News reports in recent weeks have described instances of social and business discrimination against Asian-Americans. In a statement released in April, six bar associations, led by the National Asian Pacific American Bar Association, said “Treating others differently, bullying, and avoiding people and their businesses because they are Asian or Pacific Islander is unacceptable. This disease does not discriminate. Discrimination distracts from the problem before us, and only perpetuates unfounded stereotypes.” NAPABA invited law firms, state and local bar associations, and other organizations to join its effort to Stand Against Hate. Alterman Law Group is proud to have signed on.
This morning, in response to the COVID-19 pandemic, Governor Kate Brown issued Executive Order No. 20-12. It has eight main parts; the parts in quotation marks are word-for-word from her order:
1. “Non-essential social and recreational gatherings of individuals outside of a home of place of residence (e.g., parties, celebrations, or other similar gatherings and events) are prohibited immediately, regardless of size, if a distance of at least six feet between individuals cannot be maintained.”
2. People who need to leave their homes “should” (not “shall”) maintain at least a six-foot distance from anyone who is not part of their household “to the greatest extent possible.”
3. People can go outside for recreation, but only if it is possible to stay at least six feet away from all others.
4. Certain classes of businesses are closed altogether, where “close personal contact is difficult or impossible to avoid,” including “barber shops, bowling alleys, dance studios, furniture stores, gyms, indoor and outdoor malls, indoor party places, medical spas, museums, nail salons, staking rinks, social clubs, theaters, yoga studios, and youth clubs.” Restaurants, bars, and coffee shops can stay open for take-out and delivery service only. Grocers, health care providers, pharmacies, and pet stores in shopping malls can remain open.
5. Offices, including non-profits, must facilitate working at home as much as possible. “Work in offices is prohibited whenever telework and work-at-home options are available, in light of position duties, availability of teleworking equipment, and network adequacy.” Businesses without telework and work-from-home options must appoint an employee or officer “to establish, implement, and enforce social distancing policies, consistent with guidance from the Oregon Health Authority.” Non-complying businesses will be closed.
6. All state executive branch buildings will close to the public to the maximum extent possible, except that members of the public may meet state workers by appointment.
7. Childcare facilities are closed until April 28 unless the childcare is done in stable groups of 10 or fewer children, meaning that “the same 10 or fewer children are in the same group each day” and in a classroom that other children cannot enter.
8. All campgrounds except RV parks are closed. All pools, stake parks, outdoor sport courts, and playground equipment areas are closed.
Alterman Law Group is implementing policies to comply with the Governor’s order and has technology in place to enable us to serve our clients remotely through this challenging time.