As a candidate for your mayor, you need to know where I stand on the issues, and I want to know where you stand on them, too. I come to this race with my ideas, but an open mind and a desire to hear your opinions and views. Please feel free to make this a conversation.
Bringing Salem Together – In talking with folks since I entered the campaign, it is clear that many do not feel that their voices or opinions are heard. I want to include everyone in the process of city government – inviting neighborhoods to bring ideas to the council and making council work sessions more inclusive and responsive to public comment.
Neighborhoods – Our neighborhoods are not getting the attention they deserve. Inner areas, close to downtown and other resources, are desirable places to live. We need to support a variety of housing options as these areas change, creating vibrant and diverse neighborhoods, while not leaving behind others. Outlying neighborhoods have their own distinct concerns and needs which we must address.
Parks – Salem has developed a strong regional park system and is currently updating the Parks Master Plan. Volunteers have stepped up and done tremendous work, but we can’t and shouldn’t expect them to shoulder so much of the load. Systems development charges for parks should be adequate to both purchase and develop park land. We must work to increase funding for park maintenance.
Historic Preservation – Historic preservation is an important tool for community development and enhancement. My wife and I bought the Erb house, supported its listing on the city’s historic inventory and got the zoning of the property converted from industrial to residential. I also wrote a history of the Southeast Salem neighborhood that was published by the Marion County Historical Society. We should make every effort to preserve and share our history.
Global Warming – I believe global warming is real and a serious threat. We should do all that we can as individuals and as a city to combat this problem. The city should sign on to the Mayors Climate Protection Agreement. We should immediately ask each city department, during the budget process, to provide information on activities it has or will undertake to reduce carbon emission generated by the city. Should we recreate the Environmental Commission? Investing in green technologies can increase efficiency and generate cost savings.
Battle Creek Golf Course – I support the decision of the planning commission to reject the plan and zone change for the golf course. Both open space and storm water runoff are important issues in Salem and any proposed plan amendment must fully address these issues. The land, purchased as a Public Amusement Zone, ought to stay a public resource.
Support for Downtown – I value Salem’s downtown, the commercial center and small, independent businesses. As we consider the future we should especially listen to the voices of the downtown residents, the local business owners, the local landlords, and people who often use the downtown area. I support developing a diversity of housing options and other uses for downtown.
Local Business – Local businesses throughout the city make the largest contributions to our economy. We must focus on these businesses and their retention and expansion. Our schools, parks, services and the quality of life we provide will draw companies to Salem. We ought to invest in those services as a significant part of our economic strategy.
Downtown Economic Improvement District – Salem has been through any number of downtown organizations and structures for linking the city and the downtown. The most recent one seems to be rushing headlong to completion without adequate input or review. The process that has given local owners an up or down slate of directors seems closed. We need to better explore how downtown funds (parking, leaseholder and urban renewal) are used and if they can be used more effectively. We don’t want to create a competitive disadvantage for downtown businesses.
Third Bridge –As Salem Keizer Transit’s representative on the oversight, I support additional access between West Salem and downtown. But a third bridge alone will not “solve” the congestion problem. Expanded capacity over the river must be matched by improvements in transit and a strong neighborhood center in West Salem with more services and jobs to reduce trips across the river. With current cost estimates for a new bridge at $600 million, we must look at all alternatives and options including a “low build” alternative (which would modify the current bridges) and limiting growth in West Salem until better transportation connections are available.
Expanded Commercial Flights – Many citizens value reasonably priced flights out of the Salem Airport. However, expansion of commercial flights into and out of Salem should be based on a community developed Airport Master Plan.
Helicopters – Our urban airport should be viewed as an important resource to be protected for important community aviation uses. Private helicopter training facilities that add few jobs and seriously degrade the livability and quality of life surrounding residential neighborhoods are not such a use.
PacTrust Development – I opposed the PacTrust development on Keubler when it was discussed at the Morningside Neighborhood Association. The original plan, a neighborhood center catering to the people who reside off of Battle Creek Road, would be an excellent addition. However, the larger development will draw significant additional traffic onto Kuebler and offset any benefits paid by the developer to widen Kuebler.
State Hospital – All the talk about the state hospital has muddied two very different issues. Size and location of a new hospital is one, and where patients are released is the other. I think patients should be released as near to their originating community as possible. If that means building more community facilities in the Portland or Eugene areas, we should push for that. In addition, there should be increased cooperation and partnership between state facilities, local service providers and neighborhoods to assure that those released from state facilities into Salem have the best possible opportunity to succeed without significant effects on the neighborhoods.
In building a new hospital, the key issue is the welfare of the patients. And they need a new hospital as soon as possible. To get such a hospital done quickly, it must be done at the current site. And it must be done well, and staffed appropriately. The hospital provides valuable employment opportunities for Salem, and will be another hospital that we can be proud of, just like the new one being built downtown.
Once the hospital is built, we should involve the state, the neighborhood and all the community in a process to determine the best use of the land north of Center Street, which is currently valued as neighborhood open space.