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I'm writing in a challenging time – ICE raids, state violence, and our neighbors standing in solidarity. But taking a step back, it's also hard to believe that this month marks my first year serving District 3. I'm under 30, I'm an immigrant, I've experienced homelessness, and somehow, against all odds, I've just wrapped one year as your Portland City Councilor. The system is designed to push me down. And yet, 100% because of my community, I'm still here. There is much to be thankful for.
Looking back on my first year, I'm most proud of how my people showed up. From climate actions to protests against ICE, from budget town halls to street celebrations, D3 residents have shown courage, care, and passion for our city. You have shown love. For that, I am thankful. Every conversation, email, and testimony – even the ones that challenged me – helped us grow together.
I'm also proud of the policy wins that my team and I achieved this year – the very reasons I ran for office. Even as the youngest Councilor in City Hall, I passed more legislation than anyone else. And I'm just getting started. It's impossible to sum up a whole year in one blog post, but here we go. Here's what we accomplished together:
Housing, Renters' Rights and Affordability
Every Portlander has a right to safe, stable housing. As a member of the Homelessness and Housing Committee, I take pride in my resolve to make our city a place EVERY Portlander can call home.
- Created and passed Oregon's first ban on algorithmic price fixing for renters
- I passed Portland's first ban on rent-setting algorithms that drive rent inflation, placing Portland at the forefront nationally in stopping corporate price-fixing. The ordinance passed 8–2.
- Introduced housing investments that focus on keeping people housed and stable
- During Fall budget deliberations, and in the wake of the Mayor's newly enforced camping ban, I introduced an amendment to redirect funds from homeless sweep teams into keeping people housed through emergency rental assistance.
- Supported housing development and oversight
- I supported updates to city development fees so more housing can get built, and secured unanimous support to make sure we're measuring whether those changes are working.
- I collaborated with Councilor Green to substantially expand Portland's housing supply while developing innovative, economically sound models of ownership, like through his social housing study resolution.
- Championed policies that recognize housing stability as fundamental to public safety
- In oversight hearings, I pushed back on the mayor's shelter plan because it focused on adding beds without enough support to prevent evictions or help people move back into housing.
- I worked closely with advocates who put forth a Housing Fist policy roadmap to shift the narrative on our housing crisis.
Public Safety and Crisis Response
I believe that public safety doesn't start and end with reactive policing – it starts with safe routes to school, stable homes, and good paying jobs that help us put food on the table.
- Established Portland Street Response as a co-equal first responder.
- Working with Councilors Kanal and Avalos, I passed a resolution supporting PSR's unarmed crisis response. The resolution protects funding, staff, and policies so more calls are handled with care instead of force, and officially recognizes PSR as part of Portland's public safety system.
- Invested in Vision Zero projects to reduce traffic deaths.
- In May I co-sponsored a resolution reaffirming Portland's commitment to Vision Zero, the goal of eliminating traffic deaths. Our committee unanimously advanced the resolution, which requires the Portland Bureau of Transportation to expedite its implementation of Vision Zero.
- Advanced a public safety framework centered on prevention, safety, and care
- In this year's budget cycle, I secured $1 million to fund independent evaluations of Portland Police programs, using research to see what works, improve transparency, and better meet community needs.
- I worked with colleagues to impose regulations on Police Bureau overtime, ensuring that limited overtime funds support community needs, not heightened presence at peaceful protests.
- I helped create a "set-aside" of over $2 million to support hiring for public safety positions (like Portland Street Response).
- I collaborated with my colleagues to reassign non-emergency welfare check calls to unarmed responders, saving funds and ensuring officers focus on core public safety priorities.
Immigration Justice and Civil Rights
As we go head-to-head with fascism, it's critical that local leaders go to bat for our people. This year I focused on protecting Portlanders' rights, strengthening community safety, and holding powerful interests accountable.
- Codified Sanctuary City protections directly into code
- I co-sponsored an ordinance put forward by Councilor Kanal to permanently establish Portland as a Sanctuary City.
- Stood up to ICE operations and state violence
- I joined my colleagues in calling for ICE to leave our city, to leave our state, and to be dismantled brick by brick.
- I joined dozens of Portlanders to welcome home activists from the Sumud Flotilla at the PDX airport.
- Passed a Detention Facility Impact Fee to hold high-impact facilities accountable for community harm.
