As COVID-19 cases continue to increase across the country, Governor Kate Brown, California Governor Gavin Newsom, and Washington Governor Jay Inslee issued travel advisories urging visitors entering their states or returning home from travel outside these states to self-quarantine to slow the spread of the virus. The travel advisories urge against non-essential out-of-state travel, ask people to self-quarantine for 14 days after arriving from another state or country, and encourage residents to stay local.

“COVID-19 does not stop at state lines. As hospitals across the West are stretched to capacity, we must take steps to ensure travelers are not bringing this disease home with them,” said Governor Brown. “If you do not need to travel, you shouldn’t. This will be hard, especially with Thanksgiving around the corner. But the best way to keep your family safe is to stay close to home.”

In addition to urging individuals arriving from other states or countries to self-quarantine for 14 days after arrival, the states’ travel advisories recommend individuals limit their interactions to their immediate household. The advisories define essential travel as travel for work and study, critical infrastructure support, economic services and supply chains, health, immediate medical care, and safety and security.

“California just surpassed a sobering threshold – one million COVID-19 cases – with no signs of the virus slowing down,” said California Governor Gavin Newsom. “Increased cases are adding pressure on our hospital systems and threatening the lives of seniors, essential workers and vulnerable Californians. Travel increases the risk of spreading COVID-19, and we must all collectively increase our efforts at this time to keep the virus at bay and save lives.”

“COVID cases have doubled in Washington over the past two weeks. This puts our state in as dangerous a position today as we were in March,” Washington Governor Jay Inslee said. “Limiting and reducing travel is one way to reduce the further spread of the disease. I am happy to partner with California and Oregon in this effort to help protect lives up and down the West Coast.”

To learn more about the risk that travel itself poses for COVID-19 exposure, please visit the CDC page on travel risks.

The incidence of COVID-19 is increasing in many states and countries. Persons arriving in Oregon from other states or Oregonians returning from other states or countries could increase the risk of COVID-19 spread. In addition, travel itself can be a risk for exposure to COVID-19, particularly travel through shared conveyance such as air, bus or rail travel.

Travel Advisory for Non-Essential Travel

1. Persons arriving in Oregon from other states or countries, including returning Oregon residents, should practice self-quarantine for 14 days after arrival. These persons should limit their interactions to their immediate household. This recommendation does not apply to individuals who cross state or country borders for essential travel.

Non-essential travel includes travel that is considered tourism or recreational in nature.

Essential travel includes: work and study, critical infrastructure support, economic services and supply chains, health, immediate medical care, and safety and security.

2. Oregonians are encouraged to stay home or in their region and avoid non-essential travel to other states or countries. Avoiding travel can reduce the risk of virus transmission and bringing the virus back to Oregon.


--Sabrina-Marie Fisher

Post Date: 2020-11-13 15:19:54

Last Update: 2020-11-13 17:06:23

Governor Kate Brown today announced a statewide Two-Week Freeze, implementing new measures to limit gatherings and stop the rapid spread of COVID-19 across Oregon. The Two-Week Freeze measures will be in effect from Nov. 18 through Dec. 2, statewide. These risk reduction measures are critical in limiting the spread of COVID-19, reducing risk in communities more vulnerable to serious illness and death, and helping conserve hospital capacity so that all Oregonians can continue to have access to quality care.

“Since I announced a Two-Week Pause one week ago, we are seeing an alarming spike in both cases and hospitalizations,” said Governor Brown. “The virus is spreading in the community and, every day, it is infecting more and more Oregonians. This situation is dangerous and our hospitals have been sounding the alarms. If we want to give Oregon a fighting chance, we must take further measures to flatten the curve and save lives. I know this is hard, and we are weary. But, we are trying to stop this ferocious virus from quickly spreading far and wide. And in Oregon, we actually can do this.

