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Councilor Updates:

It's Official: We Have Committees, Chairs & Vice-Chairs, Council Rules, and a Council Budget

Within 2 weeks of taking office, our Portland City Council has voted and agreed to committees, committee membership, office budgets, rules, and leadership decisions... all in public meetings

I moved into my office on Wednesday January 1, and by Wednesday January 15 at 11:15pm, I am proud to say our council openly debated and voted through a package of committees. This includes committee chairs and membership, operating rules, an office budget, and council leadership. As I said in last week's newsletter, getting to this point was a BIG priority for me as Council Vice President, so I am very excited to announce this significant win for our voters and our whole council.

I want to say thank you to the public, my colleagues, city staff, the Council President, the Mayor, and our journalists for all your efforts that led to this successful, publicly transparent outcome for our city and government. The City of Portland's new City Council is on track to begin its committee work as soon as early February.

Here's a list of Portland's first ever Council Committees and their Chairs, Co-Chairs, and Vice Chairs, as approved by your council:

Policy Committees (6)

1. Transportation and Infrastructure
1. Chair, Councilor Olivia Clark
2. Vice Chair, Councilor Angelita Morillo
2. Homelessness and Housing
1. Chair, Councilor Candace Avalos
2. Vice Chair, Councilor Jamie Dunphy
3. Climate, Resilience, and Land Use
1. Co-Chair, Councilor Angelita Morillo
2. Co-Chair, Councilor Steve Novick
4. Community and Public Safety
1. Co-Chair, Councilor Sameer Kanal
2. Co-Chair, Councilor Steve Novick
5. Arts and Economy
1. Co-Chair, Councilor Mitch Green
2. Co-Chair, Councilor Dan Ryan
6. Labor and Workforce Development
1. Chair, Councilor Loretta Smith
2. Vice Chair, Councilor Mitch Green

General Council Committees (2)

1. Finance
1. Chair, Councilor Eric Zimmerman
2. Vice Chair, Council President Elana Pirtle-Guiney 
2. Governance
1. Chair, Council Vice President Tiffany Koyama Lane
2. Vice Chair, Councilor Dan Ryan

As the Council Vice President, I will serve on fewer committees - only two to start. I'll be the Chair of our Council's Governance Committee, with Councilor Dan Ryan as the Vice Chair serving alongside me. And I'll be a member of the Transportation and Infrastructure Committee, with Chair Clark and Vice Chair Morillo. One important note, though: any councilor can introduce ordinances and proposals into any committee, even if they're not serving on the committee. Have thoughts or questions? I'm a resource for you, so please send them my way. 

For those who would like to dig in more, our January 15-16 Council Agenda and YouTube video can be found here: January 15-16, 2025 Council Agenda | Portland.gov

For full committee membership, and subject matter outline for each committee, our full list of committees and committee membership can be found here: Resolution---Council-Committees-1-13-25-Exhibit-A.pdf

Events this Week

While I've had a lot of work to do inside City Hall, I have been most excited for the opportunities to be out in the community over the past week. First I'll start with my labor siblings - I was proud to join our Providence healthcare providers on the picket line as they began their historic strike for safer, improved working conditions. I also joined city AFSCME workers for their practice picket as they struggle for a fair deal in their contract with the City. I also had constituents come to my weekend event specifically to hear from me about my approach to supporting workers. I have found myself saying as a Councilor that I am not just pro-labor, I AM labor. I am a proud, dues-paying union member, and when I run into union workers during the course of my day or when I'm around town, I know that we are fighting the same fight to make this city and our lives work for everyday people.

Speaking of constituents, I held my very first Constituent Coffee, with about 40 people showing up at Oblique Coffee on SE 30th & Stark to talk with me, connect with each other, and engage in some open discussion about their interests, concerns and shared priorities. Thank you so much to Jack who agreed to host this first event in his coffeeshop located in a historic Portland building (pictured below), and to all those who joined us. Stay tuned for announcement of our next location! We are looking to meet on the 2nd Saturday of the month, 9am-10:30am. February 8th is right around the corner.

Also on Saturday, the Portland Trailblazers hosted Asian American and Pacific Islander Heritage Night. I was able to attend alongside other AAPI elected officials from the region - from our state legislature, county government, and my colleague on Council, Sameer KanaI from District 2. Everyone in attendance was treated to some amazing performances from local groups, pre-game and at halftime. It was lovely to join in these ceremonies. I am so proud to be serving as the first Asian American woman on Portland's City Council!

Finally, we are heading into a new federal administration with a huge amount of unknowns, and concern for what will unfold. No matter what takes place, we know this to be true: when we organize, when we connect with each other, when we prepare & fight together-- we give ourselves the best hope for a future that works for ALL of us.

I'm only 2 weeks into my term, but I've made it a priority as a new elected official to make sure we take advantage of this opportunity to make our new government strong, nimble, and set up to serve the people! I am inspired by my colleagues and all of YOU. Keep in touch-- we do this together!