By Oregon Small Business Association

Oregon House Speaker Tina Kotek wants the state to extend its ban on evictions of tenants who can’t pay their rents because of the COVID-19 pandemic. She said the ban, scheduled to end Sept. 30, also prevents foreclosures of property when owners fall behind on payments. Kotek, a Portland lawmaker, seeks a six-month extension of the moratorium on evictions and foreclosures, which would require either a third special legislative session this year or an executive order by Gov. Kate Brown.

Read more »

By Oregon Small Business Association

The Willamette Week obtained an email from Greg Goodman, who is one of Portland’s most recognizable business leaders and largest property owners within the city.

Goodman called out the “lawlessness” in the City, and decried people “ransacking” local businesses.

Read more »

By Oregon Small Business Association

Small businesses should be alarmed at the $240 million business and income tax by the METRO regional government (Measure 26-201) on the May ballot.

COVID-19 caused the worst economic shock since the Great Depression.

It will take months or years to recover family wage jobs lost during what Gov. Kate Brown appropriately declared a State of Emergency.

Read more »

By Oregon Small Business Association

The Oregon Small Business Association urges Legislature to stop the destructive CAT tax immediately.

The first quarterly estimated payments for Oregon’s new “Corporate Activities Tax” on sales (not profits) are due April 30, even as many businesses’ cash flows collapse under Gov. Kate Brown’s orders for some businesses to close and other businesses’ customers follow her order to “stay at home.” Read more »

By Oregon Small Business Association,

California, Washington, Ohio, Illinois and Massachusetts take measures to close (or encourage closing of) restaurants and bars.

Washington Gov. Jay Inslee said in his statement that “hours count and very strong measures are necessary to slow the spread of the disease.” Read more »

(Photo: WildFang T-shirt)
By Oregon Small Business Association,

Wildfang, a company started in Portland in 2013, has filed a lawsuit against Target alleging the department store chain’s new Wild Fable clothing line infringes on its trademark. Read more »

By Oregon Small Business Association

With the legalization of recreational marijuana five years ago, Oregon has seen medical dispensaries of the drug dwindle to only three. Read more »

By Oregon Small Business Association,

Oregon businesses that accept only credit or debit cards for payment may be required to take cash under a bill proposed by Rep. Janell Bynum, D-Clackamas. Read more »

By Oregon Small Business Association,
(Photo: Flickr, Magnus Masnke)

Union leaders who want to limit the number of self-checkout stands in Oregon stores to no more than two can soon begin gathering signatures to put the question on the ballot in November. Read more »

By Oregon Small Business Association,

Salt & Straw is rocking its portfolio with reports that famed wrestler and actor Dwayne Johnson and his business partner have invested in the Portland-based ice cream chain. Read more »