[{"_1":2,"_99":-5,"_100":-5},"loaderData",{"_3":4,"_26":27},"root",{"_5":6,"_17":10,"_18":19,"_20":21,"_22":10,"_23":-5,"_24":-5,"_25":10},"user",{"_7":8,"_9":10,"_11":10,"_12":-5,"_13":-5,"_14":15,"_16":-5},"roles",[],"isAuthenticated",false,"isPremium","planName","subscriptionStatus","featureFlags",{},"insightsBudget","isDevelopmentHost","userPreferences",{},"recaptchaSiteKey","6LcvOJcUAAAAAHsB-gPGfGktcRlKpH7OTIU_dMTD","isImpersonating","impersonation","affiliateStatus","isFreedomPortal","routes/v2/article/layout",{"_28":29,"_30":31},"notFound",true,"relatedArticles",[32,75,87],{"_33":34,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":40,"_41":42,"_43":44,"_45":46,"_47":48,"_49":50,"_51":52,"_53":54,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":60,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":66,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":68,"_72":73,"_74":73},"mediaId",6482399,"mediaKeyId","5734524-51d07475c56625f7db26a0b0f0404f6f","parentId",5734524,"title","Downtown business owners urge stronger action on safety, cite break-ins and vandalism","audioSeconds",822,"startMs",4514000,"endMs",5336000,"viewUrl","/Search/View?dp=1&key=5734524-51d07475c56625f7db26a0b0f0404f6f&start=4514&end=5336","thumbnailUrl","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/5734524-51d07475c56625f7db26a0b0f0404f6f/thumbnail_4514000.jpg","articleUrl","/articles/6482399/Salem/Marion-County/Oregon/Downtown-business-owners-urge-stronger-action-on-safety-cite-break-ins-and-vandalism","mediaUrl","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6482399-bfd789a19e25955bd871a3208807c692/orig.mp4?Expires=1775167656&Signature=F6PdUUCl1KCZdHeppn7dlZSxJJwiCOPs36c0YdNEQLyKaCYAcX5hIDx3ankvYl1LXK5pywL8jVRnpVKyO7F3QxzhWJoUW2fUkole0epraHRg2dIbQbPiC9Yp72p~92i8O~NKKKXqeiOTcaXorp8QV34-f6y0OgcCeIoozC0LK9SaHj40t3bDTxB3kCeVuU0PagalbooYmWnoRN5YyY2e5Xddjt~7UR8Q8vM2aOSrvA0FdVW453n28i~Xrj7MG2ZydzQfwERGHeCCEmkH8KLmm82BbGcPaD5QbG09ZHDqK3Ld0Hyc-3si8CRBN8k-ozbus5swEN-dWzPrOkRzJq5Uew__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","author","City Council of Salem, OR","date","2025-08-25T19:58:49Z","article","Multiple downtown property owners and business operators used the Sept. 8 public-comment period at the Salem City Council meeting to urge faster and stronger action on public safety and downtown livability.

Jerry Jones, who manages several downtown properties, said his employees were threatened at knifepoint and that a recent vandalism incident caused “tens of thousands of dollars” in damage to a managed building. “It’s frustrating as a citizen and as somebody who is a taxpayer and employs people … to see this continue to just happen over and over again,” Jones said.

Patrick Carney, who identified himself as a partner in several downtown parcels including the Salem Center Mall and a movie theater, told the council his properties have suffered multiple break-ins and nearly $50,000 in cleanup and repair costs. Carney also criticized the city’s lease to an organization known as Arches, saying the council paid $2.25 million for roughly 0.75 acres in 2020 and that the lease terms he reviewed charge $100 per year for 30 years; he asked councilors to investigate whether a planned sobering center has opened.

Ashley Cunningham, a downtown business owner, described recent incidents in which employees escorted women to their cars and said the downtown environment remains “unsafe and uninviting.” Several speakers praised the police for visible help at the start of the school year: Bill Rickey said a 911 text reply and a timely nonemergency response helped clear a blocked roadway on Aug. 23.

Several councilors acknowledged public concern and said the city is taking steps. Mayor Julie Hoy and Councilor Brown noted that the council’s safety and livability strategic action plan discussed Aug. 11 is underway and that a work session on Sept. 17 will include further discussion. “We are taking action currently,” the mayor said, while adding that some measures take time to implement.

