No one likes a tattletale, but Oregon is turning back into grade school with citizens able to talk turkey about neighbors who break gathering restrictions that the state put in place before Thanksgiving.
Your holiday spread can have an unreasonable amount of green bean casserole and cranberry sauce, but there can’t be more than six people from no more than two households at the table. And if you spot that minivan rolling up with too many cousins, Oregon Gov. Kate Brown encourages you to call the authorities.
“This is no different than what happens if there’s a party down the street and it’s keeping everyone awake,” Brown told KGW-TV when asked if she wants people to call the police about neighbors’ large gatherings. “What do neighbors do? They call law enforcement because it’s too noisy. This is just like that. It’s like a violation of a noise ordinance.”
The restrictions, put into effect last week, could bring violators a fine of up to $1,250 and/or up to 30 days in jail. For some, the time in the clink might be a nice respite after too much family time.
“This is a travesty that’s happening in our state,” Clackamas County chair Tootie Smith told Fox News last week. “How dare Governor Brown think she’s going to come out, she’s going to send the police into people’s homes and arrest them and fine them for having a Thanksgiving meal with their family, while at the same time she lets rioters and anarchists destroy downtown in the city of Portland. That’s hypocrisy.”
Asked about the criticism by KGW-TV, Brown said, “All of this is irresponsible. These are politicians seeking headlines, not public servants trying to save lives. … We continue to make decisions based on science and data.”
Brown said it is an education-first approach and that residents should not have to call authorities during this 14-day stretch. It gives Oregonians a new type of 14-day freeze to endure during the holidays.
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