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Great Idea -- a public credit bureau

12/13/2020

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thehill.com/opinion/finance/529675-after-5-decades-of-private-credit-reporting-its-time-for-a-change?rnd=1607626407

After 5 decades of private credit reporting, it's time for a change | The Hill
Amy Traub and Chi Chi Wu, Opinion Contributors

* * *

Credit reports contain far too many errors for something so vital to our economic well-being, with one in five consumers having an error, and one in 20 having a serious error that would affect their ability to obtain credit or its pricing. Consumers are frustrated by the Kafka-esque system devised by the credit bureaus to process disputes, which often blocks them from getting relief. Credit reports and scores are used for inappropriate purposes, such as employment, insurance, and even immigration (their use is required as part of the Public Charge Rule.) Most critically, credit scores reflect and perpetuate thorny racial disparities, playing a role in financially entrenching America’s original sin.
* * * 
Many of the problems with credit reporting stem from its very nature. An oligopoly of three private companies governs our financial reputations, trading in and profiting from our data. We are captives because we cannot opt out of the system. Instead, creditors and other companies are the credit bureaus’ customers and constituency. There’s not much incentive for credit bureaus to create a system that works better for consumers, including disadvantaged communities. We can see the upshot of this dysfunction where credit reporting issues are often the number one source of complaints to the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau, including during this pandemic.

But there is a way forward. Among President-elect Biden’s economic proposals is an innovative plan to establish a public credit reporting agency, based on policy developed by Demos. This solution recognizes that access to consumer credit is a public good and would promote that public good by establishing a public institution to replace the private companies that now control credit reporting. A public credit reporting agency or registry would also be an effective way to build economic power for Black and Brown households by putting equity at the center of its decisionmaking and enabling them to exercise greater control over their economic lives. . . .

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Oregon's Gov. Brown bars creditor garnishments of CARES checks

4/18/2020

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The Governor has wisely ordered that any Oregonian's CARES check be free from garnishments by creditors (except for restitution garnishments for criminal justice debts) during the COVID-19 emergency. The top picture is the key provision. If you want the full text and all the details and definitions, the full order is shown below that and you can download it by clicking on the down-facing arrow.

Kudos to Gov. Brown for acting to help Oregon families survive this crisis in this critical period.
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Cool -- Guide to Finding All Veterans Benefits in Every State

11/13/2019

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Graphic of website search engine for veterans benefits
Click on the photo above to be taken to a cool search engine that compiles state-specific and federal benefits in one place for any state.  Here's today's printout for Oregon (subject to updates of course):


