacked and that saddens me!” He is asking Portlanders who want an alternative to write-in "Joseph Whitcomb" under Mayor of Portland.

One of the drawbacks to the "top two" finishers election system is that you may not get much of a choice between the two, especially in a city with lopsided registration. Voters then have to resort to write-ins to vote for someone different.


--Donna Bleiler

Post Date: 2020-09-28 09:11:03

Last Update: 2020-09-28 09:28:22

While it might appear to community members that the City of Portland has stopped its cleanup work, the truth is that Homelessness and Urban Camping Impact Reduction Program Performance Measures has never stopped responding to reports during this pandemic. In fact, they have actually been dispatching cleanup vendors more often to assist with trash, debris and biohazard removal. They also spend a great deal of time coordinating with outreach and service providers at various locations in town to assist with various issues.

Whenever individuals in the community submit a reports to HUCIRP regarding a campsite of concern, that report automatically creates a work assignment for a crew with lived experience to go to the reported area, engage with people that are present, pick up camper-identified garbage and conduct an assessment of the area. In July alone, they removed 550,000 pounds of garbage from the community.

HUCIRP encourage community members to continue reporting (once a week regarding any given site) as that will help to ensure that crews are regularly visiting the location to remove trash and biohazardous materials. It will also help to ensure that the City has a current assessment of the conditions in the area.

The best place to report campsites to us is via just one of the following methods:

1)Campsite Report Form

2)PDX Reporter

3)Calling Information & Referral: 503-823-4000.

If you are interested in learning more about what the response to reports looks like, please check out this video

If you have questions regarding a campsite, please send an email to reportpdx@portlandoregon.gov.

If you are interested in learning more about the process for campsite removals, please see this blog

Please note, any and all issues of criminal activity must be reported to the Portland Police.


--Ben Fisher

Post Date: 2020-09-27 12:07:06

Last Update: 2020-09-27 12:45:42

Measure 26-218 is a local Metro ballot measure which authorizes Metro to impose a payroll tax not to exceed 0.75% on employers with 26 or more employees beginning in 2022.

According to Metro, projects would include a light rail line in the Southwest Corridor between downtown Portland and Washington County, a rapid regional bus network, bridge replacement and repair, sidewalks and pedestrian crossings, off-street biking and walking facilities, and traffic signal and intersection upgrades. It would also fund several additional transportation programs across the region, such as youth bus and MAX passes, walking and biking projects near schools, bus reliability, transition of buses from diesel to electric and low-carbon fuels, retention of affordable housing and addressing potential displacement along transportation corridors.

Some of the persons, unions and companies that could possibly benefit from contracts funded by Measure 26-218 are:

• HDR is an international company that specializes in engineering, architecture, environmental and construction services. They have donated $15,000.
• Local 48 Electricians PAC donated $100,000.
• David Evans and Associates is a Portland-based engineering company that led the engineering effort on the failed Columbia River Crossing project. They donated a total of $30,000.
• Stacy and Witbeck is a heavy civil construction company, specializing in transit infrastructure. They donated $160,000.
• AECOM is an infrastructure consulting firm. They donated $15,000.

This is a full list of major donors to Get Moving PAC.

