PRIORITIES

Vanessa delivered over 150 meals to low-income seniors during the pandemic.

"My priority will be to apply decades of local community service experience to the important work that Council does. I will use my professional skills as a lawyer to carefully review and critically analyze the issues, to listen empathetically, and to ask tough questions. I will follow the same basic philosophy that I learned years ago: if you see a need, and you have the means, just do it."

Reducing Homelessness

Here is what I have done as a Salem City Councilor to address our homelessness crisis in Salem and here is what I plan to do in the future:

Lobbied state legislators for funding to provide a Navigation Center and a 24/7 low barrier warming center in Salem.
Voted for a sit-lie ordinance that is conditioned on access to appropriate shelter and bathrooms.
Worked with United Way to provide cheap land for affordable cottages for low income seniors
Served on the Salem Family YMCA Board of Directors, where we worked together to build affordable housing for homeless veterans.
Voted to support funding for a Navigation center for unsheltered persons to find shelter and get connected to services.
Support for food banks, senior centers, and domestic violence service providers to prevent homelessness.
Mental health services from community, county and state partners to help stabilize persons with mental illness.
Sobering center to allow people detoxify safely.

Downtown Safety and Cleanliness
Downtown is Salem's living room. As a Salem teenager who worked retail downtown, I know how important it is to have a safe, clean, and inviting downtown. I will work with downtown business owners, workers, and residents to support a downtown where everyone feels welcome.

Funding our Library
Each week, thousands of children, families, and others visit the Salem Public Library. The City needs more library branches, services, and staffing to keep up with the demand for this essential resource. That's why I was a vocal champion of the Livability Levy (funding for library, parks, and senior center) in early 2025.

Parks, Trees, and Green Spaces
Salem has over 90 parks. Parks and other public spaces must be accessible, safe and open to all. That's why I was a vocal champion of the Livability Levy (funding for library, parks, and senior center) in early 2025.

Affordable Housing

The lack of affordable housing is a challenge in many cities, and Salem is no exception. Far too many residents are spending 50% of their monthly income on rent. This puts people at risk of losing their homes and becoming homeless. I have voted to support affordable housing projects all over the city but our work is far from done. We need to cut red tape wherever possible to make it easier, faster, and cheaper to build affordable housing, apartments, tiny homes, middle housing, and more.

Public Safety

Recent shootings highlight the need for enough public safety officers to serve our growing population and keep families safe. As Salem continues to grow, we must ensure adequate emergency response time by Salem’s first responders in order to save lives.

Budget Accountability and Transparency

When we include the public, we gain trust. When we exclude the public, we lose trust.

I voted to remove a payroll tax from the May 2020 ballot. I voted against passing a payroll tax without taking it to the voters in July 2022.

I have years of experience overseeing the City’s multimillion dollar budget as a member of the City’s Citizen Budget Committee. In fact, Republican and Democrat committee members unanimously voted me to become Vice-Chair of the Citizen Budget Committee. Council passed my motion to bring a performance audit of the police department with the goals of increasing government efficiency, accountability and oversight. I will work hard to ensure the best bang for taxpayer buck.

Youth Engagement

Salem kids are experiencing a mental health crisis, as evidenced by the heartbreaking number of teen suicides across Salem. Connection and engagement with kid-friendly City programming can counteract feelings of isolation and alienation.

Funding Center 50+, Salem's Senior Center
Our senior center offers wellness, community, connection, and support for all of Salem's seniors. Countless seniors make use of these services and I want to see those services grow!