Mitch Green

Why we endorsed Mitch Green for Portland City Council

We endorsed Mitch because he leads on animal welfare instead of waiting for others to go first. He was the chief sponsor of Portland’s foie gras ban and stuck with it from the very beginning, through a failed committee vote, a second hearing, and a contentious final debate.

What we appreciate about Mitch is that he’s willing to stick his neck out for animals when it would be easier to stay quiet or let someone else carry it. That’s consistent with how he approaches his position as councilor generally . As an economist and a veteran, he’s built a reputation on City Council for taking on tough, unglamorous fights, from social housing to labor protections to standing up to federal overreach, and following through on them rather than settling for a symbolic vote. He brings that same persistence to passing policy that protects animals 

We’re proud to endorse Mitch Green. His willingness to lead is the kind of champion animals need on the council.

Questionnaire Responses

Background

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

Response: When I moved from Portland to Kansas City, MO for graduate school, I was driving through the Great Plains. I think it was in Nebraska, where I saw with my own eyes many CAFOs. Witnessing the sheer scale of factory farming operations and the inherent cruelty built into our food system shook me. I am not a vegan myself, but I support organizing efforts to end factory farming and industrial practices that inflict cruelty to animals.

Additionally, as a combat veteran I suffer every Fourth of July / New Years Eve cycle when people use fireworks due to my PTSD, along my dog Falco who is especially sensitive to them. I see the fear and trauma in her eyes, and feel it myself and so when you have that kind of bond with a creature that depends upon you it changes you.

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.

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: Yes, I would support policies like those CA’s SB 1520 that ban exceptionally cruel practices in our economic system.

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: Yes.

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: Yes.

Others

Question: What else would you like to share? Please add anything else that might be helpful regarding your past or current support for pro-animal policies.

Response: I don’t have human children, but I have two cats and two dogs are my babies. I love animals and I’m so grateful there are groups like yours organizing to use our political system to championing them.