From Councilor Ryan’s desk: April 9, 2026

What's been on my mind this week

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

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 longer article about the Thompson Elk Fountain's history and triumphant return.

Read more about the return of the Thompson Elk Fountain

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

View full size image of Councilor Ryan (center) and members of Portland Street Response’s Sarah (left) and Angela (right) posing in front of a Portland Street Response vehicle.

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

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. 

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