Betsy Z
@betsyzz.bsky.social
The Oregon for Human Rights coalition is calling for a broad human rights screen on the City's investments. I was one of those Jewish elders testifying in support, representing Coalition member Jobs with Justice @jwjpdx.bsky.social. Councilor Zimmerman is calling me antisemitic. Wild.
Wanted to add this video testimony breakdown because I don’t think people get to ignore the fact that Zimerman was calling everyone in that chamber, including Jewish elders, antisemitic for criticizing Israel or supporting the human rights screening.
This was a new low.
⬇️
This was a new low.
⬇️
The Portland City Council’s discussion last week about revising the city’s investment policy turned acrimonious with accusations of antisemitism.
September 13, 2026 at 5:14 PM
The Oregon for Human Rights coalition is calling for a broad human rights screen on the City's investments. I was one of those Jewish elders testifying in support, representing Coalition member Jobs with Justice @jwjpdx.bsky.social. Councilor Zimmerman is calling me antisemitic. Wild.
Wanted to add this video testimony breakdown because I don’t think people get to ignore the fact that Zimerman was calling everyone in that chamber, including Jewish elders, antisemitic for criticizing Israel or supporting the human rights screening.
This was a new low.
⬇️
This was a new low.
⬇️
The Portland City Council’s discussion last week about revising the city’s investment policy turned acrimonious with accusations of antisemitism.
September 13, 2026 at 5:09 PM
The USPS Board Of Governors has the power to protect vote-by-mail, but they are not doing their job Join @usmailnotforsale.bsky.social & tell them to Deliver Our Ballots: actionnetwork.org/letters/deli...
Deliver Our Ballots - Tell Postal Service Leadership We Demand to Vote-by-Mail
The USPS Board of Governors has the power the protect vote-by-mail, but they are not doing their job. Will you send them a message?
actionnetwork.org
September 12, 2026 at 8:19 PM
The USPS Board Of Governors has the power to protect vote-by-mail, but they are not doing their job Join @usmailnotforsale.bsky.social & tell them to Deliver Our Ballots: actionnetwork.org/letters/deli...
Big union news in Oregon: www.oregonlabor.org/oregon-labor...
Oregon Teamsters Unite with Oregon Labor Federation, AFL-CIO in Historic Affiliation — Oregon Labor Federation, AFL-CIO
In a show of strength and solidarity during Labor Day week, the International Brotherhood of Teamsters Local 162, the largest Teamsters local in Oregon, and the statewide Teamsters Joint Council 37 ha...
www.oregonlabor.org
September 12, 2026 at 1:30 AM
Big union news in Oregon: www.oregonlabor.org/oregon-labor...
Happy Labor Day! (Join your union!)
September 7, 2026 at 5:24 PM
Happy Labor Day! (Join your union!)
Reposted by Betsy Z
Happy Labor Day! Understanding the labor movement can be daunting. Here's a grand tour of labor organizations in Oregon and Southwest Washington. nwlaborpress.org/2026/09/2026...
2026 guide to the local labor movement
Understanding the labor movement can be daunting. This guide is meant as a grand tour of labor organizations in the readership area we serve.
nwlaborpress.org
September 7, 2026 at 4:01 PM
Happy Labor Day! Understanding the labor movement can be daunting. Here's a grand tour of labor organizations in Oregon and Southwest Washington. nwlaborpress.org/2026/09/2026...
Reposted by Betsy Z
THE LATE GREAT LABOR DAY PARADE Parades were once a big part of union celebrations of Labor Day. Then, 100 years ago, they disappeared. nwlaborpress.org/2026/09/look...
Looking back at the late great Labor Day parade
Parades were once a big part of what it meant to celebrate Labor Day.
nwlaborpress.org
September 4, 2026 at 9:13 PM
THE LATE GREAT LABOR DAY PARADE Parades were once a big part of union celebrations of Labor Day. Then, 100 years ago, they disappeared. nwlaborpress.org/2026/09/look...
Reposted by Betsy Z
In some places across the country, lawmakers are criminalizing homelessness. And now there is a proposal to construct for-profit detention-style facilities where unhoused people would be confined and forced to work.
@frost.house.gov
@frost.house.gov
September 5, 2026 at 12:37 AM
In some places across the country, lawmakers are criminalizing homelessness. And now there is a proposal to construct for-profit detention-style facilities where unhoused people would be confined and forced to work.