- When our community demanded accountability for the ICE-led kidnapping of our neighbors with no due process, I pulled out every tool in my toolbox to push back. Even with limited power against the federal government, I found a way to throw sand in the gears of our modern-day gestapo.
- Stood firm against the federal administration sending troops to Portland
- I spoke out on national media, social media, and at the Council dais to let the federal administration know that troops are not welcome in our city.
- Spoke out against U.S. imperialism and humanitarian crises happening in Gaza
- Co-sponsored a resolution to investigate City ties to genocide
- Called on Congressional leaders to support the Block the Bombs Act
Climate Resilience and Environmental Justice
As the youngest City Councilor, I know that I have a personal stake in our climate future. And as Co-Chair of the Climate Committee, I fought hard to make that safe climate future not just possible, but inevitable.
- Launched investigations into Zenith's fossil fuel operations.
- One of my favorite memories of this year was seeing advocates show up in City Hall to support my resolution to investigate Zenith Energy and freeze its operations in the city. Thanks to grassroots support, we were able to push back on billionaire oil executives.
- Worked with climate advocates to hold polluters accountable.
- Collaborated with frontline communities to ensure disaster preparedness and to stop our reliance on fossil fuels through CEI Hub advocacy.
- Centered environmental justice in City oversight and enforcement
- Ensured City officials embrace strategies to preserve and expand Portland's tree canopy in the Urban Forest Plan.
- Joined my colleague Councilor Koyama Lane in leading discussions on the public grid.
Parks, Public Spaces, and Community Infrastructure
Every inch of a City is a policy choice – and those choices should reflect a deep investment in health, safety, and community care. Let's build a city we are proud to share with the world.
- Secured $7+ million to close the parks maintenance gap
- In May, during our Council's first budget cycle, I worked closely with my colleagues across Council to craft a budget that reflects Portlanders real needs. I helped secure more than $7 million to close the parks maintenance gap.
- Referred and passed a five-year Safe Parks levy
- I co-sponsored the measure that referred the Parks Levy to voters. I advocated and secured buy-in for a levy figure that would maintain parks services and responsibly invest in capital maintenance instead of expanding Parks to the point of overreach (leading to layoffs and park shutdowns).
- Served as a representative on the Regional Waste Advisory Committee
- On this committee, I've consistently advocated for reduced waste rates for Portlanders, and have explored how we better serve Portlanders with a vision of a strong climate future.
- Invested in bathrooms, community centers, youth programming, and core facilities
- During budget negotiations, I secured funding that gets us back to the basics and makes sure that everyone has access to third spaces in our community.
Transportation, Safe Roads and Economic Viability
As the only transit-dependent Councilor in Portland, I know firsthand that the federal impact on our infrastructure cuts is going to be felt hardest by everyday Portlanders. I've gotten to work on big projects and it's full steam ahead in the new year.
- Directed $5+ million toward road safety and economic revitalization
- When transportation funding was tight, I worked with other Councilors to keep basic services like pothole and streetlight repairs funded by increasing a fee on Uber and Lyft so they pay their share.
- Supported pedestrian safety projects
- As Vice-Chair of the Transportation and Infrastructure Committee, I've pushed for investments in traffic calming measures, and for more resources to curb high-crash corridors like Cesar E Chavez Blvd.
- I secured funding for street plazas, like the ones that went up in D3 this year: the Roseway Plaza and the Hawthorne Plaza.
- Lobbied Congress and U.S. Dept. of Transportation for key investments
- I traveled to Washington, D.C. last fall with colleagues from around the region to secure federal transportation funding for projects like the Montgomery Streetcar, expansion of public transit, and improvements to 82nd Ave.
- Removed barriers to small business development to support local economies
- Along with Councilor Dunphy, I sponsored a package of reforms to make permitting faster, easier, and less costly. The package pauses mandates that slow residential and small business development, lowering costs and accelerating the production of hundreds of homes and businesses.
- Councilor Zimmerman and I brought forward a resolution to address our city's complicated design review process. This creates immediate, temporary exemption recommendations for new developments in Portland. This cuts through red tape and removes barriers to development. Win win!
- Supported striking workers
- From Starbucks baristas to farmworkers and nurses, every single worker deserves dignity, safety, and a living wage. I was proud to show up on the picket line for numerous unions this year, and will continue to fight for the working class in Portland and beyond.
- Also! I appeared on the world-famous Transit Talks! Click here to see the interview.
