(Shared by Commissioner George Murdock.)
To: Public Officials
From: George Murdock
Subject: Weekly Public Officials Update – Providing Information, Advocacy and Commentary
Date: April 14, 2021 – Volume 51
Total Cases – 7,910
Deaths – 83
Recent Counts:
Week 1 – 333
Week 2 – 237
Week 3 – 155
Week 4 – 96
Week 5 – 141
Week 6 – 104
Week 7 – 66 — (including 26 inmates)
Week 8 – 70 – (including 36 at EOCI & TRCI)
Week 9 – 67 – Including 17 at EOCI & TRCI)
——————————–
Week 21 — 283
Week 22 – 233– (including 28 among the local prison population)
Week 23 – 435 – (including 170 at EOCI & TRCI)
Week 24 – 466 (including 198 at EOCI & TRCI
Week 25 – 456 (including 154 at EOCI & TRCI)
Week 26 – 231 (including 68 at the prison)
Week 27 – 171 (including 24 from the Department of Corrections)
Week 28 – 191 (including 62 from the Department of Corrections)
Week 29 – 108 (including 7 from the Department of Corrections)
Week 30 – 53 Note: The total count was 123 including two from adults in custody and 68 old cases
Week 31 – 80 (including seven from the Department of Corrections)
Week 32 – 49 (including 2 from the Department of Corrections)
Week 33 – 59 (including 4 from the Department of Corrections
Week 34 – 43 (including 3 from the Department of Corrections)
Week 35 — 27
Week 36 – 33
Introduction – Medical Report
Last week was a big one for Umatilla County as we moved from high to moderate at a time when much of Oregon is going in the opposite direction. We know we get to stay there for a month but what we want is to stay there permanently or move down to lower risk. The challenge is no different in that it requires everyone doing their part.
The news for last week was again good in that we came in at 33 cases and a 3.0% positivity rate plus we have no hospitalizations.
We are also pleased to report we had a record turnout in Milton-Freewater last week when 365 people showed up including 155 who were attracted by the availability of the Johnson and Johnson shot. Also last week we did a special outreach to the homeless population and did three on-site clinics with at least two more planned this week. And, each week, our list of outlets for shots continues to grow.
Being at the moderate level makes a big difference to our restaurants and other events and gets us one step closer to being able to host major events.
The new classification put restaurants at 50% of capacity plus expanded outdoor dining – the latter coinciding with the arrival of warmer weather. Indoor fitness and fitness centers are also allowed to expand occupancy. Indoor entertainment centers also get a break in terms of occupancy. While curbside pickup is still encouraged at retail stores, capacity is increased to 75%.
For faith institutions and mortuaries capacity is going up to 50% or 150 people maximum. Outdoor crowds are capped at 250. Mask and distancing guidelines are still in effect as well. In practice, all of the guidelines are complex in nature and those wishing for more information are encouraged to review state websites.
In a recent story, KGW reported on the challenge being experienced by event planners who say performers are skipping Oregon on their tours because they can’t get answers out more than two weeks. In Umatilla County, we clearly understand their dilemma.
Both the Pendleton-Up/Happy Canyon and the Whiskyfest are reminding potential attendees to get a vaccination and do their part in helping make having the events a possibility.
It appears our joint letter to the Governor is still alive and well and under consideration. This is the letter that requests local control in lieu of state emergency declarations. We’re told one of the problems is the fact there are 71 individual declarations that would need to be considered.
As states around us begin to make changes and loosen guidelines were are hoping Oregon will follow suit.
Vaccination Schedule Ramped Up
In line with a directive from President Biden regarding vaccine, last week, Oregon’s eligibility schedule was moved up. The following is the initial contents of the Governor’s press release.
Governor Kate Brown announced that all Oregonians over the age of 16 will be eligible to sign up for a COVID-19 vaccine on April 19 and she issued the following statement;
“We are locked in a race between vaccine distribution and the rapid spread of COVID-19 variants. Today, Oregon has passed the threshold of 2 million vaccine doses administered. And yet, in communities across Oregon, COVID-19 is spreading at concerning rates. We must move as quickly as possible to get more shots in arms. Beginning April 19, all Oregonians over the age of 16 will be eligible to receive a vaccine.
“However, whether before April 19 or after, it’s critical that we continue to focus on equity in our vaccine distribution efforts. Oregon’s Black, Indigenous, Latino, Latina, Latinx, Asian, Pacific Islander, Tribal, and communities of color have been disproportionately hard-hit by this disease. We must reach Oregonians where they are, including those who may not have easy access to health care or the ability to take time off from work.”
