Need more info on this subject, I've been homeless and I didn't do what's happening in Salem. I went for walk around Salem with my mom and it was ridiculous seeing big groups of filthy people with there pets sprawling their stuff all over the ground everywhere. It makes it feel unsafe and sad instead of having a fun day with family. I live in the city next door and it is bad here too but we aren't a tourist city.
A
Anonymous
1 year ago
As a formerly unhoused veteran, and the poet laureate at the 2015 Homelessness symposium for unaccompanied women, I am appalled that the city would even consider this. It is not a solution to homelessness and one only need look at the New England Vet Centre in Boston to see how terrible this model is. It will lead to public health issues (the vet center is rife with bedbugs, lice, and illness) for the community, and it will not solve the unhoused epidemic. Do better. But do not do this.
W
William Laforme
1 year ago
This proposal is not based in good public policy. It also completely disregards the actual city residents.
A
Anonymous
1 year ago
Featured
24 year old Salem resident. I want to feel safe with my girlfriend walking our dog alone at night. And I want to be able to go to Wendy’s past 5pm without being harassed… or idk city hall for that matter.
G
Gloria Matton
1 year ago
The downtown area is congested and infested with tourists. We do not want a homeless shelter in that area or anywhere else in Salem. It’s not a very nice welcome to tourists to view all the homeless hanging around with their belongings in Riley Plaza and begging for money. If housing for the homeless is built, it will only invite more to come to Salem. Where does the overflow go? The homeless are coming in from many surrounding cities and towns. Who is going to support these people?
Salem homeowners? It’s getting very expensive to live here. Taxes and rents going up, becoming unaffordable. I’ve lived here all my life and I’m disgusted and disappointed with the way this city has changed and not for the better.
A
Anonymous
1 year ago
Too large. Too many. We are a magnet
F
Frank Kulik
1 year ago
Local government was put in place to serve the people in the community. The community at large is nearly unanimously opposed to this project for a multitude of valid concerns. The majority of the citizens I've discussed this with are on a low boil and not at all happy with having this project shoved down their throats by the very people who were elected to represent them. Take heed.
K
Kathryn Harper
1 year ago
We need to be careful about how we develop property in Salem. We need to protect our base economy of tourism and develop properties that are attractive and in keeping. Nobody wins if we ruin it all.
Why would we expand the Lifebridge operation when it is not doing a good job now. How is it a good thing for people who have nowhere to go and nothing to do to hang around in front of the post office all day? And how many more will be doing that if this development goes forward? Today when I
walked across Riley Plaza from the post office I could smell the marijuana that some in the group were smoking. Really, Mayor Pangallo and City Councillors, we want more of that?
A
Anonymous
1 year ago
No illegals
A
Anonymous
1 year ago
I am totally against this. VERY disappointed with this administration! Will NOT be voting for him in the next election
P
Paul Biscaia
1 year ago
Born and raised in Salem and this is not a good solution for anyone. Salem cannot be all things to all people. We are overcrowded as is.
R
Richard McMullen
1 year ago
This sounds like a terrible proposal.
D
Debra Stewart
1 year ago
Really. Enough is enough
P
Penny Bigmore
1 year ago
This is not the solution. Do not change the zoning.
M
Maureen O'Hare Mercer
1 year ago
Thanks for making this petition
L
Larry Bullock
1 year ago
This is the worst elected leadership I have ever witnessed. Our mayor and others are hell bent on ruining Salem for their own personal benefit and publicity. Angry is not even close to describing my feelings towards these people.
D
Denise Henkind
1 year ago
Salem has come a long way in the last 10 years. We don’t need to regress with taking our tax dollars for the entire North Shore homeless issue. There has been human feces in the street. There are needles and crack pipes left on the street. I had a crack pipe left in my front stairs planter. I don’t want to live like that and expose the young people in the neighborhood to that behavior.
