A meeting was held Monday, Dec. 28 at Zimâs Brau Haus in The Dalles to discuss businesses around the state planning to open for on-premises business on Jan. 1, defying the governorâs mandate.
The first speaker was Sandy Mayor Stan Pulliam, who has vocally supported movements like âOpen Oregon.â Pulliam has recently promoted a coalition of businesses opening on New Yearâs at events and on social media.
âWhat weâre talking about doing is opening up safely, and in a way that â if we can get the governor to shift and change course â gets us back into compliance and legality immediately,â Pulliam said.
A group of businesses in Wasco County have been strategizing and preparing for a legal battle as they seek to challenge the governorâs order restricting indoor gatherings due to COVID-19.
Todd Carpenter, who owns Last Stop Saloon in The Dalles, said an LLC â Wasco County Business Alliance â was formed Dec. 17 to retain an attorney and âassemble a defense fund for county and state-level lawsuits.â
Carpenter said owners of at least seven other restaurants in The Dalles have discussed a potential legal challenge. He said businesses are forming a plan to open safely which they will present when they find the best legal avenue to do so.