We are fortunate here in that the Tribes are a sovereign nation and receive vaccine supplies from direct federal sources rather from the State. As a result, they have been able to make a tremendous impact on helping vaccinate Umatilla County residents outside of the Reservation. In fact, they held an event for BMCC staff and students which helps the college be protected as well as up and running.
The Governor’s sentiments rang true in Umatilla County where we have been pointing out for well over a month the need to match concern over a disproportionate impact on individuals of color with our vaccine allocations. Despite the fact we are one of the most diverse counties in Oregon and were the lowest in per capita distributions, the state was not responsive to our needs.
Only last week did we begin to see more generous shipments but this was primarily based upon the fact Oregon is getting more vaccine and a response to our unique challenges.
In addition, I received a call last week from Paul Rabb, interim executive director for the Tribes indicating they are expecting two large shipments of vaccine and that their clinics will be open to the entire County. Their flier is attached at the end of this edition.
Aspen Springs
Mental health falls within the portfolio of Commissioner Shafer because Umatilla County is the local mental health authority. With that in mind it was highly disappointing that Commissioner Shafer got just eight hours’ notice that Lifeways would be closing down Aspen Springs –a facility they opened just seven months ago.
Mental health is a hot button issue in the county and has been even more of a problem since the Blue Mountain Recovery Center was torn down. One individual who was particularly alarmed about the closure of Aspen Springs was House Speaker Tina Kotek who was a friend of Rep. Bob Jensen and still feels a commitment to providing alternatives for mental health housing in our area. Her office was in touch with Commissioner Shafer immediately, along with Rep. Levy, in search of solutions.
All of this comes at a time when Umatilla County is involved in a national grant program (we are the pilot county to be invited) that is looking at all aspects of mental health services here. Elements of that study will certainly include the intersection between law enforcement and mental health, more effective mental health crisis services, accessible housing options for mental health patients, and similar concerns such as the potential for services to community assets such as the Promise Inn. A related issue is the fact Umatilla County has launched a formal RFP process for both mental health and alcohol and drug addiction services.
With regard to Aspen Springs, Lifeways has requested a modification of their licensing from the state which they feel would be more practical for free-standing psychiatric hospitals. They have yet to receive an answer.
Legislature
We haven’t said much about the Legislature since our report that they were overwhelmed by bills and not getting along very well. I’m not sure how much the climate has improved, but one worry is always passing the budget. Here is good news from that front.
On April 1st, House Minority Leader Christine Drazan and House Speaker Tina Kotek struck a deal that would start to move the growing number of bills that have backed up on the House floor. According to OPB news: “Republicans agreed to waive the rules requiring each bill be read word by word to allow lawmakers to more speedily consider a package of budget rebalancing bills…Republicans have also agreed to waive bill-reading requirements for another largely technical bill that has 75 pages and would take several hours to read.”
While this agreement won’t return the House to fully normal function, it will ensure that critical budget related bills move over to the Senate for consideration before the rapidly approaching Second Chamber Work Session Posting deadline on May 14th. At the moment, it’s hard to tell what this means for other policy related bills awaiting full House consideration. We’ll do our best to keep you updated as both sides continue to negotiate – hopefully finding a way to move House bills to the Senate and free up the calendar in time to consider bills that have already started coming over from the House.
Stimulus Funds
In addition to the stimulus funds being received by counties and cities, the State of Oregon has also received several billion dollars and the Governor, assisted by the Legislature, has indicated a strong interest in making capital investments since this is one-time funding.
As a result, both cities and counties have been asked to make recommendation or proposals to the state by this week for consideration.
Immigration Crisis
Many of you are aware of the fact I spent a week at the Mexican border in September of 2019 with a team from the National Association of Counties Immigration Reform Task Force. Our mission was to observe conditions and provisions including progress on handling unaccompanied children. Although I didn’t support the idea of sending people back over the border until they could be processed, I otherwise found steps had been taken to provide sufficient housing. Now it appears the picture has changed, although at this time I would never be provided the access that was provided in 2019.
On Friday I was involved in a NACO briefing by White House staff about things they are doing we don’t hear much about which are interesting most notably because they focus on support to regions in the Northern Triangle and Mexico and taking the issue back to those regions and away from the border. The Biden administration was asking for ideas regarding the investment of $4 Billion to focus on the root causes of migration and helping make staying at home a more viable option both economically and in terms of personal safety.
They shared the basic causes of migration which include hunger, hurricanes, violence and persecution and the efforts that need to be made that can stifle migration. They also talked about the effectiveness of processing refugees in those areas before they leave home rather than after they have in some cases walked 3,000 miles.
