Before you move to Salem Oregon you should know ... (Portland: apartments, mattresses)

[Silverfall]

Originally Posted by Summertime

Reinforcing a bridge's supports is one thing...


building bike lanes, sidewalks, expanding the
traffic lanes, is another thing, making the
whole enterprise a nightmare for residents
who pass over that bridge several times a day.

The bridge has been adequate for many years
and no one's car has gone into the brink.

It doesn't make any sense to wait until someone gets hurt before doing something about the bridge. Are they making it wider and such, yes, but bike lanes are a great thing IMO. You really don't want more people riding their bikes around rather than cars?

And yes, there will absolutely be car congestion traffic for 15 minutes every day before school and after school. The best place to be is close to the school to avoid waiting for stopped buses because...they don't stop there. Kids who live close don't get bused. Remember kids have to live a mile away to get the bus. You won't have to wait and wait and wait for buses.

I will concede though that the commercial development right there off Fairway is freakishly out of place. It would be nice if it was more of a community oriented business center like having a local doctor, dentist, salon, etc, where neighbors could go and walk to those things. I remember when it was developed thinking they were using that space incorrectly for the community, but that is ultimately up to the developer as long as they follow zoning laws.

[Summertime]

Bottom line....

everything is up to the developer and the
city council, planning engineer...

so residents who treasure the tranquility
of a peaceful road, a quaint little bridge,
and entering an area of beautiful trees
towering over a meandering creek,

can just say goodbye to all that.

I can just see them all out there searching
frantically for another beautiful area to develop.
I do believe that the meadows along Kuebler
near Morningstar Church are now on the cutting block.

And they won't stop there.

[Silverfall]

Originally Posted by Summertime

Bottom line....

everything is up to the developer and the
city council, planning engineer...

so residents who treasure the tranquility
of a peaceful road, a quaint little bridge,
and entering an area of beautiful trees
towering over a meandering creek,

can just say goodbye to all that.

I can just see them all out there searching
frantically for another beautiful area to develop.
I do believe that the meadows along Kuebler
near Morningstar Church are now on the cutting block.

And they won't stop there.

They aren't just now on the cutting block. They have been designated that way in the 10 years I have lived here. Here is the current urban growth boundary, so everything inside of this can be developed. If you want to know what kind of development is slated to be where, here are the current zoning maps for the city of Salem. All areas within the UGB are designated for certain things based on the master plan.

Residents who want that kind of tranquility, honestly, typically live well outside the UGB or they live in the smaller towns which don't grow as fast.

[FrankMayo405]

Bottom line: Those with the connections and gold will rule. The overall sense of the whole project, including its viability, are out the window. Leave it to the Rotarians and two bit politicians to dress it up and take it through the hoops. It matters not if it is a question of using and improving the drainage system or installing lighting, the system here works by the same model from the neighborhood association up. It is so midway three card monte, and it is blatant. The right palms need to be greased. In Salem it is the wonderful green talk and the "children" babble used as distraction. Some of this will tone down as the feds ease up on the play money. However, apathy and suckers will provide the same crew plenty of future opportunities.

[Summertime]

Frank,

I get the feeling you agree with me!

Glad I am not alone in my idealism.

[FrankMayo405]

Summer:

It is not the idea of Salem being that much different than elsewhere. It is just the galling hypocrisy and blatant Bravo Sierra that these psuedo progressive business types throw around. There is a liturgy these hyenas play off of to lull principled citizens and screw the apathetic. They all start to sound the same. Reading some of the posts were akin to watching a council meeting of the city or county on CCTV. Some of these Babbits actually begin to believe their blather. Swindle and check kites are all for the children and the community. Yes. Sure.

[j_k_k]

Originally Posted by FrankMayo405

Bottom line: Those with the connections and gold will rule. The overall sense of the whole project, including its viability, are out the window. Leave it to the Rotarians and two bit politicians to dress it up and take it through the hoops. It matters not if it is a question of using and improving the drainage system or installing lighting, the system here works by the same model from the neighborhood association up. It is so midway three card monte, and it is blatant. The right palms need to be greased. In Salem it is the wonderful green talk and the "children" babble used as distraction. Some of this will tone down as the feds ease up on the play money. However, apathy and suckers will provide the same crew plenty of future opportunities.

You sure you aren't describing Kennewick, WA, substituting 'pro-nuclear' for 'green'?

[OregonYeti]

Originally Posted by FrankMayo405

Bottom line: Those with the connections and gold will rule. The overall sense of the whole project, including its viability, are out the window. ...

I see a lot of truth in what you're saying. I've never lived in Salem, but I hope things get better. It is the capitol of my favorite state and I'd rather live there than here in Lynnwood.

[FrankMayo405]

Yes, I do understand. The place, for all of its faults, is a great place to be. That really holds now in April. It only gets better. This is part of the problem. Life is so satisfying with its surroundings that people who enjoy being in this part of the Northwest become apathetic in some ways. It definitely is a great location.

[Silverfall]

Originally Posted by FrankMayo405

This is part of the problem. Life is so satisfying with its surroundings that people who enjoy being in this part of the Northwest become apathetic in some ways. It definitely is a great location.

Actually I think that is the crux of the problem. People are willing to trade the gorgeous scenery for political buffoonery.