Good morning and thanks for spending a few moments with me.
Voters in Salem have plenty of people telling them which candidates to choose and measures to support.
Salem Reporter isn’t one of them.
We don’t do endorsements. We don’t do editorials at all.
But the topic of newspaper endorsements has gotten national attention in recent days. The Los Angeles Times and the Washington Post announced they aren’t endorsing in the race for president.
That a news organization elects not to tell readers how to vote isn’t news. It’s the timing of the decisions. Subscribers by the hundreds are canceling.
At Salem Reporter, we have stayed out of the opinion business. Besides no editorials, we don’t host political columns or letters to the editor.
Our job, as we see it, is to provide you and other readers with facts you can trust. We put every dollar we have into doing so.
And readers have overwhelmingly supported that. Later this year, we’ll again survey readers on this point.
Meantime, here’s some of our top stories in recent days.
This is a tense election and those in charge of balloting in Marion and Polk counties are feeling the heat. Reporter Abbey McDonald looked into what’s happening in local election offices.
Local high school students are participating in a mock election.
“I hope that students feel informed, that their voice matters, that they understand what the civics process is,” one teacher explained.
Managing Editor Rachel Alexander has tracked the experiment at South Salem High School to use a weapons detector. Now, she reports, those devices are being installed at all local high schools.
In news from City Hall, Salem city councilors are reacting to dismal poll results. Salem voters showed no interest in more taxes. Reporter Joe Siess tells what councilors plan to do to confront distrust in the community.
He also follows up on the council’s decision in what would ordinarily be a mundane land use matter. Turns out the developer, not the land owner, is being spared costs of a sidewalk.
The city now is considering raising the price for water and sewer service. You have through Monday to weigh in before the decision becomes final.
Marion County’s new approach to mental health crises gets a close look by reporter Ardeshir Tabrizian. “County data shows that the civilian crews have resolved nearly all incidents they’ve been called to without the help of law enforcement officers,” he reports.
One sign of the housing shortage in Salem is access to publicly-supported housing. The demand has been so high that even waitlists to get in have been closed. For a short time now, people can put their names on the list to get in line for help.
We have plenty of coverage of people doing good things around the community.
Reporter Madeleine Moore has details on those honored by the city for their volunteer service, including one surprise announcement.
Students from Blanchet Catholic School are making monthly visits at a local retirement home, bonding with residents over crafts.
Friends gathered at Bush’s Pasture Park to celebrate Sofia Schwarz’s 89th birthday. She has spent years volunteering to help improve the park.
Finally, we get you ready for Halloween with a comprehensive guide on where to celebrate and where to find a haunted house experience. As if the current state of politics isn’t frightening enough.
PHOTO OF THE WEEK:
A hungry cannibal searches for fresh meat on October 17, 2024 (Laura Tesler/ Special to the Salem Reporter)
I’m always delighted to hear from readers. Send me your ideas, your questions, even your concerns or complaints. My direct email: [email protected].
Let’s go have a great week and do something helpful for the community.
– Les Zaitz, co-founder and editor, Salem Reporter
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