This weekend we all get an extra hour added to our Sunday! Remember to turn your clocks back one hour on Saturday evening or Sunday morning. What will you do with that extra time? For me, it means an extra hour of sipping coffee and reading a book.
It is incredibly important for me to connect directly with community members and I am always trying to find new ways to do this in a meaningful way. If you have an idea for how I can connect with our community, please reach out and share. Please see contact information in the ‘Stay in Touch!’ Section below. Read on for new updates on constituent events, COVID vaccine information, and more!
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Participation opportunity for youth via Portland State University
What is the project? Researchers at Portland State University are working on a project with young adults from around the state who have provided or received peer support. The general goal is to explore what makes peer support effective.
What are the qualifications? Right now, they are looking for young adults who are age 30 or less and who currently or formerly received at least five sessions of one-on-one peer support to help with mental health and/or related issues
What would they be doing? Right now, PSU is looking for young adults to participate in up to three small group discussions via Zoom. Each discussion runs one hour and will be scheduled at a convenient time. All of this will happen before the end of December.
And you will get paid! For every hour that you work on the project, you will receive a $25 electronic gift card to a vendor of your choice. There are hundreds of vendors to choose from (see the list of vendors).
DCBS Division of Financial Regulation’s public hearing on prescription drug prices
Share your experiences about prescription drug prices - The Oregon Department of Consumer and Business Services is asking for the public’s help before its third annual public hearing on prescription drug prices. Drug prices play a major role in health care decisions of Oregonians and the cost of prescription drugs has steadily increased in the past 10 years. The department has set up a brief survey – http://dcbspage.org/RxStories – for consumers to ask questions and share their stories about rising prescription drug prices. The department wants to know what questions you have about the increase in prescription drugs and how it has affected you and your family.
The hearing is scheduled for 1 to 3 p.m. Wednesday, Dec. 8th but you can take thesurveyat any time. The Prescription Drug Price Transparency Act (ORS 646A.689) directed the Oregon Department of Consumer and Business Services to establish a transparency program to accept reports and disclose certain information from prescription drug manufacturers, health insurance carriers, and consumers on drug prices.
The goal of the program, which is part of the Division of Financial Regulation, is to provide accountability for prescription drug pricing through the notice and disclosure of specific drug costs and price information from pharmaceutical manufacturers, health insurers, and consumers. For more about the program, go to https://dfr.oregon.gov/drugtransparency. Information about how to participate in the virtual hearing will be available on this site as well.
Washington County first in state to ban flavored tobacco products
Following weeks of public testimony and input from public health officials, the Washington County Board of County Commissioners (BCC) has repealed outdatedOrdinance 599 and replaced it with new rules that include a ban on retail sales of any flavored tobacco products, including menthol cigarettes, flavored synthetic nicotine and inhalant delivery systems such as e-cigarettes, e-cigars, vape pens and e-hookahs that impart a taste or smell other than the taste or smell of tobacco. I am proud to have been part of this public effort.
On November 2, the BCC, acting as the Local Public Health Authority for Washington County, passedOrdinance 878 with three board members voting in favor and two voting in opposition. Based on findings that indicate tobacco use by youth continues to be a significant health risk, the board’s action serves to:
Prohibit the sale of any tobacco or synthetic nicotine product to any person under the age of 21,
Prohibit sales of any flavored tobacco or synthetic nicotine product in any retail establishment, and
Prohibit coupons, discounts and price promotions for any tobacco product.
The new rules also require vendor-assisted sales (no self-service displays) of all tobacco products and prohibits tobacco sales from a “moveable place of business” such as a vehicle or kiosk. Under Ordinance 878, which goes into effect on January 1, 2022, violations are subject to aClass A civil infraction issued by a county code enforcement officer. The ordinance will apply countywide, including inside city boundaries.
As a critical care and pulmonary physician, I have witnessed first-hand the deadly long-term effects that tobacco use has on our community. Tobacco related illness remains the number one cause of preventable death in Oregon. Youth who smoke report that they almost universally start smoking by using a flavored tobacco product, including menthol. Menthol cigarettes and other flavored tobacco products are intentionally targeted at youth, communities of color, and under-resourced communities. I am grateful to Washington County’s BCC for taking this courageous and trail-blazing step for Oregon.
Community Participation Organization 7 Meeting on Monday, 11/8 at 7pm
When? Monday, November 8th at 7pm
Where? Via Zoom Or phone in at: 1-253-215-8782, meeting ID: 812 5798 6643. CPO Zoom User Guide
What’s on the agenda? Elections of CPO Members, middle housing, and a presentation by the Department of Land Use & Transportation on county implementation of state law and rule changes will allow duplexed, triplexes, fourplexes, cottage clusters, and townhouses in areas where detached single-family homes have been the norm. The state rules allow for a limited exception for underdeveloped parts of North Bethany. Washington County staff will provide information and answer questions about their work to implement Middle Housing. This is your opportunity to let Washington County know your thoughts.