Community Wellbeing, Joy, and Cultural Diversity
"In the dark times, will there also be singing? Yes, there will be singing. About the dark times." – Bertolt Brecht
- Made cultural investments
- During the budget process, I worked closely with Councilor Green and other colleagues to secure funding for the James Beard Public Market and Portland Center Stage
- I fought to keep funding for a District 3 gem – the Community Music Center
- I marched, a lot. And danced with puppets.
- At the Pride celebration, I marched with the City of Portland and also with DSA. I was so honored to be marching alongside other openly queer and trans comrades in beautiful Portland -- the city that werks!
- I proudly joined tens of thousands at the No Kings rally in October. I was honored to speak alongside colleagues and leaders in Portland, and to march alongside my neighbors and comrades.
- I spoke at the Hands Off protest to join my fellow Portlanders in standing up to the Trump administration.
- I marched alongside community leaders and supported local businesses in the annual 82nd Ave Parade of Roses.
- I did some fun stuff! I found joy!
- I joined comedian Walter Masterson on stage alongside Councilor Mitch Green to talk shop, make jokes, and share resources with constituents.
- I went to my first ever Blazers game alongside Councilor Avalos and Councilor Pirtle-Guiney to celebrate Women's History Month. I was thrilled to join Councilors Zimmerman and Ryan later in the year for the annual Pride game as well.
- I made a CNN anchor laugh when I called Kristi Noem a "renowned puppy killer," and was accused of using a film crew to shoot a 5 minute TikTok.
- I jumped in a bouncy house with DCA Priya Dhanapal :)
- I ate hot dogs, basked in the sun, and pet a lot of dogs – at constituent events, parades, even the U.S. Capitol, and of course, the Annual Corgi Walk!
Good Governance, Transparency and Democratic Reform
Sometimes, progressive policy looks more wonky than sexy. These aren't the types of things that draw attention-grabbing headlines, but they are critical to building trust and improving transparency. I'm committed to breaking the barriers to the old boys' club that we once knew at City Hall, and delivering a fresh, new perspective that reflects real Portlanders' needs.
- Protected the Small Donor Elections Program
- To strengthen local democracy, I fought to fully fund Portland's Small Donor Election Program, securing over $800,000 for the program. This program amplifies the impact of small, grassroots donations and acts as the City's response to the influx of big money in elections.
- Preserved City workforce capacity
- Established Council oversight of the Mayor's "enterprise efficiencies" initiative to ensure cost-cutting measures don't lead to unnecessary layoffs or loss of public service.
- Improved budget oversight and fiscal transparency
- Restored the City Budget Office's traditional role of providing rigorous analysis of bureau budgets (after it had been curtailed under the new government structure).
- Set the groundwork for a Data and Privacy Office to protect personal data and guard against misuse or federal overreach
- For too long, Portland has had an irresponsible relationship with data. I am changing all that, alongside Councilor Novick, by pushing for a Data and Privacy office. This will go to full Council in a few weeks.
- Implemented robust constituent feedback mechanisms to hear directly from YOU, and not from the usual venture capitalists who have the ear of the good old boys at City Hall.
- Hosted 3 Budget Town Halls across the District to hear direct input about our City budget, and more town halls with my colleagues in the state legislature.
- Invited community members to monthly constituent conversations where I heard feedback from hundreds of District 3 residents
- Empowered staff to serve constituents with questions, feedback, policy ideas, and City service – from replacing a compost bin to finding housing resources, or fighting to save a community free fridge.
In 2026, I'm carrying forward some lessons from last year – like my budget amendment that sought to move some money from sweeps to housing help. I learned that moving fast is important, but outreach and clear communication are critical.
Looking ahead to my second year as your Councilor, I'm excited to dig into the budget with a little more time, line by line, to make Portland a place we can all afford to call home – let's fix our roads, make them safer, house our neighbors and keep them housed. I'm also eager to meet more neighbors where they are and to learn from each other, whether that's at a constituent coffee, on my favorite bus line, or at City Hall. Let's work together to get ICE the hell out of Portland, honor Rene Good's memory, protect our people, and live up to the progressive ideals that Portland claims.
I know that you are alongside me in this fight for humanity and justice. I know that District 3 has my back, and I bear that responsibility with the utmost responsibility. Because you believe in this work, I keep fighting. This bright-eyed kid from Paraguay never knew such a future was possible.
As always, I welcome your feedback and your questions. Feel free to give our office a call at 503-823-4360. From the bottom of my heart, thank you for showing up.
In Solidarity,
Councilor Angelita Morillo