The crickets are out after sunset, berry picking has shifted from raspberries to blue berries, small patches of the lawn are dormant, and my excitement for college football is building. August has arrived!
In my service role as a member of the twelve-seat city council, one of three representing North & Northeast Portland, with current leadership roles in the Arts & Economy and Governance Committees, I take a pause to recalibrate my focus after the grueling budget debates. Lately, as I roam District 2 and greater Portland, I’ve been listening to people who do not have time to ‘lobby’ and activate the council chambers. A ‘reality check’ from the people who make Portland work.
When meeting Portlanders at annual picnics, reunions, little league games, festivals, and workplaces, they share honest feedback and common themes about the reality of living in Portland:
- “I want to feel safe when out and about in this beautiful city, and I want it cleaned up!”
- “I can get a big pay increase just by moving out of Multnomah County and provide more for my family. If the services were improving, I would be happy to keep paying! My heart is broken, as I am a third generation Portlander.”
- “I’m upset about losing our democracy nationally and I have deep sadness watching livability slip away locally. I want to have pride in Portland again. Please keep fighting for people like me!”
While listening to the average hard-working Portlander, not the political industry operatives spending time in City Hall, I’m reminded that local government must align ACTION to address the daily reality Portlanders are facing.
That reality is hard to miss.
We have a drug crisis on our streets and local government continues to enable intolerable behavior while hiding behind shaming slogans like “stop criminalizing homelessness” “stop the sweeps.” How about we accept the hard truth of the problem, align strategy, and collectively act with boldness! Taking action is compassion.
Our local economy remains fragile. Growing tax burden and fees has pushed out families and high earners who can afford to move away. Meanwhile, fixed income elders, single parents, and people on disability struggle to meet rising costs.
I personally steam with anger about national issues. But I took an oath to serve Portland. We struggled under the last President, and we are now struggling again under the current one. My point is: We need to FOCUS on handling OUR problems, while supporting our federal delegation to handle the national issues.
As your Councilor, I will remain clear-eyed about what matters most: delivering core services to Portlanders. I will continue to push for responsible stewardship of our city’s resources.
In my role as co-chair of Arts and Economy, I am excited to move forward with two more resolutions under my Support Our Storefronts Initiative. We must improve the city’s response to the security, vandalism, and livability issues that our working-class storefronts are facing.
I am also thrilled to improve the system of Portland’s Performance Halls. The city owns the Keller Auditorium, Arlene Schnitzer Concert Hall, and the Winningstad, Newmark, and Brunish theaters. Current Metro operations of these venues are overly complicated, inefficient, and price out local performers. I’ve met with nearly every group using those stages large and small, and not one is satisfied with the status quo. We must end the Inter-governmental agreement with Metro. Then, the City can take action to more rapidly improve these city-owned assets.
I will continue to have the humility to face reality, the optimism to fight for progress, and the courage to call out false narratives.
Summer is Portland’s season to shine. I hope you can get out and enjoy this magical time of year in Rose City.
Always,
Dan
“I support the Mayor’s executive order.
It’s disheartening to see the federal government threaten local funding and tie our hands with restrictive conditions. This overreach hurts hardworking Portlanders who rely on essential services—and we can’t add to that harm. The Mayor’s path forward, led by the City Administration, keeps critical funding flowing so we can continue serving those who need our help the most."
