Jackie Leung joins Salem City Council as third bridge debate, Costco appeal loom

Jonathan Bach
Statesman Journal

Jackie Leung was the only new member of the Salem City Council sworn in Monday, joining the city's elected leaders as several contentious issues loom in the new year.

Replacing Steve McCoid in South Salem's Ward 4, Leung ran on a platform emphasizing the need for additional affordable housing in the city.

"Making sure that we have housing that's available for working families is one big issue that we're still seeing," she said in an interview after Monday's council meeting.

Leung reiterated an idea she floated during the campaign to require developers who build apartments in Salem to set aside a certain number of units as affordable housing.

"A certain percentage, for example, might be able to be set aside for working families," she said.

Jackie Leung is sworn in as a Salem city councilor on Monday, Jan. 14, 2019.

Leung also wants to see more residents having their voices heard on city matters, be it through city council meetings or serving on boards and commissions. Still, the process of becoming a board member or commissioner is "daunting" for those unfamiliar with how to navigate it, she said.

Also sworn in Monday were Councilors Tom Andersen, Chris Hoy and Jim Lewis, as well as Mayor Chuck Bennett, who won re-election last year. Hoy replaced McCoid as council president.

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Councilors have a consequential year ahead.

On Jan. 23, councilors will consider recommendations from the Downtown Homeless Solutions Task Force, which include providing public toilets that are available around the clock, as well as showers and places for the homeless to clean their laundry.

A council work session on a proposed third traffic bridge across the Willamette River is scheduled for Jan. 30.

Developers have appealed the council's 2018 rejection of a proposed 24-acre shopping center that includes a Costco Wholesale in South Salem. The Oregon Land Use Board of Appeals could side with developers and overturn the council's decision.

By the end of June, councilors need to decide how to fill a projected $7.2 million hole in the next general-fund budget, which is so deep in part because city councilors allocated more money for services — such as reopening West Salem's Fire Station 11 — than they had long-term.

A city task force has recommended a city operating fee and employee-paid payroll tax as means to pump additional revenue into the general fund. However, the task force wants councilors to put those options to local voters for approval.

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Leung voiced concerns about community members being asked to pay new charges, "especially since a lot of our community are struggling already."

A payroll tax is concerning for people who may be part of a single-income household or single families, she said.

"I was a single parent before, so I remember how much of a struggle that was for me to go paycheck by paycheck," Leung said. She said wants more details on the proposal.

Email jbach@statesmanjournal.com, call (503) 399-6714 or follow on Twitter @jonathanmbach.

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