News

NEWS Back to Normal, With Extra Steps

Gov. Kate Brown announced the end of mask mandates for vaccinated people, leaving businesses unsure of what to do

By Jack Harvel

Ashley Moreno

On May 18, Oregon Gov. Kate Brown released interim guidance on mask enforcement after previously announcing that mask mandates would be dropped for vaccinated individuals.

Though at the time, some hoped this would be a return to normal, many business owners were anxious about following and enforcing these new rules. The Source Weekly reached out to over a dozen local businesses in Bend to gauge how much they’re changing under the new guidelines. The results showed a sharp divide depending on the type of business.

Retail

Vendors who sell goods were more likely to avoid the new rules altogether in favor of waiting to see when they could lift their mask policies without having to check vaccination status.

“Our primary goal is to provide our customers with the very best customer experience for their custom picture framing and digital service’s needs. It’s not about requiring proof of vaccination,” said Todd Dow, operations manager at High Desert Frameworks.

Dow said they have had no complaints from customers about the mask requirements since the new rules were announced, and that it is business as usual at the store. But they’re troubled specifically with how they are expected to enforce the new mandate.

“It is unfortunate that the State has taken the approach of placing the business in a position to be an enforcer. Until the Oregon Health Authority and Oregon OSHA [Occupational Health and Safety Administration] provide more guidance, clarity to the mask mandate or change the mandates, we request all customers, regardless of vaccination status, to wear a mask inside our store and while interacting with our staff,” Dow said.

Elixir Wine Group Owner and CEO Kirk Ermisch said he was interested in lifting mask requirements as soon as possible. He expressed interest in using signs to enforce the required vaccination check, but only if legal. Oregon Health Authority guidelines require directly checking status through a vaccination card, so it’s unlikely it would be adequate under current state guidance.

“If it is legal and we won’t get into trouble I will lift all mask requirements immediately. We are vaccinated,” Ermisch wrote in an email to the Source.

Gyms/Fitness

Gyms that rely on membership have an easier way to track vaccination status, and typically won’t have to check every time someone enters.

“Stay Open Bend!” sign on the corner of NW Franklin Avenue and NW Wall Street in downtown Bend.

Jack Harvel

“Masks are required except if students show their vaccine card. If they do, they can go maskless and put their yoga mat closer to other vaccinated students than our measured, distanced spaces,” said Suzie Newcome, Namaspa Yoga founder and co-owner.

Namaspa is recording vaccination status in its online check-in system.

“We devised a way in our online system to record that we have verified someone’s vaccine status, if they want us to do that, and that way we don’t have to ask each time,” Newcome said. “I feel this is the most inclusive way to go—everyone is welcome to come practice and all of our teachers can teach regardless of vaccine process, history or beliefs.”

Other gyms and studios are following similar policies, with a relatively easy transfer to the new guidelines.

“We are keeping a note in their file of who and when their vaccination status was checked,” Emily Aygun, owner of Altius Pole Studio, said. “We still require social distancing at our studio; however, our poles are over 6 feet apart from each other anyways so this is easy for us to accomplish.”

Restaurants and bars

Restaurants have been the only indoor business that allows limited masklessness in Oregon during the pandemic, and switching to a new system may be more trouble than it’s worth.

“We are still requiring all customers and employees to wear masks regardless of vaccination status,” Emily, assistant manager of Noi Thai Cuisine, wrote via email.

Noticias en Español

Por Nicole Vulcan / Traducido por Jéssica Sánchez-Millar

El Día de los Pueblos Indígenas aprobado como día festivo oficial del estado

El segundo lunes del mes de octubre, previamente celebrado como el Día de la Raza – ahora será el Día de los Pueblos Indígenas en Oregon, después de la aprobación de un proyecto de ley en la legislatura del estado. El senado del estado de Oregon aprobó el Proyecto de Ley 2526 el 18 de mayo, después de que la Cámara de Representantes de Oregon aprobará el proyecto de ley inicial por una votación de 50-5. La delegación de la zona centro de Oregon, que incluye al senador Tim Knopp (R-Bend) y a los representantes Jack Zika (R-Redmond) y Jason Kropf (D-Bend) votaron a favor de los proyectos de ley. Fue aprobado por el senado de Oregon con siete votos en contra. “La celebración del día de la raza, a menudo ha traído recordatorios del dolor y sufrimiento experimentados por los nativos; al cambiar el nombre de este día festivo estatal, se le exhortará a los habitantes de Oregon a aprender, acrecentar y celebrar a las comunidades nativas de nuestro estado,” indicó un comunicado de prensa de los demócratas del senado de Oregon.

Educación de civismo en puerta para los estudiantes de las escuelas preparatorias en Oregon

Los estudiantes de las escuelas preparatorias de Oregon deberán tomar al menos un semestre de civismo luego de la aprobación de un proyecto de ley bipartidista en la legislatura del estado. La Cámara de Representantes de Oregon votó unánimemente a favor del proyecto de ley esta semana, luego de una votación en el senado de Oregon que fue aprobada con tan solo tres votos en contra.

“Es un momento en que muchos estadounidenses no pueden nombrar los tres poderes del gobierno y los estudios muestran un declive en los valores democráticos de fe, Oregon ya no debería seguir siendo uno de los pocos estados que quedan sin estándares civiles,” dijo el senador Fred Girod (R-Stayton), gran promotor del proyecto de ley. “En lugar de imponer agendas en las aulas, a nuestros hijos se les debe enseñar los principios básicos. El desacuerdo en una parte inherente de la democracia, pero este proyecto de ley enseñará a nuestros hijos como participar en nuestras instituciones y cómo utilizar sus derechos y responsabilidades como ciudadanos activamente comprometidos para moldear al mundo que les rodea.”

