President Joe and Salem Chamber Board President Tina Jordon shared the podium today to welcome attendees and to introduce Mayor Driscoll. The Mayor provided a comprehensive update on: COVID-19; housing in Salem; offshore wind; the Salem 400; and the American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA).

 

Case counts are down from the Omicron surge but increased slightly in recent weeks before somewhat leveling off. Hospital capacity is improving; however, the number of new vaccinations has leveled off, and the number of vaccinations in the under 29 demographic is below the statewide number. On this day two years ago, one in every 283 Salem residents had had COVID. Today, it’s one in every four; and among Salem Public School students, it’s one in every three. The city remains vigilant in monitoring the spread of the virus through wastewater surveillance testing every other day at SESD; pooled testing at schools; free rapid tests for residents and students; maintaining masks in schools for now; maintaining free vaccination clinics; and expanding public education efforts in under-vaccinated populations.

 

There is a large gap between housing prices and rents in Salem and what Salem residents can afford. Salem’s average housing prices are also growing much more rapidly than the city’s average incomes, with an 8% increase in average family income since 2010 compared to a 49% increase in the average sales price for a home. The city and state implement several housing tools but are also considering tools like condo conversion/tenant protection, use of publicly-owned land, inclusionary zoning (“Affordable Housing Minimums”), and acquisition of existing multifamily properties.

 

Upon award of Commonwealth Wind, Crowley Maritime purchased the port with leases to the Vineyard Wind partners. The site will serve as construction staging for projects south of the Cape. Expected benefits to Salem include increased commercial tax revenues, hundreds of jobs during both construction and operation, and $100+ million in private/federal/state port infrastructure investments. Public access around the property, and minimization of upland impacts will remain a top priority as planning begins.

 

ARPA was signed into law March 2021. It created the State and Local Fiscal Recovery Fund

(SLFRF) and $350 billion for state, local, territorial, and Tribal governments to respond to the COVID-19 Pandemic. The city’s goal for ARPA funds is to NOT reinvent the wheel. They expect to use existing and completed plans to determine what projects could potentially be funded with ARPA.

 

The Mayor closed by discussing the Salem 400, which commemorates Salem's quadricentennial and explores the opportunities and connections of Salem's multifaceted history while crafting a vision for current and future generations. The celebration will include commemoration and recognition, signature projects, community and civic engagement, and historical and cultural discoveries.

The Senior Fiesta with the Council on Aging, formerly the Senior Prom, will be in person this year! The Club will be sponsoring and volunteers are needed at the Community Life Center on May 4 at 4 PM. More details to come!

 

 

Volunteers are needed for the next dinner for Lifebridge. Please contact Jane Stirgwolt if you would like to volunteer!

 

 

Jason Conslavo will be in touch with this year’s Salem Rotary Freshmen to discuss the Freshmen Fund which allows new members of the Club to decide what project or cause the Club should support this year with a $1000 donation.

 

Please make note of the date change. The hope is that the later date will increase attendance. Sponsorship forms were handed out at Rotary this week and will be done again in the future.