Organizations: none
City,
County and State Representatives: Robert Dowd, Salem Police
Department; Deanna Gwynn, Ward 4 Councilor; Courtney Knox Busch, City
Manager’s Office; Linda Nishioka, Ward 2 Councilor
Guests: none
The
regular meeting of CANDO was called to order at 6:00 p.m., on Tuesday,
June 20, 2023. The meeting was conducted by Zoom video-conference. The
Chair and Secretary-Treasurer were present.
The agenda and minutes of the May meeting were approved unanimously.
Sgt.
Dowd, the new head of the Community Action Unit, reported that the
Unit, while not abandoning other areas, is focusing efforts on the
downtown, specifically, violent crime around UGM, The ARCHES Project and
the transit mall. The landscape median near The ARCHES Project has
been cleared of tents. The Unit has also been covering the numerous
summer events that occur downtown. Sgt. Dowd reported increased
teen-aged gang violence traveling to downtown from the east side of
town. The violence is taking place at the Salem Center Mall and at the
transit mall. The 6-member Unit is returning to 6-day/week coverage of
downtown (M-Sat, noon to 10p typically).
Councilor
Nishioka reported that Council will be considering revenue measures in
July and that she would be offering a substitute motion on the proposal
to remove certain overlay zones in Ward 2. She said residents of the
South Central Area Neighborhood want to retain overlay zone height
restrictions so as to keep the neighborhood looking as it does.
Removing height restrictions allows for higher density which is needed
to support mass transit and the City’s Climate Action Plan goal of
reducing greenhouse gas emissions.
In
interested citizen comments, Carol Hendrix reported concerns about HOAP
clients remaining after hours and problems she was having with her
rental property across the street. Sgt. Dowd responded to her concerns
in some detail, explaining the constitutional limitations on police and
what action his Unit would be taking under what conditions. He also
shared information on new homeless housing/shelter programs.