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REDISTRICTING:
A Call for An Independent
Non-partisan Commission
LINN COUNTY: YOUR VOICE IS NEEDED NOW!
Sign-up to Testify on March 16
Redistricting is the once-a-decade process required of the legislature of redrawing United States House of Representatives (Congressional) and Oregon State Senate and State House of Representatives (Legislative) district boundaries to account for changes in population.
Public testimony is essential to the process of drawing these lines. Public hearings are scheduled now and organized by congressional district. Testimony for District 4 begins at 5:30pm on March 16. You can watch the hearings live or testify remotely.
Sign up to testify
Testimony How-to
Learn more about Redistricting
Estimated population maps
Legislative Redistricting page
Find your District
If you are unable to sign-up for the March 16 date to testify, the next opportunity will be held April 10. You can sign up for updates here.
While I believe a non-partisan independent commission is essential to prevent gerrymandering and ensure fair lines, these meetings are required by Oregon statute.
FROM BUSINESS OREGON:
The Oregon Legislative Emergency Board on January 8, 2021, allocated $100 million to fund a new Commercial Rent Relief Program to provide financial assistance to small businesses and landlords adversely affected by economic conditions as a direct result of the COVID-19 pandemic.
The program targets landlords with tenant businesses with 100 or fewer employees who are behind on lease payments or any forgiven base rent amounts that have been negotiated due to COVID-19. The program will require both business tenant and property owner participation. The program includes additional protections for tenants, such as non-eviction clauses, and a waiver of penalties and interest.
Applications Now Open for Commercial Rent Relief Grants
Business Oregon is now accepting grant applications to assist small businesses that are behind on their lease payments due to impacts from COVID-19 between March 1, 2020 and February 28, 2021.
The program provides grants to building owners to cover outstanding lease payments from small business tenants. The grants can go up to $100,000 per business tenant, but not more than $3 million for each landlord.
The program is intended to help for-profit small business tenants that have 100 or fewer employees. The agreement will include additional protections for tenants, such as 6-month non-eviction clauses for non-payment, and a waiver of penalties and interest on COVID-impacted payments. Both the business tenant and property owner will need to participate in the application process and sign the grant agreement, but the initial application needs to be completed by the landlord.
The online application is now available on Business Oregon’s website in multiple languages. The application period will be open for two weeks, with eligible submissions chosen by a lottery system that will also ensure geographic distribution across all regions of the state.
The information needed for the initial application is minimal, it includes:
- Landlord name and address
- Tenant name and address
- Tenant’s number of workers (part/full-time)
- Tenant business classification (industry)
- Base rent amount due, and actual paid per month
Business Oregon Small Business COVID Navigator
Click here to check your eligibility
Following the week of March 29, all public schools in Oregon will operate in various instructional levels when counties meet or exceed current COVID-19 metrics.
Check Linn County Schools reopening status here
Metrics and Model information
FROM WALMART INC:
We are pleased to share with you that COVID-19 vaccine appointments are now available at all Walmart pharmacy locations in Oregon. Vaccines will be available to those who meet the current phase of vaccine eligibility, which can be found at https://govstatus.egov.com/OR-OHA-COVID-19.
Appointments are accessible on the Walmart scheduler at www.walmart.com/COVIDvaccine. While there is limited supply initially with the state retail pharmacy program, we are pleased to have received allocation and be part of the vaccine providers across the state. Vaccines will be available to those who meet the current phase of vaccine eligibility, which can be found at https://govstatus.egov.com/OR-OHA-COVID-19.
FROM OREGON ATTORNEY GENERAL'S OFFICE:
A limited supply of vaccines and a confusing appointment process gives scammers the ability to prey on older adults and others who are anxious to receive the COVID-19 vaccine.
Sadly, this is not the first-time Oregonians have been taken advantage of during the COVID-19 pandemic. To prevent this from happening again, the Oregon Department of Justice has launched a new campaign to reach Oregonians, and we’d love your help to spread the word.
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One of my greatest joys of this office is getting our children involved in the civic process. I recently sent out an open invitation to local teachers and schools to join me for a Capitol tour and Q&A session. For me, the response has been positive and rewarding. The Capitol may be closed to the public right now, but that shouldn't impair our local students from learning about the legislative process or seeing the place where our collective futures are decided.
I have managed to squeeze in a couple virtual tour experiences for the 6th graders at Seven Oaks Middle School in Lebanon and the high schoolers at Central Linn High School (Go Cobras!). They asked great questions and had an opportunity to 'see' some of the Capitol building and interview me on the House Floor.
If you are a teacher approaching civics and/or government in your curriculum, please reach out to my Chief of Staff, Renée Perry at: renee.perry@oregonlegislature.gov to set up a tour with your class. With hope, the gap currently between us will soon be a memory and the Capitol will be brimming with people and tours of students once more.
Below are links to a few of my recent Floor Courtesies extended to these great organizations serving our community. Keep up the great work!
Salvation Army of Albany
I would like to extend courtesies to The Salvation Army Albany Corps Community Center. Its service area includes Linn and Benton Counties. In regards to COVID-19: In one day, 380 families were given over 80 lbs. of food with drive-thru service – this included several lbs. of beef, beans, and rice during a shortage...
Watch the full video here
Mid-Willamette Valley Family YMCA
Under the direction of Executive Director Chris Reese and the board, they have created a new Early Learning Child Development Center for 89 children and received the preschool promise grant that provides 40 children free admission all year.
Our local YMCA delivered pharmaceutical supplies and groceries to over 500 seniors in the community multiple times over throughout the Covid-19 timeframe...
Watch the full video here
Boys & Girls Club of Albany
The Albany Boys and Girls Club. The club provides a fun, safe, supervised environment for recreational and educational activities where all boys and girls can develop self-esteem and the qualities needed to become caring, responsible citizens.
The club role in our community is essential. This past year even more so.
The after-school program, the athletic program and the dental clinic is all seeing much lower numbers currently and in 2020 than they did in 2019. Even so, during COVID, the emergency childcare program sees 85-90 kids daily. They are continuing their programs because of the great need for these services. They simply cannot stop, it’s not in their DNA...
Watch the full video here
FROM ALBANY PARKS AND RECREATION:
Albany Community Pool is pleased to offer American Red Cross Lifeguard Courses.
Options for lifeguards working at regular pools, water parks and camp waterfronts are available.
For specific dates and times, please visit the online catalog.
The primary purpose of the American Red Cross Lifeguarding course is to provide entry-level lifeguard participants with the knowledge and skills to prevent, recognize and respond to aquatic emergencies and to provide professional-level care for breathing and cardiac emergencies, injuries and sudden illnesses until emergency medical services (EMS) personnel take over. This program offers a choice of Lifeguarding/First Aid/CPR/AED courses to meet the various training needs of a diverse audience.
Successful candidates must:
• be 15 years of age on the last day of the course.
• Successfully complete the online portions of this blended learning course.
• Attend and participate in all class sessions
• Pass all written exams
There will be a link to materials once registered for the course.
Course fee depends on modules selected, between $100 and $160.
To register, click here.
My office is here for you. Please don’t hesitate to reach out to my office if you have any community event announcements, legislative questions, or concerns.
Stay tuned and stay involved!
Talk soon,
 Capitol Phone: 503-986-1415
Capitol Address: 900 Court St NE, H-389, Salem, OR 97301
Email: Rep.ShellyBoshartDavis@oregonlegislature.gov
Website: http://www.oregonlegislature.gov/boshartdavis
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