Happy October! I hope you are looking forward to the rainy season while soaking up the last few sunny days. My office is working hard to finalize my policy priorities for the 2022 Short Session. Read on for critical updates on constituent events, redistricting, and more!
Table of Contents
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Breast Cancer Awareness October is Breast Cancer Awareness Month and we want to recognize all breast cancer survivors. Please encourage your loved ones to perform self exams and consult with a professional if they notice anything out of the ordinary, especially if they are at higher risk. Early detection is a key part of successful treatment.
Domestic Violence Awareness October is also Domestic Violence Awareness Month. We stand with and believe survivors. You can visit this website for resources, support, and local assistance.
For more than forty years, Raphael House of Portland has helped domestic violence survivors and their families find safety, hope and independence. Join Raphael House on Thursday, October 14th at 6:30 p.m. for an online benefit celebrating hope, safety, and stories of strength! Gather online for a live broadcast featuring powerful stories, a fabulous auction, music, and so much more. Experience their annual event in this fun (and more accessible) format! Everyone is invited to tune in, and attendance is free! You can also have the full Gala experience at home by purchasing a ticket, and Raphael House will send a gourmet, three-course meal and wine right to your door. Virtual tables and sponsorships are also available. Register here.
Addressing Barriers to Civic Engagement for Oregon Families Join Our Children Oregon on Tuesday, October 26th at 12 p.m. PST to hear what Oregonians identified as barriers to their civic participation and the solutions they are calling for. You will also learn how some organizations in Oregon are working to make civic engagement and activism more accessible to families with children. This virtual event includes panelists from the Oregon Values & Belief Center, Families for Climate, Politisit, and the Oregon Food Bank. Register for this event here.
It’s Fall and That Means Apples and Pears! Unfortunately, the annual Portland Nursery Apple Tasting Festival had to be cancelled. The good news, though, is they are selling apples and pears at various locations around Portland. You can view those locations here. This fall, please do all you can to support your local farmers by buying directly from them. Find a farmer’s market near you here. It can be a fun outing for the entire family! One of my favorite places to buy locally grown produce for my family is Topaz Farm on Sauvie Island where you can find farm-fresh produce, buy tasty, ready-to-eat items, attend farm to table dinners on Saturdays, or attend an outdoor concert. Find more information here.
Forest Park Fire Briefing If you missed it live, you can view a recording of the Forest Park Fire Briefing on my Facebook page. Portland Fire & Rescue and Portland Parks and Recreation shared how to keep your home and your family safe in the event of a wildfire. We also heard the latest update on Forest Park fire mitigation efforts, including the maintenance of Firelane 1.
Youth Experiencing Homelessness Programming This event is hosted by Oregon Department of Human Services (ODHS) and is intended for all organizations and individuals involved with youth services, housing instability, and homeless system planning who want to build coalition and momentum around renewed interest and investment in this realm. ODHS seeks to renew community involvement through a single day of community building and action planning to launch the next phase of services for young people in Oregon.
Topics that will be discussed include:
Recommendations for a statewide Youth Action Board from Young leaders across OR
State Legislative Updates from the 2021 session surrounding recently passed bills affecting youth experiencing homelessness
In-depth data discussion and results from the Statewide Homeless Youth Needs Assessment
Translating data into priority focus areas
Regional discussions and building partnerships with organizations within local communities and across the state
Read more about this event here and register in advance through this link.
CPO 1 Committee Meeting The Community Participation Organization serving the communities of Bonny Slope West, Cedar Hills and Cedar Mill is having a community meeting on Tuesday, October 12th at 7 p.m. You can join via Zoom through this link. You can check out the full agenda here.
Tualatin Hills Park & Recreation Is Recruiting! THPRD is currently recruiting new volunteers to join several of their advisory committees. Each committee includes nine appointed volunteers, a staff liaison and a member of THPRD'sBoard of Directors. Volunteers are district residents who serve a two-year term.
Here are the committees with openings: Nature & Trails This committee guides management of natural resources, associated community engagement, trail use, and trail development. Subject areas include natural areas, wildlife, environmental education, and both paved and soft surfaces. Parks & Facilities This committee reviews development and use of outdoor physical assets, buildings and associated community engagement. Subject areas include developed parks, athletic facilities, program facilities, ADA access, historic properties, and community gardens. Programs & Events This committee ensures THPRD meets program service delivery goals. Subject areas include programming; cost recovery; and diversity and inclusion in recreation, sports, volunteering, environmental education, and aquatic activities.
