A split Salem city council on Monday accepted a largely anonymous $180,000 donation from the Salem business community to help pay for two more police officers to deal with unmanaged homeless camps downtown and elsewhere in the city.

The gift from donors was offered to the city by business leaders associated with the Salem Area Chamber of Commerce and the Salem Main Street Association, and is in tune with the city’s working plans to address issues related to safety and cleanliness downtown and in northeast Salem. That plan was approved by the council earlier this month.

Councilors Paul Tigan, Shane Matthews, Deanna Gwyn, Mai Vang and Vanessa Nordyke joined Salem Mayor Julie Hoy in voting to accept the gift while Council President Linda Nishioka and Councilors Irvin Brown and Micki Var

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