“Given the data and modeling we are seeing, my public health experts tell me that some counties will need longer to flatten the curve. So I want to be very clear that there are some COVID-19 hotspot counties that will likely need to stay in the Freeze for much longer than two weeks. Multnomah County, for example, will be in this Freeze for at least four weeks. Our actions right now, no matter where in the state you live, are critical.”,

The Two-Week Freeze measures include:

• Limiting social get-togethers (indoors and outdoors) to no more than six people, total, from no more than two households.
• Limiting faith-based organizations to a maximum of 25 people indoors or 50 people outdoors.
• Limiting eating and drinking establishments to take-out and delivery only.
• Closing gyms and fitness organizations.
• Closing indoor recreational facilities, museums, indoor entertainment activities, and indoor pools and sports courts.
• Closing zoos, gardens, aquariums, outdoor entertainment activities, and outdoor pools.
• Limiting grocery stores and pharmacies to a maximum of 75% capacity and encouraging curbside pickup.
• Limiting retail stores and retail malls (indoor and outdoor) to a maximum of 75% capacity and encouraging curbside pickup.
• Closing venues (that host or facilitate indoor or outdoor events).
• Requiring all businesses to mandate work-from-home to the greatest extent possible and closing offices to the public.
• Prohibiting indoor visiting in long-term care facilities (outdoor visitation permitted for supporting quality of life).

The Two-Week Freeze does not apply to or change current health and safety protocols for personal services (such as barber shops, hair salons, and non-medical massage therapy), congregate homeless sheltering, outdoor recreation and sports, youth programs, childcare, K-12 schools, K-12 sports currently allowed, current Division 1 and professional athletics exemptions, and higher education — all of which can continue operating under previous guidance issued by the Oregon Health Authority.

For all other permitted activities listed above, the Oregon Health Authority will be issuing sector-specific guidance within the next week. Sectors without specific prohibitions or guidance must operate under this general employer guidance.


--Ben Fisher

Post Date: 2020-11-13 14:40:57

Last Update: 2020-11-13 15:19:54

Nik Blosser, chief of staff to Oregon Governor Kate Brown, will be leaving the Governor to join the Biden/Harris transition team, as ballots are still being counted, and recounts are underway.

Blosser, recently parried with the Trump Administration, holding up vital and timely firefighting aid in exchange for "rumor control", regarding Antifa involvement in Oregon fires. In an email chain discovered via public records requests, Blosser is asked by the Trump administration to correct rumors, and address an MSNBC article claiming the Trump administration was not responding to Governor Kate Brown's request for federal firefighting aid. Trump's team asks for honesty during Brown's next press conference. Blosser quickly quips back, "Thanks, we're also trying to dispel rumors with the FBI, and Local Law Enforcement assistance, that Antifa set the fires".

Now Blosser is being rewarded for his political savvy, and quick thinking, hired on prematurely as part of the Biden/Harris "transition team". In a press release issued by the Governor's office, Brown praises Blosser stating, "Nik has been on the ground and focused on the pandemic response from the start of this crisis, giving him a unique understanding of the needs of Americans suffering from COVID-19 and the needs of the communities they live in,” said Governor Brown. “I am heartened that President-Elect Biden, Vice President-Elect Harris and their transition team have selected Nik for this important role. He has my full support, and I am confident he will help President-Elect Biden and his team support states in their approach to this crisis and the long recovery that will follow.”

Meanwhile, Georgia has just announced a hand recount of ballots, along with several other key battleground states, under suspicion of voter fraud. President Trump has openly stated they intend to fight the fraud, and has not conceded the race for President. As a reminder Trump has stated that, "The media doesn't decide elections."


--Breeauna Sagdal

Post Date: 2020-11-13 13:59:28

Last Update: 2020-11-13 14:21:09

Oregon State Police is asking for assistance from anyone with information on a mysterious shooting November 7th, 2020 at approximately 10:15 PM. Police are investigating a shooting of a vehicle in Marion County. A man and woman were traveling westbound on Hwy 22E near mile post 28, west of Mill City. They heard a loud noise and the rear window of their Dodge Van broke. They did not stop due to the remote location and personal safety reasons. When they arrived home, they noticed what they believed to be a bullet hole in the rear panel just below the window. The vehicle body shop also thought it was a bullet hole.

