Salem Politics

Marion County State of the County Highlights Behavioral Health, Homelessness and Infrastructure

Salem Extends Tourism Promotion Fee to Short-Term Rentals After Final Council Vote

Dallas Police Arrest Woman After Moon Spa Investigation in Polk County

South Salem Annexation and Multifamily Rezoning at 5524 Skyline Road S Advance to Second Reading

Salem Maps Drug Response Gaps but Has No Immediate Plan to Close Them

Detroit Lake Drawdown Draws Objections From Salem, Marion County Over Water and Fish Risks

Salem Police Chief Trevor Womack To Retire in May, Brandon Ditto Named Interim Chief

Dek: Salem Police Chief Trevor Womack will retire May 22 after more than five years leading the department, closing a tenure defined by strategic planning, body-worn camera deployment and on...

Salem State of the City: Mayor Julie Hoy Highlights Budget, Public Safety and Growth

Quick Summary (Click Here!) In her State of the City address, Mayor Julie Hoy said Salem has made progress by stabilizing core services through the voter-approved levy, increasing public saf...

Salem’s REACH Team Reports Early Gains in First Month, Diverting Some Calls From ER and Freeing Emergency Units

Salem’s new REACH co-response team handled 49 patient encounters in its first 30 days of operation, city officials told the Salem City Council on March 9, offering an early look...

Oregon Bets on “One-Stop” Support for Food and Ag Businesses as Farm Bill Fight Drags On

Oregon officials used a Feb. 13 agriculture gathering in Salem to preview a new approach to supporting food and agriculture businesses: a pilot network designed to help producers and process...

Cherriots Rolls Out Cloud-Based Traffic Signal System To Reduce Route 11 Delays

Cherriots has launched a new cloud-based Transit Signal Priority system designed to make buses more reliable along one of Salem’s busiest corridors. The Salem Area Mass Transit District, in...

Electric Alley Closed To Cars Through May 9 As Electro Apartment Work Gets Underway

Drivers can’t cut through Electric Alley right now, and that change is expected to last through May 9, 2026. For the small businesses tucked into the alleyway, the closure isn’t...

Salem City Council backs broad renter-protection research plan after narrower proposal collapses

Salem City Council voted Monday night to direct city staff to begin researching ways the city could help keep renters housed, approving a broad information-gathering motion after a more deta...

Salem City Council approves $200,000 Emergency Relief Pilot Program After Tense Public Testimony

Salem City Council voted 7-2 Monday night to approve a $200,000 emergency relief pilot program intended to help families facing urgent needs tied to federal immigration enforcement activity....

Salem Mayor Slammed for Not Signing Governor's Letter - Governor Never Sent It

Salem Mayor Julie Hoy is disputing claims that she refused to sign a Feb. 5 letter from Gov. Tina Kotek and a group of Oregon mayors to the U.S. Department...

Salem man tells City Council he was stabbed while cleaning downtown property, urges action

A Salem small business owner told the Salem City Council on Jan. 12 that he was stabbed while cleaning a downtown-area building, a firsthand account that came as city leaders...

City of Salem temporarily halts sign code enforcement while reviewing policy

Salem is pressing pause on sign code enforcement — a reset City Manager Krishna Namburi says is meant to give businesses breathing room while the city works with the community...

Downtown forum highlights REACH pilot, paid parking revenue and business support tools

Downtown Salem leaders and service providers outlined a mix of safety, services and business support efforts Thursday morning, as city officials reported paid parking revenues are outperform...

Salem Mayoral Race 2026: Mayor Julie Hoy discusses budget outlook and payroll tax debate

Salem Mayor Julie Hoy is putting the city’s budget outlook at the center of her case to voters as the 2026 mayoral race takes shape, arguing Salem is in a...

City Council Moves Forward with Repealing the Downtown Business Parking Tax

Salem City Council voted unanimously Monday night to advance the repeal of the Downtown Parking District Tax, a long-running assessment paid by businesses in the downtown core to help fund.....