Other public-comment speakers addressed recovery and addiction. Jackie Roche, who identified herself as a Ward 4 resident and recovery advocate, described her personal recovery journey and urged people struggling with substance use to seek help during National Recovery Month.

What the speakers asked: faster, more visible enforcement; investigation of nonprofit leases and facility openings (Arches); relief from unbudgeted security and repair costs for downtown property owners; and continued council attention to the safety and livability action plan.

Council response: Councilors thanked speakers, acknowledged the burden on downtown property owners, and reiterated that the council will continue work on a safety and livability strategy, with a Sept. 17 work session and subsequent actions planned.","mediaType","Video","parentTitle","City of Salem Council Meeting - September 8, 2025","oneSentenceSummary","Several downtown property and business owners told the council that recurring vandalism, break-ins and visible homelessness are making downtown feel unsafe for customers and employees. Speakers asked the council for faster, stronger responses and questioned certain nonprofit arrangements.","taxTitle","Salem , Marion County, Oregon","taxId",2768,"location","headline","","shortSummary",{"_33":76,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":77,"_41":78,"_43":79,"_45":80,"_47":81,"_49":82,"_51":83,"_53":84,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":85,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":86,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":68,"_72":73,"_74":73},6482404,"Council approves recommendation to appoint planning commission applicant, declines to require interview",242,3188000,3430000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=5734524-51d07475c56625f7db26a0b0f0404f6f&start=3188&end=3430","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/5734524-51d07475c56625f7db26a0b0f0404f6f/thumbnail_3188000.jpg","/articles/6482404/Salem/Marion-County/Oregon/Council-approves-recommendation-to-appoint-planning-commission-applicant-declines-to-require-interview","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6482404-9a9eb6c828628ee47cff499a162dfbaa/orig.mp4?Expires=1775167656&Signature=no2i1s3JWydeLznDwdE2JHNl8BpkOhWZZh7EomuA6fQslqVgZETHF6n3Dpxym~W3qdG-5E8n7cRYARaQHJm2E82LoSb0K4IchyjkRwj4nY0px2estacNO7BowTbNot7LQ907uGqZgms27IonrtIVkEpTaA2n15VAkWDEdcWTIji1EeBpLM~Qnt80nFeo9AsGcD~JO6-PGBZLMdBmUpJ3EXKrgZ8FhupCQksXshmuUDoZLCJeEOfCj8id9d2GP89oX0~Xu3eseWl-5lGfD7QCVUjAC5oaFxR4HhV6SL4zBv5n5sBBcKl1ak9kDUZfrF8BUNGuqCUe2oHFYGsOeXIg5A__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","The Salem City Council on Sept. 8 voted to recommend Mr. Levine for appointment to the city’s Planning Commission, following a recommendation from the boards and commissions committee.

Councilor Linda Nishioka moved that the committee recommend Mr. Levine; City Attorney Dan Atchison clarified the committee’s recommendation was to forward Mr. Levine’s name to council for appointment. The motion was seconded by Councilor Gwynn and passed on a roll-call vote.

Councilor Matthews disclosed that Mr. Levine lives in his ward and that Mr. Levine contributed to his campaign; Matthews said this disclosure would not affect his vote. Councilor Barney urged the new appointee to be vigilant about potential conflicts of interest, including family ties, and reminded the council of the ethics guidance in the planning commission bylaws.

The motion did not include language requiring a council interview before appointment. Councilors noted that interview policies have varied over time and that the council has discretion on whether to hold interviews for commission nominees.

