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What's been on my mind lately
Dragon Boat Race recap: 2026 Elected Official Cup
 Mayor Wilson, Councilor Ryan, Kaohsiung City Councilors, and members of the Portland-Kaohsiung Sister City Association holding trophies at the 2026 Elected Official Cup.
Today, I’m really basking in the joy that was this past weekend’s Dragon Boat Races, and particularly, the Elected Official Cup. The Portland Rose Festival is one of my favorite times of year and being able to participate in the Dragon Boat Races alongside my colleagues, City leadership, and Councilors from our Sister City of Kaohsiung, Taiwan made it extra special. Portland City Councilors Green, Kanal, Morillo, and I were all-in for the Elected Official Cup as members of team Paddle Portland Forward, competing in the spirit of camaraderie and a shared focus of, well… not coming in last place.
The competition was fierce, indeed. Mayor Wilson's heavyweight team ended up taking first place, while team Paddle Portland Forward took second. City Councilors from Kaohsiung came in third—but truth be told, I think they may have taken it a little easy on us. A special shoutout to my Council Aide, Will Mespelt! Coordinating across 12 offices to make sure we got practice sessions in, during budget season no less, was a bit lift. THANK YOU, WILL!
Relatedly, it’s more important than ever that we nurture our relationships with the City of Portland’s Sister Cities. The Portland-Kaohsiung Sister City Association (PKSCA) was founded 39 years ago in 1987 to promote friendship and understanding between the people of Portland and Kaohsiung. It’s hosted the annual Portland Rose Festival Dragon Boat Races since 1989. It’s been my honor to participate in and represent Portland at events and festivities hosted by or in partnership with the City of Kaohsiung over the years. Our Kaohsiung dignitaries, including Madam Speaker Kang of the Kaohsiung City Council and Deputy Director-General Chang of the Kaohsiung City Government, are incredible—I feel fortunate to have had the opportunity to get to know them.
Including Kaohsiung, did you know that Portland has ten Sister Cities? In fact, I recently introduced an ordinance with Councilors Dunphy and Kanal in May to codify Lviv, Ukraine as Portland’s newest Sister City. It was approved at its second reading on June 4, just after the City of Portland Sister City Reception at City Hall. During this period of polarized isolationism, these connections strengthen Portland’s global diplomatic, economic, cultural, and educational ties through partnerships with governmental, nonprofit, and business institutions across the map.
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Who’s driving Portland’s overarching economic development strategy?
 Councilor Ryan chatting with Hound & Hare Vintage Owner Stephanie Calvert in the St. Johns neighborhood.
Improving Portland’s economic picture has long been one of my top priorities—it’s why I sponsored the development of the Storefront Support Program as part of the 2024-25 budget cycle. Thankfully, funding for this work was included in Mayor Wilson’s 2026-27 proposed budget, and it appears as though it will remain funded in the final budget.
The City’s essential services are paid for through local tax revenue streams, with major sources including business license taxes (BLT) and property taxes. When both of those funding sources are flat or declining—as they currently are—and fixed costs continue to rise, the City of Portland struggles to deliver the basics—from parks programming and public safety to street maintenance and beyond. It’s a big part of why the City has been in a deficit for the last few years and why the Mayor and City Council have had to make significant cuts during recent City budget cycles. When those basic City functions go unfunded, Portland becomes a less attractive city to current and future residents, business owners, investors, and more.
If we work together toward the common goal of getting Portland’s local economy on the right track, we can chart a new, more prosperous future for ourselves—one that sees basic needs addressed and one where we’re not choosing which essential services are on the chopping block every year. If businesses of all types can thrive in Portland, they’ll set up shop, stick around and grow, and generate business license tax revenue for the City over the long-term. These businesses will provide jobs that empower people to put roots down in Portland, creating more homeowners who pay property taxes and enroll in our public schools.
 Councilor Ryan (center) at Party on Portland and National Night Out at Director's Park in 2025.
Importantly, we need to get out of our own way and stop creating an environment that actively makes economic recovery harder. A recent example is the conversation about banning foie gras in Portland. When we pass legislation that layers another intrusive regulation on local businesses, we’re saying, “Welcome to Portland, where we’re unfriendly to anyone who dares to invest and where your small business will face more (and new!) regulations and fees than anywhere else in the country.”
Identifying shared priorities and an overarching strategy that we can all work toward is difficult because many folks from across Portland own a piece of the economic development puzzle. Who is setting our course? Additionally, from my seat on the dais, economic development doesn’t seem like a focus for the majority of our current City Councilors. Created earlier this year, one of the City Life Committee’s primary charges is economic development—and I’m in communication with Chair Pirtle-Guiney to make sure it becomes a priority of our agenda. This Council must pivot to economic development as its number one priority. If we don't, we'll keep losing our tax base, and we'll stay in the cycle of needing to make more and deeper cuts to essential services.