In cases where it is still necessary to leave, it helps expand the legal pathways and safer travel to ports of entry. The addition to focusing on root causes is a worthwhile and pro-active step.
It is clearly a very complex issue and at the present involves refugees from three dozen countries, not just the Mexico and the Northern Triangle.
Editorial Comment
Oregon has the innate ability to worm its way into the national limelight on issues ranging from when our school year was shortened to the violence in Portland to our ability to begin rolling out vaccinations. Actually, we can also add the unemployment debacle in the midst of the pandemic. Unfortunately, it is tragedies like the wildfires that can gain national attention.
Bottom line – Sometimes no news can be good news and right now there are a couple of national issues where Oregon is clearly mostly just a spectator rather than the poster child for things we don’t really want to be known for.
The current power structure in Washington, D. C. still has the minimum wage very much on their radar and although it presents some challenges for Oregon employers, we need to remember that in the course of that conversation, for the most part we’ve already been there – done that. The national conversation is focused on raising the current minimum wage from $7.25 to $15.00. In Oregon, $7.25 is ancient history.
On July 1, 2021 Oregon will move to three new levels — $14.00 in the Metro area, $12.75 for what is dubbed the standard area, and $12.00 For Rural Oregon including Umatilla County. It will go up again the following year to $14.75, $13.50, and $12.50 for the same corresponding areas.
Following the November elections, the efficacy of the election process consumed much of the national conversation. That conversation continues as many states rush to modify their election procedures and the House rushes to blanket the entire nation with guidelines of their own. Plus there are some folks who remain uncertain about the November outcome.
I don’t want to get too deep into the debate about conspiracies, but I remain intrigued by a comment from someone in Pendleton with whom I generally don’t agree politically. She reminded us that everyone running for office in November was on the same ballot and in a number instances the outcome “down ballot” was contrary to the outcome at the top. Normally, that wouldn’t be the trend. The most notable contradiction to the norm was in the House where the outcome was a big surprise.
In the end, who has been missing from the minimum wage and voting fuss – Oregon. We weren’t part of the voting fray in November and we still aren’t.
I asked Umatilla County Clerk Dan Lonai to help me understand why this isn’t a big thing in Oregon like it is almost everywhere else.
Lonai, who is vice-president of the Oregon Clerks Association said his group is proud of the fact that while many states were drawn into the controversy, Oregon was never mentioned. He added that Oregon revised its system twenty years ago when the vote from home format was installed. Governor Kate Brown, a strong advocate of voter accessibility, added motor voting when she was secretary of state to further expand the opportunity to vote. We would still like to have a greater number of Umatilla County voters return their ballots, but that has nothing to do with having the opportunity.
We don’t have the long lines at the polls like Georgia and others because we are not a polling state. Ours are mailed in and the postage is free. In Umatilla County we have lots of drop boxes because Oregon does not accept ballots postmarked after election day. With mail service what it is in Eastern Oregon, many voters use that option rather than risking having their ballot spend a week going to Portland and back.
Oregon is very diligent about requiring ID for registering to vote. Reading that requiring ID has been deemed discriminatory, I did a little research and learned that ID is also required for purchasing alcohol and cigarettes, opening a bank account, applying for food stamps, welfare and Medicaid, buying a house, applying for a job, driving a car, getting on an airplane, getting married, renting a hotel room, or even picking up tickets for the all-star game at will-call.
In the case of ID for Georgians, it isn’t just a driver’s license that can be used, it can also be the last four digits of your Social Security number, a utility bill, a pay stub, or anything else that establishes where you live.
In Oregon, voters must register 21 days before the election, while in George it is 29 days. To get an absentee ballot, it must be done 11 days in advance which is the same for most states.
There are some who still like the old-fashioned tradition of going to the polls and didn’t like the introduction of vote from home, but having watched the current debacle, it seems like Oregon got it right. According to the Washington Post, there are 27 states where rules that could limit voting have been introduced. Oregon is not one of them. There are voting bills in the 2021 session here, but Oregon has long focused on access. The House is now trying to intervene with federal legislation but to be honest we seem to be doing just fine.
Registration for the 2022 mid-term general election in Oregon needs to be done by October, 20, 2022. That should provide plenty of notice and access for those wishing to participate.
This is one place where we hope that people look to Oregon as an example rather than taking historic steps to federalize voting guidelines. If it isn’t broken, it doesn’t need to be fixed and we don’t want the Feds involved in messing with what is working very well for us.
