7/6/2022 Senate District 15 Newsletter

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Senator Janeen Sollman

Friends and Neighbors,

Upcoming Events

Sunday Market Meet Up - Sunday, July 17th

Join me outside the Orenco Farmer's Market in Hillsboro for my 91st Community Conversation. We will meet at the outside patio near New Season's Market. This is a great opportunity to gather informally and share your questions and concerns and support our local farmers and artisans at the Market. Don’t forget to bring your reusable shopping bag. I hope to see you there!

CC 91 Flyer

Out and About in Senate District 15

Last week I attended a press conference, with North Plains Mayor Teri Lenahan and Forest Grove Mayor Pete Truax, to support the families of 9/11 victims that were in Portland to protest the LIV Golf Tournament at Pumpkin Ridge, and the constituents that share this concern. 

Read more here: ‘Shame on them’: Family members of 9/11 victims denounce LIV Golf tournament at Pumpkin RidgeThe Oregonian.

“Think about where that money is coming from,” Sollman said. “Think about the pain of these families.”

Event pics

Cornelius City Council Meeting

Last night, I was honored to present to the City of Cornelius Council regarding Oregon's updated MEPA (Missing Endangered Person Alert) system. Thank you to Washington County Sheriff Pat Garrett for joining me to provide an update on how law enforcement agencies across the state, now have a new tool in their belt when someone vulnerable from our community goes missing. When beloved community member and former Cornelius Mayor, Ralph Brown went missing in 2021, I found it imperative to make improvements to our Silver Alert system in our state. Oregon State Police and ODOT worked together to allow for any law enforcement agency in Oregon to be able to access the highway reader boards and send out an alert, if certain requirements are met of the missing person. You can watch the City Council meeting playback on Tualatin Valley Community TV here.


4th of July Parades in Hillsboro and North Plains

When the world feels a little topsy turvy, as it did on Monday when we learned of the 4th of July parade shooting outside Chicago, one focus is how you can strive to build community. The 4th was a beautiful day of fun in Senate District 15, to honor our hometown heroes, see neighbors & friends, throw some candy and experience joy. I started at the Hillsboro Rotary Club Parade, and then joined the North Plains Community Parade. Thank you Moms Demand Action Oregon for your advocacy and strength and for having me in your parade group in the Hillsboro parade. In the North Plains parade, I loved riding with Mayor Teri Lenahan. I am so proud to call Senate District 15 my home. ❤️🤍💙

Parade Pics

Parade Pics 2

Housing Updates

State Partnership Announces New Foreclosure Prevention Campaign to Support Homeowners

Oregon Housing and Community Services (OHCS), together with the Oregon Department of Justice (DOJ) and the Oregon Division of Financial Regulation (DFR), part of the Department of Consumer and Business Services, has launched a new website and awareness campaign to support struggling homeowners at risk of foreclosure. The state agencies worked in partnership with Oregon Consumer Justice (OCJ) to develop www.oregonhomeownerhelp.org as a central hub for foreclosure prevention resources.

The mortgage foreclosure moratorium in Oregon expired in December 2021. With rising inflation, many households that are having trouble keeping up with living expenses may be at risk of missing a mortgage payment. Some Oregonians are not aware there may be ways to avoid foreclosure.

“We want homeowners who have fallen behind or are at risk of missing a mortgage payment to know they may have options,” said Emese Perfecto, director of the Homeownership Division at OHCS. “It can be overwhelming to receive a letter from a mortgage company. You are not alone. This website, which highlights certified housing counselors as a key resource, can help them find the best way to move forward.”

The emphasis of the awareness campaign is to direct homeowners who are worried about being able to make their mortgage payment, or who have received a foreclosure letter from their servicer, to do one of two things:  

“Housing counselors can advocate on your behalf with your mortgage servicer,” said Andrew Stolfi, director of the Department of Consumer and Business Services. “If you get a call or a letter from your mortgage servicer, contact a homeownership center right away. The earlier you reach out for help, the more options you will have.”

In addition to housing counseling services, the website can also help homeowners avoid falling victim to fraud and connect them with legal assistance.

“As the attention on foreclosures increases, so will the foreclosure-related scams. It’s important for homeowners to be on the lookout and avoid falling victim,” said Ellen M. Klem, director of Outreach and Education for the Oregon Attorney General. “The new website and awareness campaign will provide Oregonians with the information they need to stay safe from fraud during this challenging time.”

