Last year, around a third of Salemites who called 911 had to wait more than five and a half
minutes for help to come. The Salem Fire Department, facing an increasing number of calls, hopes to add staff to improve response times.
City News
Salem’s carousel to be renamed for founder Hazel Patton at Saturday ceremony
When Riverfront Carousel opened in 2001, Hazel Patton didn’t want her name on the building because she thought the structure should belong to the community. Now, as she nears her 90th birthday, her friends got her to reconsider.
YOUR GOVERNMENT: Cherriots looks to restart Shop-and-Ride service
The board of the Salem Area Mass Transit District meets Thursday, May 25, to consider applying to a federal grant to support its accessible shop-and-ride service, which takes people with disabilities to Fred Meyer and Walmart.
YOUR GOVERNMENT: Council looks at grant to improve tree canopy
The Salem City Council meets Monday, May 22, at 6 p.m. to consider steps to promote wildfire prevention, a repeal of its sit-lie ordinance and new equipment at the Willow Lake Water Pollution Control Facility.
Yet to open, Salem’s homeless navigation center could be out of money by 2025
The city of Salem has invested millions of dollars into the navigation center, which promises to fill a missing link in vital services for people who are homeless. City leaders are banking on state help to keep the long-awaited center running.
State funding will pay for housing, shelter beds for hundreds in Salem area
Local service providers have until January to get 185 households rapidly into housing and add 207 new shelter beds in Marion and Polk counties.
What’s next for Salem sidewalks and parks
Upcoming projects planned for the coming year include improvements at Geer Community Park, added pedestrian safety and a community microgrid.
Library director resigns for job in Beaverton
After 13 months leading Salem’s libraries, Kim Carroll has accepted a job to be closer to her family. The city will again be hiring for a new top librarian for the second time in two years.
United Way plans affordable tiny home development for Salem seniors
The nonprofit is kicking off a fundraising campaign to build a $3 million village of 400-square-foot cottages near Swegle Elementary School in east Salem. Rent would be capped at $500 a month.
Salem Police Department seeks 15 new officers to focus on property crime, community patrols
City leaders say both a payroll tax and an increase in the city’s utility bill fee are needed if the city is to fund additional police officers. Chief Trevor Womack said the department’s budget increases over the past decade haven’t been enough to keep up with population growth.