Ah, Salem. It's sad how you're never able to rise above the moniker of "Oregon's boring capital city."
Today's Statesman Journal had three stories on the front page that demonstrated how far Salem has to go before it's worthy to be considered anything more than an I-5 gas stop between Portland and Eugene.
First, there's "Lefty's Pizzeria on State Street closes suddenly." I didn't go to Lefty's often. But I knew that it was one of the few places in Salem where you could enjoy live blues, jazz, and comedy.
Believe me, if you live in Salem you're used to singing the blues. And you definitely need comedy to cheer you up whenever the thought "Oh, my god, I'm stuck in Salem" won't get out of your mind.
Second, I read about "Residents to repair, not own, Salem's sidewalks." Now, I don't live in the Salem city limits. But even so this strikes me as a ridiculous idea.
The City Council's notion is to make each property owner responsible for repairing the slice of sidewalk in front of their home or business.
As one of the commenters on this story said, why not also make people maintain the part of the public road in front of their property? Or the sewer and septic lines? It's one more nonsensical city decision that makes residents sigh, "Ah, (or ugh) Salem."
Third, I learned that "City's troubled properties create thorny problems for officials, eyesores for unhappy neighbors." This story was about Salem's dangerous and derelict buildings, only one of which is downtown.
However, many more downtown buildings are empty, boarded up, and also eyesores. I've noted that the best thing about downtown Salem is the plethora of vacant free parking spaces, because there's so little reason for anyone to go downtown.
Earlier in the week there was another depressing Salem story, "Fairview site may be sold to pay creditors." The 245 acre Fairview site was supposed to be a model sustainable development.
My wife and I owned shares in the LLC (Sustainable Fairview Associates) that bought the Fairview property and eventually sold it to a group led by a Portland developer, Phil Morford.
Our decision to cash out when the opportunity presented itself looks really wise in retrospect. Because now Morford probably will have to sell the property to someone else, and the sustainable zoning looks shaky – reading between the lines of this quote in the newspaper story.
Last week, the bankruptcy trustee met with Salem city officials and discussed the property's zoning and infrastructure. Plans for the Fairview site are flexible and shouldn't deter a potential buyer, McKittrick said.
Translation: "The city doesn't give a rip about sustainability and would be just as happy to see a traditional development be built, if that's what it takes to get more property taxes flowing into Salem's coffers (not that we'll pay for sidewalk repairs even then)."
Seemingly recognizing what's in the cards for Fairview, given the Mayor's and City Council's eminently unGreen credentials, the Statesman Journal editorialized "Ecologically friendly plans should be in land's future."
Well, we shall see. There's no sign that the black cloud of boring mediocrity is going to lift from Salem anytime soon. Maybe Fairview still will be a ray of creative sustainable light.
But I doubt it. Even without Lefty's Salemites are still singing the blues.
Oh, my.
Now, please don't misunderstand; I love Salem. I was born in Silverton and wasted my teen years in Salem. And when I finally had my own steam, where did I go? Portland.
They say Portland's parochial, but they don't know. Compared to ol' Snailem, this is a heaven of cosmopolitan thought.
Sinking into mediocrity? Hah! Salem would have to rise into it!
Posted by: Samuel John Klein | October 07, 2007 at 08:21 PM
On the sidewalk thing - Salem is actually very unusual compared to most other cities in Oregon. In the rest of the state, residents are responsible for maintaining the sidewalk in front of their home. That doesn't necessarily make it the right thing to do, but it wouldn't be unprecendented and it does work in other places.
I went to Willamette and made a stab at living in Salem for a couple of years after that, but I just couldn't take it. Especially working at the City - after Mayor Taylor took over things started to go downhill.
Posted by: Brian | October 08, 2007 at 08:19 AM
And another ironic thing...my mom worked at Fairview for yonks. It's so strange to see it in the news this way.
Posted by: Samuel John Klein | October 08, 2007 at 02:49 PM
Several years ago, my husband and i were walking down a sidewalk in a residential area in Benecia, CA. I tripped on a raised section of walk way and dislocated my finger. The owner of the home in back of the sidewalk ran out to see if I wanted medical help. They had already called the fire department, but wanted to know if I wanted an ambulance? I was more mad than hurt, and told them I was going to call the City of Benecia, who should maintain their sidewalks better. To my surprise, the homeowner said he had to maintain the sidewalk, not the City, and was ready to pay all my expenses.
Why should homeowners be responsible for a public sidewalk? They didn't put it in. I felt sorry for them, and assured them I had no intention of charging them for what was probably just not watching where I was going.
Posted by: Carol Ann | October 09, 2007 at 09:32 AM
i have to comment on your pesimistic view of salem, because if you hate it here so much why don't you just LEAVE!
i don't mean to be rude but instead of complaing get a life
Posted by: carolina | June 30, 2008 at 04:42 PM
carolina, I don't hate it here. That's why I want Salem to become a better place to live. I've never said that I hated Salem. That's what you said, not me.
Wanting to improve something, someone, or someplace means you care about them/it. Right-wingers like to say that progressives "hate America" because they see problems that need to be fixed.
This reflects a love for America, not hate. Same with me and Salem. It could be a lot more interesting and stimulating place to live. That's why I criticize it's current boringness.
Posted by: Brian | June 30, 2008 at 06:43 PM