In our state, 1,467 Oregonians over the age of 60 are dead due to COVID-19. That’s 91% of all COVID-19 related deaths in Oregon. The death rate is highest amongst Oregon’s BIPOC communities.
It’s because of these staggering numbers that AGE+ joins The Governor’s Commission on Senior Services and other aging advocates in urging Governor Brown to reconsider prioritizing other groups over older Oregonians and communities of color.
We are calling on Governor Brown to revise her prioritization plan and continue to follow scientific and evidence-based practices.
To read the AGE+ letter to Governor Brown, click here.
To read the Governor’s Commission on Senior Service’s letter, click here.
I am furious about this as there is little likelihood that schools will fully open anytime soon. This is political, and demonstrates weakness on Brown’s part in folding to the unions’ threats.
Thank you for your work. I have also written letters to the Governor advocating for the same issues you have raised as well as the lack of systemic planning adequately communicated to the public in the operation of emergency responses to the fires of last summer as well as the Covid response. An example of this is the huge discrepancy in communications provided by Lane County versus Linn County which had no coherent communications plan. Our state is close to dysfunctional at this time. Going forward we need to look to Governors and other candidates for office who have a background in systems thinking, analysis and implementation. I won’t be voting for any candidate who doesn’t.