I am Yonsei, a fourth-generation Japanese American, and my family members were forced into the WWII Japanese incarceration camps. This history lives within me and grounds me in one of my most foundational values: dignity. Through public policy, we show our community who is deserving of dignity. We need city councilors who are willing to fight for dignity as a basic human right for every single Portlander. You can learn more about my policy priorities here.

I have been teaching in public school classrooms for 16 years, and I am a proud leader in the Portland Association of Teachers. Working in schools teaches you who has access to food, clothing, housing, transportation, medical care, mental health support, and more. The classroom is a mirror for our society, and I have been fighting alongside teachers, parents, and students for safer schools, smaller class sizes, and better mental health services for our students.

In a classroom, you can’t pick favorites. There are no disposable people; everyone deserves dignity and fair treatment. I’m running for the new Portland City Council in District 3 because I believe we need to bring this approach into city government. We need more compassionate, fair leadership—councilors who listen to the voices of the working people in this city and not just the wealthy few. 

As a city councilor, I’ll fight for:

-A safe Portland, with common-sense, proven solutions to public safety like Portland Street Response, people-first policies that address the root causes of violence, and a coordinated approach to behavioral health that connects people to support when they need it.

-A housed Portland, with renter protections to keep families in their homes, innovative land use to improve housing supply, fewer bottlenecks for folks seeking housing, and better working conditions for our housing navigators.

-A connected Portland, where streets and sidewalks are designed for safety and free of traffic violence, transit is plentiful, and our public spaces are vibrant.

-A climate-resilient Portland, where all neighborhoods are protected from extreme weather and hazardous materials, and public dollars are spent on green infrastructure projects that move us away from fossil fuels.

I believe our city councilors should be deeply invested in their community. I am visible in the community and will continue to be so as your city councilor. I will know my neighbors on a first name basis, housed and unhoused. I will support local schools and businesses. I will help people feel safe and connected. 

There has been so much negativity about Portland. Yes, Portland is facing many challenges. But Portland is also a place full of amazing people who put their heart and soul into their community. It is full of people who are ready to get to work to realize Portland’s promise. 

In November, a power shift awaits with the new city charter, transitioning us from a commissioner system with 4 members, to a city council with 12 members, and real representation for each of our new districts. I’ve spent the last months meeting with local leaders and politicians and other candidates, collecting endorsements from a wide array of labor and community groups and elected officials. I’ve met with neighbors on the street and in homes, sometimes trading childcare to have long conversations about what people in our district need and what they hope for from their city. I want to be a part of the group to usher in the change we need in Portland. As City Councilor Tiffany Koyama Lane, I will bring my community – that’s you – into office with me.