Progressive Lesbians In West Salem? (North Plains: renting, houses, neighborhood)

[Silverfall]

Originally Posted by oregonwoodsmoke

Salem is more than just moderately conservative, but I don't see where that should cause you too many problems-- well, maybe if you want to march around carrying BLM placards, you'd be better off in Portland. Not that anyone would throw stones at you in Salem, but you might not get along well with your neighbors, on a friendship type of basis.

Actually, Salem itself is democratic. When you look at how the local wards vote 6 of the 8 vote blue all the time and support more liberal legislation (like legalizing marijuana). The issue we have is that there are local organizations that stand firmly behind conservative council members and the progressives get outspent big time. The local newspaper and the city council are much more conservative than the people in the city that they represent. Progressive Salem (which is a grassroots political organization here) got a progressive elected for Ward 2, and almost got (lost by 200 votes) Ward 4 which is a conservative ward. In 2016, the odds come up for re-election, 1, 3, 5, and 7, and the mayor isn't running again so it will be interesting to see if they can get more seats.

I think the people of Salem very much want a more progressive group of people on the council that are more representative of the people that live in Salem.

[Metlakatla]

Salem is my home town. I would never describe it as "more than just moderately conservative."

It's pretty middle of the road place, and you should be able to find friends easily enough. I can recommend joining The Friends of Bush Gardens if you want to get involved in the community.

[Sherwoody]

Originally Posted by Metlakatla

Salem is my home town. I would never describe it as "more than just moderately conservative."

It's pretty middle of the road place, and you should be able to find friends easily enough. I can recommend joining The Friends of Bush Gardens if you want to get involved in the community.

I'm a little ashamed of where my mind went this.

[Diogenes Daughter]

Tricycle? Naked? Pink boa? Oh gawd! Did you see the photo? That was a bad day for me. Twenty people passed out and 6 went blind! :OD

Is Corvallis considered somewhat liberal?

[Diogenes Daughter]

Originally Posted by Sherwoody

I'm a little ashamed of where my mind went this.

SherWOODY (Large member). To funny! My mind just fell off of the curb and followed yours right into the gutter! :OD

[Diogenes Daughter]

Originally Posted by Silverfall

Actually, Salem itself is democratic. When you look at how the local wards vote 6 of the 8 vote blue all the time and support more liberal legislation (like legalizing marijuana). The issue we have is that there are local organizations that stand firmly behind conservative council members and the progressives get outspent big time. The local newspaper and the city council are much more conservative than the people in the city that they represent. Progressive Salem (which is a grassroots political organization here) got a progressive elected for Ward 2, and almost got (lost by 200 votes) Ward 4 which is a conservative ward. In 2016, the odds come up for re-election, 1, 3, 5, and 7, and the mayor isn't running again so it will be interesting to see if they can get more seats.

I think the people of Salem very much want a more progressive group of people on the council that are more representative of the people that live in Salem.

For what it's worth, and I'm not sure where he gets his data, but the website "Sperling's Best Place"s shows that Salem itself is 47% D and 50%R. He also states that 93704 (the ZipCode of the property that we are considering), is 46%D and 51%R.

[oregonwoodsmoke]

Originally Posted by Diogenes Daughter

Tricycle? Naked? Pink boa? Oh gawd! Did you see the photo? That was a bad day for me. Twenty people passed out and 6 went blind! :OD

Is Corvallis considered somewhat liberal?

There is an organized naked bicycle ride in Portland every year. If you want to live in Salem, it isn't that far to drive to Portland to participate in the event. Portland still isn't all that wild compared to San Francisco, where the riders of the tricycles are required to stop in at bars along the route, making it a drunken tricycle riding race.

Salem is pretty sedate by comparison. Seriously, come and take a look around. I like the Salem area quite well and there is a good chance you will too. Shopping is good. The hospital is excellent. Traffic can be heavy on the main routes, but it keeps moving.

Corvallis is a college town and it has all the benefits of a college town: interesting lectures, a good theater department, funky little stores, and good inexpensive restaurants. Corvallis is a lot smaller than Salem.

A lot of people think Corvallis is really liberal because it is a college town, but it is primarily an agricultural college and farmer's kids might sow their wild oats for a couple of years in college, but they are pretty strongly family values at the core.

The university in Eugene is a liberal arts college and the student body is really different and a lot more granola crunchy. Not impossible to see a person in sorcerer's robes walking the streets in Corvallis, but it is a lot more likely in Eugene.

[Metlakatla]

No idea what "Sperling's Best Places", but Silverfall is right. Salem leans slightly democratic. Salem voters actually favored Obama by 10 percent in the last election, indicating that even Salem conservatives aren't all that red.

Salem, Oregon (OR) politics - Democrats and Republicans in Salem, Oregon (OR)

Glad some of you are so easily amused.

[Silverfall]

Originally Posted by Diogenes Daughter

For what it's worth, and I'm not sure where he gets his data, but the website "Sperling's Best Place"s shows that Salem itself is 47% D and 50%R. He also states that 93704 (the ZipCode of the property that we are considering), is 46%D and 51%R.

I think that data is wrong. Senator Merkley (a dem) won every single ward in Salem in 2014 by a lot. The closest was Ward 8 which he won by 6%. Some of the more liberal wards he won by almost 40%. Obama won Salem by 10% in 2012. Now West Salem is Ward 8 so it is one of the more conservative wards in Salem, but it isn't that conservative.

Salem leans blue. Our city council leans heavily red so there is a disconnect in local politics. The mayoral election will be in May so it will be interesting to see if a progressive runs.

Now if you are talking about an acreage property in West Salem you won't be in city limits and represented by a ward. You would be in Polk County and served by those representatives.

[Diogenes Daughter]

Thanks for all of the information everyone!

I think that we are going to visit Salem and Washougal (another interesting property resides there) on the 14th through the 18th and see what we can see.

Lianna :O)