Welcome to this week's episode of Coffee Breaks!

In this new series in partnership with the Salem Reporter, Jacob Espinoza sits down with Rachel Alexander, editor of Salem Reporter, to discuss the latest news and developments in Salem. This week, they cover:

• The final Salem City Council meeting of 2024 and what's ahead in January
• New housing code changes aimed at making it easier to build in Salem
• City boards and commissions: how to get involved in local government
• The high-profile immigration arrest incident at Mega Foods and the fire department's response
• Marion County's proposed joint task force to address homelessness at Wallace Marine Park
• Downtown Salem updates, including the new Subatomic Toys store
• And much more!

This is a new series in partnership with the Salem Reporter. Support local journalism and stay informed about what's happening in Salem by subscribing to the Salem Reporter at https://www.salemreporter.com/

Timestamps:

00:01 - Introduction and catching up

04:00 - City Council highlights and housing code changes

06:44 - How the Salem government works and getting involved in boards and commissions

08:05 - Immigration arrest incident at Mega Foods and thefire department's role

11:27 - Housing development challenges and rent burden in Salem

12:32 - Wallace Marine Park homeless encampment and proposed task force

16:20 - Wrap-up and the importance of local journalism