Boise, ID –  The Boise Metro Chamber released  “Your Business’s Legal Rights” document and continued a fundraiser for the Wassmuth Foundation after a week of difficult and deplorable behaviors, including unmasked trespassers entering private property, divisive protests in front of elected officials’ homes, and vandalism and anti-Semitism at the Human Rights Memorial, all of which the Boise Metro Chamber denounces. We advocate for economic vitality and a high quality of life in the Treasure Valley; the pandemic is the single greatest threat to our economic vitality and risks permanently harming our quality of life. 
 
“We are particularly concerned that private business owners are being threatened, harassed, and bullied for protecting their staff and customers during this difficult time, and have worked with our Board Members to produce this informational guide,” said Bill Connors, President and CEO of the Boise Metro Chamber. 
 
Our members include the valley’s hospitals and primary care organizations, and we are concerned they are overwhelmed and may have to ration care. This will further impact our economic vitality and we are deeply troubled about the potential loss of life in our community due to COVID-19. Masks are the primary tools our community has to keep our businesses open until vaccines can be distributed. 
 
The Boise Metro Chamber, with the help of Hawley Troxell, has drafted some guidance for business owners and operators in light of recent incidents by protesters at local Boise businesses.  This guidance outlines property rights and steps that can be taken to help our business members handle any such business disruptions.  The document is attached to this release and is available at boisechamber.org. Tom Mortell and Kyle Brekke of Hawley Troxell will be doing a Facebook Live broadcast through the Boise Metro Chamber Monday, December 21 at 12:00 p.m. to discuss “Your Business’s Legal Rights.”
 
Additionally, the Boise Chamber has also established a temporary fund to help the Wassmuth Center, and has already raised $11,500.  Anyone wishing to contribute can contact Debra Hackler at the Boise Metro Chamber, or donate directly to the Center at wassmuthcenter.org.
 
About the Boise Metro Chamber: The Boise Metro Chamber is the only five-star accredited chamber in Idaho that is a private, nonprofit, membership-driven organization of more than 1,800 business enterprises, civic organizations, education institutions and individuals. Together, with our strategic affiliates at the Boise Convention & Visitor’s Bureau and the Boise Valley Economic Partnership the Chamber is able to provide leadership that helps create regional economic prosperity not only by way of traditional membership relations but through destination marketing for convention and visitors as well as job creation and business attraction.
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