Hey Salem,

Good morning, Salem.

First things first: we’re landing in your inbox on a Friday instead of our usual Thursday slot. My apologies for the delay. But we are still out here.

If you spent any time at City Hall this week (or watched the four-hour livestream), you know the atmosphere was a mix of progress and tension. From dramatic improvements in emergency response times to a heated debate over who gets to sell food on our street corners, here is the breakdown of what is actually changing in our neighborhoods.

The most vital update came from Fire Chief Gerboth.

The Progress: Since the city took over ambulance services last July, "Level Zero" time has plummeted from an average of six hours a day down to just 27 minutes.

Growth: To keep this momentum going, the Council approved four new medic positions. The best part for your wallet? These are funded by service reimbursements, not property taxes.

The "Safe, Clean, and Healthy" initiative is moving from a slogan to a visible reality.

The Heavy Lifting: In December alone, city crews removed 41 tons of waste—double the amount from the previous year. This includes a massive 10-ton cleanup at Wallace Marine Park in a single day.

More Than Just Trash: The new REACH team (medics and clinicians) launched on January 20th. By its second day, they successfully diverted a patient from an unnecessary ER visit and connected her with protective services. It’s a small start, but it’s the "human-first" approach the city has been promising.

If you drive down Lancaster or Cordon Road, you’ve seen the pop-up vendors. Marion County wants to crack down with $2,000 fines and gear impoundment to stop "jurisdictional whack-a-mole," but the Council isn't ready to sign off yet.

The Pause: Councilors expressed deep concerns about crushing small, unlicensed businesses, many immigrant-owned, without proper outreach.

The Result: The city is hitting the brakes for 180 days to focus on "education first," giving vendors a chance to get legal before the heavy fines kick in.

The new paid-parking system downtown has been controversial, but it’s proving to be a cash cow for the city’s core.

The Surplus: Paid parking generated $1.1 million in its first six months.

The Win: Because the meters are working, the city is moving to repeal the downtown parking tax and refund businesses. The goal is to let visitors fund the security and maintenance of the garages so the tax burden doesn't fall solely on local shop owners.

Finally, there’s been a lot of frustration regarding the state-owned land along I-5. Council has directed staff to get a firm cleanup schedule from ODOT. While ODOT says they are broke, they’ve finally committed to a cleanup schedule running through April 9. We’ll be watching to see if they stick to it.

Mayoral Debate: Last week we asked you if we should host a Mayoral Debate, and an overwhelming 86% of you said yes. So we are making it happen. We have received commitments from both parties and are making it happen. March 10. Streaming live.

Click here to register and submit a question.

Appreciate you all Salem!

Jacob

Most Salem businesses are invisible.

They're great at what they do. Terrible at getting noticed.

Meanwhile, 40,000+ Salem locals check What's Happening Salem every single day to find out where to eat, what to do, and which businesses actually deserve their money.

That's where we come in.

We don't do generic marketing. We tell your story to the exact people who are already asking "where should I go?"

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2026 is your year to stop being Salem's best-kept secret.

Reply to this email with “Let’s Chat” and we will reach out to schedule a call.

I’m looking forward to connecting.

Jacob Espinoza

The Oregon Battle of the Books regional tournament is coming to Liberty Elementary in Salem on Saturday, March 7, and it is shaping up to be a big one. OBOB is a statewide reading competition for students in grades 3 to 5, where teams work together all year to read and study a set of 16 preselected books covering a wide range of themes and topics. Students first compete within their own schools, and winning teams advance to regional tournaments. This year, 29 schools will be competing at Liberty, making it an exciting day for young readers 📚

The tournament is run entirely by volunteers, and organizers are currently looking for help to make the day a success. Volunteers are needed as scorekeepers, timekeepers, and moderators. If you love books, kids, or supporting literacy, this is a great way to get involved.

👉 Interested in volunteering? Sign up here!

Feel free to share and help spread the word.

