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 vehicles to legally camp on[Read More…]
Tag: SALEM CITY GOVERNMENT
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. Ausec is a first-term Salem[Read More…]
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 nonprofit leaders have had one[Read More…]
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 night but at the same[Read More…]
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 likely headline this year’s State[Read More…]
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 their concerns known Thursday over[Read More…]
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 then flown to Oregon Health[Read More…]
Kaser won’t seek second term on Salem City Council
Yet another seat on Salem City Council will be wide open this year. Citing major changes with both her family and her career, Councilor Cara Kaser told Salem Reporter on Saturday morning she won’t seek a second term as one of the city’s nine policymakers. Her term expires Dec. 31,[Read More…]
Salem leaders decide to shelter homeless instead of setting up public camping
People sleep on mats at a warming shelter at First Presbyterian Church during a cold snap earlier this year. (Troy Brynelson/Salem Reporter) Tasked with finding a place for homeless residents to legally camp, Salem’s elected leaders on Monday night decided instead to take them indoors. The Salem City Council agreed[Read More…]
Salem City Council approves sidewalk conduct ordinance without sit-lie aspect
Tents line the boulevard next to The ARCHES Project in downtown, where homeless residents have congregated in recent weeks. (Troy Brynelson/Salem Reporter) Salem City Council approved a new city law Monday night that will regulate certain behaviors on sidewalks, but it won’t include perhaps its most controversial piece. The law[Read More…]
