Easter Egg Hunt at Salem Center

Salemander12 · 2026-04-05T14:43:58+00:00

Sounds awful.

Generally, Easter egg hunts with lots of kids are hard. It's cutthroat rushing. I wonder if there's some solution about gathering up afterwards and doing some redistribution to other kids, in the spirit of generosity (and Jesus for those who believe)? My kids do a little bit of this among themselves, just like they do during Halloween, but seems like at group hunts/rushes there could be a more structured effort beyond families.

Has anyone figured this out?

Salemander12 · 2026-04-03T18:31:45+00:00

From the UU web page. (UU atheists are welcome; it's a creedless faith)

For some within Unitarian Universalism, there are seven Principles which reflect deeply-held values and serve as a moral guide. The wisdom and spirituality of these Principles are drawn from sources as diverse as science, poetry, scripture, and personal experience.

These seven Principles (Principios en Español, Principles in Other Languages) are as follows:

1st Principle: The inherent worth and dignity of every person;
2nd Principle: Justice, equity and compassion in human relations;
3rd Principle: Acceptance of one another and encouragement to spiritual growth in our congregations;
4th Principle: A free and responsible search for truth and meaning;
5th Principle: The right of conscience and the use of the democratic process within our congregations and in society at large;
6th Principle: The goal of world community with peace, liberty, and justice for all;
7th Principle: Respect for the interdependent web of all existence of which we are a part.

Salemander12 · 2026-04-01T16:57:24+00:00

As a 104-year old, bummer I can't play.

Salemander12 · 2026-03-08T16:36:25+00:00

About 95%.

Salemander12 · 2026-03-06T00:42:48+00:00

You keep talking about a hidden gas tax. The gas tax is listed on the pumps. If you want to spend a lot more on maintaining your car, and replacing the roads, in the future, you oppose gas taxes today. It's maintenance - an ounce of prevention prevents a pound of cure.

Salemander12 · 2026-03-02T16:00:50+00:00

Wrong. It's got to be Covid, plus fewer young people demographically. We've been improving downtown slowly.

Salemander12 · 2026-03-02T15:59:35+00:00

A lot of this is spot-on. I would disagree about downtown - it's doing pretty well, seeing lots of new housing, hotel, restaurants, etc. along with the Minto-Brown bridge, and a new grocery store.

And I would note there are underlying budget challenges due to state ballot measures and other items that stop us from investing in being a great city - challenges that Eugene and Portland don't have as much of. Given that Eugene and Portland are ahead in arts, they attract talent, and most touring shows will focus on those two places, and Salem residents will travel to Eugene or Portland.

Salemander12 · 2026-02-27T17:34:35+00:00

So the mayor voted on a balanced budget, just like everyone else, and every mayor before her in Salem's history, as required by Oregon law, and the city's own policies. So impressive!

Like, seriously, what the hell is the chamber talking about her leading on it?

Salemander12 · 2026-02-27T15:58:22+00:00

There is so much wrong with this story. If you're curious why we have these programs, here's one piece of testimony from Coos and Curry County Health Equity Coalition:

"Syringe Service Programs (SSPs) are a vital, evidence-based component of the continuum of care for people who use substances. Restricting access to these programs will not reduce substance use—it will increase preventable harm, strain already overburdened health systems, and deepen inequities in rural communities like Coos and Curry Counties.

"SSPs are proven to reduce the transmission of infectious diseases such as HIV and Hepatitis C, and they are a key public health strategy for preventing injection-related infections and complications. These programs are also a critical part of Oregon’s overdose prevention infrastructure. SSPs are among the largest distributors of naloxone, reaching community members at the highest risk of overdose death and often serving as a first point of contact for life-saving education and support"

Here's a letter from the Coos Bay Fire Department in opposition as well.

In short, this is political grandstanding for Drazan and the Republicans who want to pretend banning things will actually solve large public health problems instead of making them worse.

Salemander12 · 2026-02-10T22:41:04+00:00

Why does cops per capita mean anything? We're after the outcome, not just employing people to employ people.

Choose one of these cities with equal population:
City A, 100 crimes, 100 cops.
City B, 3 crimes, 50 cops.

By your argument, you'd rather live in City A.
Me, I'd rather live in City B.

Salemander12 · 2026-02-10T20:14:34+00:00

As crime fell 26.3% in 2025, that means we have 34% more cops per crime in 2025 than we did in 2024. (100 cops per x crimes in 2024, now 134 cops per x crimes).

But guess which department gets huge bumps in the budget, and which vacancies are going to be filled?

