Your District - Your Voice Listening Session

Representative Raquel Moore-Green

Your District - Your Voice

Hello Friends,

The last couple of weeks I have made hundreds of calls offering to answer questions, provide resources, and most importantly to listen to what the constituents of HD 19 have to say. By far most people are staying home and staying healthy; helping other family members with meals and errands; trying to stay on course with cancer treatments; filling their days with home repair projects; attending church via the internet. Some wear masks when they leave home, others don’t leave home, and most are anxiously awaiting the time when they can go freely about their daily lives. I was recently asked, if there are two things you could do to re-open Oregon’s economy what would they be? Between my tenure on the House Health Care Committee, Behavioral Health Committee, and the Joint Special Committee on Coronavirus Response there are any number of actions that can be taken now to re-open our economy.

Earlier this week the Governor shared her framework to develop a plan to re-open Oregon. While only a framework, it emphasized the health aspects associated with the COVID19 crisis. What I believe we need to hear from the Governor, sooner rather than later to ensure that our businesses do not die, is a plan that provides certainty, relief, and resources.

Oregonians need certainty on when and how they can begin to operate their businesses. In the closing of the hospitality industry, especially the restaurants hundreds of thousands of dollars of food was wasted, as they were given less than 12 hours to shutter their businesses. No opportunity to even donate to the local food banks. How can business begin to prepare when they do not know what is expected of them? If part of re-opening is how we serve food, i.e., now with masks and gloves, the Governor needs to make that announcement. If dental offices will need to implement “social distancing” in their exam rooms, they will need to vastly expand their footprint, or see fewer patients. Hundreds of dentists and veterinaries donated their PPE to the state, and they will need to replenish their supplies.

Governor Brown should recognize that if a business has been closed since March 16th, there has been no revenue generated for the business owner, and there needs to be a plan of relief. If there is no revenue, i.e., money, cold hard cash, there is no way that business owners can pay property taxes or say gross receipt taxes. She needs to act on that fact and direct the various departments collecting taxes and fees to amend their rules and pause payments. Rural Oregon’s hospitals are literally bleeding cash and laying off employees. If there is any glimmer of hope for them to survive they need CASH now. We cannot let our small businesses, our hard-working Oregonians and/or our hospitals die due to this economic pandemic.

A fund should be put in place for small business owners, and other businesses that have shuttered their doors can access now in anticipation of opening. It is likely most businesses are going to need some form of PPE and funds to enable them to get through the next several weeks before reopening. Taking into account the shutdown of the hospitality industry and subsequently a good portion of our health care, i.e., elective surgeries and dental care, which are both huge revenue generators and now constitute the highest percentages of unemployed Oregonians, it would seem fitting to ensure those industries have what they need to be ready to welcome back all of their employees.

When businesses are operating, people are employed, and generating incomes for themselves, their families, their community, and their state. For every working person that means one less person on unemployment and one more person contributing to revenue for the state. It is a win-win for all of Oregon.

It is important we have a plan. We have two concurrent crises underway, the health of our citizens and the health of our businesses. We have taken extreme measures to protect the health of our communities and rightfully so. We must also take extreme measures to ensure that businesses do not die as their lifeline, the ability to conduct commerce, has been cut off. Re-opening a business will take a plan, and time to execute it.

I urge the Governor to move quickly in developing a plan to make sure Oregonians are prepared to return to work, to know the requirements and expectations. I stand ready to work with my colleagues and the Governor to get Oregon re-opened for business in a common sense, thoughtful manner for all Oregonians.

Now you know what I am thinking. What do you, as a constituent of HD19, South Salem, Turner and Aumsville think about reopening Oregon for business?

Join me this Friday the 24th from 1pm to 2pm for a virtual Your District – Your Voice Listening Session via Zoom Meeting. The meeting will be limited to the first 90 registrants. Preference will be given to constituents of HD19, please register here. Once you have registered you will receive a confirmation email with meeting instructions.  

Thank you for engaging with your state government. Please know my door is always open and my staff, Pam McClain, Lena Prine, and I welcome your participation.

 

All my best, rmg

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Yours truly,

Representative Raquel Moore-Green
House District 19 serving South Salem, Turner & Aumsville

Capitol Phone: 503-986-1419
Capitol Address: 900 Court St NE, H-385, Salem, OR 97301
Email: Rep.RaquelMooreGreen@oregonlegislature.gov
Website: http://www.oregonlegislature.gov/moore-green