A Salem Look at Tacoma
We always like to see how Tacoma looks from an outside perspective, and today we noticed a Tacoma mention in an editorial call to action in Salem, Oregon.
Dick Hughes of the Salem, Oregon Statesman Journal challenges his city’s lack of civic self-promotion, but what really caught our attention was the author’s comparison of Salem with Tacoma.
Compare Salem to Tacoma, Wash., which for generations was known for stink and its second-class status to nearby Seattle. Tacoma has turned into a hip place with civic art, outside eateries and charming shops.
Hey, that’s nice to hear… but Hughes isn’t a total Tacoma convert.
Now, I wouldn’t trade Salem for Tacoma. Our public schools are much better, our neighborhood streets are in far better shape, and I have more faith in our local law enforcement. But, again, those factors aren’t obvious to the person traveling through town.
Hughes notes some of the areas in which he sees his town dropping the ball on fostering civic pride. He notes Salem’s lack of tourist bureau, unkempt city entrances and sidewalks, lack of wayfinding for visitors, vacant and unsightly buildings, and under-maintained and under-utilized public spaces.
He praises a new public art installation “Play Me, I’m Yours,” which has decorated upright pianos stationed around Salem for the public to play and enjoy, but points out that such installations are far less common than he would like, and that Salem is lacking in other signs of civic pride. Hughes goes on to issue a call to action for citizens who don’t want this to be the face Salem presents to visitors.
A little introspection can be good. Since we’ve been brought into this conversation, as a Tacoman, what has Tacoma done well? And, realistically, are there little things we can do to improve our public face?
Read Hughes’ full article from the Statesman Journal.
Filed under: Elsewhere, Awards & Recognition
6 comments
M Mofo from the Hood July 27, 2012
I reject the Salem, Oregon model for utopia. Placing old upright pianos around Tacoma would only encourage acceptance of public bawdry.
J Jesse July 27, 2012
Salem does have better and prettier streets/infrastructure and public schools. However, it lacks the pride, personality, and natural beauty Tacoma offers.
F Fantum July 29, 2012
I’m sure that here in Tacoma we would only end up with a public piano moratorium.
J Jordan Rash July 30, 2012
As a native to Salem, I must say that Tacoma is far more interesting and has more to offer than Salem. Salem’s schools aren’t that great. I’m not sure one could say they’re “better” than Tacoma’s; I would say both cities have similar challenges with their public schools.
Salem does not have businesses other than government, large retail and services that support state government. Tacoma is a MAJOR center for trade.
Salem lacks civic character entirely. There is no night life. People get in their cars, go to work, and drive home. The downtown is a dead zone. If it weren’t for Willamette University students, there wouldn’t be anything going on downtown.
Now, Tacoma’s downtown has its challenges as well. People aren’t flocking to live, work and play in downtown Tacoma. I think Tacoma should encourage denser development on the hillside leading up to Hilltop, invest in transit, including extending the light rail line up to the “medical mile,” promote business growth in the downtown through tax increment financing (requires some lobbying in Olympia), repair our aging road infrastructure throughout the city and create business incubators in the downtown.
Also, I traveled to the East Coast in June. One thing I noticed is that major cities were home to breweries, many of which had been in operation for decades. These cities’ identities were often associated with their breweries (i.e. Baltimore and “Natty Boh”). Tacoma should revitalize its brewery district with either a revitalized local brewery or new craft breweries. While I support UW-Tacoma, we can do more to redevelop the brewery district!
H honeydew slausen August 2, 2012
A change in perspective can often be very helpful. Chatting with the candidates for Tacoma’s economic development director on Monday I was struck by their positive views of downtown. Admittedly, they were each seeking to impress the locals to get a job, but they had all clearly walked around downtown a bit and were uniformly more upbeat about what they saw then many locals are.
C Chalky White August 2, 2012
@honeydew is correct. Perspective is important. It often feels as though locals do not fully appreciate how much Tacoma has improved or how lucky we are to live in a place with so many assets. It also makes me wonder how many other urban areas the most harsh critics have actually visited.