Happy May Day!
If you have followed my journey for a while now, you know that labor issues are near and dear to me. My time with the Portland Association of Teachers and all the connections I have since made with local, state, regional, and national labor organizers has been one of the most transformative experiences of my life. I bring this lens of dignity, fairness, and respect to all my work.
May Day was born from the courage of workers who risked everything to demand fair hours, safe conditions, and basic dignity on the job. The Federation of Organized Trades and Labor Unions — later the AFL — called for a national strike on May 1, 1886. More than 30,000 workers answered, walking off the job and marching peacefully to demand better working conditions — actions that were met with violence and repression.
Though the movement’s roots are often forgotten here in the U.S., May 1 stands around the world as a testament to working people’s power, sacrifice, and the belief that all labor deserves dignity and respect. Today and every day I stand with workers.
May is Older Americans Month
When Older Americans Month was established in 1963, a third of older Americans aged 65 or older lived in poverty, and there were few programs to meet their needs. More than sixty years later, we’ve made progress — but we still have work to do. This month and beyond, I’ll be talking about how we transform the way society perceives, talks about, and approaches aging. That means challenging stereotypes, dispelling misconceptions, and honoring the contributions older adults make to our city every single day. As your councilor, I want to help the city support new opportunities for community members to stay active and engaged as we age, and to enhance opportunities for purpose, exploration, and connection at all ages. Beyond a push for longevity, it’s also about quality of life. If we’re alive, we’re aging! Making Portland a truly age-friendly city means supporting the ability of people of all ages, wages, and stages to thrive in our city.
Information about the city’s age-friendly work on this issue can be found here (take a look at the documents tab for details), and I’ll be announcing new legislation in the months ahead. Stay tuned!
Transportation Utility Fee Passes
On Wednesday, I voted along with the majority of City Council to pass the Transportation Utility Fee to help fund much-needed street repairs. I was glad to get an amendment included, co-sponsored with Councilor Eric Zimmerman, that ensures that 25% of the fee will be dedicated directly to traffic safety, including Vision Zero efforts and long-overdue sidewalk infill. The amendment is about making our streets safer for everyone, especially the most vulnerable.
As Sarah Risser from Families for Safe Streets Portland said in her testimony, we can’t afford not to invest in safety. Families for Safe Streets is a community-led organization made up of people who have lost loved ones or been directly impacted by traffic violence. They turn grief into action, advocating for policies that prevent future tragedies, and their voices are critical in shaping safer, more humane streets. Although I am concerned about the hardship for many people in adding an additional fee, I believe the impact of safer streets, fewer crashes, and lives saved is an investment worth making.
Portlanders enrolled in the City’s low-income discount program for water and sewer will automatically get a discount on the fee when it starts in January, and the legislation also ensures that multi-family housing residents who do not get their own bills will also have a discount option. Council will also continue to assess fair and equitable approaches to administering this fee.
Budget Open House
It was wonderful to see so many folks turn out on a sunny Sunday to talk about the budget last weekend! A huge thank you to SE Uplift for facilitating this event at Mt Scott Community Center. I was able to hear about community hopes, fears, ideas and suggestions, alongside my fellow District 3 Councilors Steve Novick and Angelita Morillo.
A budget should be a reflection of community priorities; thank you to the many folks who made time to share their stories and perspectives. Budget season is well under way at City Hall, with meetings and work sessions to try to make the best of a difficult fiscal forecast. Please keep reaching out to my office – you can email councilor.koyamalane@portlandoregon.gov, or attend and/or testify at a Council budget hearing. A full schedule of meetings and testimony opportunities can be found here.
Another District 3 Budget Town Hall will be held from 6 to 7:30 p.m. this Tuesday, May 5 (virtual). RSVP for the Zoom link here. Thank you for using your voice to make Portland better!
Earth Day at Sunnyside
If a picture is worth 1,000 words, hopefully the collage above helps convey the vibrant, fun, hopeful Earth Day event held Saturday at Sunnyside Environmental School, co-hosted by Making Earth Cool, 350PDX, and SOLVE! Going to the parade and festival is a highlight for me every year, and a reminder of the urgency to take real action to combat climate change now.
82nd Avenue of Roses Parade
Thank you to the organizers of the 82nd Avenue of Roses 20th anniversary celebration! I had a great time marching in Saturday’s parade, and seeing so many wonderful community members and organizations. I’m already looking forward to next year!
Politisit Civics 101 Panel
It was an honor to be part of Politisit’s inaugural “Civics 101 for Parents: From Curious to Confident” event this week. On the panel about how to advocate effectively without burning out, Washington County Commissioner Nafisa Fai, Oregon City School District Board Chair Katie Wilson, and I talked about what actually works — communicating with intention, choosing the right channels, and using our voices in ways that build trust and momentum. From school boards to county leadership to grassroots organizing, our discussion was a reminder that impactful advocacy is less about volume and more about clarity, credibility, and consistency. Important take-away? You don’t have to do everything — just take ONE meaningful step this week.
 As noted above, please join the District 3 Budget Town Hall, hosted online by SE Uplift, on Tuesday, May 5 from 6 to 7:30 p.m. You can RSVP for the Zoom link here.
Migra Watch Training at Franklin HS
Franklin for Families will be hosting a Migra Watch training at 5:30 p.m. Tuesday, May 5 in the library at Franklin High School, 5405 SE Woodward Street. Following the training presented by APANO, there will be a discussion of next steps to support neighbors. For more information you can email franklin4families@gmail.com.
Bike to Books Design Competition
The Portland Bureau of Transportation and Multnomah County Library have launched the eighth annual Bike to Books design competition. Starting today, Portlanders can submit original art designs to celebrate Bike Month and the hundreds of miles of bike lanes around the city. Designs should start with the standard sharrow bike lane marking, and then add their own twist. Winners will have their art painted on a Portland bike lane! Categories include Pre-Kindergarten to 2nd grade, 3rd through 6th grade, 7th through 12th grade, and adults, and the deadline for entries is June 1.
Greenways Survey Open
The Portland Bureau of Transportation would like to hear community opinions about four proposed greenway improvements and a summer diversion pilot near James John Elementary. The goal is to better support the Bike Bus programs and help kids walk and bike to school more safely. This first online survey focuses on James John’s Bike Bus program and surrounding area, with proposals and surveys for the three other schools that are part of this project (Abernethy, Lent, and Maplewood) to come soon.
Preschool for All Seats Available
Preschool for All Seats AvailableThe application deadline for Preschool for All has been extended to May 14. There are more than 7,000 tuition-free seats available to any 3- and 4-year-old in Multnomah County, regardless of income. You can submit your application for the 2026-27 school year here.
Cooling Units Available
The Cooling Portland program has delivered and installed more than 20,500 free cooling units in the homes of low-income Portlanders over the last four years. This is the last year of the program, which prioritizes those with the highest vulnerability to heat. To see if you qualify for a cooling unit, or to apply to receive one, you can visit the program’s website or call 3-1-1 by the June 30 deadline. |
