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Councilor Alice Merkel emphasizes housing production, immigrant protections and coastal resiliency in re-election message
Summary
Alice Merkel, Salem City councilor at-large, described her record on small-business advocacy, immigrant protections, housing policy including condo conversion and housing production plan tools, support for community-impact police work and coastal resiliency efforts tied to a MassDOT study of Commercial Street flooding.
Alice Merkel, a Salem City councilor at-large, described her four years on the council and urged voters to re-elect her on Nov. 4, highlighting work on small-business support, immigrant protections, homelessness response and climate resiliency.
Merkel said she has worked for small family-owned businesses and ran her own small business, and called herself "a strong advocate for our small businesses and our creative community." She described long-term volunteer work with local organizations, naming the Salem Food Pantry, Mac Park Food Farm, the Community Life Center (services for older adults), the Women's Friends Society and the Salem Education Foundation.
On immigrant protections, Merkel said the council has put policies in place so residents "feel welcome to engage with our city government and police without being asked their immigration status." She said she attended "Know Your Rights" training sessions and participated in events with immigration lawyers and law enforcement to make resources available to residents.
Merkel called affordable housing a central challenge for the city, citing that about 50% of Salem residents are renters and that about 80% of residents in the Point neighborhood are renters. She said she supported a condo conversion ordinance intended to help renters facing displacement and advocated implementing the city's housing production plan. Merkel listed specific incentives discussed in the recording: reducing parking minimums, increasing single-room-occupancy zoning, creating smart-growth districts, tax-increment financing agreements and zoning changes aimed at removing barriers to new housing.
On homelessness and outreach, Merkel said she supports the police department's Community Impact Unit (CIU) and its collaborations with Life Bridge to provide services for people experiencing homelessness, addiction and mental-health challenges.
On climate and coastal resilience, Merkel said she was "devastated" by federal cuts to climate programs and cited the cancellation of $34,000,000 for an offshore wind terminal as an example. She pointed to local measures adopted during her tenure, including a green building ordinance for municipal properties, a specialized code that she said qualifies the city for funding opportunities, and a flood-resiliency overlay district. Merkel said she led efforts to address flooding on Commercial Street working with the Ward 6 councilor and state legislators, which resulted in a comprehensive study by MassDOT.
Merkel invited voters to visit her campaign website for more information and asked for their vote on Nov. 4.
Alice Merkel is seeking re-election to the Salem City Council at-large seat and emphasized housing policy, immigrant protections and coastal resiliency in her campaign message.
