Also at Council on Monday is a proposal for an employee payroll tax. Though the City slips in "unsheltered services," and some want to think that might mean funding for the Navigation Center or other services like that, the center of the list is Fire and Police, "community safety."
Probably it would be better to think of "unsheltered services" under "housing crisis" rather than "community safety." Some unsheltered people might commit crimes, but being unsheltered is not itself a crime or inherently a danger to the citizenry. This is a category mistake, welcomed and intended by some, but not something the City should embrace.
Additionally between recent reports on the frequency of Police shootings here, unnecessary and misdirected force used in policing protests, and the coverup going on with Marganne Allen's death, Council should be under no hurry to give Police additional resources until they figure it out.
Then there is the matter of Fire response, the proportion of calls that are medical rather than fire, and the best way to deliver services that corresponds to the actual call mix.
Others will have plenty to say and better things to say.
The airport is on the agenda for two items, creating a formal project to receive the last of the Fairivew Urban Renewal Area funds, and accepting a small amount of funding from Marion County. There does not seem to be anything useful to say on this folly any more.
Public Hearings on the two budgets, one for the City and one for the Urban Renewal Agency, are on the agenda. Hopefully others will drill into them and have comment.
Bullets:
- Renewal of the Orchard Heights Water Association agreement. (The service area is basically west of Doaks Ferry.)
- A few easements, for the bike lanes and sidewalks and turn lane, on Center Street between Lancaster and 45th.
- Correcting an error in the renewal of the MUHTIP last fall.
- And an agreement to buy a house between the Cemetery and LifeSource on Mountain View, necessary because of routine basement flooding during storms. The City wishes to demolish the house and create a stormwater detention basin to improve the neighborhood stormwater system.
- And see the previous post for some comment on the Front Street and grocery studies, which was the main matter of interest here.
2 comments:
Today the City announced the new Public Works Director:
"The City of Salem has chosen Brian Martin to lead the Public Works Department as its new Director. Mr. Martin has served as Acting Public Works Director since January 2023.
Brian has been employed by the City of Salem for more than 17 years and previously held the position of City Engineer. During his career with Salem, he has been responsible for delivering engineering, construction, and project management leadership for Salem’s largest infrastructure projects.
'Brian has a more than 30-year career as a professional engineer and has served in a variety of capacities,' says Salem City Manager Keith Stahley, 'I believe Brian’s organizational history, his knowledge, skills, abilities, and experiences as well as his humble demeanor make him the perfect person to lead the Public Works Department today and into the future.'
Mr. Martin plans to continue providing responsible stewardship of the Public Works Department to ensure that safe, reliable, and efficient infrastructure is available for our entire community."
This may be a conservative, stay-the-course appointment, rather than a more visionary one for our 21st century climate crisis.
Maybe there will be more to say later.
Most of the comments in opposition to the payroll tax come from employees of Salem Hospital who commute into Salem. That's an interesting center of opposition.
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