@frost.house.gov
@frost.house.gov
Reposted by Betsy Z
The Trump administration is turning a conference room inside FEMA’s headquarters into a space to host immigration hearings starting as early as Tuesday, according to agency officials.
Trump administration to host immigration hearings at FEMA headquarters
The move, which has raised concerns among FEMA staff, is the latest example of the Trump administration shifting the agency’s resources toward immigration enforcement.
www.washingtonpost.com
September 5, 2026 at 12:15 AM
The Trump administration is turning a conference room inside FEMA’s headquarters into a space to host immigration hearings starting as early as Tuesday, according to agency officials.
Reposted by Betsy Z
An agreement paves the way for hundreds of millions of dollars’ worth of projects to be transferred from the NIH’s institute for infectious diseases to the Department of Defense.
go.nature.com/4ycEbk8
go.nature.com/4ycEbk8
Revealed: inside the US military's plan to tap huge sums from the NIH
An agreement paves the way for hundreds of millions of dollars’ worth of projects to be transferred from the NIH’s institute for infectious diseases to the Department of Defence.
go.nature.com
September 4, 2026 at 8:15 PM
An agreement paves the way for hundreds of millions of dollars’ worth of projects to be transferred from the NIH’s institute for infectious diseases to the Department of Defense.
go.nature.com/4ycEbk8
go.nature.com/4ycEbk8
Reposted by Betsy Z
Medicare and Medicaid Services administrator Mehmet Oz said “I don’t want anyone in America concerned inappropriately” about the GOP-fueled surge in measles infections after Pennsylvania officials announced that a newborn baby died with complications related to the disease this week.
Oz Says Many “Concerned Inappropriately” About Measles After Death of Unvaccinated Baby
“I don’t want anyone in America concerned inappropriately” about the surging disease, the health official said.
truthout.org
August 27, 2026 at 9:00 PM
Medicare and Medicaid Services administrator Mehmet Oz said “I don’t want anyone in America concerned inappropriately” about the GOP-fueled surge in measles infections after Pennsylvania officials announced that a newborn baby died with complications related to the disease this week.
Reposted by Betsy Z
State’s attorneys offices in one out of every 6 Illinois counties acted as assets to ICE, sharing sensitive personal data about the people they were prosecuting without criminal warrants, public disclosure, or legislative oversight.
The County Prosecutors Who Became ICE Informants
Prosecutors’ offices in 1 out of every 6 counties in Illinois provided information to ICE.
truthout.org
August 27, 2026 at 10:00 PM
State’s attorneys offices in one out of every 6 Illinois counties acted as assets to ICE, sharing sensitive personal data about the people they were prosecuting without criminal warrants, public disclosure, or legislative oversight.
Damn: the DOJ is suing because Oregon allows undocumented student - Oregon residents - to pay instate tuition. Such a reasonable law! ....Another example of how mean-spirited, dangerous and down-right rotten this administration is.
www.oregonlive.com/education/20...
www.oregonlive.com/education/20...
DOJ sues Oregon over in-state tuition for undocumented students
The lawsuit challenges Oregon's 2013 Tuition Equity Act, which allows undocumented immigrants to access in-state tuition rates at public universities and community colleges.
www.oregonlive.com
August 27, 2026 at 11:23 PM
Damn: the DOJ is suing because Oregon allows undocumented student - Oregon residents - to pay instate tuition. Such a reasonable law! ....Another example of how mean-spirited, dangerous and down-right rotten this administration is.
www.oregonlive.com/education/20...
www.oregonlive.com/education/20...
Reposted by Betsy Z
working class hero RIP
www.youtube.com/watch?v=UbxU...
www.youtube.com/watch?v=UbxU...
Dolly Parton - 9 To 5 (Official Video)
YouTube video by DollyPartonVEVO
www.youtube.com
August 25, 2026 at 6:29 PM
working class hero RIP
www.youtube.com/watch?v=UbxU...
www.youtube.com/watch?v=UbxU...
Reposted by Betsy Z
We mourn the passing of legendary Palestinian artist Sliman Mansour (1947–2026), who has left us at the age of 79. For over five decades, Mansour did more than create art, he painted the visual soul, memory, and enduring identity of Palestine.