Date	Donor	Amount
09/21/2020	Headlight Technologies	$5,000
09/21/2020	OTAK, Inc	$7,500
09/20/2020	James Fuiten	$5,000
09/20/2020	Leah Riley	$1,000
09/20/2020	James McGrath	$1,000
09/14/2020	Titan	$5,000
09/13/2020	Steve Naito	$2,500
09/13/2020	Brad Hart	$10,000
09/11/2020	Harper Houf Peterson Righellis	$1,000
09/11/2020	Friends of Bob Stacey (13836)	$9,500
09/11/2020	Affordable Housing for Oregon (19368)	$4,299
09/11/2020	David Evans & Associates, Inc.	$30,000
09/08/2020	HDR	$15,000
09/08/2020	UFCW Local 555	$10,000
09/08/2020	LTK	$5,000
09/06/2020	Elizabeth Faulkner	$1,000
08/30/2020	Matt Miller	$5,000
08/28/2020	Communications Strategies	$1,000
08/28/2020	Professional & Technical Employees Local 17	$1,000
08/28/2020	Insulators International PAC	$2,000
08/24/2020	Local 48 Electricians PAC (4572)	$100,000
08/21/2020	William Shields	$2,000
08/14/2020	Stacy and Witbeck, Inc.	$150,000
08/14/2020	David Evans & Associates, Inc.	$10,000
08/03/2020	Herb Fricke	$1,000
07/31/2020	Cement Masons Local 555	$5,000
07/27/2020	Warren Rosenfeld	$5,000
07/09/2020	OTAK, Inc	$1,500
07/06/2020	Pacific Northwest Regional Council of Carpenters	$10,000
06/29/2020	WSP	$10,000
06/17/2020	American Council of Engineering Companies of Oregon	$25,000
06/03/2020	Recology	$5,000
05/02/2020	American Council of Engineering Companies of Oregon	$1,000
04/30/2020	Burns McDonnell	$5,000
04/30/2020	Ian McHone	$5,000
04/12/2020	UFCW Local 555	$10,000
04/12/2020	200 Market Associates LP	$10,000
03/30/2020	HNTB Corporation	$10,000
03/20/2020	Jesse Jackson	$5,000
03/20/2020	Rachel L Bruce	$5,000
03/20/2020	Affordable Electric	$5,000
03/20/2020	Jeff Moreland	$5,000
03/20/2020	Chicks of All Trade	$5,000
03/20/2020	Just Bucket Excavating	$5,000
03/20/2020	Raimore Construction	$10,000
03/16/2020	Parametrix	$10,000
03/12/2020	Stacy and Witbeck, Inc.	$10,000
03/09/2020	Walsh Construction Company	$5,000
03/09/2020	AECOM Technology Group	$15,000
01/28/2020	Transportation Yes (14743)	$5,000

--Staff Reports

Post Date: 2020-09-27 11:57:37

Last Update: 2020-09-27 13:21:46

OHA announced it had selected nonprofit organizations and tribal governments from throughout the state for health equity grants to address the disproportionate impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on Oregon’s tribal communities and communities of color. The grants total $45 million, and a full list of the awardees can be found here.

OHA announced the availability of grant funding and opened for applications to not-for-profit organizations statewide and Oregon’s nine federally recognized Tribes and the Urban Indian Health Program on Aug. 18. OHA received hundreds of applications and has funded 205 organizations and tribes. Requests totaled close to $170 million, and not all applicants could be funded.

“We look forward to partnering with these remarkable organizations and communities, who do such vital work to serve their communities,” said Patrick Allen, OHA director. “We are deeply aware how these organizations’ linkages and knowledge of their communities and the challenges they face are so important to bringing resources to help. We look forward to the collective work to continue to meaningfully address the systemic racism and structural inequities that have caused so much health disparity, especially relating to COVID-19.”

The grants focus resources on communities most disproportionately impacted by COVID-19 and programs that will address health and economic disruptions, food insecurity and housing, and safety and violence prevention, among other aspects of need.

“While OHA relationships with many of these groups have existed in the past, this grant program represents a deepening and a broadening of the partnership,” said Leann Johnson, director of OHA’s equity and inclusion division. “In some cases, the partnership is new. But whether new or existing, the relationships with these groups, the funding of their work, and their knowledge of the needs of their specific communities are the keys to breaking the hold of structural and systemic racism and oppression. We’re grateful for the work these organizations have engaged in already and will look to learn further from their wisdom.”

To learn more about this program, please visit https://www.oregon.gov/oha/covid19/Pages/equity-grants-covid-19.aspx


--Ben Fisher

Post Date: 2020-09-26 18:15:37

Last Update: 2020-09-26 18:41:26