If you have any information regarding this or any other shooting at vehicles, please contact the Northern Command Center at 1-800-442-0776 or Oregon State Police and leave information for Trooper Michael Iacob, Oregon State Police - Salem Area Command.


--Donna Bleiler

Post Date: 2020-11-12 21:32:20

After months of ignoring the mounting problem of unpaid rents, with an ever increasingly difficult exit strategy, the party in power has started to face the reality that while short-term renter relief may have been acceptable and even appropriate, long-term measures have begun to impact the housing market in ways that will take years to heal. The upshot may be even greater disruption to the housing market. Time will tell.

A draft of a proposal has been put forth by Representative Julie Fahey (D-Eugene) in preparation for a possible third special session. This proposal, dated November 11, includes:

• Landlords must forgive 20% of past due rent, in order to be compensated.
• The eviction moratorium is extended through June of 2021.
• Tenants must complete a simple written attestation that they have experienced financial hardship after March 8, 2020
• If a landlord is going to provide a non-payment termination notice, they must provide tenant with a blank attestation form and notice of rights and responsibilities.

One puzzling feature of the proposal is that in order for the landlord to be compensated, the tenant must submit a form describing their financial hardship. What if the tenant is unwilling -- or as is surely the case at least some of the time -- unable to do so.

Many housing providers have been barely hanging on as tenants have been withholding rents. Though the proposal does say that "smaller landlords and landlords with higher percent of rent unpaid will be prioritized for assistance first," this might be too little, too late for some providers.

One housing provider shared these thoughts with their State Representative. "Property taxes are due. It was made clear that there would be no forgiveness of any kind and that the taxes needed to be paid on time. Owners have to keep up with repairs and on-going monthly expenses, such as utilities and landscaping, even if no rent is coming in."

The wisdom of extending the eviction moratorium has been questioned by some. Some see it as possibly effective as a very short-term measure, but after several months it puts housing providers at a large disadvantage with their tenants. After several months, tenants need to resolve whatever issues they have. Many housing providers are not in a position to forego income for several months, and many regard it as unfair for the state to expect them to.


--Staff Reports

Post Date: 2020-11-12 20:53:52

Last Update: 2020-11-12 21:32:20

On what basis did Governor Brown hold a presser on hospital capacity? The dashboards on COVID-19 by Oregon Health Authority do not appear to reveal a compelling reason.

The Governor already held a press conference on the previous Friday where she announced a two week pause, restricting five Counties. She added another four counties on Monday. Did the data indicate a dire surge in hospitalizations? A quick glance shows the hospitalizations and emergency department admissions for COVID Like Illness or CLI visits remain flat.

In the press conference on Tuesday, OHA updated us with the fact that 285 people across Oregon with a positive test are in the hospital. There was no distinguishing whether or not those had tested positive once admitted for other causes, just that ICU and ventilator use is remains flat. Region 1 as reported doesn’t show increase in ICU or ventilator usage. Perhaps since influenza testing and reporting have flatlined, patients have other health conditions they are now finally seeking care for.

The numbers haven’t changed significantly for eight months and we currently have 146 ICU adult beds available and 135 pediatric ICU beds available, as reassured by Dr. Hargunani, Chief Medical Officer at Oregon Health Authority. In fact, her tone was surprisingly positive compared to the Governor, when she highlighted, that due to the previous Swine Flu Pandemic in 2009, Oregon was in a good shape with regards to PPE and hospital capacity. The interesting difference between today and the Swine Flu Pandemic, was that the H1N1 of 2009 was forecasted to be much worse than COVID-19.

Furthermore, the only two emergency orders declared by then Governor Kulongoski, merely gave the Public Health Director the authority to respond actively to the H1N1 pandemic. Two executive orders. That’s it. Nothing like the more than two dozen sweeping emergency orders we have seen from Kate Brown such as statewide school closures or mask mandates and criminal and civil penalties.

In addition, normally OHA uses plain numbers when reporting daily case counts. You will not hear them use percentages such as “.05% of all Oregonians have tested positive,” testing accuracy aside, because it paints a much different picture. So why did they switch to percentages yesterday? If there are two patients in the hospital and then there are 6, you can create more alarm by saying there has been a 200% increase.