As an action item, I’ve asked Council President Dunphy to support in co-planning an economic development summit for Portland City Councilors, and I’ll collaborate with him and the Chair of City Life Councilor Pirtle-Guiney to make sure it happens. We need to get together as a governing body and create a plan that gives today’s Portlanders a reason to continue to invest in our beautiful city.
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2026-27 City of Portland budget update: Where we are and what’s next
 Councilors Kanal, Ryan, Dunphy, and Clark on the dais during 2026-27 budget amendment deliberations.
With so many moving parts, following the City’s budget process hasn’t been easy. Here’s an update on where we are right now:
- After a few weeks spent introducing, ironing out, debating, and voting on amendments to the Mayors proposed budget, City Council submitted an approved budget to the Tax Supervising & Conservation Commission (TSCC) on Thursday, May 21.
- Last week, City Councilors convened for a budget work session where we discussed a handful of budget notes. We’ll vote on them later this week. Budget notes are companion pieces to budget amendments, outlining policy direction for whether the administration will carry something forward and sometimes attaching a dollar amount. Essentially, budget notes provide more in-depth information about the intent of the amendments they’re attached to.
- Tomorrow, June 9, from 9:30-11:30 a.m. at City Hall, TSCC will host a public hearing focused on the adopted budget. Members of the public are encouraged to submit written comments any time before the hearing by emailing TSCC staff
- On Wednesday, June 10, we’ll move on to the first reading of the Adopted Budget, which will include all budget notes and budget amendments passed to date. 🗞️THIS JUST IN: I am sorting through several newly submitted amendments. I’m focusing on reading past the headlines and getting into the details of each amendment. I will lean in with intention to restore public safety that includes police.🗞️
- The second, and final, reading will take place on Wednesday, June 17. Through this second reading, my focus will remain on the full restoration of public safety and ensuring support for the Storefront Support Program. Right now, I have hope that we can keep moving toward a final budget that reflects these priorities.
Thank you, Portland, for your involvement and your voice in this process.
In service always,
Dan
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 Councilor Ryan at the Rose Festival ribbon-cutting ceremony.
I was honored to ring in the start of the 2026 Portland Rose Festival season at this year's ribbon-cutting ceremony on May 22! The Rose Festival is such a special time of year in Portland, and it's always a joyful experience to get out and support one of our city's signature festivals and an integral part of our shared history and culture.🌹
 2026 Rose Festival Court at City Hall in May.
At the May 28 meeting of City Council's Committee of the Whole, we introduced the 2026 Rose Festival Court. This year's Princesses were able to share a little bit about their backgrounds and excitement for the festival season. I’m happy we were able to recognize the Court’s leadership, community involvement, and role in representing Portland’s diversity and spirit within City Hall’s Chambers.
Additionally, I had the opportunity to recognize Princess Kaitlyn Alexander (pictured second from the left), a junior at Cleveland High School, for her leadership in the festival’s Dragon Boat Races. Kaitlyn has been competing in these races since she was 13, and she was flag catcher for City Council's team last year and shared the duty for this year's Elected Official Cup.🐉
 Councilor Ryan, second from the right, and members of the Portland Art Museum's leadership team.
When I say I want Portland to be a major league city, it goes beyond sports. Portland’s arts and culture ecosystem, including its heavy-hitters—like Portland Art Museum, are certainly included in what I’m referring to. PAM brings Portland to the world and the world to Portland, all within its beautiful, newly expanded campus. A few of the museum's ongoing and upcoming exhibitions and events that should be on all of our radars include:
🎨 Yinka Ilori: Mountains Full of Blessings Grand Opening & Public Celebration
📆 August 8, 2026
〰️ A celebration of the grand opening of the new Cultural District Plaza on SW Madison Street, which will be pedestrianized and filled with art, including artist Yinka Ilori's “Mountains Full of Blessings” mural.
🎨 The Stars We Do Not See: Australian Indigenous Art
📆 September 5, 2026-January 3, 2027
〰️ Drawn from the collection of Melbourne’s National Gallery of Victoria, this exhibition will introduce North American audiences to the diverse and distinct visual iconographies of Indigenous Australia.
🎨 2026 HeART of Portland: A Portland Public Schools K-12 Arts Showcase
📆 Through September 20, 2026
〰️ This exhibit celebrates student arts learning and achievement, as well as reflects the community’s commitment to providing local children with access to an arts education through the Arts Access Fund (powered by the Arts Tax). As seen in some of these photos, I had the joy of experiencing this showcase myself recently!
