Category City News
Emails shed light on city hall’s scramble to find shelter solutions for homeless after camping ban
City Manager Steve Powers responds to questions from the a crowd of neighbors in January at Pringle Community Hall. The city later scrubbed plans to turn the hall into an emergency homeless shelter through the end of March. (Saphara Harrell/Salem Reporter) The pressure to deal…
Salem no closer to solution for homeless campers downtown
Tents line the boulevard next to The ARCHES Project in November. (Troy Brynelson/Salem Reporter) It’s been six weeks week since Salem banned camping on public property and Salem City Council is no closer to finding a dry place to sleep for the people who have…
City clears way for land owners to host car campers
Lorrie Walker, a volunteer with The ARCHES Project, talks with Doug Pendleton at the van he lives in at Cascades Gateway Park. (Troy Brynelson/Salem Reporter) After declaring a housing emergency last week, Salem city officials now are opening the way for those living in their…
Race and political ideology could end a Salem council race before it starts
Jose Gonzalez is running for Salem City Council to represent northeast neighborhoods in Ward 5. (Courtesy/Jose Gonzalez) Over cups of coffee in recent months, Matt Ausec and Jose Gonzalez have discussed an idea that may be a little bit of a curveball for Salem voters.…
Why Salem leaders, weeks into a search for homeless shelters, walked away from new beds
Councilor Tom Andersen responds to questions from the a crowd of neighbors at Pringle Community Hall. Salem City Council on Tuesday walked away from plans to turn the hall into an emergency homeless shelter. (Saphara Harrell/Salem Reporter) For the past six weeks, Salem officials and…
Salem declares state of emergency on homelessness, but scraps shelter plan
City Manager Steve Powers responds to questions from the a crowd of neighbors at Pringle Community Hall. Plans to turn the hall into an emergency shelter were scrapped Tuesday night. (Saphara Harrell/Salem Reporter) Salem City Council officially declared a state of emergency around homelessness Tuesday…
State of the City 2020: What local leaders think
Mayor Chuck Bennett responds to questions from the a crowd of neighbors at Pringle Community Hall. The city plans to turn the hall into an emergency homeless shelter through the end of March. (Troy Brynelson/Salem Reporter) Salem’s homeless residents, the city’s budget and infrastructure will…
Neighbors unsettled over plans to turn Pringle Hall into emergency homeless shelter
City Manager Steve Powers responds to questions from the crowd of neighbors at Pringle Community Hall. The city plans to turn the hall into an emergency homeless shelter through the end of March. (Saphara Harrell/Salem Reporter) Neighbors of a community center near downtown Salem made…
Mike Swaim, outspoken former Salem mayor, dies at 76
Salem city hall (Salem Reporter) Mike Swaim, a former Salem mayor known for positioning himself against development in the city, died Dec. 17. He was 76. His wife, Kellie Swaim, said Swaim suffered a severe stroke while undergoing heart surgery at Salem Health. He was…