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Lincoln City economic aid program approved

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Lincoln City, Oregon

On Monday, April 27, the Lincoln City City Council approved $635,000 in emergency relief funding to the community in response to the COVID-19 pandemic. The relief funds will be split with $235,000 for lodging businesses and $400,000 for non-lodging businesses.

The funds will provide immediate relief to Lincoln City’s businesses that have been affected by the COVID- 19 emergency restrictions.

Earlier that day, City Council, along with the other cities in Lincoln County, voted to extend County Order 3-23-85 through May 31, which ordered the closings of vacation rental dwellings, short-term dwellings, homestay lodgings, hotels, motels, RV Parks, Private Campgrounds and similar lodgings with some exceptions.

The Lincoln City City Council has also extended the City’s Emergency Declaration through May 31.

This immediate assistance is in addition to the City’s utilities’ efforts already underway to stop water disconnections due to inability to pay, waive late fees and place every customer in need on a payment arrangement that meets their financial needs, and defer payment for up to 3 months. These changes ensure that those experiencing significant hardship due to the unprecedented coronavirus pandemic get relief on their water bills.

The Application will be available on Thursday, April 30 on the City’s website, www.lincolncity.org.

Lincoln County’s 16% in unemployment claims highest in Oregon

One of the most visible and devastating impacts of the state’s stay-at-home order to protect us from the human health crisis presented by COVID-19 has been mass layoffs. Over 26 million initial claims for unemployment insurance were filed across the nation in the first five weeks of the crisis. Here in Oregon about 333,700 initial claims were received in the first five weeks, roughly 16 percent of the statewide labor force.

During “normal” times we would typically not talk too much about unemployment insurance claims. Even during our last recession that began in 2008, the increase in unemployment insurance claims was relatively gradual. The rapid onset of the COVID-19 restrictions meant that our traditional economic indicators, such as total nonfarm employment or the unemployment rate could not immediately show the severity of this economic shock. That left us with the unemployment insurance claims data as one of the few indicators in the first weeks of the shock that could help us understand the magnitude of the crisis.

We now have five weeks of processed initial claims data, which is a large enough group for us to start to draw some conclusions about industries, areas, and populations most impacted at the onset of the crisis.

Let’s start with the regional distribution of these initial unemployment insurance claims. Not surprisingly the most populated counties have the largest number of initial unemployment insurance claims, with Multnomah (46,180 claims) and Washington County (43,930 claims) in the Portland Metro area topping the list of counties with the highest number of claims processed. However, we can see a clearer picture of the hardest hit counties by looking at the number of initial claims as a share of the total labor force. Here we see that counties with large accommodation and food service sectors and tourism destinations were the hardest hit. The number of initial claims processed in both Lincoln and Clatsop counties on the Oregon coast represented more than 15 percent of the labor force. Deschutes County accounted for the highest share of unemployment insurance claims processed of Oregon’s metropolitan counties, accounting for more than 12 percent of the Bend MSA labor force.

The counties least impacted five weeks into the crisis are the least populated in the state. They are likely ranked so low due to proportionally smaller concentration of local employment in restaurants or other businesses directly impacted by the COVID-19 restrictions, including health services and retail trade.

As would be expected, accommodation and food services has been the hardest hit industry during the current crisis, with initial claims processed over the past five weeks representing roughly 29 percent of statewide employment in the industry. Arts, entertainment, and recreation was the next hardest hit as museums, ski resorts, zoos, and other recreation companies have closed or seen their operations significantly curtailed. Another hard hit industry is “other services,” which includes personal care services like fitness instructors, childcare workers, barbers/ stylists, massage therapists, and pet groomers.

Perhaps more surprising has been the large number of initial unemployment insurance claims being processed in construction, health care, and manufacturing. These were industries that on first glance would seem more insulated from the initial COVID-19 restrictions. Health care posting large numbers of layoffs during a health crisis may seem puzzling; however, there are many health-related businesses that are not serving on the front lines of the COVID-19 response such as dentist offices, ambulatory health services, medical labs, and surgery centers. Many elective procedures are being postponed until the health crisis diminishes and there is less strain on the hospital system. Layoffs in construction and manufacturing are likely a result of an inability for many of these businesses to implement effective social distancing requirements. However, as this crisis continues, layoffs are increasingly due to a demand shock from less consumer spending. The one commonality among these hardest hit industries is an inability for many of the jobs to transition to work from home and the design of workplaces that makes social distancing difficult.

