SALEM — The Salem News circled back with each of the candidates who advanced from the city’s preliminary races last month for Ward 1, 2, 5, and 6 on the City Council for more input on ward-specific issues ahead of the Nov. 4 municipal election.
In Ward 1, incumbent Cynthia Jerzylo faces off against challenger Erin Turowski. In Ward 2, William Legault and Andrew Smith are vying for the seat left open by Caroline Watson-Felt.
In Ward 5, Zachary Calderon and Lydia King are contending for the seat left open by Jeff Cohen, who is also not seeking reelection. In Ward 6, Robert Camire and Katelyn Holappa are seeking the open seat left by Megan Stott, who is running for School Committee.
Jerzylo and Turowski answered questions about recent proposals by developers that seek to significantly change the landscape of Ward 1, including the proposed redevelopment of Shetland Park into 1,200 mixed-income apartments and a 13-story hotel.
Jerzylo spoke to the importance of making sure resident’s voices are considered throughout the process.
“I’ve been meeting with the Shetland Park developers for the past two years to discuss the scope and impact of this project,” she said. “If done properly, it could be transformative for Salem.
“However, more community outreach is needed from both the city and developers to ensure residents’ voices are heard. I’ve attended multiple public meetings and will continue to engage, listen, and work to ensure this project benefits Ward 1 and all of Salem,” she said.
Turowski highlighted the crucial need for change for the current state of Shetland Park, and emphasized the importance of continuing to advocate for the project’s affordability and benefits to the community.
“I live by Shetland Park and support its redevelopment,” she said. “Change can be beneficial; the current state of Shetland Park is harmful to our environment and the Point’s microclimate. We must advocate for deeply affordable housing and community resources (like a grocery store), but we would unquestionably benefit from greenscaping and flood mitigation. I am one of these local resident voices, and I will participate in discussions regarding our neighborhood’s future in whatever capacity I can.”
William Legault and Andrew Smith answered questions about the proposed Lifebridge expansion project on Margin Street, with the two Ward 2 candidates being almost completely in opposition with each other on how the public engagement process has gone.
“We’ve had a lot of public meetings and I think that it shows in the design changes, which have followed the will of the people,” Smith said. “During the project, I would like to continue such meetings, especially if issues arise. As the project is currently proposed, it is a shift in model for Lifebridge, going from providing band-aid solutions to more permanent options.
“This is exactly what many in the neighborhood have asked and advocated for from the beginning and it’s good to see the project has moved with that,” he said.
The voices of residents with concerns over potential impacts to the downtown area have not been fully considered, according to Legault.
“The proposed Lifebridge project and the rush to approve it is bad for the neighborhood, detrimental to our downtown, and needs to be brought back to the drawing board,” he said. “The efforts to paint those who oppose it as being cold and uncaring is unfair at best and contemptuous of those who make that neighborhood their home.”
In Ward 5, candidates Zachary Calderon and Lydia King shared their perspectives on how to reduce issues of traffic congestion in their highly-traveled corner of Salem.
Addressing congestion starts with smarter traffic design and better alternative transportation options, according to King.
“We need to review outdated intersection rules that create unnecessary detours in our neighborhoods,” she said. “At the same time, we must improve non-car infrastructure, restoring MBTA bus lines, advancing the South Salem train stop project, and expanding bike lanes and bike trails.
“Finally, maintaining safe, flat, well-lit, and accessible sidewalks, especially along Lafayette Street, will help residents feel less dependent on driving for short trips.”
In order to reduce cars circling around looking for parking, Calderon advocated for the use of Parking Benefit Districts, which is a specific geographic area in which parking revenues can be collected and reinvested to fund transportation-related improvements.
“Parking Benefit Districts tackle traffic congestion on two fronts,” he said. “First by market rating metered parking spaces to aim for 80% occupancy and 20% vacancy at any given time, meaning drivers will not circle the block several times looking for parking. These funds are then reinvested back into the community.”
Camire and Holappa, who are facing off in Ward 6, discussed ways in which the city should address issues of traffic congestion, with both providing different concepts of encouraging alternatives to driving.
“We will never have enough room for all of the cars if we want to maintain our city’s historic character,” Holappa said. “Many cities were half demolished in the ‘60s and ‘70s as part of ‘urban renewal’ projects. We are fortunate that Salem was mostly spared. In practice, we should build out more infrastructure to support micro mobility and travel by bicycle. We also need to invest more in transit, ideally by leveraging and expanding the Skipper.”
Camire suggested the city work with the owners of the Walmart on Highland Avenue to use their parking lot, which he noted to be heavily underutilized, as the location for a new bus service.
“A lot of the traffic in the mornings is people going to work downtown,” Camire said. “I suggest, like in Cape Ann and Gloucester, that we have our own transportation buses that constantly run from a certain area. Walmart has a huge, underutilized parking lot.
“So why don’t we work with them and have our own bus system where the workers or people who want to come into Salem can park up here and then be brought to work.”
Michael McHugh can be contacted at mmchugh@northofboston.com or at 781-799-5202