What's been on my mind lately

The Thompson Elk Fountain is back—and you're invited to celebrate

Councilor Dan Ryan standing in front of the newly reinstalled Thompson Elk Fountain on April 9, 2026.

Absent from its plinth for six years, Portland's Thompson Elk statue has made its grand return to Downtown's Plaza Blocks this week—atop a fully repaired and renovated fountain. The community celebration will take place this Sunday, April 12, 2026, from 1-4 p.m. There will be a dedication ceremony, live music, community booths, giveaways, food trucks, and more. Portlanders, I hope to see you there!

This momentous occasion is the culmination of work that has stretched from every corner of Portland's civic campus, from the Portland Water Bureau and the Bureau of Transportation to the Office of Arts & Culture and Portland Parks & Recreation. The enthusiastic support from grassroots community organizers and nonprofit partners, including the Concerned Citizens and the Portland Parks Foundation, was also vital to this work. 

As we welcome the elk home, I'm also reflecting on my own role in the story of this iconic piece of Portland culture. In May 2022, two years after this beloved piece of public art was removed, Commissioner Carmen Rubio and I put forward Resolution 37576. We were disappointed by how slowly conversations about the elk restoration were progressing, and we were listening to constituents who unequivocally said that they wanted the elk to return to its original location. The resolution, which was passed unanimously by City Council, ensured that would happen. 

I truly believe that the elk's return is more than symbolic—it should be celebrated as part of the larger revival of Downtown Portland. I can't wait to celebrate alongside my fellow Portlanders this Sunday! In the meantime, take a look at my article about the Thompson Elk Fountain's history and triumphant return.

2026-27 public safety ride alongs, pt. 2: Portland Street Response

Councilor Ryan (center) and members of Portland Street Response’s Sarah (left) and Angela (right).

As I mentioned a few weeks ago, I connect one-on-one with the City of Portland's public safety bureaus and offices in advance of every budget cycle. These annual ride-along opportunities provide me with the perspective I need in advance of the budget season. 

My second ride-along in preparation for 2026-27 budget deliberations was last Friday with Sarah and Angela from Portland Street Response (PSR), and I was happy to have the opportunity to observe the important work they do firsthand. Seeing this dynamic duo handle a complicated incident along a busy street likely saved another pedestrian death on our streets—and they were the first responders on scene. Listening to Angela place calls to a business owner in distress was customer service at its best, and I could tell that the business owner was deeply grateful for their support.

Through this experience, I gained a deeper understanding of the City of Portland's public safety system, which is funded by hard-working Portlanders. Year over year, I'm pleased to have found that PSR's practices are improving and that their work is less siloed than it has been in previous years. Our first responders must all be on the same team.

Despite signs that we're headed in the right direction, we still have a lot of work to do. My biggest concern remains systemic challenges regarding the City's ability to hand off people to the other half of our region's social service and public safety systems, managed by Multnomah County: corrections, rehabilitation, and legal services. Simply put, Portland's first responders need Multnomah County to provide more robust services so that the hand off is successful. 

A call for transparency and accountability for housing organizations and projects that receive tax funding

City Councilor Dan Ryan testifying at the April 7, 2026 Housing and Permitting Committee meeting.

At the Housing and Permitting Committee meeting on Tuesday, April 7, I testified about pressing issues I believe are going under-discussed on our City Council. I think it's important that I use this space to share the requests I made on behalf of my constituents to that committee's chair, vice-chair, and members. 

Our affordable housing partners and developments are too often failing to provide stable, safe places for Portlanders to call home—this is especially the case for the elderly and those who are differently abled. The ongoing challenges with Home Forward, as well as other housing providers, are well-documented in the media. What I've heard from so many North and Northeast neighbors underscores these findings—people are concerned for their safety from within their own homes. We know there are vacancy problems, maintenance issues, and capital project backlogs. We also know there are issues involving behavioral wellness and substance abuse, and that often these are the root causes that expose operational issues with the provider network.

I have two requests for my colleagues on the Portland City Council: 

• Let's have a full, transparent discussion about accountability and identify what success will look like as it relates to safety, living conditions, and vacancy rates for projects and organizations that are funded through tax dollars. 
• That any City funded housing measures include a set of achievable outcomes for our partner organizations that will provide us with data-driven performance metrics we can use to make evaluations. 

The status quo is broken. We can, and must, do better. 

Out and about: Community snapshots

Visiting the ReBuilding Center on Mississippi Avenue

City Councilor Dan Ryan, District 2, with the ReBuilding Center team on April 3, 2026.

I was delighted to visit the ReBuilding Center on Mississippi Avenue in District 2 late last week. It’s an excellent resource for building materials, woodshop education, and skill development for people of all backgrounds and abilities. Their dedicated team also offers home maintenance classes to help educate homeowners and renters on how to protect their homes, make repairs, save money, and prevent waste.

I was impressed by the store’s incredible selection of one-of-a-kind items—every year they get more than 3,000 building material donations! Their model promotes the reuse economy and diverts useful, usable items from reaching the landfill.

Thank you to the ReBuilding Center crew for sharing some of your time with me!

More recent photos from around town

I was thankful to be able to meet with the Portland Park Alliance’s Paul Agrimis (left), Friends of Pier Park’s Stephanie LaMonica (middle right), and Chris Manno from Friends of Columbia Park (right) on March 31. They’re all champions for Portland’s parks and green spaces, which are vital to the experience of living in and enjoying Rose City. They’re also part of a larger volunteer ecosystem that our parks depend on. As a reminder of the importance of Portland’s parks, I was gifted a pinecone from a Giant Sequoia. It’s incredible to me that such a massive species of tree is able to regenerate thanks to tiny little cones like this one. 🌲

On a recent sunny Friday afternoon, I grabbed a quick lunch with PPS Board Member Virginia La Forte, who represents Zone 5 on the PPS Board of Directors, at StormBreaker Brewing. We discussed how supporting storefronts and cleaning up the public right of way helps schools, as families and children need safe routes. She and I both care deeply about ensuring that families can thrive in Portland, and we believe that the success of our schools and our city go hand in hand.

A big thanks to the Oregon Restaurant & Lodging Association (ORLA) for inviting me to their Regional Roundup on April 6.

Co-hosted by Travel Portland and the Portland Metro Chamber, conversation amongst attendees—primarily hospitality and foodservice operators in the city, including in District 2—focused on recent examples of the challenges and successes they are experiencing operating here locally. A common theme was that many local hospitality businesses are having to be creative to keep business going. The recent state tax increase on hotel stays, lower-than-needed foot traffic, and public safety were among the most common concerns.

It was great to meet some of my Northeast neighbors at the March 31 gathering of the Humboldt Neighborhood Association. I was able to answer some of the community's questions, including about budget, transportation, and parking challenges. Getting their perspective, and the perspectives of as many of my constituents as possible, continues to shape my view of how City Council and the City of Portland is meeting, and not meeting, the needs of Portlanders. Thank you for having me!

Upcoming meetings and events

• 4/12: Thompson Elk Fountain Homecoming Celebration (You're invited! 🎊)
• 4/14: City Life Committee Meeting
• 4/15: Finance and Governance Committee of the Whole Meeting
• 4/15: City Council Meeting
• 4/16: City Council Meeting (tentative)
• 4/16: Piedmont Neighborhood Association Monthly Meeting

Having trouble viewing this email? View it as a Web page.