Governor Brown was frequently unavailable in the earlier months so she does not hold press conferences without calculation. As if her previous 28 orders weren’t catastrophic enough it is fair to speculate if perhaps she is laying the groundwork for further declaratory action.


--Nicole DeGraff

Post Date: 2020-11-12 11:51:47

Last Update: 2020-11-12 12:25:43

Hundreds of people and vehicles were involved in speed racing events throughout Portland Sunday evening, including multiple street takeovers. Responding officers made numerous arrests and towed vehicles.

On Sunday, November 8, 2020 at about 8:00p.m., Portland Police responded to reports of 400-plus vehicles gathering for speed racing events in the area of Northeast Airport Way and Northeast 122nd Avenue. While there was information about a protest planned, some officers assigned to the protest were diverted to address the speed racing.

While the dangerous and illegal speed racing events have been a problem for years in Portland, especially on Sunday evenings, lately participants and spectators have been more aggressive. There has been an uptick in street takeovers, where participants block traffic to perform stunts. Additionally, officers have noticed a more aggressive response to police, including items thrown at officers. Addressing these crimes has been challenging and resource intensive. With additional resources available, PPB was able to be more effective in addressing the problem. PPB learned that the speed racing events were advertised on social media and invited participants from other states.

Throughout the evening, Portland Police officers made numerous traffic stops and, through enforcement action, prompted participants to move repeatedly. During the event, those involved in the illegal street racing activity briefly took over the top deck of the Fremont Bridge, the Interstate Bridge, Sunset Highway tunnel and multiple intersections including Northeast Martin Luther King Junior Boulevard/Northeast Columbia Boulevard, North Marine Drive/North Portsmouth Avenue, and North Lombard St/North Ramsey Boulevard. At one point there were people riding on the hoods of vehicles as they drove recklessly around Northeast Sandy Boulevard in the Goodwill parking lot. Each of these incidents were quickly broken up by responding officers.

Sixteen vehicles were towed. Fourteen people were arrested and booked into jail. Three juveniles were detained in a stolen car and released to parents with a future court date.

Arrested and booked into the Multnomah County Detention Center (not a complete list-other names unavailable):

Eric Rios, 19, of Salem, Oregon - Reckless Driving, Reckless Endangerment Towed: 2016 Chevrolet Camaro - (OR) 891KJG (photo)

Juan Magana, 24, of Salem, Oregon - Reckless Driving Towed: 2018 Chevrolet Camaro - (OR) SL87837 (photo)

Randy Lester, 21, of Seattle, Washington, vehicle towed -- Reckless Driving (2 counts)

Alejandro Murphy, 24, unknown residence, vehicle towed - Reckless Driving, Driving While Suspended

Isaac Alverado-Martinez, 19, unknown residence, vehicle tires deflated, towed -- Failure to Perform the Duties of a Driver (hit and run), Reckless Driving, Interfering with a Peace Officer, Disorderly Conduct in the Second Degree

Clayton Galloway, 23, of Lebanon, Oregon, vehicle towed -- Attempt to Elude Police Officer, Reckless Driving, Reckless Endangerment (2 counts),

Elizabeth Bridgewater, 24, unknown residence -- Attempt to Elude Police Officer, Reckless Endangerment

Adan Alejandreds-Ayala, 20, of Portland, vehicle towed -- Driving Under the Influence of Intoxicants, Hit and Run, Attempt to Elude Police officer

Kailey Morton, 22, of Rio Linda, California -- Reckless Driving

Chanel Mussey, 21, of Portland --Reckless Driving, Attempt to Elude Police Officer, Escape in the Third Degree, Interfering with a Police Officer

Gunther Orozco, 20, unknown residence, vehicle towed --Driving Under the Influence of Intoxicants, Reckless Driving, Driving While Suspended -- Misdemeanor

Criminally Cited: Silas Hickey, 20, of Santa Cruz, California -- Reckless Driving

Eight other traffic violation citations were issued. Two vehicles were disabled using spike strips to deflate tires during attempts to elude.

