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Candidates say Salem must accelerate seawall, resilience work as sea levels rise
Summary
At a Ward 1 and Ward 5 candidate forum, several candidates described existing and planned coastal resilience efforts — seawall repairs, state grants and heat mapping — and said current work is insufficient to meet projected sea-level rise.
Candidates in Salem’s Ward 1 and Ward 5 told voters the city’s coastal resilience work needs to speed up to match rising water levels and recurring flood damage.
Why it matters: Both wards include the city’s longest shoreline; candidates said failing seawalls, recurring floods and the prospect of more severe storms require investment and faster permitting to protect homes, infrastructure and neighborhood access.
Ward 5 candidate Lydia King and Ward 1 candidate Aaron Taraske described local projects and funding: King cited nearly $290,000 in state matching grants for a Juniper Beach/Beach Avenue seawall repair and more than $1.4 million for a Columbus Avenue seawall reconstruction, crediting state leaders and local advocates. Taraske said projects such as Palmer Cove Park restoration and a planned heat‑mapping effort by North Shore CDC and SAFE will help target investments.
Several candidates said permitting delays slow resilience work. Ward 1 candidate Walter Morrell said the Collins Cove permitting process took four years for a one-month construction period, and that long permitting timelines risk leaving the city unprotected.
Candidates also described funding and programmatic opportunities. Ward 5 candidate Zachary Calderon described the state’s Municipal Vulnerability Preparedness (MVP) program and the environmental bond bill, noting the state program has been expanded in recent budgets and that higher bond-authorized funding could increase available dollars. Candidates urged the city to apply aggressively for state grants and to coordinate with the city’s engineering and sustainability staff.
Technical fixes discussed included seawall reconstruction, pumps and drainage upgrades, dredging of Salem Harbor and coastal engineering elements such as interlocking dolos to reduce wave energy. Candidates stressed that any plan should include community outreach and bilingual communication so vulnerable residents understand risks and responses.
No council vote was taken at the forum. Candidates urged residents to follow city resilience planning and participate in outreach events and local meetings.
