Oregon State Chamber of Commerce Announces Main Street Matters Class Action Lawsuit and Legal Fund

Main Street Matters Class Action Lawsuit and Legal Fund
Main Street Matters Webpage

In November, the Oregon State Chamber of Commerce launched the Main Street Matters campaign to advocate for our small business members. The guiding belief being 

1. Our small businesses have been extremely responsible to our community and to the Covid-19 guidance coming from the CDC and state; 
2. Our local businesses deserve the same consideration as the large corporations that have prospered due to elimination of small business competition and our government employees that have been kept whole; 
3. The remedies to small business currently being offered by the State are completely inadequate to cover the forced business closures; and 
4. Shutdowns are sending our employees into a failed state unemployment system when they could be earning full paychecks. 

As part of the Main Street Matters campaign, we respectfully requested that all small businesses and their local communities ask the Governor, lawmakers and health officials to:

1. Immediately re-open all Oregon small businesses.
2. Provide substantial remedies to our local businesses that have been forced to shut down through no fault of their own as the state has deprived these businesses and employees of their livelihoods.
3. Create a $75 million Hospitality Relief fund dedicated to helping our state’s restaurants and hospitality businesses recover.
4. Enforce a moratorium on new or increased taxes and fees at the state and local level that would deprive our businesses of needed cash flow; and 
5. Help stabilize the commercial rental market through a short-term tax credit for property owners that are willing to waive debt for commercial tenants that are behind on rent.

Appeals of support from across the state

Since the campaign launch, the Governor has heard from county commissioners, mayors, small business members, and chambers of commerce who support the platform, knowing the value of small business to the health of their community. The Springfield Chamber has strongly advocated for a reasonable path to reopening business, safely and responsibly, after issuing our own appeal in December (Main Street Matters Appeal to Governor, Lane County Delegation) and speaking with elected representatives whenever they’ll listen. “We recognize that our elected representatives are being asked to balance competing forces carrying immeasurable impact on people’s lives, livelihoods, safety, and security,” Springfield Chamber President Vonnie Mikkelsen said when the statement was released last December. “Our plea was a reminder to those who hold the purse strings of the deepening impact on our small business community. We hoped they would be willing to work with us on safe and responsible solutions.” We haven’t been given much reason for confidence that our offer is welcome.

Main Street Matters Class Action Lawsuit and Legal Fund Announced.

Last week, having arrived at the conclusion that legal course of action is the only opportunity to find redress for our small businesses, the OSCC announced the Main Street Matters Class Action Lawsuit and Legal Fund stating We are not challenging the Governor’s authority to use emergency powers. Rather, we are seeking enforcement of the law that requires compensation for the use of those emergency powers when they involve the taking of “real or personal property.” (ORS 401.192(3)) Many local businesses are suffering extensive losses due to the closures that resulted from Governor Brown’s Executive Order 20-12. While some businesses were allowed to remain open provided they met social distancing guidelines, a significant number of business were forced to close, with no opportunity to illustrate how they could safely operate under the social distancing guidelines. As a result, thousands of workers found themselves without employment. For some, this has meant losing their business – and their livelihood. OSCC is calling on Governor Brown and lawmakers to give local businesses and their employees the same consideration given to others during the Covid-19 pandemic.  Local businesses and their employees have shouldered the largest costs imposed by state government and now is the time to help them recover. 

This lawsuit is in its infancy. We seek momentum and support from our local Chambers of Commerce communities across Oregon. You can learn more about this effort at the OSCC website: Main Street Matters Class Action Fund.