If a homeowner has provided that information to a scammer and believes they are a victim of a scam, they should do the following:

  • File a police report to document the crime for their creditors. Make sure they get the report number and a copy.
  • Report the theft to the Federal Trade Commission at 877-438-4338 (toll-free) or at www.ftc.gov.
  • Call their creditors such as their bank or credit union, credit card company, cell phone provider and other utilities, and their health insurance provider.
  • File a complaint with the Oregon Division of Financial Regulation or call 888-877-4894 (toll-free).

“We know that during the subprime scandal, thousands of Oregonians were targeted by scammers with a disproportionate impact on communities of color,” said Jagjit Nagra, executive director at OCJ. “Many families were displaced and have yet to recover. We want to work hard to prevent people from losing their homes due to scams.”

For more information, visit www.oregonhomeownerhelp.org or call 211 to be connected to a housing counselor that serves your area.


Grupo de agencias estatales y organizaciones en Oregón inicia nueva campaña para apoyar a propietarios en riesgo de perder su vivienda

El Departamento de Vivienda y Servicios Comunitarios de Oregón (OHCS, por sus siglas en inglés), junto con el Departamento de Justicia de Oregón (DOJ) y la División de Regulación Financiera (DFR), parte del Departamento de Servicios para Consumidores y Negocios (DCBS) han abierto un nuevo sitio de internet y lanzado una campaña de concientización para apoyar a propietarios en riesgo de perder su vivienda debido a una ejecución hipotecaria. Las agencias estatales trabajaron con Oregon Consumer Justice (OCJ) para desarrollar el sitio de internet www.oregonhomeownerhelp.org en el cual se puede encontrar todo tipo de recursos para la prevención de ejecuciones hipotecarias.

La moratoria de ejecuciones hipotecarias en Oregón expiró en diciembre de 2021. Con la inflación en aumento, muchos hogares que se han atrasado con los gastos diarios pueden estar en riesgo de no poder pagar la hipoteca. Hay propietarios que no están enterados de que puede haber maneras de prevenir la pérdida de su vivienda por una ejecución hipotecaria.

“Queremos que los propietarios que se han atrasado o están en riesgo de no poder hacer un pago de vivienda, conozcan sus opciones”, dijo Emese Perfecto, directora de la División de Vivienda de OHCS. “Puede ser muy preocupante recibir una carta de una compañía hipotecaria. Pues usted no se encuentra solo. El sitio de internet que ofrece recursos y ayuda para conectar a las familias con asesores de vivienda certificados, es un recurso clave, y puede ayudar a propietarios a encontrar la mejor manera de seguir adelante”.

La campaña de concientización busca dirigir a los propietarios que se encuentran preocupados por no poder hacer su pago de vivienda o a quienes han recibido una notificación de ejecución hipotecaria, a tomar uno de los siguientes pasos:

  • Llamar al 2-1-1 para ponerse en contacto con un asesor de vivienda certificado en uno de varios centros de vivienda en Oregón.
    • Visitar el sitio de internet oregonhomeownerhelp.org para obtener más información.

“Los asesores de vivienda pueden abogar a su favor con su compañía hipotecaria”, dijo Andrew Stolfi, el director del Departamento de Servicios para Consumidores y Negocios. “Si recibe una llamada de su compañía hipotecaria, llame de inmediato a un centro de vivienda. Tendrá más opciones si busca ayuda temprano”.

Además de encontrar asesores de vivienda, el sitio de internet también puede ayudar a propietarios a evitar ser víctima de fraude y conectarlos con asistencia legal.

“Al aumentar la atención hacia ejecuciones hipotecarias, también aumentarán las estafas relacionadas con esto. Es importante que los propietarios estén pendientes para evitar ser una victimas más”, dijo Ellen M. Klem, directora de Alcance y Educación de la fiscal general de Oregón. “El nuevo sitio de internet y la campaña de concientización van a proveer a residentes de Oregón información que necesitan para prevenir el fraude durante esta etapa difícil”.

Si un propietario ha dado información a un estafador y cree que es víctima de una estafa, debe hacer lo siguiente:

  • Hacer una denuncia con la policía para documentar el crimen con sus acreedores a los cuales les debe enviar el número de caso y una copia de la denuncia.
  • Denunciar el robo a la Comisión Federal de Comercio llamando al 877-438-4338 (gratuito) o visitando el sitio de internet ftc.gov.
  • Llamar a sus acreedores incluyendo a su banco o institución financiera, compañía de tarjeta de crédito, proveedor de teléfonos celulares y otras utilidades, y su proveedor de seguro de salud.
  • Presentar una queja con la División de Regulación Financiera o llamar al 888-877-4894 (gratuito).

