Credit Where Credit is Due

Look around Salem these days and there is no doubt that improvements are being made on many fronts. Downtown is growing with nice looking developments ranging from condos to movie theaters. We even have a massive swimming complex known as the Kroc Center expected to open September 26th out on Salem Industrial Dr. Recently, I was having a conversation with a prominent Salem architect and he said something that I had been thinking about recently. Janet Taylor, our mayor, deserves a lot of credit for what's been going on. She may not be stacking the bricks herself but she is supportive of the recent additions that have cropped up recently around town. The idea to develop the edges of the downtown has been very positive for the progress that Salem is making. The new Broadway Town Square, which now hosts the Salem Cinema, will surely revitalize that part of town, giving the nearby residence an identity and a place to meet up with neighbors. The new Salem Senior Center has been in operation for some time now on Portland Rd. Go in and check that out if you haven't. I'm sure the folks in there won't mind giving you a tour of all the activities they have going on. Then we have the Meridian building and countless other residences finishing up being built all over town. Boise Cascade is getting dismantled by a wrecking ball and we're discovering a new view of the Willamette River. I'm guessing we're going to get something nice on that property as well. It's not just quantity being built, it's quality and we should all be proud of the effort being made to improve our city. Mayor Taylor may not be the flashiest politician but she has presided over Salem without controversy and is probably our biggest cheerleader. If you think about the major budget challenges that have been handled by her and the city council you'd be surprised to hear the biggest concern of residents is whether or not to allow chickens in people's backyards. I think that's a sign that the right decisions are being made.

There are other positive signs in the community that we should all be excited about. Our schools are getting an infusion of cash to build new campuses and much needed repairs on existing buildings. New restaurants are opening all the time, as people are being drawn to downtown by events like First Wednesday and the farmers markets. The commitment to support local business and a sustainable living movement seems to be strong in the online media and papers. Since I've lived here I've always thought that Salem has the potential to be a really cool city with it's central Willamette Valley location, stable government employment, and historic downtown. Looking around today, I see that the potential is being realized but we still have a ways to go. Part of being a "really cool city" is having citizen involvement on issues being discussed at city hall and always looking for ways that we can do better. I enjoy my life here now but I can't wait to see where Salem is headed.