:-) A mayoral "race"

Let's hear it for a mayoral race with actual choices. Three candidates, Chuck Bennett, Jordan Blake and Anna Peterson, will vie for the city's top office in May 2010 with a wide range of diverse experience to choose from. It's hard to overstate the impact each one's presence will add to the conversation about Salem's future and we look forward to hearing more from the candidates in the coming months.

:-( Gambling on addicted gamblers

The Oregonian reported last month that addicted gamblers, who represent only 10 percent of lottery players, account for 53 percent of the money lost in the Oregon Lottery. It's a problem that most would rather not acknowledge because lottery profits support everything from schools to parks and other services. Let's take a small step in a better direction and curb the Lottery's marketing budget of nearly $10 million in 2008. People who want to gamble are going to find ways to do it easily enough without the billboards.

:-) Greening up Christmas

The holidays are all about showing how we care for each other and less about how we care for the planet we inhabit.Tackiness and disposability abound during the holiday season. Tradition normally dictates the continuation of such practices, but each of us can make small changes to contribute to a greener world. Consider an artificial tree, recyclable gift wrap and fewer strands of tinsel. It's great that we love each other so much, let's make sure we still have a place to do it.

:-P Office chickens

In light of the city's recent rejection of plans to allow Salem residents to keep residential chickens, we would like to offer up a substitute proposal. We get it. Nobody gets everything they want all at once, it takes incremental steps. So, start by allowing owners of commercial property to coop three chickens in their offices. Later, we'll expand the program to private residences. Basically, we're going to follow the model city officials have used to convince residents we need parking meters installed throughout downtown.

:-( Warped priorities

Two days after the Salem city council approved a $25,000 gift to the Festival of Lights Parade Salem Repertory Theater announced it's curtains would fall for the final time after this month's performance of "A Christmas Memory." On the surface, the two incidents have little to do with each other, but they are indicative of the city officials' warped priorities. Rather than bolstering a venue that provides year-round entertainment adding to Salem's cultural canvas, the city chooses to dump a huge wad of cash into a one-time parade that is essentially a mile-long commercial.