  • "I Am Not Invisible Exhibit"Oregon | Commemoration/Acknowledgement
    N/A or not disclosed
    Female
  • Anti-Discrimination Law (Military Status and Spouses of Deploying Veterans)Oregon | Anti-Discrimination Law/Policy (Vet Status)
    N/A or not disclosed
    State National Guard/Reserve, Active Duty, Dependents
  • College Credit for Military TrainingOregon | Educational Credit/Diploma
    N/A or not disclosed
    All Veterans, State National Guard/Reserve, Active Duty
  • Direct Professional Licensing for Military ExperienceOregon | License/Certification
    N/A or not disclosed
    All Veterans, State National Guard/Reserve, Active Duty
  • Employment ProtectionOregon | (Re-)Employment Protection
    N/A or not disclosed
    State National Guard/Reserve
  • Federal Pension Income Tax Subtraction for Military RetireesOregon | Income Tax
    N/A or not disclosed
    Retired
  • Free Camping at State Parks for Disabled Veterans and Active DutyOregon | Park/Camping/Lodging Admissions
    No fee
    Disabled (Service-Connected), State National Guard/Reserve, Active Duty
  • Free Fishing and Hunting Licenses for Disabled War VeteransOregon | Fishing/Hunting License
    No fee
    Disabled (Service-Connected), Served in Combat
  • Free Parking at State Parks for Disabled Veterans and Active DutyOregon | Toll/Travel Fare/Parking Discount
    No fee
    Disabled (Service-Connected), State National Guard/Reserve, Active Duty
  • In-State Tuition for VeteransOregon | Tuition-Rate
    Discount Equivalent to In-State/Resident Rate
    All Veterans, Killed/Died (Service-Connected), Survivors
  • Income Tax Deduction for Active Duty Pay Earned Inside of StateOregon | Income Tax
    Up to $6,000 deduction
    State National Guard/Reserve, Active Duty
  • Income Tax Exemption for Active Duty Pay Earned Outside of StateOregon | Income Tax
    No income tax
    Active Duty
  • Military and Veteran License PlatesOregon | Vehicle License Plates
    N/A or not disclosed
    All Veterans, 100% Disabled, Purple Heart, Killed/Died (Service-Connected), Served in Combat
  • ODVA Home Loan ProgramOregon | Loan/Financing
    N/A or not disclosed
    Other than Dishonorable Discharge
  • Oregon DVA Conservatorship ProgramOregon | Guardianship/Custodianship
    N/A or not disclosed
    Indigent/Unable to Care for Self
  • Oregon DVA Conservatorship ProgramOregon | Legal Assistance
    N/A or not disclosed
    Indigent/Unable to Care for Self
  • Oregon Service-Disabled Veteran CertificationOregon | Preferred Status (Business)
    N/A or not disclosed
    Disabled (Service-Connected)
  • Oregon Veterans' Emergency AssistanceOregon | Emergency Relief
    N/A or not disclosed
    All Veterans, Low Income/Homeless vet/Hardship, Dependents
  • Oregon Veterans' HomesOregon | Residential Housing
    N/A or not disclosed
    Honorable Discharge, Dependents
  • Oregon Veterans' HomesOregon | Residential Housing
    N/A or not disclosed
    Honorable Discharge, Dependents
  • Oregon Wounded Warrior Parking PlacardOregon | Toll/Travel Fare/Parking Discount
    No fee
    Disabled (Service-Connected)
  • Property Tax Exemption for Disabled VeteransOregon | Property
    No property tax
    Disabled (Service-Connected), Other than Dishonorable Discharge, Survivors
  • Resident Rate Hunting and Fishing Licenses for Active DutyOregon | Fishing/Hunting License
    Discount Equivalent to In-State/Resident Rate
    Active Duty
  • State Council - Interstate Compact on Educational Opportunity for Military ChildrenOregon | Primary/Secondary School Assistance
    N/A or not disclosed
    State National Guard/Reserve, Active Duty, Dependents
  • State Tuition Assistance for Oregon National GuardOregon | Scholarship/Tuition-Assistance
    100% covered
    State National Guard/Reserve
  • Statewide Apprenticeships (BOLI)Oregon | Training/Apprenticeship
    N/A or not disclosed
    All Veterans
  • Veteran Volunteer ProgramOregon | Benefits Counseling/Determinations
    N/A or not disclosed
    All Veterans
  • Veteran's Day Off for All VeteransOregon | Commemoration/Acknowledgement
    N/A or not disclosed
    All Veterans
  • Veterans Designation on Driver's LicenseOregon | Driver's License/ID - Designation
    N/A or not disclosed
    Other than Dishonorable Discharge
  • Veterans PreferenceOregon | Preferred Status (Employment/Training)
    N/A or not disclosed
    Other than Dishonorable Discharge
  • Voyager Tuition Assistance ProgramOregon | Scholarship/Tuition-Assistance
    To the "Last Dollar," or the difference between what federal aid programs cover and the actual cost of tuition
    State National Guard/Reserve
  • Women Veterans CoordinatorOregon | Claims Assistance/Benefits Advocacy
    N/A or not disclosed
    Female
  • WorkSource Oregon Priority for Veterans and SpousesOregon | Preferred Status (Employment/Training)
    N/A or not disclosed
    All Veterans, Dependents
  • Troops to Teachers Grant Coordination OfficesOregon | Hiring Facilitation
    N/A or not disclosed
    Honorable Discharge, Active Duty

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Free Audio Books for Eligible Vets from National Library Service

7/1/2019

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The Braille and Talking Book Program
offers Veterans who have difficulty with regular print materials the return of the gift of reading.

The Joy and Freedom of Reading

Whether escaping into a great novel or staying current with popular magazines, the freedom and independence of reading are only a few steps away. This program, from the National Library Service (NLS) and the Library of Congress, provides talking books, audio magazines, and digital talking-book players free of charge.

Any honorably discharged Veteran who is

* blind
* has low vision, or
* a disability preventing the reading of traditional materials is eligible.

Participants choose whether their selected reading materials are delivered by mail, downloaded from the web-based service BARD (Braille and Audio Reading Download) or through the BARD mobile app for smartphones and tablets.