Although these COVID-related layoffs are spread across all industries it is becoming clear that the most vulnerable Oregonians are being impacted more significantly. Lower paying occupational groups posted notably higher shares of layoffs than higher paying occupational groups. The occupational groups with a median hourly rate of less than $20 an hour represent around 61 percent of total initial claims for unemployment insurance processed over the past five weeks. This represents a higher share than the 57 percent of statewide employment these lower paying occupations account for. Meanwhile, the highest paying occupational groups, those with a median hourly rate greater than $30, represent only 12 percent of initial claims processed, but 22 percent of total employment.

When comparing the level of education for today’s unemployment insurance claimants compared with the educational attainment of the entire labor force, we see that those with lower levels of education have been hit particularly hard. This is likely a reflection of the industries that have been hardest hit, such as leisure and hospitality, construction, retail, and manufacturing that have a higher concentration of workers with a high school diploma or less. Around 58 percent of recent unemployment insurance claims were by individuals with a high school diploma or less, a significantly higher share than the 28 percent of the labor force they account for.

The age distribution of the unemployment insurance claimants is fairly typical of the labor force more broadly, with a few exceptions. Those ages 25 to 34 have been particularly hard hit. They accounted for roughly 30 percent of all unemployment insurance claimants in the past five weeks, but only 23 percent of the total labor force. This age group accounts for a larger share of the jobs in industries that were particularly hard hit. It could also be that this group represents workers earlier in their career and they were more susceptible to layoffs than higher level managers or supervisors. The youngest workers (ages 16 to 19) seem to be the least impacted, accounting for only 2 percent of total claimants. However, this is likely a reflection of lack of unemployment insurance coverage for these young workers who have fewer covered hours in the system.

This is a difficult time for many of us. In addition to the emotional toll this global pandemic is taking, many of our fellow Oregonians are also struggling with the economic realities of becoming unemployed. The Oregon Employment Department is here to serve in this time of need by administering unemployment insurance. Due to the record increase in claims, it is taking longer than usual for claims to be processed. The Unemployment Insurance Division is working as fast as they can to process every claim, and they continue to add staff. They ask that you continue to file weekly and you will be notified when your claim is processed. For additional information of unemployment insurance and updates regarding new federal programs go here.

Damon Runberg is a Regional Economist with the Oregon Employment Department. Reprinted by permission.

City announces business to provide affordable workforce housing

Lincoln City Council

NEWS RELEASE
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE:
April 28, 2020

The City of Lincoln City Announces Innovative Housing, Inc. to Provide Affordable Workforce Housing.

Lincoln City, a beach town of 9,000 residents on the Central Coast of Oregon, has announced a development partnership that will help tackle the affordable workforce housing crisis.

Lincoln City and the surrounding area face a crisis in the availability of housing options for their workforce and residents. According to the City’s 2017 Housing Needs Analysis, the median household income in Lincoln City is $35,524. About 55 percent of residents in the county are rent burdened, paying more than 30 percent of household income for housing costs (2011 Lincoln County Workforce Housing Needs Assessment). At the same time, employers struggle to hire and/or retain their workforce because of the demand for attainably priced housing.

Lincoln City has selected Innovative Housing, Inc. (IHI) to initiate the construction of approximately 70 to 80 apartment homes on a City-owned site on NE 25th Street, immediately north of St. James Episcopal Church & Santiago School.

IHI responded to the City’s 2018 Request for Expressions of Interest (RFEI) for the 25th Street site and other publicly-owned parcels. IHI has over 35 years of development experience and operates nearly 1,000 affordable units in Oregon. IHI designs developments to meet community needs in creative and effective ways, and pairs housing with wrap-around support services, including: eviction prevention, resource referrals, budgetary assistance, academic support and afterschool programs. If IHI is able to secure full funding sources for the project, the design phase will begin this summer with construction anticipated for fall 2021.

