Take Action Now : Save Oregon Restaurants
Please take action now to make sure that Governor Kate Brown and the Oregon Legislature understand that restaurants and bars need their immediate assistance. We need a pragmatic mitigation plan that simultaneously supports the health of our guests, employees, and the livelihoods of the people and businesses that are the very heart of our communities. And right now, we need immediate financial assistance from the State of Oregon. Without it our industry will perish.
Read our letter to Governor Kate Brown. Sign on here.
Emergency measures to remedy unemployment department shortfalls
When the “pause” goes into effect on November 18, the phone lines and servers will once again be overwhelmed. It is critical that workers receive Unemployment Insurance benefits for the duration of the pandemic response and that there are no delays in processing their claims, this includes waiving the waiting week. Additionally, individuals who are unable to work due to having or being exposed to COVID-19 must have the ability to file an expedited Disability Insurance claim
Implement legislative changes before year end
The legislature must provide tools to small businesses including but not limited to the ability to sell cocktails to go, a moratorium on commercial evictions and the ability to default on or end commercial leases without having their personal assets seized.
Provide immediate financial relief
Convene a Coronavirus Economic Advisory Council and engage members of the food & beverage industry to craft short and long term strategies for recovery which must include: creating a distressed restaurant fund, to provide financial assistance for restaurants, bars, food carts and tasting rooms; deferral of all city and state Business Taxes and Licensing Fees for Small Businesses for nine months with no interest or penalties; grant funding for companies with fewer than 100 employees to provide financial assistance specifically to meet the needs of employer-sponsored health care coverage for employees.
Improve testing and tracing statewide
Increased testing with consistent and thorough contact tracing has been proven to control the spread of the virus. Yet, individuals have been challenged to find tests, and in some cases have been denied tests because they’ve been tested once in the past three months. Tests must be readily available, and affordable.
In order to receive the support needed to save the industry, we need every single one of you to TAKE ACTION NOW. We need to fill every phone and inbox of every Representative and Senator in the state with messages urging them to take action to help small businesses.
Although our industry is one of the largest employers in the state - we employ nearly 9% of the workforce - our calls have been unanswered. Now as our dining areas are once again ordered closed, we urgently need the attention and support of policy makers, without it over 75% of Oregon’s 10,456 bars and restaurants are in danger of closing permanently.
To make this as easy as possible we have created a step by step guide on how to contact policy makers:
Step 1: Call Governor Kate Brown at 503-378-4582, press option 3, leave a message telling her to support restaurants by:
1. Calling for a Special Session to pass cocktails to go legislation & more.
2. Ordering a Commercial Eviction Moratorium.
3. Providing Financial Assistance
Step 2: Find who represents you [Please note you want to message your two representatives in Salem NOT Washington, D.C. As lovely as he is, Mr. Blumenauer can’t help us in this battle. When you follow this link look for the names under House & Senate only.]
Step 3: Call your Oregon House & Oregon Senate Representatives and send them an email using the scripts below for help.
Step 4: Tell your friends to call their Reps. Use the graphic below to post on social media, make a video to post on instagram, call/text your friends.
Step 5:
Sample Script From A Business Owner
My name is (insert your name). I own (insert business name) and have employed (insert number) people in your district. Due to coronavirus, my business (insert a comment about how your operations have been impacted, many people you have had to lay off or a decrease in sales or inability to open).
We urgently need the Governor to take action now, to ensure that Oregon’s restaurants and bars can survive the pandemic. As we face the long-term structural challenges that COVID-19 has imposed on our business; which was designed to be a gathering space, we are desperate for sustainable tools to help us navigate the new normal.
We need legislation for cocktails to go passed immediately, an extension of the commercial eviction moratorium, and financial assistance.
Restaurants and bars account for 9% of all employment in Oregon that's more than 200,000 people whose livelihoods are at risk. And because nearly 65% of the revenue from our businesses recirculates into the local economy there are thousands more who are depending on us to keep our doors open, from delivery drivers to farmers, to Oregon's craft beverage producers.
This is an URGENT REQUEST. Without your help now there’s a very good chance my business will be permanently closed by the next time the legislature convenes.
Thank you for your consideration,
Name
Business Name
Location
Sample Script From A Staff Member
My name is (insert your name). I used to work at (insert business name). Due to coronavirus, I (insert your story have you lost your job, lost hours — tell them what hardship you’ve endured or what you’re concerned about now)
I am writing to ask that you please help Oregon’s restaurants and bars survive the pandemic. We need you to act NOW. With emergency requirements that both reduce occupancy and hours of operation during the pandemic, having another method of generating revenue would allow me to go back to work. Thirty other states currently offer To-Go Cocktails including Washington and California — Oregon needs to join this growing list.
Restaurants and bars employ more than nearly 200K Oregonians. We need you to make this small change to Oregon statute to help us keep business open and keep us employed.Please act now, my health and safety depend on it.
Thank you for your consideration,
Name
Location
Sample Script From A Patron
My name is ______. I am a resident in your district. Due to coronavirus, many restaurants in my neighborhood won’t survive the winter. As you may know, most restaurants don’t actually make $$ on food, but on alcoholic drinks. These businesses are why I live where I live, on NE 28th Ave, known as restaurant row. If these businesses do not survive, the heart of my neighborhood will be ripped out.
I’m writing to ask that you take immediate action to help restaurants and bars survive such as an extension of the commercial eviction moratorium and the ability to sell cocktails to go. With emergency requirements that both reduce occupancy and hours of operation during the pandemic, having another method of generating revenue would provide businesses a lifeline for survival. As they face the long-term structural challenges that COVID-19 has imposed on business; which was designed to be a gathering space, they are desperate for sustainable tools to help us navigate the new normal.
Restaurants and bars account for 11% of all employment in Oregon. And nearly 65% of the revenue from our businesses recirculates into the local economy keeping vendors, landlords and employees afloat. This small change to Oregon statute will help us keep businesses open and bring people back to work.
This is an URGENT REQUEST. Without your help now there’s a very good chance places of business in my neighborhood will be permanently closed by the next time the legislature convenes.
Thank you for your consideration,
