Dominic Pangalo was sworn in as Salem’s mayor and used his inaugural address on Jan. 5 to lay out an ambitious agenda centered on a proposed new high school, major parks and coastal projects, transit improvements and housing goals.

Pangalo told the City Council and assembled dignitaries that he "will file a request with the city council to fund Salem's new high school," and that "the voters will then decide this spring whether or not to accept a $200,000,000 state grant to help pay for it." He said rejecting the grant would require a "30 plus year phased code renovation" of the existing building that "will cost more and provide less."

The mayor framed 2026 as a milestone year — Salem’s 400th anniversary — and tied it to the Signature Parks Initiative, listing recent and planned work at Salem Willows, Forest River Park, Winter Island, Palmer Cove and Salem Common. "On Salem Common, we'll install new historically appropriate lighting and carry out the next steps to the bandstand project," he said, and noted "Phase 1 of the Pioneer Village project will commence" to relocate exhibits to a more accessible location.

Pangalo also outlined transportation and coastal infrastructure work, including progress on a new ferry terminal and an updated structural assessment at Winter Island and Coast Guard structures to support future reuse. He said the city will "advance the design of the South Salem commuter rail stop to reduce congestion" and reiterated support for an offshore wind terminal at Salem’s Port, saying it would lower electricity costs and create jobs.

On climate and energy, the mayor highlighted resilience planning and decarbonization measures, including a $5,000,000 Green School Works grant for upgrades at Horace Mann School. He credited Salem Power Choice with saving residents more than "$22,000,000 on their electric bills while also eliminating 186,000 metric tons of carbon dioxide," and said the city will explore a community solar program to extend savings to lower-income residents.

Housing and affordability were central themes. Pangalo said the city has increased the share of newly approved housing affordable to Salem residents and set a goal of at least "1% growth in new housing units per year." He cited ongoing work on housing for homeless families, veterans and seniors, and urged reforms to zoning and permitting to speed affordable production.

Pangalo closed by connecting present investments to Salem’s history and the city’s long-term vision: "Our purpose is a city open to all who care enough about it to want to call it home," he said.

The mayor’s next formal step, he said, will be to submit the high school funding request to the City Council; the article ends with that forthcoming council action and the reminder that final authority to accept the state grant rests with voters in a separate ballot process this spring.