Applications must be completed and submitted no later than Monday, October 25, 2021. Contact staff liaisonMelissa Marcumfor more information about the application process. Apply here!
Oregon’s Kid Governor Election Opens
Oregon’s Kid Governor® program (ORKG) is a statewide civics program for 5th graders supported through Oregon Secretary of State’s office. Timed to coincide with Election Day in November, every school and home school in Oregon is eligible to enter one 5th grader to run in a statewide election that other 5th graders will vote in. Classrooms can vote in the election, nominate a classmate to run for office, or do both! Oregon’s Kid Governor nominees work with their classmates to create a campaign video about why they want to be Kid Governor, their leadership skills, a community issue they want to address, and a 3-point plan that will help 5th graders across Oregon make a difference in their communities.
There is no cost, and the program provides a full classroom curriculum and information for parents whose students choose to run. Students gain valuable knowledge of our state government, how to take action through civic participation, and how people of all ages can choose to participate in our democratic society.
The deadline for nominating a candidate and submitting their campaign video is 11:59 p.m., October 21, 2021. If your 5th grade class only wants to vote in the Kid Governor election, you have until 11:59 p.m., October 29, 2021 to register here. You can learn more about the program at http://or.kidgovernor.org/. For any questions, contact Nikki Fisher at Nikki.Fisher@OR.KidGovernor.org.
Monday, October 11th is Indigenous Peoples Day House District 33 is made up of the indigenous lands of the Cowlitz, Clackamas, and Grand Ronde. Take time to learn about Native American culture or consider supporting Cultural Blends, owned and operated byTroy Douglass, a Grand Ronde Tribal member.
Five Oaks Museum, formerly Washington County Museum, is a gathering place of vibrant art, culture and storytelling. "This IS Kalapuyan Land" is an exhibit, curated by Steph Littlebird Fogel (Grand Ronde, Kalapuya). Since its physical launch in 2019, the museum has added various ways for you to experience the content, including an online exhibition and museum kits that bring the exhibition to you. The museum is currently closed to the public, but you can visit the online exhibits here.
This interim period I will be hosting a mix of in-person and virtual events. I will still be available over Zoom if you prefer; my office can help set up a time for meeting. The best way to reach me is through my email: Rep.MaxineDexter@oregonlegislature.gov.
Forest Park Walks Please join me on my final morning walk and talk event of the year on Tuesday, October 12 at 8 a.m. We meet by the information board, rain or shine, just past the green gate at the beginning of Forest Park’s Leif Erikson trail (4099 NW Thurman St, Portland, OR 97210). We will walk and talk as we proceed up the main trail and will head up the trail at 8:05 sharp so don’t be late and wear comfortable walking shoes! This is an out and back walk; you may join us for as much of the walk as you choose.
We will continue to have events to gather and discuss whatever is on your mind as we approach the winter season.
Zoom Town Halls We will have special guests and important topics to debate and discuss at our upcoming town halls. Please mark your calendars and plan to join us from 10-11 a.m. on Saturdays October 30th, November 13th and December 11th. Our first will be focused on gun violence in Portland and will include local leaders who will join us for this important conversation. We will announce the topics of the November and December Town Halls in this newsletter as they are finalized. Register through the buttons below.
‘There should be a law for that’ Some of the best ideas we get for policy comes from my constituents and people who care and think deeply about issues of concern to them. Please consider submitting your ideas to us on any topic at any time and we will follow up with you. No idea is too big or too small. Please submit here. We look forward to dreaming big together to help make sure we all have the ability to live healthy lives, in a healthy community, on a healthy planet.
Right under the wire, the Oregon Legislature passed Congressional and State maps based on the 2020 Census data. You can view the maps here, by clicking ‘Content’ on the top left side of the page and then selecting the ‘Adopted Maps’ drop down menu, or on the Oregon redistricting website. This is a direct link to the House Districts. Although these maps have been passed, they are not yet in effect. Regardless of where you live in the new map, I am still your Representative until January 2023.
