Support saving lives and $40 million at March 24 City Council meeting

Come to the Salem City Council meeting on Monday at 6:30 p.m. to support the Salem Police Department's need for a cost-effective new facility -- not the over-priced project currently proposed by City officials.

When you arrive, a Salem Community Vision member will ask you to wear a lapel sticker to show your support for a $20 million police facility that Salem voters will approve.

While this is not a public hearing, citizens are still allowed to speak during the public comment time. To do so, you will need to sign up on the City's sign-in sheet that is placed at the east door of the Council Chambers.

You are urged to come early to sign in as the sheet is taken away right at 6:30. Each person should have 3 minutes to speak.To help prepare your comments, you can access the Police Facility and Civic Center Community Input staff report via this link. Check out the Salem Community Vision FAQ on this subject.

We believe many members of the City Council are on the wrong track in favoring an $80.5 million police facility and Civic Center remodeling project that Salem citizens will turn down when it comes to a vote. The City's own polling shows a lack of majority support for this proposal, and a large amount (30%) of strong opposition.

We believe a new police facility can be built on an alternative site for $20 million and our City Hall and Library can receive needed seismic upgrades, also at a cost of approximately $20 million.

We believe this is a proposal that Salem voters will support, and the result will be construction of a new police facility and needed upgrades to the civic center. Please be an active citizen this Monday. We hope to see you there.