Jamey Evenstar

Questionnaire Responses

Background

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

Response: I was born and raised in Alaska, worked for the Chickaloon Tribe, and also married a man who is a registered tribal member. I have a lot of direct experience with Alaska Native practices of food harvesting and subsistence hunting. These practices are sustainable and respectful of both the animal and the land and allowed our family to avoid purchasing or consuming industrial raised meat for many years. Subsequently, after moving to Portland 11 years ago, my husband became vegetarian. I am very bothered by how animals are treated in our industrial system and make every effort to purchase foods that claim to raise animals humanly.

Prohibiting the Sale of New Animal Fur

Question: Fur production relies on cruel practices, such as extreme confinement. California has a statewide ban on the sale of new fur products, and several U.S. cities have enacted sales bans.
Would you support or sponsor a citywide ban on the sale of new fur products?

Response: Yes, I support a ban on the sale of new fur products in Portland to protect animal welfare and public health, with an exemption for fur sold for tribal, cultural, or spiritual purposes by a member of a Native American tribe. I was born and raised in Alaska and my husband and children are all registered Alaska Native tribal members so I am protective of their sovereign rights and ways of life.

Prohibiting the Sale of Octopus

Question: Farmed octopus is an especially cruel product because of the extreme confinement and high-density conditions required to raise them. California has a statewide ban on the sale and production of farmed octopus, and several other U.S. states have enacted or proposed sales bans. Would you support a Milwaukie city resolution formally backing Oregon’s proposed statewide ban (HB 2557) on the sale and production of farmed octopus?

Response: Yes, I support a citywide ban on the sale and production of farmed octopus in Portland. Industrial octopus farming is cruel, and I want to prevent this industry from taking hold in the US. On a personal note, I stopped eating octopus many years ago after learning more about their intelligence and capacity.

Sustainable Food Procurement

Question: Public institutions in Oregon subsidize animal-based foods regardless of their cruelty, environmental impact, or threat to public health. Would you support policies for public institutions to prioritize climate-friendly food and limit high-confinement animal products, such as setting ambitious goals for plant-based procurement?

Response: Yes. These policies normalize more sustainable eating while helping governments meet climate targets. I would hope these kinds of policies may also lead to greater and more affordable choices for places like rural Alaska, where the shipping of fresh produce and plant based food can make it too expensive to be a first choice for many people who may want to eat a plant based diet.

The Use of Dangerous Poisons

Question: Oregon law allows the use of rodenticides that are restricted or banned in states like California due to their documented harm to wildlife, pets, and children. While state law preempts Milwaukie from banning the commercial sale of these poisons, the city has full authority over its own properties. Would you support or sponsor citywide policy to shift Milwaukie bureaus away from glue traps and rodenticides toward humane alternatives like fertility control on city-owned property?

Response: Yes, I support a citywide policy moving Portland bureaus away from cruel and ineffective tools like glue traps and rodenticides. In 2023 there were multiple incidents in Mt. Tabor Park where dogs and owls were found harmed by rodenticide. This adds urgency to addressing this issue and I wouldn’t hesitate to bring this to greater public attention to rally support.