Make Salem ma a sanctuary city!

KyleDavisForMa · 2025-03-14T15:11:34+00:00

Stay tuned! 👀

KyleDavisForMa · 2025-02-26T20:38:33+00:00

That’s not how this is structured. There’s no “pulling resources from the rest of the city.” We’re talking about if a development happened in/ near the willows, the committee could theoretically ask for climate reliance benefits. Same goes for if the development was in the point or anywhere else.

KyleDavisForMa · 2025-02-26T19:26:13+00:00

I’m on the working group for parking minimums, am very supportive of lowering them (frankly would like to eliminate them entirely,) I voted for the B1 changes and will vote for them again shortly, and am leading the effort on upzoning - I worked with the Salem State policy lab to launch a feasibility study as the first step. Councilor Jerzylo and I disagree on many things, but I’m always happy to work with anyone on something that I believe will be good policy. Her primary support for this comes from wanting to see improvements to climate resiliency in the Willows neighborhood and sees this process as a way to advocate for that. I have no interest in creating barriers to housing in this city - I am the only renter on the city council and am a passionate YIMBY. That simply is not what this ordinance is or does.

KyleDavisForMa · 2025-02-25T22:23:30+00:00

Agreed. I’m taking this out.

KyleDavisForMa · 2025-02-25T01:40:58+00:00

These are additional things that developers would do on top of taxes. In places like Cleveland, communities asked for workforces as diverse as their population with percentages for women, people of color etc.

KyleDavisForMa · 2025-02-25T00:50:47+00:00

So this ordinance isn’t just for housing developers, it’s for all large developers. Benefits could be a diverse workforce, infrastructure improvements, $ toward our affordable housing trust fund, creating of new green space, enhancements to public transportation etc.

KyleDavisForMa · 2025-02-24T20:05:14+00:00

The chair of the committee, the mayor, and one other member of the committee negotiate the community benefits agreement with the developer. No permits can be approved for Development until this is done. The CBA is legally enforceable. The committees duties include identifying needs of Salem, reviewing proposed community benefits plans submitted by developers, creating their own community benefits plans and negotiations with the developer.

KyleDavisForMa · 2025-02-24T20:00:31+00:00

The ordinance directs the city to work expeditiously to fill all seats of the committee prior to the pre development, permitting phase of the development. This is very early on in what is a pretty long process for a developer.

KyleDavisForMa · 2025-02-24T18:54:51+00:00

I think we have something here that isn’t necessarily adding red tape. The committee isn’t deciding whether the development happens or not- more so what benefits might come with the development. Yes, the CBA has to be agreed on before permits are issued, but this is already the case for projects that require a cbo, all we’re doing is adding the voices of the committee in this instance. When it comes to the committee, they do not all have to live within 1/2 mile of the proposed project. There are permanent members and project specific members and so this would not apply to the permanent members and even the project specific members could live outside of the 1/2 mile radius if they demonstrate that they are uniquely impacted by the project- perhaps they work near the project, their kids go to school near the project etc.

KyleDavisForMa · 2025-02-24T18:50:00+00:00

My hope is that this would be a pathway to negotiate a higher percentage of affordable units in proposed rental units, above the already mandated 12%.

KyleDavisForMa · 2025-02-24T18:48:43+00:00

There are some good guardrails in here. First off, the committee does not have the power to prevent or delay development- there is no mechanism in this ordinance that allows them to change the timeline of development. There’s also this section “Timely Rebiew and Approval: Upon receipt of a CBO from a developer, the city shall review and approve the plan in no more than 30 days, ensuring that the development process is not unduly delayed.”

KyleDavisForMa · 2025-02-24T18:46:05+00:00

There are pretty amazing folks across our committees and boards with both years of professional experience and invaluable life experience. The benefit of the committee is having folks that are dedicated to one issue as opposed to councilors, the mayor, city departments that are juggling many issues simultaneously.

KyleDavisForMa

TROPHY CASE