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Residents press council to reconsider Salem Housing Authority tenant reappointment; council confirms Veronica Miranda
Summary
A resident asked the council to hold the reappointment of Veronica Miranda to the Salem Housing Authority to allow more senior tenant representation; the council voted to confirm Miranda after discussion and opposition to holding the appointment.
A Salem resident urged the City Council on Thursday to withhold the mayor's reappointment of Veronica Miranda as the tenant representative on the Salem Housing Authority (SHA) board, saying seniors — who make up 67% of SHA units — lack representation. The resident, Anne Friesen, who represents a tenant association at Bertram Terrace, told the council that her group had not received a reply from the mayor after formally requesting senior representation.
Council debate followed. Councilor Chrystle moved to hold Ms. Miranda's reappointment pending questions to the mayor; that motion received no second and failed. Several councilors defended Miranda's record. Councilor Cohen and Councilor Davis both described Miranda as a long-standing tenant representative and volunteer who regularly attends tenant meetings and advocates for residents. Councilor Davis said she would "vote for her to be confirmed" and called Miranda a "tremendous" chair. Councilor Watsonfeld acknowledged the resident's concern that one tenant representative is insufficient but opposed holding the nomination.
The council then took a roll-call vote on the reappointments package including Veronica Miranda. The clerk recorded 10 votes in favor and one opposed; the matter carried and the reappointment was confirmed.
The council did not adopt any procedural changes to the appointment process during the meeting; multiple councilors asked the mayor's office to respond to applicants who are not appointed. Councilors also said an upcoming vacancy on the SHA board may allow the mayor to consider adding senior representation when filling that seat.