“Sabemos que, durante la crisis de hipotecas de alto riesgo, miles de personas viviendo en Oregón fueron el blanco de estafadores y el mayor impacto lo sufrieron las comunidades de color”, dijo Jagjit Nagra, director ejecutivo de OCJ. “Un gran número de familias fueron desplazadas y aún no han podido recuperarse. Queremos trabajar duro para prevenir que familias e individuos pierdan sus hogares debido a estafas”.

Para obtener más información, visiten www.oregonhomeownerhelp.org o llamen al 2-1-1 para conectarse con un asesor de vivienda que brinde servicio a su área.


Community Outreach

Hidden Bottle Hunt with Oregon Bottle Drop - Begins Today! July 6 - July 10

Did you know? Due to the high volume of blue and green bags, the BottleDrop centers located at the Fred Meyer stores on Imbrie, TV Hwy and Walker Rd all have a trailer truck and staff loading the truck all day long to keep the sheds and racks clear?

What is the Hidden Bottle Hunt?

Bottle Pic

In 2021, we celebrated the 50th Anniversary of Oregon’s iconic Bottle Bill by hiding six commemorative bottles across the state, all in the special places the Bottle Bill helps keep litter free. Thousands of Oregonians joined in the hunt, went outside, and followed the daily clues to search for the hidden bottles. The lucky “finders” got to keep the commemorative bottle (they’re like a trophy!), and were also able to direct a $500 donation to the BottleDrop Give nonprofit of their choice.

The Bottle Hunt was so much fun last year that we decided to do it again in 2022! This year’s hidden bottles have a whole new look, and we’re doubling the prize for each chosen nonprofit to $1,000!

Just like last year, each bottle will be hidden in a different geographic zone of Oregon (map below), and we’ll release separate clues for each bottle at 10:00 am, every day of the hunt. Sign up to receive the daily clues.


Forest Grove Police Department - Chill with the Chief

Event Graphic

Join them Friday, July 8 from 5-7 p.m. at Lincoln Park for their next Chill with the Chief event!

They'll be hanging out near the skate park, BMX path, and playground with free ice cream and popsicles, stickers and temporary tattoos - all are welcome!


Blood Drive Honoring Deputy Mike Trotter Kicks off During His Road to Recovery

Shared from Washington County Sheriff's Office 

On April 27, 2022, Washington County Sheriff’s Office’s Deputy Mike Trotter sustained life-threatening injuries after a horrific crash in his patrol car. Deputy Trotter was extracted from his vehicle by Firefighters and Paramedics from Tualatin Valley Fire and Rescue and rushed to a local hospital by Metro West Ambulance-Hillsboro.

When Deputy Trotter arrived at the hospital, medical staff began working to save his life. Within the first few hours of caring for him, staff used 90 units of blood products on Deputy Trotter to help revive him. 90 units of blood is nearly nine times the amount of blood in the average adult.

Due to the quick thinking and resilience of all first responders and medical staff, Deputy Trotter survived and began his journey to recovery. Deputy Trotter is still severely injured, but he, his family, and the Washington County Sheriff’s Office have organized a blood drive in partnership with Bloodworks Northwest to help give back to others.

Friends, family, and community members are invited to participate at any public Bloodworks Northwest location throughout the Pacific Northwest. Make sure to schedule your appointment in advance and know your donation will make a difference and could save a life.

On the day of your donation, mention Deputy Mike Trotter’s name or share the Donor Code 5453 (Deputy Trotter’s call sign) when you check-in for your appointment

Full media Release: bit.ly/3uo6VZ2

Blood drive graphic

Additional Resources

 Senate District 15 Links

Federal Delegation Links

Education Links

Food and Housing Assistance

Congratulations to my colleague, Representative Susan McLain, on her induction into the National High School Hall of Fame in recognition of her 40 plus years as a high school Speech and Debate Coach. I am so proud of her for receiving this well-deserved honor. She has served and inspired many students over the years and continues to stay engaged on the Speech and Debate stage. What an honor!

Rep McLain pic

Be good to yourself and each other. ❤

Onward & Upward,

Janeen

Senate District 15 lies on Kalapuya land. The Atfalati were the northernmost band of the Kalapuya that lived along the Tualatin River in present day Washington County. Many of the Atfalati descendants are members of the Confederated Tribes of the Grand Ronde Community of Oregon today. The Indigenous Peoples of this land experienced a painful history of colonial violence, sickness and removal from their land. The Atfalati are the foundation of Oregon’s past and we must honor them well into our future.    

Capitol Phone: 503-986-1715
Capitol Address: 900 Court St. NE, S-207, Salem, Oregon 97301
Email: Sen.JaneenSollman@oregonlegislature.gov
Website: http://www.oregonlegislature.gov/sollman