[OMS_MANAGERS] Changing racist behavior from downtown business owners

Thu Jul 22 10:30:28 PDT 2021

For some of what I have noticed in the past year with the rural communities:

I have definitely struggled with the 'knowing everybody' aspect. I was born
and raised in the town I work on for Main Street, which is a blessing and a
curse in terms of working relationships. Our previous Mayor made headlines
last year (
https://www.oregonlive.com/pacific-northwest-news/2020/06/gold-beach-mayor-resigns-from-nonprofit-after-email-railing-against-black-lives-matter.html
, https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Gold_Beach,_Oregon), as well as other
elected officials posting very public social media posts that were thinly
veiled attacks.  At the time of our Mayor's comments, there was an equal
amount of support and dissatisfaction with his comments as was reflected
when he ran again in November and he barely lost. Now, our current Mayor
has identities that are often marginalized, but that was more coincidental
than the community intentionally voting those identities in- although it
was a big step in my opinion.

I think I struggle with the lack of thinking it's a problem in our
community. We do have a statement of non-discrimination for our
organization, but I think if I were to bring these topics up to many
community leaders, they would dismiss it as a 'non-issue'. I think it is
easier for them to dismiss because we don't have much diversity in our
permanent population, so they 'don't see it', even though the last year has
proved it's very much a problem.

I would welcome any more resources anyone has for rural communities. Being
on the coast, we have a significant tourism economy and our traveling
groups are made up of a wide array of people and I would love to make sure
our community is as safe and as welcoming as possible.

On Wed, Jul 21, 2021 at 2:36 PM Lizzy Caston <lizzy at albertamainst.org>
wrote:

> I’ll join this one for sure. Alberta has had to navigate a lot of gnarly
> issues around racism, equity & inclusion over the years.  We’ve learned how
> to bring our businesses & community to come together in a force for
> positive change and that has really strengthened our district as a whole.
> It’s never easy, every community & situation is different,  but specific
> actions around racism can be a positive force in community building.
>
> I look forward to learning from others here and sharing what we’ve learned
> at Alberta.
>
> (In short summary:  we tap into the power of our businesses and community
> in specific positive actions in everything from multicultural family
> friendly events (for example we are working with businesses & the city to
> have a monthly #BarrioOnAlberta arts, music, food,  culture evenings one a
> month to support & showcase different Latin American cultures). Other
> actions: partnerships & events with nonprofits that serve minority
> businesses & communities; BIPOC specific small business support programs to
> help retain & recruit historically marginalized owned businesses; AAPI
> awareness month campaign; ongoing communications campaigns / social media
> to highlight diversity in our district. All this simply drowns out &
> bipasses racists.
>
> If I had one piece of advice I would see if you and that Councilperson can
> reach out to the person who wrote the email and offer them your support,
> let them know OC does not tolerate racism, period. I would be honest that
> you are still trying to figure out how to address this, and ask them for
> their opinion. That way they will at least know you are aware, you care,
> you respect them and they are important & welcome in this district.
>
>
>
> On Wed, Jul 21, 2021 at 11:18 AM Director, Executive <
> exec at newbergdowntown.org> wrote:
>
>> 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
>>> <https://www.google.com/maps/search/320+Central+Ave.+Suite+410+Coos+Bay,+Or+97420?entry=gmail&source=g>
>>> Coos Bay, Or 97420
>>> <https://www.google.com/maps/search/320+Central+Ave.+Suite+410+Coos+Bay,+Or+97420?entry=gmail&source=g>
>>> 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
>>> calendar system.
>>> Weekly:
>>> https://zoom.us/meeting/tJUvde6rqj0sG9foKvc5JGXXi0_h4X0PEKNf/ics?icsToken=98tyKuCprDktGdCTthiERowcAIjoKOnwiCFdjfpbkzTzAHV5RTvOP7J9OuZHQOj1
>>>
>>> Join Zoom Meeting
>>> https://zoom.us/j/91227346613?pwd=ajh0Y2V6alAwN1Z2YytQSEdvaUQrUT09
>>>
>>> Meeting ID: 912 2734 6613
>>> Passcode: 931935
>>> One tap mobile
>>> +13462487799,,91227346613# US (Houston)
>>> +16699006833,,91227346613# US (San Jose)
>>>
>>> Dial by your location
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>>> Meeting ID: 912 2734 6613
>>> Find your local number: https://zoom.us/u/abDUjOPe3B
>>>
>>>
>>> *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:
>>> Property and Business Owners and Volunteers <http://eepurl.com/HBw0D>
>>> Downtown Events and Promotions <http://eepurl.com/HvgAX>
>>>
>>>
>>>
>>>
>>> --
>>>
>>> *Polly Peterson*
>>> Executive Director, *Newberg Downtown Coalition*
>>>
>>>
>>
>> --
>>
>> *Polly Peterson*
>> Executive Director, *Newberg Downtown Coalition*
>>
> --
> Lizzy Caston
> Alberta Main Street
> Ph: 503-683-3252
> Albertamanst.org
>
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