Votes at a glance: Motion to recommend Mr. Levine to the Planning Commission — mover: Councilor Linda Nishioka; second: Councilor Gwynn; outcome: approved (Ayes recorded by roll call).","The council accepted a boards-and-commissions committee recommendation to appoint a resident identified as Mr. Levine to the planning commission and voted to recommend him to the commission; the council did not require a formal interview before making the recommendation.",{"_33":88,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":89,"_41":90,"_43":91,"_45":92,"_47":93,"_49":94,"_51":95,"_53":96,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":97,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":98,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":68,"_72":73,"_74":73},6482408,"Salem council directs staff to explore funding options for airport minimum revenue guarantee",843,3549000,4392000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=5734524-51d07475c56625f7db26a0b0f0404f6f&start=3549&end=4392","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/5734524-51d07475c56625f7db26a0b0f0404f6f/thumbnail_3549000.jpg","/articles/6482408/Salem/Marion-County/Oregon/Salem-council-directs-staff-to-explore-funding-options-for-airport-minimum-revenue-guarantee","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6482408-5e4c534a4d5dd9d40dd320fc8f62cee6/orig.mp4?Expires=1775167656&Signature=X4xk-ei~KhD0eDGrPGpkJN62FtnNazNZc5BtOx0D01AxM3q7-smBiz54OVY2k62MxeHHshyd0WmMiRiU93uM5uS~eN0iVtuOiiuf9wF9H7gkug6COKLCknBKAnCeiLDFrKqZLDOc8fOWDI8cyFR4NwO41TzktRXMKWjGD~iUY8meS1fXKmo2TZp1Z3Lv-aJF41kSUXD2plQnuWrPd~2IMSwjI4LAUXfII4Of9iJnN8~PmaQcaifAvhe2WfeRBn611EGkncXCbxRSYJp7TQUdOBpYxjlle3m2thbLrjzSGXNNOG9ntcNQ8q2-mvTJSoHVSypPbQU7TBlHhjkTOPPHEg__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","The Salem City Council on Sept. 8 voted to direct staff to return with possible recommendations for funding a minimum revenue guarantee (MRG) to recruit commercial air service to Salem Municipal Airport.

The motion, made by Councilor Linda Nishioka and seconded by Councilor Matthews, passed on a roll-call vote. Mayor Julie Hoy and all eight councilors recorded aye.

Councilors said they want staff to search broadly for funding sources and to seek contributions from regional partners and the business community rather than relying on general fund dollars. “I'm hoping that our staff can review opportunities that may not be as obvious to us,” Nishioka said when she moved the motion.

City Chief Financial Officer Josh Eggleston told the council that some economic development funding supporting the city’s economic development partner already comes from both the general fund and the urban renewal agency and stressed constraints on airport accounts. “The airport funds … are limited to airport operations. You can't use those for an MRG. Just with the FAA grant restrictions, airport operating dollars need to remain within the airport,” Eggleston said.

Councilors reiterated differing fiscal priorities. Several members said the city should avoid using scarce general fund dollars for an MRG and should seek commitments from local institutions and regional partners. Councilor Nordyke said the city’s general fund must prioritize public safety and livability needs, while Councilor Matthews and Councilor Brown noted that reestablishing commercial air service could expand access for a broader segment of the community beyond aircraft owners.

Councilor Tryggen urged the council to consider the city’s prior investments in the airport when soliciting partners and to think bigger than a single small airline. “Take a look at the $5,000,000 that we've already spent to get us to this point, as table stakes for our vision of the airport,” he said, urging a strategic conversation about scale.

Councilor Nishioka and other members suggested staff should review state, county and private funding possibilities and report back with a menu of options rather than a single proposal.

What the council did: The motion directs staff to return to council with possible recommendations for funding an airport MRG; it did not authorize expenditures or set amounts.

Votes at a glance: Motion to direct staff to return with funding recommendations — mover: Councilor Linda Nishioka; second: Councilor Matthews; outcome: approved (Ayes: Councilors Brown, Vang, Nordyke, Varney, Teigen, Nishioka, Matthews, Gwynn; Mayor Julie Hoy).

Background: The item was presented as an update on a potential MRG to recruit commercial air service. Councilors have previously debated the city’s role in subsidizing airline service and whether the city should use general fund, airport reserves, urban renewal, or partner contributions.","The Salem City Council voted unanimously to ask staff to return with options for funding a minimum revenue guarantee (MRG) to attract commercial air service to Salem Municipal Airport, while members emphasized limits on which city funds can be used and encouraged outside partners to help.","actionData","errors"]

Article not found

Downtown business owners urge stronger action on safety, cite break-ins and vandalism

Council approves recommendation to appoint planning commission applicant, declines to require interview

Salem council directs staff to explore funding options for airport minimum revenue guarantee