Get ready for a jaw dropping night of strength, precision, and pure spectacle as The Peking Acrobats take the stage at the Elsinore Theatre. For more than 30 years, this world renowned group has amazed audiences with daring feats like balancing atop towering stacks of chairs, high flying tumbling, trick cycling, juggling, and gravity defying contortion. Their performances blend centuries old Chinese acrobatic traditions with live music played on traditional instruments, dramatic lighting, and high energy theatrical flair, creating an experience that feels like a full scale Chinese carnival. With appearances spanning major television specials, world record breaking stunts, orchestral collaborations, and even roles in blockbuster films like Ocean’s Eleven, this is a rare chance to witness an internationally acclaimed performance that pushes the limits of what the human body can do, all without leaving Salem.

Shuffle up and get ready for some serious card slinging as Ratchet Brewery hosts a winner take all UNO tournament that will test your luck, strategy, and ability to hold a straight face after a Draw 4. The tournament kicks off at 3:00pm and runs until only one player remains standing as the official champion. All ages are welcome and entry is completely free, with a $100 cash prize on the line for the winner. If the champion is a Beer Drinkers of America member, they will also walk away with the coveted UNO Championship Ring. Not a member yet? Signing up gives you a shot at the ring and even earns you an extra Draw 4 to use during the tournament. Expect friendly competition, high stakes, and plenty of laughs as the cards fly and the rules get spicy.

Looking for something new, social, and a little silly to kick off your week? Bounskee is the new ping pong ball toss sport that puts a creative spin on classic games you already love, including Skee-Ball, Baseball, Blackjack, Poker, Tic-Tac-Toe, Connect 4, BINGO, and more. With multiple game variations, contests throughout the night, stat keeping, and even an art project, there is always something happening and someone new to meet. All you can play runs from 6:00pm to 9:00pm for just $5 per person or $10 for a group of three. And if you need help breaking the ice, they have you covered. Just pick your potential playmate and ask, “How about a bout of Bounskee?” If they laugh, congratulations. It worked.

If you have ever wanted to try table tennis but did not know where to start, Beginner’s Night is the perfect entry point. Held on the first Monday of each month, these sessions are designed specifically for beginners and casual players who want a welcoming, low pressure environment to learn and play. Along with open play, the club offers free coaching on these nights, with friendly guidance on how to improve your game or simply have more fun at the table. It is a great chance to meet other players at your level, rally a bit, and discover why table tennis is such a fun and addictive sport. Everyone is welcome, but if you are new or just getting back into it, this is the night made just for you.

🎭 Weekly Drop-In Improv Comedy Class • 7:30PM • First class FREE, $5 thereafter

🎶 First Tuesday Music & Poetry Open Mic • 7:00PM • FREE

🎤 Dan Kelly: Anthem Tour • 8:00PM • $33

🎹 Innocent Men: A Billy Joel Tribute • 8:00PM • $25

💋 Valentine’s Day Drag Brunch • 12:00PM • $15
🎉 Date Night Comedy: A Comedy Dating Show for Couples! • 8:00PM • $15 single, $25 date package

🎭 No Stupid Questions Improv Show • 8:00PM • $18

🎸 The Fools with HÖG and Boundless Joy • 7:00PM • $13
👠 Dragtastic! with RiRi Caliente • 8:00PM • $20

🎤 Love on the Rocks: A Drunken Comedy Game Show & Karaoke • 8:00PM • $5–$15

🪩 Boogie Wonderland: An All BIPOC Burlesque Tribute to Funk Music • 8:00PM • $20

🪄 Smokus Pocus: The World’s Dopest Magic Show • 8:00PM • $38

Interested in connecting with our audience and supporting the growth of this publication? Simply reply to this email and we can help you get started.

Thanks for keeping up with Salem this week!

Spotted something interesting in town? Drop us a note at [email protected] We love hearing from you.

See you next Thursday,

Ernie