Community Participation Organization 1 Meeting on Tuesday, 11/9 at 7pm
When? Tuesday, November 9th at 7pm
Where? Via Zoom Or phone in at: 1-253-215-8782, meeting ID: 811 3967 8436
What’s on the agenda? Briefings from Washington County Sheriff’s Office, THPRD, TVF&R, Tualatin Valley Water District, Clean Water Services, and Beaverton School District. Update on the Major Streets Transportation Improvement Program and much more. View the agenda here.
I am continuing to host mainly virtual events but am planning to hold in-person events in the new year. If you would like to speak with me individually, my office can help set up a time for meeting. If you have additional thoughts on how I can engage your community, please let me know. The best way to reach me is through my email: Rep.MaxineDexter@oregonlegislature.gov.
Zoom Town Halls
Unfortunately, I have to cancel my November 13th Town Hall due to a change in my work schedule. However, my December 11th Town Hall is not far away. Register below if you have not done so already. The topic and guests will be decided shortly!
If you missed it, you can view the 10/30 Town Hall on gun violence in Portland here. It was a pleasure to have Lakayana Drury, Executive Director of Word is Bond, Multnomah County Sheriff Mike Reese, Multnomah County District Attorney Mike Schmidt, and Portland Commissioner Carmen Rubio with Representative Reynolds and me. We discussed root causes and important solutions that we can all help address in our city. Thank you to the more than 80 guests who joined, including Multnomah County Commissioners Stegmann and Meieran and former State Representative for HD 36 Akasha Lawrence Spence. ‘There should be a law for that’ Some of the best ideas we get for policy come from my constituents and people who care and think deeply about issues of concern to them. Thank you to all those who have submitted an idea! We look forward to following up with you. Please submit here. No idea is too big or too small! 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.
I know that we are all ready to move past the era of COVID-19. While it might feel like a near possibility when you’re out and about, hospitals are still overwhelmed with patients and do not have the capacity to provide the best care possible for all of those who need it. As of November 2rd, only 6% of adult ICU beds and adult non-ICU beds are available statewide. Please 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. Read on below for information about the Emergency Use Authorization for children ages 5-11. 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 Pfizer vaccine. You may have questions about this, and we encourage you to watch the latest OHA Q & A about ithere.
Do not visit an emergency department for COVID-19 testing unless you require emergency care for your symptoms. You can find a test here. 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.
OHA released a newFAQ: Seasonal Influenza During COVID-19. Some examples of questions include: What was the flu season like last year? Why are health care providers so concerned about this year’s flu season during the COVID-19 pandemic? Can you get a flu vaccine at the same time as a COVID-19 vaccine? Where can I get more information on influenza and the vaccine?
Emergency Use Authorization of the Pfizer Vaccine for Children Ages 5-11
The U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has authorized the emergency use of the Pfizer pediatric COVID-19 vaccine to include children ages 5 through 11! Pediatric doses of the Pfizer COVID-19 vaccine are now approved for use in Oregon for children ages 5 through 11. Oregon, like all states, is receiving a small supply of pediatric vaccine this week, with a steady increase in doses expected in the coming weeks.
Key points for parents and caregivers to consider:
Effectiveness
Immune responses of children ages 5 through 11 years were comparable to those of teenagers and young adults ages 16 through 25 years.
The vaccine was found to be 90.7% effective in preventing COVID-19 in children ages 5 through 11.
Safety
The vaccine’s safety was studied in approximately 3,100 children ages 5 through 11 who received the vaccine. No serious side effects were detected in the ongoing study.
With many parents and guardians throughout the state anxious for younger children to be protected against COVID-19, it’s important for everyone to have patience with our health care providers and pharmacies.
Where to find a vaccine as they become available
Oregon is working to make pediatric doses of the Pfizer vaccine available through Oregon’s federally qualified health centers, local public health authorities, pharmacies and pediatric clinics. Call your provider or use the Get Vaccinated Oregon (GVO) locator map to find a provider near you that has pediatric doses of Pfizer available. As providers throughout the state receive the pediatric vaccine, locations will be added to the GVO locator map. You can also call 211.
Pharmacies can provide COVID-19 and flu vaccines to younger kids
Oregon Health Authority (OHA) has authorized pharmacies to provide COVID-19 and flu vaccines to children age 3 and older (the pediatric COVID-19 vaccine is authorized only for ages 5 through 11). Not all pharmacies may be able to offer these vaccines to younger ages yet. Before you go:
Ask your pharmacy if they will be vaccinating younger children, and if both vaccines are available.
If you are currently uninsured, you can apply for OHP at any time of the year. To apply online, go toONE.Oregon.govto create an account. You can learn more about OHP, here.
Consider Opting Into the PPS COVID-19 Weekly Screening Program
Portland Public School families should have received 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 symptoms. 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.
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.
If you are visiting a PPS School, please be sure you have reviewed their new COVID-19 Visitor Guidelines.