For more information about either the City or the URA, or with regard to this development project, please visit https://www.lincolncity.org/propertydevelopment, or contact:
Alison Robertson
Director, Lincoln City Economic Development & Urban Renewal Agency PO Box 50
Lincoln City, Oregon 97367 (541) 996-1095

Lincoln County extends lodging moratorium until June

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Empty Seahorse Lincoln City

Lincoln County Commissioners and representatives from the county’s cities held a special meeting to extend Lincoln County’s “Minimize the effects of the COVID-19 Emergency” order Monday, with most cities agreeing to an extension through May 31.

Short term lodging in Lincoln County will remain closed through May 31, with exceptions listed in the full order.

Local leaders from Lincoln County discussed the extension of Order No. 3-23-85, Minimize the effects of the COVID-19 Emergency, during a teleconference meeting held in Newport. The order was set to expire April 30, and a tentative May 8 date was put on the extension which is labeled Order No. 4-20-118. Governor Kate Brown’s original order declaring a state of emergency ends on May 8.

The order is a move to slow the spread of the novel coronavirus and a concerted effort between Lincoln County and the cities of Siletz, Newport, Lincoln City, Depoe Bay, Toledo, Waldport and Yachats.

Commissioner Claire Hall spoke in support of an extension and said she would not support a May 8 date. Hall said she would like to see May 15 at a minimum, but would prefer May 31.

“It is clear to me social distancing is working,” Hall said. “No to May 8th.”

Commissioner Doug Hunt said he recognized the tremendous burden COVID-19 has placed on businesses and families and recommended an extension through May 31.

Commissioner Kaety Jacobson said she was in favor of an extension to May 15, and said she would be open to a late May opening.

Lincoln City Mayor Dick Anderson said he agreed with an extension and would like to see it out to May 31. Lincoln City Councilors concurred.

Most Lincoln County cities were in favor of the May 31 extension with the Cities of Waldport and Siletz being exceptions. Waldport already voted to extend to May 15 and meets again May 14. Siletz will need to put the extension to a vote.

The cities of Lincoln City, Newport, and Yachats, along with Lincoln County, make up roughly 95 percent of short term rentals.

More than a few elected officials expressed concern over restrictions on parks and said they should be looked at and possibly lifted at the local level.

The Lincoln County Board of Commissioners voted unanimously to extend the order.

VIDEO

Previous coverage:

Lincoln County lodging moratorium approved

No radiation confirmed at hospital demolition project

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SNLH

Oregon Health Authority confirms there was no radiation found at the Samaritan North Lincoln Hospital demolition site and radiation protection officials believe it came from residential trash located elsewhere.

“There is no concern for the health and safety of the citizens of Lincoln City based on the events,” Oregon Health Authority (OHA) Emergency Response Manager for Radiation Protection Services Richard Wendt said.

On April 16, PermaFix Environmental Services surveyed the demolition site located at 3043 NE 28th Street and concluded:

The gross gamma and exposure rates measured are well within the range of the natural background radiation levels expected in the area.

This indicates there are no radiation emitting items at the demolition site.

Earlier it was reported Samaritan North Lincoln Hospital called a Code Orange due to radiation possibly being detected during Skanska USA’s demolition project at the old hospital. It has been learned since that a truck delivering waste materials triggered a  radiation detector at the Coffin Butte Landfill.

According to Wendt, the truck driver left the demolition site and traveled to a waste transfer station where residential garbage was loaded. Radiation Protection Services, in conjunction with the 102nd Civil Support Team, used a radiation identification device to determine the isotope in the truck as Iodine-131. I-131 is used for imaging the thyroid or hyperthyroid treatments in humans and cats.

Wendt said OHA feels the I-131 was located in the residential trash picked up by the driver and believes someone had undergone I-131 treatment and instead of holding the waste for 80 days, they released it into the normal trash.

I-131 has a half-life of 8 days, Wendt said, and all radioactivity being emitted from the item(s) will be gone in 80 days. He instructed the Coffin Butte Landfill manager to monitor the decay process on-site and once radiation levels have reached normal background levels it will be added to the landfill.

Wendt said this is a fairly common occurrence Radiation Protection Services deals with and said there is no need to open the item(s) due to I-131’s short half-life.

“It is safer for all parties to let it decay in place,” he said.

Wendt wishes to thank Lead Radioactive Materials Inspector Hillary Haskins for her research and input to the event.

Dr. Long – What’s Needed Before Reopening

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Lincoln County Health Officer discusses Lincoln County’s health needs before reopening.