NLS maintains a vast catalog of titles and publications from the latest best-sellers to timeless classics. Plus, Veterans have preferential status in the lending of materials and equipment.

The Braille and Talking Books Program is accomplished through a nationwide network of libraries to serve citizens and Veterans living inside the U.S. or abroad.  

Applying for this service is easy.

Call the National Library Service at 1-888-NLS-READ
(1-888-657-7323) or
visit them on the web at www.loc.gov/ThatAllMayRead

Veterans served to protect freedom.
Now let National Library Service provide the freedom for all to read.


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Plan for June 1 - Salem Day Out for CourtCare - it'll be great

5/27/2019

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Oregon Women Lawyers Society (OWLS)
Mary Leonard* Chapter 

2019 Salem Day Out for CourtCare
An Alley Party in support of Mid-Valley Court Care
Saturday, June 1, 2019 in the alley @Taproot (State between Liberty and Commercial)
​
Salem Day Out for CourtCare has something for everyone and is a great way to enjoy our Salem community and support a great cause.  This event aims to raise between $10,000 and $20,000 for Mid-Valley CourtCare! 
  • Enjoy delicious food and drink!
  • Featuring exciting games, raffle prizes, and auction items!
  • We're planning fun for the kids too! 
Watch this page for updates on event details. Tickets will go on sale in mid-April.

(*Mary Leonard has a fascinating story and was the first woman admitted to the bar in Oregon - click here for more)

What is CourtCare?

CourtCare is free child care for children ages six weeks to 12 years in a safe, supportive, and quality environment. Children are spared from witnessing adult conflict, hearing harsh words, and seeing potentially disturbing scenes which could traumatize or even re-traumatize them. If both parent and child are supported during the child’s early stages of life, it makes an enormous impact on the child’s future health and development. What children see and experience in early childhood affects both their brain development and their health.

Why is CourtCare Needed?

Imagine having to go to court for divorce proceedings, a sex abuse trial, a domestic violence case… now imagine not having child care and you have to take your young children with you. This is a current reality for families in both Marion and Polk Counties. Children should not have to be in the room while legal proceedings are taking place. Those involved in the courts have seen babies and toddlers left unattended in hallways while their parents are in courtrooms; young children sent to restrooms unsupervised; children seeing their parents upset and emotional about adult conflicts; children watching as a parent is arrested and taken into custody; children hearing adults talking about family violence, restraining orders, custody disputes, or criminal behavior of family members… thus the need for CourtCare.

OverviewMid-Valley CourtCare provides free, high quality care from trained early childhood staff in a licensed child care setting. Children must be at least six weeks of age and not older than 12 years.  CourtCare hours of operation listed here begin September 5, 2017.  Space is limited and available on a first-come, first-serve basis.  Register online now to reserve your spot!

In Marion County, CourtCare is operated by the Salem Family YMCA, located across from the Marion County Courthouse in downtown Salem.  Please use the child care entrance off of Cottage Street.  Marion County CourtCare is available to anyone with court-related business or a court-related appointment.  

Marion County CourtCare is open Monday through Thursday from 8:00 a.m. to 5:15 p.m.

In Polk County, CourtCare is operated by Family Building Blocks at the Academy Building near the Polk County Courthouse in Dallas.  Polk County CourtCare is available to anyone who needs to conduct business with the court system or local social service agencies including, but not limited to: Polk County Behavioral Health, Public Health, DHS, or Housing.  

Polk County CourtCare is open Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday from 1:00 to 5:30 p.m., and Friday from 7:30 a.m. to 5:30 p.m.


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John Gear to Host Radio Celebration: 227th Birthday of the Bill of Rights, Saturday December 15, 1 p.m. on KMUZ (88.5/100.7 FM, or at KMUZ.org)

12/10/2018

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Historically very inaccurate, but you get the idea of something worth celebrating!
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The internet depends on the First Amendment, part of the first set of amendments to the Constitution that became known as the Bill of Rights.

It is no exaggeration to say that the rights guaranteed by the Bill of Rights, and their application to the states through the 14th Amendment, are the backbone of American life and what it means to live in the United States.  


To help celebrate the Bill of Rights and discuss some important omissions from it, Salem's community radio station KMUZ (at 88.5 and 100.7 FM in Salem area and at KMUZ.org anywhere on the web) will air a special 227th Birthday Celebration on December 15 at 1 p.m. with KMUZ sponsor, John Gear of John Gear Law Office.