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Gov. Kate Brown signed an extension of eviction moratoriums into law, while another for foreclosure moratoriums sits on her desk

By Jack Harvel

On May 19, Oregon Gov. Kate Brown signed Senate Bill 282 into law, giving renters a longer amount of time to pay back any accrued rent since the rent moratorium began on April 1, 2020.

The moratorium expires on June 30, after which time renters can no longer default on their rents without risking eviction. Tenants have until the end of February 2022 to repay what has accumulated throughout the moratorium.

“Everyone deserves a warm, safe, dry place to call home––and during the COVID-19 pandemic, it has been particularly critical that Oregonians be able to stay in their homes,” said Brown. “Disproportionately, those Oregonians are from Black, Indigenous, Latino, Latina, Latinx, Asian, Pacific Islander, Tribal and communities of color.”

The bill extends the time Oregon tenants have to repay rent by eight months, avoiding what was a June cutoff. A QuoteWizard study found that 27.3% of renters in Oregon said they were at risk of eviction in May.

“Oregonians are coming to the end of a once-in-a-generation struggle, and we need to give them an opportunity to recover,” said Rep. Wlnsvey Campos. “This legislation was negotiated with landlord and tenant advocates at the table and provides necessary protections for both as we plan for the distribution of federal dollars to help keep families in their homes.”

The bill’s central purpose is to extend the moratorium, but it also prevents landlords from denying rental applications based on eviction during the pandemic, temporary lifts occupancy limits for people staying with friends or family, extends penalties on landlords for violating rules on conduct through February and expands Oregon’s Emergency Rental Assistance Program. The $280 million in rent assistance is available to all renters who have experienced unemployment or reduce incomes, or if they’re at risk of housing instability or homelessness.

“SB 282 will help set the stage for a more equitable recovery by preventing the fallout from this pandemic from following the most vulnerable Oregonians for years to come,” said Rep. Julie Fahey, who carried the bill on the House floor. “This legislation offers protections to both tenants and landlords, and ultimately ensures that we help the Oregonians who have been impacted the hardest by the COVID-19 pandemic.”

SB282 passed largely along partisan lines, with three Republicans, Reps. Ron Noble of McMinnville, Greg Smith of Heppner, and Gary Leif of Roseburg crossing the aisle to join the unanimous Democratic support, resulting in a 39-17 vote. Redmond Rep. Jack Zika tried to send the bill back to committee to address concerns that some provisions reduce landlords’ ability to use their own judgement when selecting tenants.

“No one wants people to be evicted,” said Zika, according to Oregon Public Broadcasting. “There were just some issues with the landlords.”

The effect of Oregon’s housing laws passed over the past year have added a number of factors to the study of the market and, though helpful in the short term, still have unknown long-term effects.

“During COVID, there have been eviction moratoriums, foreclosure moratoriums, and so I think that that effect on the market is potentially even more dramatic than Senate Bill 608, which was the rent control bill,” said Carolyn Eagan, affordable housing manager for the City of Bend.

Some landlords have reported that the eviction moratorium and rent control bills passed by Oregon’s legislature could discourage ordinary people from renting out a property or two.

“Some of Oregon’s new laws make it tricky to be a landlord, and have made a lot of landlords, especially with just a few rentals, say, ‘I want out,’” said Tamara Houston, who owns two properties in Bend that she rents to local people at affordable rates.

House Bill 2009 would do for homeowners what SB282 did for renters and extend Oregon’s foreclosure moratorium to June 30. HB2009 pauses foreclosure proceedings for qualifying borrowers, delays payment requirements and broadens Oregon’s Foreclosure Avoidance Program.

“I’m thankful, and I’m sure Oregonian homeowners will be thankful that we took the time to get this right,” said Rep. Tawna Sanchez. “After a difficult year that nobody could have anticipated, it is time to pass this bill and get homeowners in Oregon the support they need to stay in their homes as we begin to come out of the pandemic.”

The bill passed with a 36-20 vote and is sitting on the Governor’s desk, and if signed would allow her to extend the moratorium in 90-day increments until the end of the year.

Courtesy of David Jackmanson

An eviction notice hangs in a window.

Civics Education Ahead for Oregon High School Students

By Nicole Vulcan

Oregon high school students will be required to take at least one semester of civics following the passage of a bipartisan bill in the state legislature. The Oregon House voted unanimously in favor of the bill this week, following a vote in the Oregon Senate that passed with only three nay votes.

“At a time where many Americans cannot name the three branches of government and studies are showing declining faith democratic values, Oregon should no longer be one of the few states left without civics standards,” said Sen. Fred Girod (R-Stayton), chief sponsor of the bill. “Instead of pushing agendas in the classroom, our kids need to be taught the fundamentals. Disagreement is an inherent part of democracy, but this bill will teach our kids how to participate in our institutions and use their rights and responsibilities as actively engaged citizens to shape the world around them.”

Indigenous People’s Day Approved as Official State Holiday

By Nicole Vulcan

The second Monday in October— previously celebrated as Columbus Day—will now be Indigenous People’s Day in Oregon, following the passage of a bill in the state legislature. The Oregon state Senate approved House Bill 2526 on May 18, after the passage of the original bill by the Oregon House by a 50-5 vote. Central Oregon’s delegation—including Sen. Tim Knopp (R-Bend) and Reps. Jack Zika (R-Redmond) and Jason Kropf (D-Bend) voted in favor of the bills. It passed the Oregon Senate with seven “nay” votes.

“Celebrating Columbus Day has often brought reminders of pain and suffering experienced by native people, by re-naming this state holiday, Oregonians will be encouraged to learn, grow and celebrate our state’s native communities,” read a press release from Oregon Senate Democrats.