Oregon reports 3 deaths, 51 new COVID-19 cases

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COVID-19

COVID-19 has claimed three more lives in Oregon, raising the state’s death toll to 86, the Oregon Health Authority reported at 8 a.m. today.

Oregon Health Authority reported 51 new cases of COVID-19 as of 8 a.m. today bringing the state total to 2,177. The new COVID-19 cases reported today are in the following counties: Clackamas (5), Lane (2), Marion (20), Multnomah (14), Umatilla (2), Washington (8).

During routine data reconciliation, a case originally reported as a Douglas County case was later determined not to be a case. It was subtracted from Thursday’s state total, and the total number of cases in Douglas County went down by one to reflect this change.

To provide more case and county-level data, Oregon Health updates its website once a day: www.healthoregon.org/coronavirus.

Oregon’s 84th COVID-19 death is an 86-year-old man in Multnomah County, who tested positive on April 14 and died April 20 at his residence. He had underlying medical conditions.

Oregon’s 85th COVID-19 death is an 80-year-old man in Multnomah County, who tested positive on April 12 and died April 19 at his residence. He had underlying medical conditions.

Oregon’s 86th COVID-19 death is an 89-year-old man in Linn County, who tested positive on March 15 and died April 22 at his residence. He had underlying medical conditions.

Updated modeling report shows flattened curve

OHA also released a modeling report update today that indicates the efforts of Oregonians to stay home and practice physical distancing has helped prevent as many as 70,000 COVID-19 cases in Oregon.

“The epidemic would have continued to grow exponentially, doubling every week,” the report states. “By April 16th, the number of cumulative infections would have been about 80,000, including 2,000 hospitalizations. Hence, the interventions are estimated to have averted over 70,000 infections, including over 1,500 hospitalizations (450 instead of 2,000), by April 16th.”

“Our modeling continues to show that our collective efforts are working,” said Dean Sidelinger, MD, state epidemiologist. “And despite the very real hardships these sacrifices have cost Oregonians, we have to keep it up even as we move toward easing restrictions. We need to build on our success in limiting the spread of COVID-19.”

OHA has worked with the Institute for Disease Modeling on the weekly reports, which use Oregon outbreak data with IDM research and modeling techniques to present policy makers with projections for the trajectory of the disease. The models are updated weekly.

Stay informed about COVID-19:

Oregon response: The Oregon Health Authority and Oregon Office of Emergency Management lead the state response.

United States response: The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention leads the U.S. response.

Global response: The World Health Organization guides the global response.

Put Lanee in the game

Lanee Danforth Lincoln County DA

I have lived in Lincoln County for several years, and last year I finally served on jury duty.  In and out of the courthouse several times,  I had the opportunity to watch lawyers both from the defense community and from the district attorney’s’ office.  Lanee Danforth was by far the most impressive.

Although I ultimately wasn’t selected to sit on a jury, I went back just to watch Lanee’s argument in a very serious case.  Her poise, confidence, thoroughness, and command of the law were simply remarkable.  Lanee has my vote for district attorney because I would love to see her in a position of leadership where she could hire and train other prosecutors to perform at her level.

When I think of the qualities I would like to see in a district attorney, I think of someone who is an effective communicator, is professional, and who is committed to enforcing the law and keeping the community safe. That is Lanee.  It is frustrating to me that the governor appointed Mr. Cable as our new district attorney — someone who has spent the last several years of his career as a defense attorney, working to keep criminals out of jail.   Yes, he worked for the DA’s office before.  Why did he leave? Is it that easy to change sides?

His biggest criticism of Lanee seems to be her age.  Do we all need to be reminded that Judge Charles Littlehales became the Lincoln County District Attorney when he was 28 years old? He went on to have a four-decade-long distinguished career as a DA and judge, and was well-regarded by the legal community.  I hope no one is suggesting the rules should be different for Lanee because she is a woman.

If I have learned anything in life, it is that doing something longer doesn’t necessarily make someone better.   You don’t sit Steve Jobs, or Bill Gates, or LeBron James on the bench because they are young.  You recognize and reward skill, talent and passion.

Put Lanee in the game.

Vote for her in the May election.