Although the number of new cases of COVID-19 in Oregon is beginning to plateau, the average new cases a day is still well over 1,000. We must continue to take the precautionary measures that we know are effective: masking and distancing. The most effective tools we have against severe infection of COVID-19, however, are the vaccines. If you or a loved one is not vaccinated, please do so as quickly as possible. Vaccines are available at your local pharmacy and through your primary care provider. You can also visit this website to find a location near you. A number of Oregonians are eligible for third and booster doses of the Pfiezer vaccine. You may have questions about this, and we encourage you to watch the latest OHA Q & A about it here.
Do not visit an emergency department for COVID-19 testing unless you require emergency care for your symptoms. You can find a test here. Emergency departments in Oregon are under significant strain responding to the current surge in COVID-19. The hospitals themselves are overwhelmed with patients and do not have the capacity to provide the best care possible for all of those who need it. As of October 5th, only 9% of adult ICU beds and 7% of adult non-ICO beds, respectively, are available statewide.
If you have a medical condition that doesn’t require emergency care, an urgent care center will help you get the care you need and will save emergency departments from added strain. More information about hospital capacity can be found here.
Consider Opting Into the PPS COVID-19 Weekly Screening Program
Portland Public School families should be receiving a consent form to opt-in to participate in a free COVID-19 screening testing program, which is a partnership between the Oregon Health and Science University (OHSU) and PPS. Screening testing provides early detection of COVID-19, even when individuals have no apparent COVID-19-like symptoms. They will begin enrollment of schools starting now, prioritizing schools serving K-5 students due to those students not yet being eligible to receive the vaccine. They also anticipate enrolling middle and high school students soon. Testing is expected to begin shortly after each school has completed registration. For more information, please reach out to your school secretary or visit the PPS information page here.
In light of the Reynolds High School COVID 19 spread, I want to reiterate the importance of testing and tracing. For information specific to Reynolds HS, see their website.
K-12 Education, Higher Education, and Childcare
In accordance with CDC recommendations, Governor Brown has directed the OHA and Oregon Department of Education to write rules instituting universal masking requirements for anyone over the age of two enrolled in a public school. There will be exceptions to this rule, such as at band practice or in sports where a mask could be a strangulation hazard, such as gymnastics or wrestling.
The Oregon Department of Education and the OHA will continually issue updated advisory guidance for the 2021-22 school year. You can find their framework here.
Tesori Gifts is a family owned business in the Bethany neighborhood of Beaverton. The store has everything you might think of gifting someone, and a lot of their products are made by local artists and creators. The store website has a list of unique gift ideas to inspire you. Even if you don't have anyone you need to buy a gift for, go down to Tesori and pick something out for yourself! From their funky socks to their handmade soaps, the products at Tesori are sure to catch your eye.
You can find Tesori Gifts at 4768 NW Bethany Blvd, call them at 971-260-7707 or email them at tesoris@hotmail.com.
If you own or know someone who owns a small business in House District 33, fill out this form to possibly be highlighted in a future newsletter and/or social media post from my office.
Unemployment Update
Schedule an in-person or virtual appointment with an employment specialist at your local WorkSource Center by visiting Worksourceoregon.org and click on “Contact” at the top of the page. You also can set up time to use a public computer, complete your orientation activities required for unemployment insurance benefits, or just get help with your job search.
Dedicated staff are available 8:30 a.m. - 5 p.m.*, Monday through Friday, to help with your job search. They also accept walk-ins and provide over-the-phone assistance. Find out what hiring events are happening in your area by contacting their local WorkSource center or visiting the WorkSource Oregon website.
The Oregon Emergency Rental Assistance Program helps eligible low-income households with their past due rent and utilities. This program uses funds from the federal Emergency Rental Assistance Program, which allocated a collective total of $280 million to Oregon, the City of Portland, and multiple counties in the state. In most cases, approved applications will result in payments made directly to landlords and utility providers. Be sure to apply if you need help paying either your current rent or any back rent that you’ve accrued between April 2020 and June 2021. Processing an application using the state’s portal can take significant time, but a completed application can be used to activate additional eviction protections. Again, if you receive an eviction notice at any time, even after applying through Allita, call 2-1-1 immediately.