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.
Boxer Ramen is a small chain of ramen restaurants in Portland, Oregon. Micah Camden and Katie Poppe opened the original 30-seat restaurant in 2013. When it opened, Boxer Ramen's menu featured noodle soups with noodles made by Sun Noodle Company and two types of broth: spicy miso and tonkotsu-shoyu. Within a year, two additional ramen options were added: shiitake, featuring a mushroom-pork bone dashi, and vegetarian yellow curry, with coconut milk, corn, stock, and tofu. Other soup ingredients include pork belly, scallions, and soft poached eggs. Rotating side dishes included Japanese pickles, ohitashi spinach salads, okonomiyaki tater tots, pork belly buns and pot stickers. Mochi ice cream shipped from Bubbies in Honolulu is available for dessert; flavors include passion fruit.
Boxer Ramen’s 23rd Ave location is nestled into the bustling shopping district. The restaurant does offer delivery through apps like Caviar and Gurbhub, or you can dine-in at their location on 2309 NW Kearney St, Portland, OR 97210. Their hours are from 11 am to 8 pm every day. You can also call them at (503) 208-3785. Their menu can be found here.
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.
The Oregon Office of Economic Analysis (OEA) confirmed earlier this month a nearly $1.9 billion tax surplus, triggering a tax surplus credit, or “kicker,” for the 2021 tax year. Instead of kicker checks, however, the surplus will be returned to taxpayers through a credit on their 2021 state personal income tax returns filed in 2022.
A What’s My Kicker? calculator is active on Oregon Revenue’s website for personal income tax filers now. Access the calculator from Revenue Online. The calculator will need your name, Social Security Number, and filing status for 2020 and 2021. A person is eligible to claim the kicker if they filed a 2020 tax return and had tax due before credits. Even if they don't have a filing obligation for 2021, they still must file a 2021 tax return to claim the credit. There will be detailed information on how to claim the credit in the 2021 Oregon personal income tax return instructions.
When is the kicker available to taxpayers? - When OEA certifies the kicker percent on or before October 1, 2021 the credit will be claimed on the 2021 tax year return filed in 2022. Taxpayers need to have filed a 2020 personal income tax return before they can file a 2021 return to claim the kicker.
Where does the kicker revenue come from?- For the personal income tax surplus credit (kicker), the money comes from all General Fund revenue sources, except for corporate tax revenues. Personal income tax is by far the largest contributor.
Can a taxpayer donate their kicker?- Yes. Taxpayers can donate their kicker with a checkbox on their tax return to the Oregon State School Fund for K-12 public education, but they must donate the entire amount. The donation cannot be taken back.
How much will taxpayers get from the kicker? - It depends. First, taxpayers must have filed a 2020 tax return before filing for 2021. Taxpayers who file a 2021 personal income tax return with a tax due before credits can claim the kicker. Individual tax obligations are the primary factors in determining whether a refund gets issued to a taxpayer.
The 1979 Oregon Legislature passed the 2 percent “kicker" law.
Prior to 1994, refunds were made via a tax credit as they are now.
From 1995 until 2011, refunds were made via checks to taxpayers.
Prior to 2007, the refund amount was based on tax liability for the first full calendar year of the biennium. The 2007 Oregon Legislature changed the basis of the refund to tax before credits.
Keep in mind that the state may use all or part of a taxpayer’s kicker credit to pay any state debt they owe, such as tax due for other years, child support, court fines, or school loans. Visitwww.oregon.gov/dor to get tax forms, check the status of a refund, or make tax payments. You can also call 800-356-4222 toll-free from an Oregon prefix (English or Spanish); 503-378-4988 in Salem and outside Oregon. You can email them at questions.dor@oregon.gov. For TTY (hearing or speech impaired), call 800-886-7204.
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 even before you receive any rent relief. Again, if you receive an eviction notice at any time, even after applying through Allita, call 2-1-1 immediately.
Emergency Rental Assistance weekly update:
22% incomplete applications vs 78% complete applications.
16,877 households paid $110.5M
22,391 households paid and obligated $174.9M
$307.5M Total Rental Assistance Paid in 2021
$374.9M Total Rental Assistance Paid, Approved and Obligated in 2021.
*Obligated means that the money has been committed to an eligible household. These households have been approved for payment, although the payment has not yet been sent out. These applications have been submitted for funding or are in landlord/tenant response status. This does not include administrative funds for housing stability service.
OHCS has obligated roughly 86% of ERA 1 funds: more than $174 M paid, approved, or set aside for a household. This places Oregon in the top ten for distributing ERA funds for more than three weeks in a row. As we continue to see applications come in, it's clear ERA 1 and 2 resources will not meet the needs of Oregonians. OHCS has formally requested excess ERA resources from other states. Oregon's official application for excess funds will be submitted as soon as the U.S. Treasury opens the application process.
Tenant Protections
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.
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!
