[OMS_MANAGERS] Changing racist behavior from downtown business owners

Wed Jul 21 11:18:15 PDT 2021

That is an excellent idea, Sheri. See you all at 9:30a tomorrow.

On Wed, Jul 21, 2021 at 9:39 AM <director at coosbaydowntown.org> wrote:

> Hi Sheri,
>
> I won't be able to attend, I will be at our Board of Directors meeting.
>
> Thanks,
> Holly
>
> Holly Boardman
> Executive Director
> Coos Bay Downtown Association
> 320 Central Ave. Suite 410
> Coos Bay, Or 97420
> 541-266-9706
>
>
> -------- Original Message --------
> Subject: Re: [OMS_MANAGERS] Changing racist behavior from downtown
> business owners
> From: STUART Sheri * OPRD via OMS_MANAGERS
> <oms_managers at omls.oregon.gov>
> Date: Wed, July 21, 2021 9:30 am
> To: Oregon Main Street program managers <oms_managers at omls.oregon.gov>
>
> Hi all – catching up and reflecting on this email thread. I am saddened
> and disheartened to hear about these experiences. At the same time, I am
> heartened to hear that our local programs are formulating strategies to
> respond. I think this will be a good point of discussion for our mornings
> on main call tomorrow – let’s plan on sharing your experiences, resources
> you might know about, steps you have already taken. Here’s the link to join
> the conversation:
>
> Topic: Mornings on Main
> Time: Jul 22, 2021 09:30 AM Pacific Time (US and Canada)
> Please download and import the following iCalendar (.ics) files to your
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>
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> *From:* OMS_MANAGERS <oms_managers-bounces at omls.oregon.gov> *On Behalf Of
> *Director, Executive
> *Sent:* Tuesday, July 20, 2021 5:19 PM
> *To:* Oregon Main Street program managers <oms_managers at omls.oregon.gov>
> *Subject:* Re: [OMS_MANAGERS] Changing racist behavior from downtown
> business owners
>
> Liz and Elisa Joy, thank you for sharing your stories about business
> owners and bringing this very important question to the group!
>
> I find this a timely discussion for us here in Newberg. At our last
> meeting on Monday, we decided to create a subcommittee to create a
> statement on inclusivity and anti-racism due to some recent events in our
> town:
> 1. The school board's new members voted to re-write (or recend) the school
> district's anti-racism proclamation
> <https://www.newberg.k12.or.us/district/committing-be-anti-racist-school-district>
> ,
> 2. The recent tearing down and burning of Pride Flags from downtown
> storefronts,
> 3. A Proud Boy rally a few weeks ago at our flag pole, the entrance to our
> downtown core,
> 4. A new City Council Member's statement
> <https://pamplinmedia.com/nbg/142-news/512410-409738-mcbride-says-pride-month-is-discriminatory>against
> Pride Month proclamation.
>
> We are meeting next week to work on our statement. In anticipation of that
> meeting, I told my board I would find out what statements other Main Street
> organizations have made on these issues. And I looked up what Main Street
> America has said for anti-racisim, inclusivity. I was heartened by the Main
> Street approach -- Main Streets are for Everyone
> <https://www.mainstreet.org/mainstreetsareforeveryone> and found it a
> good place for us to start as we craft our statement.
>
> *I am interested to hear if any of your organizations have statements
> about inclusivity and/or anti-racism, etc.*
>
> -Polly
>
>
>
>
> On Tue, Jul 20, 2021 at 1:51 PM Elisa Joy Payne <ej at downtownhillsboro.org>
> wrote:
>
> I coincidentally had a racist situation happen with one of our businesses
> this week. It was one of the business' employees. She was confronting a
> contracted sidewalk chalk artist for not including white people in the art
> -  in front of a black youth standing nearby (who happened to be my 10 year
> old niece who was fortunately focused on her shaved ice and oblivious to
> the interaction). The business' employee later told a city employee that
> BLM art shouldn't be approved (it was a drawing of four bipoc women playing
> instruments - no words). We are going to be reaching out to the business
> owner, so I don't know what we'd do if this was the owner like in your
> situation, Liz. And we'll see how the owner replies.
>
> Where does your board stand on this? I wonder what would happen if we
> stopped including/supporting any businesses that refuse to be willing to
> empathize with the harm they are doing to members of our communities
> and commit to learning from it? This situation is so complex in our
> society.
