Legislative Form Letter

Dear (insert name),

I’m writing to you not just as a constituent, but as someone who cares deeply about this state and

the people who make it run, especially the workers at the Oregon Department of Transportation

(ODOT). What’s happening right now is more than a budget issue, it’s a crisis that could reshape

Oregon in ways we can't afford to ignore. We are on the verge of losing not only jobs, but lives,

safety, and the sense of trust that our communities place in public service.

Right now, ODOT is facing the largest workforce reduction in its history. Nearly 500 positions

have already been eliminated, and almost additional 500 workers, real people with families,

homes, dreams, and years of dedicated service have received layoff notices. These aren't faceless

numbers. These are the folks who’ve gotten up at 3 a.m. in a snowstorm to plow our highways.

Who’ve patched potholes in the summer heat. Who have given food and water to stranded

truckers and who have held the hand of someone that has been in a tragic crash. They show up

because they care about Oregon, and now we have and continue to fail them.

For too long, we’ve been deferring decisions, stretching budgets, and hoping it wouldn’t come to

this. But it has. And we’re watching it unfold in real time. Without a funding solution or even

short-term relief we’re about to lose essential services that keep our state connected and safe.

It’s not dramatic to say that this winter, roads won’t be plowed, highways may be closed, and

some communities could be completely cut off. When rural roads go unplowed and landslides

cut off communities, it’s not just an inconvenience it’s the difference between making it to a

hospital or not. Between a business staying open or shutting down, or goods and services being

transported over the passes.

And then there’s the personal cost. In many parts of the state, ODOT jobs are among the only

stable, family-supporting careers available. These layoffs will ripple through entire communities.

Families will struggle to pay rent. Kids will see their parents out of work. Local businesses that

rely on passable roads and local customers will feel the blow. This isn’t just a loss of services,

it’s a blow to our identity as a state that takes care of its people.

I know budget decisions are never easy, and the challenges facing transportation funding

especially with falling gas tax revenues are real. But this is one of those moments where

leadership matters most. ODOT has managed its funds carefully for years. What we’re seeing

now isn’t the result of mismanagement, it’s the result of a system that hasn’t kept up, and now

it’s breaking.

This isn’t about politics. It’s about people. It's about protecting our communities, our economy,

and the workers who have given so much for Oregon.

I urge you please fight for emergency funding for ODOT before these layoffs are permanent.

Don’t let our public servants become collateral damage in a crisis they didn’t create. Stand with

them. Stand with all of us who depend on them every day, often without even realizing it.Oregon needs you now more than ever. Take action and be our voice.

With hope and urgency,

(Insert name)

(Location)