PAID FOR BY THE COMMITTEE TO ELECT LANEE DANFORTH DISTRICT ATTORNEY

Bigfoot returns for wildfire season

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The Oregon Office of State Fire Marshal’s Bigfoot: Believe in Fire Safety campaign is returning for the 2020 wildfire season, asking Oregonians to protect their communities by preventing wildfires.

“This really comes down to protecting communities and preventing wildfires,” says State Fire Marshal Jim Walker, of the OSFM’s Bigfoot campaign. “Wildfire prevention begins with all of us. Together we can make a positive impact. Since most wildfires are started by people, please do your part to prevent them.”

In response to the challenges of recent wildfire seasons, the OSFM enlisted Pacific Northwest icon Bigfoot, friend in fire prevention, to inspire the public to take action and reduce risks of human-caused wildfires.

The campaign first launched in spring 2019. From the start, Bigfoot served as an iconic messenger to encourage Oregonians and visitors to protect our communities and homes from human-caused wildfires.

OSFM’s Fire Prevention Coordinator Stephanie Stafford made the connection that wildfires occur where Bigfoot “lives,” which created the opportunity to promote awareness around fire prevention in the wildland urban interface (WUI). Data show the most costly fires in recent years nationally all occurred on WUI lands.

Wildfire threats to Oregon’s communities have led to longer and costlier fire seasons for state and local agencies. The wildfire problem also has captured the attention of Oregonians. Statewide they see the effects of fires on forests, as well as on homes in the wildland urban interface.

In the past two years, data collected in Oregon for the National Fire Incident Reporting System show there were 14,971 outdoor fires with 554,196 acres burned. Most of these outdoor fires were caused by unintentional human ignition rather than natural sources such as lightning.

The OSFM will be working with its more than 300 Oregon fire service partners to help share Bigfoot-themed education and branding materials that encourage Oregonians to “believe in fire safety,” around their homes and when recreating around their communities and in the outdoors.

The Oregon fire service plays an important role in providing critical first response for initial suppression of many wildfires that begin in their jurisdictions and can often spread to public lands.

In 2019, fire agencies helped Bigfoot reach residents statewide, and the OSFM will be providing Bigfoot materials for agencies to share and motivate their residents to prevent wildfires.

Bigfoot’s message for 2020 to “believe in fire safety” can be shared with the hashtag #BelieveInFireSafety.

To learn more about wildfire prevention and preparedness, or to find and download your favorite Bigfoot image and spread the word, visit the OSFM website. You can also follow the OSFM and Bigfoot on the OSFM Facebook and Twitter pages.

Oregon reports five COVID-19 deaths, 68 new cases

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COVID-19

COVID-19 has claimed five more lives in Oregon, raising the state’s death toll to 83, the Oregon Health Authority reported at 8 a.m. today.

Oregon Health Authority also reported 68 new cases of COVID-19 bringing the state total to 2,127. The new COVID-19 cases reported today are in the following counties: Clackamas (8), Coos (1), Deschutes (4), Douglas (1), Hood River (1), Klamath (3), Linn (4), Malheur (1), Marion (9), Multnomah (16), Umatilla (1), Wasco (1), Washington (18).

To see more case and county-level data, Oregon Health updates its website once a day.

Oregon’s 79th COVID-19 death is a 94-year-old female in Multnomah County, who tested positive on April 3 and died on April 22 at her residence. She had underlying medical conditions.

Oregon’s 80th COVID-19 death is a 78-year-old man in Multnomah County, who tested positive on March 30 and died on April 19 at his residence. He had underlying medical conditions.

Oregon’s 81st COVID-19 death is an 87-year-old man in Multnomah County, who tested positive on April 20 and died on April 22 at Providence Portland Medical Center. He had underlying medical conditions.

Oregon’s 82nd COVID-19 death is a 74-year-old man in Multnomah County, who tested positive on April 9 and died on April 21 at Adventist Medical Center. He had underlying medical conditions.

Oregon’s 83rd COVID-19 death is a 70-year-old man in Clackamas County, who tested positive on April 1 and died on April 21 at Kaiser Sunnyside Medical Center. He had underlying medical conditions.


Stay informed about COVID-19:

Oregon response: The Oregon Health Authority leads the state response.

United States response: The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention leads the U.S. response.

Global response: The World Health Organization guides the global response.