>
> *Elisa Joy 'EJ' Payne | *Executive Director
> *| Hillsboro Downtown Partnership *| *Cultivating a vibrant community.*
> *|* *o.* 503-640-6145* | **m. *503-341-8639
> *|* *e. *ej at downtownhillsboro.org *|* *w.* downtownhillsboro.org
>
> Follow what's happening Downtown on INSTAGRAM
> <https://www.instagram.com/dwtnhillsboro/>.
>
>
> On Tue, Jul 20, 2021 at 12:29 PM Liz Hannum <liz at downtownoregoncity.org>
> wrote:
>
> Hey all,
>
> I had an email forwarded to me by a City Commissioner from an OC resident
> who felt mistreated at a downtown salon. The email is below but I'd like to
> hear from you, how you've either helped business owners understand that
> what they were saying was unacceptable from a customer service perspective,
> or called them out on behavior that can be easily construed as racist. We
> have All Are Welcome signs in some of our business windows, but this salon
> is definitely not the first complaint we've had about being unwelcoming to
> minority groups who want to spend their money here. Any and all advice
> would be helpful.
>
> Email from OC Resident:
> *"My family moved to Oregon City from downtown Portland 3 years ago and
> have enjoyed living away from the hustle and bustle of the big city. I am
> an elementary teacher who understands the importance of learning and
> teaching about diversity, equity, and inclusivity.  Today my wife, who is
> mexican, went to get her hair cut and colored at XXX Hair salon in downtown
> Oregon City. This is a process that can take many hours. During this time
> the owner of the salon was also getting her hair done. After many hours my
> hispanic wife was the only customer left, with the owner still getting her
> hair done. The owner of the store then made continued disparaging comments
> about mexicans. The owner and her stylist were looking at a picture and
> stated, "this looks like two Mexicans looking for work in a berry field''
> and "that is the only place Mexicans could work anyway." She repeated this
> multiple times loudly for my wife to hear. During this time she also was
> playing songs with the "N" word in it. My wife was very uncomfortable as
> was the stylist working on her hair. She wanted to complete the cut and
> color and the stylist working on her hair was very apologetic and was also
> uncomfortable with what the owner was saying. When my wife got home she was
> in tears. I called the owner right away and I told her how unacceptable
> this was and that if this is the way she talks and acts at her business, I
> am sure it is much worse at home. She told me she was just joking around
> with a friend at the salon and that she has a lot of "Mexican Friends'',
> so it wasn't discriminatory. I don't have any social media accounts, so I
> cannot post this, but I also do not want to stay silent. Minorities in this
> country have too often remained silent; whether black, brown, asian, and
> every other minority. I am not a minority, so I do not know first hand how
> it feels to be discriminated against by the color of your skin, but my wife
> does know how this feels and I know my mixed children will have this occur
> to them. It is a sad reality. I want to educate them about it, but it
> saddens me that it still happens in this day and age.  The behavior at XXX
> Salon was completely unacceptable and I would like the city council and
> Mayor of Oregon City to speak up and not tolerate hateful and
> discriminatory behavior. I want to live in an Oregon City where I know my
> wife and children are able to go into any business without prejudices
> and/or derogatory things being said. Thank you for your time." *
>
> --
> Liz Hannum
> Executive Director
>
> Downtown Oregon City Association
> 814 Main Street
> <https://maps.google.com/?q=814+Main+Street+Oregon+City,+OR+97045&entry=gmail&source=g>
> Oregon City, OR 97045
> <https://maps.google.com/?q=814+Main+Street+Oregon+City,+OR+97045&entry=gmail&source=g>
>
> liz at downtownoregoncity.org <jon at downtownoregoncity.org>
> Office (503) 802-1640
> Direct (503) 802-1638
>
> fb.com/downtownoc <http://www.fb.com/downtownoc>
> downtownoregoncity.org <http://www.downtownoregoncity.org/>
>
> Subscribe to our email list for:
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> Downtown Events and Promotions <http://eepurl.com/HvgAX>
>
>
>
> --
>
> *Polly Peterson*
> Executive Director, *Newberg Downtown Coalition*
>
>

-- 

*Polly Peterson*
Executive Director, *Newberg Downtown Coalition*
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