Portland City Hall Faces New Discrimination, Ethics Concerns
Portland City Councilor Tiffany Koyama Lane and her office are facing scrutiny following the filing of discrimination complaints by a former staffer and separate allegations involving another aide to a different councilor. The complaints add to a growing sense of turmoil within City Hall as staff attempt to unionize.
Sprout Chinn, a former aide in Koyama Lane’s office, submitted complaints on February 10 to the city’s Office of Equity and Human Rights and Oregon’s Bureau of Labor and Industries (BOLI). Chinn alleges she was retaliated against and ultimately fired after requesting accommodations for a seizure disorder, as protected under the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA).
According to the complaints, Chinn began experiencing what she perceived as retaliatory behavior last spring after seeking accommodations through Portland’s Bureau of Human Resources. She requested the ability to take 10-minute breaks every two hours while canvassing neighborhoods on hot days, a request that was granted with a temperature threshold of 80 degrees. Chinn claims her supervisor, Mary Li, Koyama Lane’s chief of staff, expressed displeasure that she had gone to HR directly.
Chinn further alleges a shift in Koyama Lane’s behavior toward her, describing feeling increasingly ignored and unable to speak directly with the councilor. She stated in her complaint that this treatment “made the duties of my job extremely difficult [and] was embarrassing, obvious to my colleagues, and dehumanizing.” Chinn was terminated from her position nearly a year after being hired.
Koyama Lane declined to comment on personnel issues, stating in a statement to the Mercury, “My focus is making sure my team can effectively serve the constituents of District 3. I am committed to protecting the privacy of employees and those directly involved.” Li was not available for comment.
The complaints come as Portland City Council staff are in the process of forming a union, represented by the Communications Workers of America (CWA) Local 7901. While the union has not directly linked Chinn’s termination to her organizing efforts, CWA 7901 President Meg Ward said the incident has had a “significant impact on the unit as a whole.”
Union members have shown support for Chinn, as well as Adam Murray, another Council staffer and union organizer who was recently fired from Councilor Loretta Smith’s office. The union has filed an unfair labor practice complaint against Smith’s office, alleging Murray’s termination was in retaliation for his union organizing efforts.
“We believe it’s vital to get to the bargaining table as soon as possible and to negotiate for just cause and other protections,” Ward said.
Chinn is seeking a formal apology from Koyama Lane’s office, reinstatement to her former position, and assurance that City Council staff are granted the same ADA protections as other Portland employees.
In a separate matter, Portland City Councilor Jamie Dunphy recently fired Amani Kelekele, a senior aide, after revelations that Kelekele took in a disabled homeless woman and later abandoned her at a state park. Kelekele was placed on paid administrative leave before being terminated on Tuesday, according to city spokesperson Alison Perkins.
The circumstances surrounding Kelekele’s dismissal are under scrutiny, and the incident raises ethical questions about the responsibilities of city staff toward vulnerable populations.
Adding another layer of complexity, Mary Li, Koyama Lane’s chief of staff, previously held positions at both Multnomah County and the City of Portland simultaneously for two months last spring. Public records show she worked 32 hours a week at the county while beginning her role at City Hall. While the arrangement was authorized by both governments, Portland human resources officials indicated they were unaware of similar employment agreements in the past. The Portland Auditor’s Office received complaints about Li’s dual employment, alleging she was performing county duties while on the clock for the city, but those complaints were ultimately dismissed after a review by the city’s interim HR director.