One crash was connected to speed racing. At North Columbia Boulevard and North Argyle Street, a vehicle hit a pole. No injuries. Vehicle was towed. Two other crashes are suspected to be related to speed racing, one on I-5 southbound at Marine Drive, the other at Northeast 122nd Avenue and Northeast Halsey Street (hit and run-2 victim vehicles damaged). No one was injured.

Irresponsible driving practices can have a deadly outcome. There have been 46 fatalities and 43 Major Crash Team activations this year in the City of Portland.

Traffic Division officers and sergeants regularly do focused enforcement in areas where dangerous driving behavior has resulted in crashes or numerous complaints. These special details rotate throughout the city.


--Ben Fisher

Post Date: 2020-11-12 09:45:58

Last Update: 2020-11-12 10:43:02

From the start of the COVID-19 outbreak, policy decisions have been more political than scientific. Much like the Clinton era term "conspiracy theorist" coined prior to the Monica Lewinsky scandal, assigned to anybody who spoke out about the "Whitewater" brouhaha, "COVID-denier" has been assigned to anyone who dares challenge the official narrative of COVID-19. Now, Dr. Bruce L. Miller takes it a step further, with his peer reviewed article in the Journal of the American Medical Association, published November 2nd 2020, the day before elections.

Dr. Miller begins his article by addressing education, citing a study titled "A look at the Americans who believe there is some truth to the conspiracy theory that COVID-19 was planned", Miller uses this one study to assert that uneducated individuals believe conspiracy theories, while college educated individuals do not. Another way to look at this tidbit, is that our universities are failing to encourage critical thinking skills. The study only measures one question with regard to education level, and is, in itself, a form of politicized science. Many blue collar families vote Republican, hold conservative values, and do not hold multiple master's degrees. This is not an indication of intelligence, but an indication of different values held by the technocratic elite who are creating the "science" of our age. In a bygone era, this was previously labeled "researcher bias".

Miller goes on to make claims that anyone who is guilty of "false beliefs", must be suffering from a mental or neurodegenerative disorder. "Recent theories suggest that false beliefs emerge when there are neuropsychological impairments that (1) promote formation of false beliefs due to faulty sensory information and (2) hinder rejection of a belief due to faulty prefrontal systems that evaluate thoughts and beliefs. The content of false beliefs in dementia with Lewy bodies and frontotemporal dementia differ but may offer insights into the shared neural mechanisms by which humans misperceive information. With both, the brain receives distorted sensory information that interferes with accurate interpretation of the world and lacks the circuitry needed to determine whether information received is true or false."

The correlation between questioning the official COVID-19 story line, and Dementia is quite astounding, and sets a concerning precedence for the future of science and medicine. Dr. Miller suggests a massive propaganda campaign to both incentivize correct beliefs, and punish false beliefs. A very short time ago, being transgendered, or gay, was considered a false belief. Shock therapy was often used on patients to "correct" their thinking.

With journal articles like this, the American public might want to quickly start asking "what science actually means"? The once golden rule of science being replicable, reproducible results, has been altered, as well as the new golden rule, outlined here by the Journal of the American Medical Association.

"Standards codified by laws are not only difficult to interpret in real life situations, but are virtually impossible to enforce. Ethical decisions in medical science must therefore depend finally on the wisdom, integrity, and self-imposed restraints of the scientist and his peers. A simple personal credo based on general ethical norms and on love and reverence for humanity has no equivalent for moral guidance. The medical researcher may find such a credo in Dogliotti’s simple but prudent advice to young physicians: “Follow the way of wisdom, and do unto others as you would do unto yourselves, heeding the voice of science, love and compassion.” Virtually impossible to enforce? Why bother having a Health Authority or any policy making body regarding science and medicine then? If the quantitative algorithm for the new golden rule is, "whatever the doctor says", then why even bother trying to legislate this omnipotent field?

Is Science our new God, doctors and scientists our new priests? What makes science ethical? Correct? True? Perhaps asking these questions qualifies as a neurodegenerative disorder?