 Councilor Ryan (third from the left) and Councilor Pirtle-Guiney (third from the right), with Portland Public Schools Board Members and Jefferson High School leadership.
Honored to have been part of the recent ground-breaking ceremony for District 2's new Jefferson High School. Once complete, it's set to include state-of-the-art academic, athletic, and arts facilities on the north side of the campus on Killingsworth. What an exciting moment in the history of Jefferson High School. We were all feeling the Demo pride! 💙💛
 Members of the Northeast Community Center's Board of Directors and staff leadership teams on the facility's indoor basketball courts.
I was recently invited by the Northeast Community Center’s Board of Directors and staff leadership to stop by for a visit and learn more about their facility. I took them up on the opportunity and wanted to pass along a few tidbits I gleaned.
First, I learned that the NECC team is planning to make the center more inclusive to people with mobility challenges. We talked about the process and challenges associated with navigating the City’s permitting system as they seek to add ramps for greater accessibility.
More generally, if you’ve not visited NECC before, they’re an independent, nonprofit community center whose building first opened in 1925 as the Northeast Portland YMCA. In 2004, when the YMCA announced plans to close the center, a group of neighbors catalyzed around a dream: To create a center of fitness, wellness, and connection for the community. Today, NECC offers all kinds of activities for every age-range—from boxing and basketball to dance, arts, summer camps, and Parkinsons-specific programming.
Check out the NECC website to learn more about upcoming events and classes!
 Councilor Ryan, right, at Sabatino Moto on a recent visit to St. Johns.
I recently spent a few hours strolling along North Lombard Street in the St. Johns neighborhood. My Policy Advisor Will and I chatted with business owners, staff, and patrons about a range of topics on their minds, including the exploration of an enhanced service district (ESD) and cuts to public safety in the City’s budget.
A big shoutout to Two Stroke Coffee Co., Sabatino Moto, RoM, Ace Typewriter, Shop Lyko, and Lombard House—just a handful of the many incredible small businesses in St. Johns. Our visit to Shop Lyko was particularly special. My dad was a dentist, and his practice was located in the same building as Shop Lyko for more than three decades, from the 1950s to the 1980s. I hadn’t been in that space in many years and it really brought back some memories for me!
I also stopped in at Fire & Rescue's Station 22 to celebrate the restoration of its funding in the City’s 2026-27 budget and to thank them for putting out the recent floating home fires across from Hayden Island.
I’ve mentioned it before, but it’s worth restating—the best part of my job is getting out of City Hall and connecting with Portlanders. Our new form of government created the conditions for City Councilors to spend more time out and about, listening to and learning from community members. I’m thankful for that.
 Councilors Smith, Kanal, and Ryan at the City of Portland Sister Cities Reception on June 4, 2026.
Every June, Portland's Mayor in partnership with the Portland Rose Festival and the Royal Rosarians host the City of Portland Sister Cities Reception on the Thursday before the Rose Festival Grant Floral Parade. That day was last week, and what a joyful gathering it was.
We were welcomed by Cowlitz Indian Tribe Spiritual Leader Tanna Engdahl, treated to a musical performance by first-generation Ukrainian-Americans Darka Dusty Stebivka and Miri Stebivka, heard kind words from the Mayor of Lviv, Ukraine, and recognized honored guests Tatiana Terdal (Portland-Lviv Sister City Association), En-Cheng Chang (Kaohsiung City Government), and Wen-Ching Wu (Kaohsiung City Government). Following the reception, Portland City Council voted to pass an ordinance declaring the City of Lviv, Ukraine, as Portland's newest Sister City—our 10th!
 Councilors Ryan and Clark with PFFA Local 43 President Isaac McLennan at the 2026 Grand Floral Starlight Parade..
There really is nothing like the Rose Festival's Grand Floral Starlight Parade! This free, family-friendly event attracts thousands annually! As a festival-goer this year, I was able to see the incredible vibrancy on display firsthand. The entire community was connected and engaged, and it was a joy to chat with fellow parade-goers, both from Portland and from out of state. I'm already looking forward to next year's festivities!
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Traducción e Interpretación | Biên Dịch và Thông Dịch | अनुवादन तथा व्याख्या 口笔译服务 | Устный и письменный перевод | Turjumaad iyo Fasiraad Письмовий і усний переклад | Traducere și interpretariat | Chiaku me Awewen Kapas
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The City of Portland ensures meaningful access and reasonably provides: translation, interpretation, modifications, accommodations, alternative formats, auxiliary aids and services. To request these services, call 311 for Relay Service or TTY: 711.
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