Tiffany Koyama Lane

Why we endorsed Tiffany Koyama Lane for Portland City Council

We endorsed Tiffany because she stands up for animals when it counts. As one of the co-sponsors of Portland’s foie gras ban, she helped push the ordinance through multiple hearings and a contentious council debate. She didn’t back away when restaurant owners and industry supporters pushed back hard.

What we appreciate about Tiffany is that she treats animal welfare as a genuine value, not a side issue. She brought her perspective as a mother and a teacher into the debate, and she was willing to use her voice and her vote on behalf of animals.

We’re proud to endorse Tiffany and grateful for her leadership to make Portland a kinder city for animals.

Questionnaire Responses

Background

Question: Can you briefly tell us a story that impacted the way you feel about animals?

Response: When I taught kindergarten and first grade back in 2015, I had a group of children who were very excited about birds. Their curiosity led us on a three-month-long project studying birds around our city— and, these kids had the best questions and ideas for field studies! We went downtown to sketch and observe the pigeons. We brought in these two high school students who showed the kids how cool birding can be. We went up to the Bird Alliance of Portland for a tour and guided hike.

One of my favorite guest speakers was a woman I found on Facebook named Charis in a group called Pigeon Angels. They rescue and provide care for injured pigeons and doves because the Audubon Society won’t. I learned so much about how smart pigeons are and love sharing my love for them with my students each year.

We also worked with Oregon State University to raise baby chicks from eggs. I still remember the morning we noticed the very first cracks in one of the eggs, which we got to see work its way out from its shell as a class!

Climate-Friendly Food & Fair Competition

Question: Currently, the federal government heavily subsidizes animal-based foods despite their cruelty, environmental impact, and damage to public health. Would you support policies to even the playing field and promote climate-friendly food, locally, to, in the words of Portland’s Climate Emergency Workplan, “Reduce carbon from the consumption of food”?

Response: Yes, I would certainly support policies that promote climate-friendly food. This will be so important for reducing the impacts of the climate crisis. Oregon is a wonderful place to see people strive toward their own small forms of food sovereignty, and there are many inspiring people here modeling better practices in agriculture.

Exceptionally Cruel Animal-Derived Products

Question: Certain products made from animals are made using especially cruel practices. Bans of specific products have ample precedent, notably with Statewide bans of fur and foie gras in California. Would you support a policy to ban a specific luxury animal product, such as fur, foie gras, lobster, veal, or shrimp?

Response: I would have an open door to leaders in the animal rights community to inform me about the practices surrounding certain animal products, and would certainly be open to supporting bans in the case of egregious abuses.

The Use of Dangerous Poisons

Question: The City of Portland currently uses rat poison in city parks that is illegal in California because of the harm it causes to rodents, birds, other wildlife, pets, and children. Death by poisoning is widely considered to be a form of extreme suffering, often taking multiple days to kill. Would you support policies to minimize death by poison, such as a transition of city government to using fertility control instead of glue traps and rodenticide?

Response: I feel confident that the city can find a solution to this program that does not involve poisons that affect our ecosystem or water supply. I would be looking to other cities and communities to find environmentally responsible best practices from national or international leaders in this field.

Non-human Family Members

Question: Companion animals are important members of Portlanders’ families. Would you support policies to protect them, such as inclusion of companion animals in disaster shelters or a ban on cat declawing?

Response: Pets should never be excluded from disaster shelters, because they are part of our families and are even more vulnerable to extreme heat and cold. One specific policy that I would champion is a renter’s bill of rights, as was passed in Tacoma, that puts a cap on pet rents. Too many of our low-income residents are forced to choose between beloved pets, and stable housing, and that’s not okay.