While we continue to see progress in assistance distribution, the speed of distribution is not where it needs to be to universally serve Oregonians within the safe harbor period. At the same time, Oregon is still one of the top performers in the nation and may be eligible for additional ERA funds from the U.S. Treasury. OHCS has obligated roughly 73% of ERA 1 funds, that is over $123.7 M paid, approved, or set aside for a household. Using this figure, OHCS will request any excess ERA resources from other states
If you receive a court summons about an eviction, you can reach out to the Oregon Law Center’s Eviction Defense Project (888-585-9638 or evictiondefense@oregonlawcenter.org) to seek legal help.
Tenant Protections This past session, the Oregon legislature passed Senate Bill 278, which states that if a tenant shows their landlord documentation that they have applied for rent assistance, even if the landlord has not yet received the payment, they are not allowed to evict the tenant for nonpayment for 60 days. After I and six other legislators wrote a letter asking for this period to be extended, the Washington County Board of Commissioners decided on September 21st to extend that 60 day period to 90 days for all tenants in unincorporated Washington County, effective immediately. This is a fantastic step to keep people housed during the pandemic and we thank the county commissioners for taking action to protect residents of Washington County. In addition, on October 5th, the Beaverton City Council approved the extension of the eviction protection period from 60 days to 90 days.
Please note that in addition to this ordinance, the Oregon Legislature also passed SB 282, which states that during the period of July 1, 2021 through February 28, 2022, landlords are prohibited from evicting tenants for not paying owed rent that came due between April 1, 2020 and June 30, 2021. For more information on both of these bills and the eviction moratorium, visit Oregon Law Help.
Eligible Oregonians who receive their internet from Comcast or Ziply Fiber can apply to receive discounts of up to $50 a month and a $100 one-time discount for the purchase of a laptop, tablet, or desktop computer.
The program will end when the fund runs out of money, or six months after the Department of Health and Human Services declares an end to the COVID-19 health emergency, whichever is sooner.
The best way to stay informed and connect with my legislative work is through my Facebook page (State Representative Maxine Dexter), my Twitter account (@RepDexterOR), and my Instagram (@RepDexterOR). In addition, please feel free to reach out to my office at Rep.MaxineDexter@OregonLegislature.gov.
I am honored to represent you in Salem and look forward to continuing to serve you and this amazing community we share.
Gratefully,
Maxine Dexter, MD
Oregon State Representative
House District 33
Resources
Congressman Earl Blumenauer’s office has compiled an exhaustive list of COVID resources here.
National Suicide Prevention Hotline | 1-800-273-TALK (8255)- Crisis Text Line | Text HOME to 741741
Oregon Youthline | Call 877-968-8491 or text teen2teen to 839863 between 4pm - 10pm to text with another teen.
National Youth Crisis Hotline | 1-800-442-HOPE (4673)
Housing assistance: Family Promise of Beaverton is committed to helping children and their families affected by homelessness in the Beaverton area. (https://www.familypromiseofbeaverton.org/#homepage)
Housing assistance: Community Housing Fund focuses on providing affordable housing and works on community projects.
Housing assistance: Community Action helps pay rent and help to get people in need of housing.
Housing assistance, utility assistance, food assistance: United Way of the Columbia-Willamette provides access to critical services like housing assistance and utility assistance and access to food.
Utility assistance: Oregon Energy Fund is a 30-year-old nonprofit that provides energy bill assistance to low-income Oregonians in support of household stability.
Utility assistance: EnergyTrust helps people save money and energy.
Disability assistance: Plan For Work services help individuals with disabilities and provide different services to those in need.
Youth assistance: New Avenues for Youth provides meals, showers, laundry, respite from the streets, engagement activities, and legal counsel.
Community assistance: Oregon Solutions solves community problems using a problem-solving system.
Transportation assistance: Trimet has a reduced fare for low-income rider and seniors age 65+.
Food assistance, water bill assistance, and grants, utility assistance: Care To Share coordinates assistance to families and individuals who seek emergency food and other basic necessities.
Food assistance: Mercy Corps Northwest provides assistance for community members returning from prison.
Food assistance, housing assistance, utility assistance, disability assistance: Department of County Human Services ensures that everyone can reach their potential and contribute to communities.
Follow Representative Dexter on social media to stay connected!
