In an email newsletter last week, Portland City Councilor Dan Ryan came out against the ballot measure that would create a new, increased levy to help fund the city's parks system. In the newsletter, Ryan—who oversaw Portland’s parks bureau for a period of time prior to the city’s government transition—said he supports the city’s parks. Still, he made the “hard decision” to vote “no” on the levy.

"Parks needs a shakeup and a no vote is what is necessary to wake us up and deliver reforms," Ryan said in the newsletter, which was distributed through his official city email address and social media accounts.

Ryan’s message came just days before Election Day. Measure 26-260, which would raise the current parks levy rate by 75 percent and be in effect for five years, is the only item on Portla

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