Cartoon by @LatuffCartoons
Cartoon by @LatuffCartoons
August 25, 2026 at 6:47 PM
We mourn the passing of legendary Palestinian artist Sliman Mansour (1947–2026), who has left us at the age of 79. For over five decades, Mansour did more than create art, he painted the visual soul, memory, and enduring identity of Palestine.
Cartoon by @LatuffCartoons
Cartoon by @LatuffCartoons
Reposted by Betsy Z
Dolly Parton knew what it was like to struggle as she fought for working families her whole career. From providing free books to kids to giving working women our "9 to 5" anthem, she was an icon and an inspiration.
Rest in power to our union sister. We will always love you.
Rest in power to our union sister. We will always love you.
August 25, 2026 at 7:05 PM
Dolly Parton knew what it was like to struggle as she fought for working families her whole career. From providing free books to kids to giving working women our "9 to 5" anthem, she was an icon and an inspiration.
Rest in power to our union sister. We will always love you.
Rest in power to our union sister. We will always love you.
I just took action with @sandersinstitute.bsky.social and signed on as a citizen co-sponsor of the Green New Deal for Health. Join me and take action here: actionnetwork.org/forms/become...
Become a Citizen Co-Sponsor of the Green New Deal for Health
Senator Ed Markey (D-MA) and Sanders Institute Fellow Rep. Ro Khanna (D-CA) just introduced the Green New Deal for Health, the boldest plan yet to defend American patients, healthcare workers, and com...
actionnetwork.org
August 25, 2026 at 3:35 PM
I just took action with @sandersinstitute.bsky.social and signed on as a citizen co-sponsor of the Green New Deal for Health. Join me and take action here: actionnetwork.org/forms/become...
Reposted by Betsy Z
These aren’t just numbers — they represent real people.
The time to pass Medicare for All is now. It would save money, expand care, and stop preventable deaths.
#MedicareForAll
The time to pass Medicare for All is now. It would save money, expand care, and stop preventable deaths.
#MedicareForAll
August 19, 2026 at 2:45 PM
These aren’t just numbers — they represent real people.
The time to pass Medicare for All is now. It would save money, expand care, and stop preventable deaths.
#MedicareForAll
The time to pass Medicare for All is now. It would save money, expand care, and stop preventable deaths.
#MedicareForAll
I just wrote a @theactionnetwork.bsky.social letter: Tell Multnomah County Commissioners: We Demand Full Funding - No Delays!. Write one here: actionnetwork.org/letters/full...
Tell Multnomah County Commissioners: We Demand Full Funding - No Delays!
Preschool for All is changing lives already, but without proper funding the program could be out of money within the next few years. The Multnomah County Board of Commissioners will vote August 20 and...
actionnetwork.org
August 18, 2026 at 4:03 PM
I just wrote a @theactionnetwork.bsky.social letter: Tell Multnomah County Commissioners: We Demand Full Funding - No Delays!. Write one here: actionnetwork.org/letters/full...
Reposted by Betsy Z
this feels insanely, incredibly even, reasonable
We’re hearing testimony on the Moda term sheet today. I have filed an amendment that seeks to do two broad things:
1. empower the Joint Authority to limit expenditure public funds in the public interest with transparency and accountability
2. Reduce City’s commitment from $400M -> $120MM
1. empower the Joint Authority to limit expenditure public funds in the public interest with transparency and accountability
2. Reduce City’s commitment from $400M -> $120MM
www.portland.gov
August 5, 2026 at 5:26 PM
this feels insanely, incredibly even, reasonable
Reposted by Betsy Z
The beginning of this entire Moda Center city council meeting has been back-to-back corporate and institutional voices who were invited to speak first before the public.
Seems like an embarrassing way to conduct a “democratic” process.
Seems like an embarrassing way to conduct a “democratic” process.
I find it troubling that in what’s supposed to be a democratic process, we’ve “invited” the perspectives of institutions supporting using taxpayer dollars for a renovation, allowing them to frame the entire conversation from the beginning while the public has to wait their turn.
August 5, 2026 at 5:31 PM
The beginning of this entire Moda Center city council meeting has been back-to-back corporate and institutional voices who were invited to speak first before the public.
Seems like an embarrassing way to conduct a “democratic” process.
Seems like an embarrassing way to conduct a “democratic” process.