S
Stephanie Storella
1 year ago
Salem has done more than its fair share for housing the homeless and more than their fair share with affordable housing. Other towns need to share in this unfortunate situation and not allow Salem to take the brunt of it. We are already feeling the negative effects of this once quaint historic city. It is heartbreaking to see this city going in the wrong direction. Congestion, traffic, panhandlers and having to change walking routes in this once so called walkable city is unacceptable. Building Lifebridge complex in the middle of downtown is going to negatively affect Salem more than ever. 40R is not the answer....Salem will never be the same, including tourism and the value of our properties. There are other ways to do this...
Not in favor
Need more info on this subject, I've been homeless and I didn't do what's happening in Salem. I went for walk around Salem with my mom and it was ridiculous seeing big groups of filthy people with there pets sprawling their stuff all over the ground everywhere. It makes it feel unsafe and sad instead of having a fun day with family. I live in the city next door and it is bad here too but we aren't a tourist city.
As a formerly unhoused veteran, and the poet laureate at the 2015 Homelessness symposium for unaccompanied women, I am appalled that the city would even consider this. It is not a solution to homelessness and one only need look at the New England Vet Centre in Boston to see how terrible this model is. It will lead to public health issues (the vet center is rife with bedbugs, lice, and illness) for the community, and it will not solve the unhoused epidemic. Do better. But do not do this.
This proposal is not based in good public policy. It also completely disregards the actual city residents.
24 year old Salem resident. I want to feel safe with my girlfriend walking our dog alone at night. And I want to be able to go to Wendy’s past 5pm without being harassed… or idk city hall for that matter.
The downtown area is congested and infested with tourists. We do not want a homeless shelter in that area or anywhere else in Salem. It’s not a very nice welcome to tourists to view all the homeless hanging around with their belongings in Riley Plaza and begging for money. If housing for the homeless is built, it will only invite more to come to Salem. Where does the overflow go? The homeless are coming in from many surrounding cities and towns. Who is going to support these people? Salem homeowners? It’s getting very expensive to live here. Taxes and rents going up, becoming unaffordable. I’ve lived here all my life and I’m disgusted and disappointed with the way this city has changed and not for the better.
Too large. Too many. We are a magnet
Local government was put in place to serve the people in the community. The community at large is nearly unanimously opposed to this project for a multitude of valid concerns. The majority of the citizens I've discussed this with are on a low boil and not at all happy with having this project shoved down their throats by the very people who were elected to represent them. Take heed.
We need to be careful about how we develop property in Salem. We need to protect our base economy of tourism and develop properties that are attractive and in keeping. Nobody wins if we ruin it all. Why would we expand the Lifebridge operation when it is not doing a good job now. How is it a good thing for people who have nowhere to go and nothing to do to hang around in front of the post office all day? And how many more will be doing that if this development goes forward? Today when I walked across Riley Plaza from the post office I could smell the marijuana that some in the group were smoking. Really, Mayor Pangallo and City Councillors, we want more of that?
No illegals
I am totally against this. VERY disappointed with this administration! Will NOT be voting for him in the next election
Born and raised in Salem and this is not a good solution for anyone. Salem cannot be all things to all people. We are overcrowded as is.
This sounds like a terrible proposal.
Really. Enough is enough
This is not the solution. Do not change the zoning.
Thanks for making this petition
This is the worst elected leadership I have ever witnessed. Our mayor and others are hell bent on ruining Salem for their own personal benefit and publicity. Angry is not even close to describing my feelings towards these people.
Salem has come a long way in the last 10 years. We don’t need to regress with taking our tax dollars for the entire North Shore homeless issue. There has been human feces in the street. There are needles and crack pipes left on the street. I had a crack pipe left in my front stairs planter. I don’t want to live like that and expose the young people in the neighborhood to that behavior.
Salem has done more than its fair share for housing the homeless and more than their fair share with affordable housing. Other towns need to share in this unfortunate situation and not allow Salem to take the brunt of it. We are already feeling the negative effects of this once quaint historic city. It is heartbreaking to see this city going in the wrong direction. Congestion, traffic, panhandlers and having to change walking routes in this once so called walkable city is unacceptable. Building Lifebridge complex in the middle of downtown is going to negatively affect Salem more than ever. 40R is not the answer....Salem will never be the same, including tourism and the value of our properties. There are other ways to do this...
Stop destroying the city