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Candidates urge volunteer support, pantry expansion and market redevelopment after Daily Table closure
Summary
After the Daily Table closed, candidates proposed boosting the Salem Pantry, community gardens and seeking a non‑profit market at the vacant space; some urged city financial partnership to bridge short-term gaps.
Candidates at the forum discussed the downtown loss of Daily Table and proposed immediate and longer-term responses to preserve access to affordable, healthy food. Cindy Jerslow pointed to existing programs — summer meals, neighborhood pantries and a high-school pantry — and urged more public education about them. She suggested “some type of locker downtown on public property, almost like an Amazon locker” for meal pickup.
Walt Morel and Erin Jaroski highlighted community gardens, the Salem Pantry and the Thursday farmers market as resources to expand. Jaroski noted the Daily Table space remains vacant and said “there are folks in that room talking about getting a nonprofit market back into that space,” urging volunteers and civic engagement to support organizations that could fill the gap.
William LeGault asked why the city did not consider a temporary financial partnership to keep Daily Table operating, suggesting rainy-day funds could be used for short-term support while a long-term operator is found. Andrew Smith proposed market solutions including a co-op or city-run grocery model with member shifts to lower prices and suggested using apps and volunteer recruitment to reduce food waste through programs like Too Good To Go.
No candidate described a concrete, city-approved funding commitment at the forum; suggestions ranged from volunteer recruitment and pantry-hour expansion to exploring city financial support and redevelopment of Shetland Park and Church Street parcels for grocery space.