--Breeauna Sagdal

Post Date: 2020-11-11 17:15:32

After a recent audit by Oregon Secretary of State's audit Director Kip Memmott, titled "Oregon Has an Opportunity to Modernize Groundbreaking Bottle Bill on its 50th Anniversary," the Oregon Liquor Control Commission has agreed and accepted two recommendations, in order to increase State revenue, and protect the environment.

Nathan Rix, the Deputy Director of the OLCC, responded to the audit in a November 4th letter addressed to Memmott stating "OLCC does not have the authority to make the suggested changes, but we agree that OLCC has a role to play assisting with this process."

The first recommendation of the audit was "In order to comply with state statutes, we recommend that OLCC work with entities under regulatory authority to ensure they are complying with existing unclaimed property laws"

Essentially the Secretary of State's office was used to conduct an audit into new revenue streams for the State. In an unprecedented request the audit Director Memmott asks the OLCC to comply with state statute regarding unclaimed property. During the 2019 session, SB 454 quietly passed through the legislature with a "relating to" clause, giving the Treasurer and the Executive branch full administrative powers over all "unclaimed property". The official summary of the bill was "Transfers administration of Uniform Disposition of Unclaimed Property Act, unclaimed estates and escheating funds from Department of State Lands to State Treasurer."

It also changed the process individuals would need to go through in order to claim their property, giving the state sovereign status and constitutional rights to unclaimed property, while the owner in question must appeal within ten days (of notice), to an administrative court.

In light of COVID-19 bottle return shutdowns, due to sanitation concerns, and limits of 140 bottles (a mere fourteen dollars) per day, many Oregonians have given up on returning their cans. Frustrated Oregonians have complained on social media, and no doubt to lawmakers. At times, lines have wrapped around the building at bottle drop sites, as unemployment is at an all time high, returning cans has been a source of income, few can live without.

Now the State has entered into this equation, vying for a piece of the pie, and has suggested an additional five cent increase, if bottle returns remain below 80%, for two consecutive years. The report, the audit, nor the response addresses an increase to bottles returned per day. The response by Rix does however, address working with private industry to educate store employees, and make it known that preventing bottle returns is illegal. It's unclear how OSHA, or the Governor might affect future bottle return site closures. Just this week Oregon Governor Kate Brown issued another order for a "two week pause", to 11 out of 36 Oregon counties.

50 years ago Governor Tom McCall began the iconic bottle bill, which has led the nation, incentivizing good stewardship and environmental consciousness. Today Oregon is considering adding items to the list of refundables. After recently increasing taxes by 800% on wine and liqueur, Oregon could soon see a deposit on its already taxed, wine bottles, and liquor containers.

It's also unclear if public comment, or stakeholder input will be accepted prior to implementing these new recommendations.


--Breeauna Sagdal

Post Date: 2020-11-11 17:05:01

The legislative Emergency Board has just approved more than $128 million to help Oregonians impacted by the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic. This includes funding for childcare providers, Oregonians in need of shelter, small businesses, long-term care providers and victims of domestic and sexual violence.

“I want to thank Reps. Marsh and Keny-Guyer, as well as numerous advocates who pushed for this funding,” House Speaker Tina Kotek said. “This funding comes at a critical time as COVID19 cases continue to spike in Oregon. As winter approaches, it’s particularly important we passed additional funding to help people without permanent housing. We’ve been facing a statewide shelter emergency for some time and the pandemic has made the situation even more dire. We have a lot of work ahead of us to solve this emergency but it's an important step." The Emergency Board approved $35 million from the state’s Emergency Fund to support the Project Turnkey Statewide Pandemic and Homelessness Response. The Oregon Community Foundation will use funding to support the acquisition, retrofitting and potential operation of hotel and motel properties to be used as emergency shelter. This funding is in addition to $30 million the Emergency Board approved on October 23 to begin Project Turnkey in wildfireaffected areas. The Emergency Board also approved the following allocations from the state’s share of federal funds available through the Coronavirus Relief Fund:

• $45 million for Childcare Provider Assistance to support the increased costs facing childcare providers facing economic and operational challenges as a result of the COVID-19 pandemic.
• $20 million for a third grant to the Oregon Community Foundation for the Oregon Worker Relief Fund, which will make additional payments to workers who are ineligible for wage replacement payments from traditional unemployment insurance programs.
• $20 million to provide additional financial assistance to small businesses economically impacted by the COVID-19 pandemic. The board previously allocated $25.6 million for COVID-19 Emergency Business Assistance in July.
• $5 million to help cover long term care provider costs for routine COVID-19 staff testing.
• $2.4 million for one-time COVID-19 baseline testing of long term care facility staff and residents.
• $1 million to support victims of domestic and sexual violence. The COVID-19 pandemic has been a catalyst for increased domestic and sexual violence. The board previously dedicated $2 million to support victims in April.

Despite all the government aid, the people of Oregon would ultimately just like to go back to work.


--Ben Fisher

Post Date: 2020-11-11 10:30:10

Last Update: 2020-11-12 10:34:36

In the wake of Oregon expanding workplace rules to combat the spread of COVID-19 to May 4, 2021, Salem City Council has approved $200,000 for grants available to businesses needing temporary outdoor coverings and heaters to meet social distancing requirements during the winter months. Grants of up to $10,000 are available to eligible businesses within the city limits of Salem. Grants may be used to help purchase or rent equipment during the COVID-19 pandemic. Businesses must apply on the City of Salem website between Nov. 10 at 12:00 noon. and Nov. 17 at 5:00 pm.

Businesses must certify that federal funds were not used for the same purpose. The grant also requires that businesses have a receipt from a recent tent/heater purchase or a bid for the purchase or rental of a temporary outdoor coverings/heaters and describe how the funds will help maintain or grow their business through the winter.

“We know that many local businesses have relied on outdoor space to meet social distance requirements and increase seating capacity. This grant funding is intended to help our businesses through the winter months,” said Salem Mayor, Chuck Bennett.

Grant program information and applications are available on the City of Salem website. Grant applications open Tuesday, Nov. 10, 2020 at 12:00 noon and closes Tues., Nov. 17 at 5:00 pm If applications total more than the funding available decisions will be made via lottery.

For more information, you can visit the grant information page, email salemgrants@cityofsalem.net, or call 503-540-2480 or 503-540-2425.


--Donna Bleiler

Post Date: 2020-11-10 19:30:33

This spring and this fall brought to us once again, the great American tradition of yard signs and field signs in political races.

Whether stuck in the ground or waved to passing cars on a busy street it’s a grand way for Yamhill County residents -- indeed, all Oregonians -- to exercise their first amendment rights. However, McMinnville city officials changed all of that this year for the general election. As in past years, Republicans showed support for their candidates by erecting their usual signs with gusto. With few exceptions, their opponents, smarting from defeat in the primary, chose this time not to compete and sat out the sign competition. Instead they chose to complain, as was the case elsewhere in Oregon.

When asked why the sudden change to time honored practices in the sign competition city compliance officer Nic Miles said “we only act if there are complaints”. With no previous complaining until now the city was rusty on knowing its own codes. Their webpage on signs literally has more disclaimers than actual information. 4x4 field signs inside the city limits were quickly ordered removed only to be deemed within the city code upon further review. Planning Director Heather Richards was called to the front lines of this debacle. That wasn’t enough fire power to solve this crisis and so the city attorney gave it a shot. After a couple of tries she finally figured it out. Director Richards wasn’t clear on just where the city boundaries were either and was reversed a second time.

Again, signs came down only to return to their former positions. Coincidence or not? Concerned about a credible conservative challenger, City Manager Jeff Towery called in Mayoral candidate Heidi Parker -- generally favored by Republicans -- and spent 30 minutes explaining to her how well he does the job. His anxieties were relieved when the challenger suffered a narrow loss. Towery wasn’t the only anxious party.

In mid-year incumbent councilors passed a new code limiting campaign funds received from a PAC to $1,000 -- which appears to have been made legal by Measure 107, which passed in November. If more is received the donor must be identified on all campaign materials. Oh, those pesky challenges to status quo at McMinnville City Hall.


--Tom Hammer

Post Date: 2020-11-10 17:44:19

Last Update: 2020-11-10 18:38:29