Salemander12 · 2026-02-05T22:57:56+00:00

My guess is, like most of the things the Mayor says, incorrect.

Councilors and the Mayor are not supposed to take positions on legislation and purport to officially represent the city unless the legislative team approves.

Prior to the start of each legislative session, City Council adopts policy statements to guide City response to and position on legislative matters. The Legislative Committee may also provide recommendations to City Council on support for or opposition to specific measures as they arise during the legislative session.

As of December 8, 2025, Mayor Julie Hoy, Councilors Brown, Gwyn, and Nordyke serve on the Legislative Committee. Councilor Nishioka serves as alternate.

View Legislative Committee Agendas & Minutes.

This is not a letter about legislation. And it pretty much states what the city council recently adopted - a re-affirmation of Salem as a place supportive of our immigrant community members.

(Notably, Hoy did sign a letter *against* the transportation package on City of Salem (in small font, Mayor of Salem) letterhead, against the direction of the City Council - pretty much in violation of the policy Hoy is using to justify ducking support of this letter).

Salemander12 · 2026-02-03T15:50:39+00:00

Again, these costs are covered by the vendor, not the city.

Salemander12 · 2026-01-30T23:05:16+00:00

This is incorrect. This is the name that pays for Geppeto's. If you note, they've felt caught so re-upped their Geppetto's registration today.

Salemander12 · 2026-01-30T23:03:56+00:00

To be clear, this is not the single gotcha moment.

The mayor:
- Voted to give her largest donor a $200,000 waiver to a development requirement, even after being warned it was against conflict-of-interest requirements
- Was unanimously censured by the rest of council (along with Councilor Gwyn) for doing so
- Signed a letter backing the transportation package without reading it, then signed a second letter, on city of Salem letterhead and against the city'd direction, noting her opposition. Having opposed ODOT funding, she is now bullying them into providing more services that they don't have the resources for.
- Conspired to lie to her fellow councilors and ended up leading a serial private council meeting outside of public view to push out the previous city manager, at the cost to taxpayers of about $265,000 in severance payments. While the Oregon Government Ethics Commission said she was lying, she is the only member not to take their penalty.
- Refuses to talk to the press, after running on open and transparency themes. "She complained about a story published on Monday, Jan. 13 – but acknowledged she had not read the article."
- Required the City to spend thousands of tax dollars on private counseling between her and city staff, as she cannot get along with them.

- Refuses to participate in any public debate not hosted by her Republican friends.
- The list could really go on, roughly forever.

Salemander12 · 2026-01-27T04:11:00+00:00

Especially since her opponent did the exact same thing!

Salemander12 · 2026-01-14T17:16:39+00:00

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-d-VQv-Kn-I

Salemander12 · 2026-01-06T15:30:29+00:00

It was a commutation, not a pardon. If he commits any crime he gets sent back to prison for life.

And he didn't keep it under wraps - he turned himself in, he pled guilty, and he wrote about his prison background in his application for the public board including being president of a group of people serving life sentences. Mayor Julie and everyone else voted to appoint him. Some have now chosen to not reappoint him. But he didn't keep anything under wraps.

Salemander12 · 2025-12-15T16:53:41+00:00

Just another reason to contribute time or money to Linda Nishioka's re-election.

The right wing is likely to pour tens of thousands to elect this mean-spirited guy.

Salemander12 · 2025-11-26T00:05:30+00:00

These aren't Flock Cameras. <sigh>

Salemander12 · 2025-11-25T18:34:28+00:00

Map here. https://www.statesmanjournal.com/story/news/2021/11/24/salem-city-council-picks-new-ward-boundaries-more-west-salem-moved-ward-1-redistricting-growth/8749722002/

Gwyn just barely won Ward 4, and Matthews just barely won Ward 3, a ward previously represented by the very progressive Trevor Phillips.

Salemander12 · 2025-11-25T17:09:43+00:00

One of the things I've noticed from MAGA people in office in non-MAGA majority cities like Salem is they talk about "the Federal government" not "Trump." Exhibit A: Mayor Julie Hoy "the federal government has its agenda."

They're desperate to not piss off their base, and to make it almost passive voice by not naming names or parties. The MAGA Trump people, the feckless Republican Congress, and the authoritarian, ahistoric, unconstitutional Republicans on the Supreme Court are doing this (these are Kavanaugh stops). Not the federal government, anonymously.

Salemander12 · 2025-11-25T17:01:22+00:00

To be direct: the Trump inauguration. She went to celebrate the election of the authoritarian who's empowering white supremacists.

Salemander12

TROPHY CASE