And if you have questions about the Bill of Rights or your civil liberties, you can send them to Info@KMUZ.org with BILL OF RIGHTS SHOW in the subject line. 

All questions will be considered and some will be addressed during the show. That’s 

Saturday, December 15 at 1 p.m. 

on community radio station KMUZ (88.5 and 100.7 FM in the Willamette Valley, streaming at KMUZ.org to anywhere in the world).


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Time to Give Thanks and Reflect on Helping Others Share in Abundance

11/18/2018

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Salem Harvest's November Newsletter worth sharing entirely

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Notes from the Field
November 2018
November Happenings

Wasted! The Story of Food Waste

On November 20th, Salem Progressive Films is showcasing the documentary Wasted! The Story of Food Waste at the Grand Theater at 7:00pm. This in-depth film covers all the bases on where food is being wasted throughout the global food system and offers innovative solutions as well.

Salem Harvest will be there in the lobby before the film sharing information about our program and how we reduce wasted food. After the show, I will be addressing the attendees, sharing my experiences as Executive Director and that of our growers and harvest leaders surrounding food waste at the farm level. Please join us!

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Jam Party!

What do you do with plums so sour and astringent that they are nearly impossible to eat? Cook them down with sugar, turning them into jam, of course!

On November 10th and 15th, Salem Harvest volunteers will be gathering to turn 120 pounds of otherwise inedible plums into the tastiest plum jam ever created. Lots of fun, team building, teaching and learning the art of jam making, and keeping food from being wasted.



Hunger and Homelessness Awareness Week

November 10th through the 18th is Hunger and Homelessness Awareness Week, where people come together across the nation to draw attention to the problems of hunger and homelessness. Hunger on college campuses is a rising issue faced by many students. Salem Harvest will be joining Willamette University students and Marion-Polk Food Share in discussing these issues at a forum on the 15th.

As the holidays approach and you ponder the thought of giving, please consider donating to Salem Harvest.
We rely upon the generosity of our community to be involved in events like these, fulfilling our mission of feeding hungry families by harvesting food that would go to waste.

Donate
Salem Harvest a 501(c)3 Nonprofit Organization
E-mail | 503.400.6618 x5 | Website
‌ ‌ ‌
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"Empty Bowls" Food-Share Fundraiser is THIS Weekend - don't miss it!

11/12/2018

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Each year, John Gear Law Office helps sponsor an important event for Salem, the "Empty Bowls" fundraiser put on by Willamette Art Center to raise funds for Marion-Polk Food Share. These two nonprofits team up to give you the opportunity to buy gorgeous things, lovingly made and finished by all-volunteer potters, with all the proceeds going to support the food bank that fights hunger in the Salem area all year round.

Make out your gift lists for the holidays and maybe for all 2019 as well -- friends, family, parents, kids, teachers, coworkers, you name it -- there are so many beautiful, one-of-a-kind things that there is sure to be a perfect gift for everyone you know at Empty Bowls, and you can help boost the total raised to fight hunger in Salem to over $200,000.

Willamette Art Center is on the State Fairgrounds, use the Silverton Road (Yellow) Gate. The event is Saturday and Sunday, November 17 and 18.


The Willamette Art Center hosts the annual Empty Bowls Benefit sale benefiting Marion-Polk Food Share.Saturday, November 17th, 2018 from 9AM to 5PM
Sunday, November 18th, 2018 from 12PM to 4PM


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    Since 2010, a values-based Oregon law practice serving Oregon consumers, elders, employees, and nonprofits.

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LAWYERLY FINE PRINT:

John Gear Law Office LLC and Salem Consumer Law.  John Gear Law Office is in Suite 208B of the Security Building in downtown Salem at 161 High St. SE, across from the Elsinore Theater, a half-block south of Marion County Courthouse, just south of State Street. There is abundant, free 3-hour on-street parking throughout downtown Salem, and three multi-story parking ramps that offer free customer parking in downtown Salem too.

Our attorneys are only licensed to practice law in Oregon. This site may be considered advertising under Oregon State Bar rules. There is no legal advice on this site so you should not interpret anything you read here as intended for your particular situation. Besides, we are not representing you and we are not your attorneys unless you have hired us by entering into a representation agreement with me. While we do want you to consider us when you seek an attorney, you should not hire any attorney based on brochures, websites, advertising, or other promotional materials.  All original content on this site is Copyright John Gear, 2010-2020.
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