Glenden BrownLive Blogging the Mayoral Forum (part 2)
There are some technical difficulties with the sound, so this could be interesting.
Mayoral Forum - Ralph Becker and Dave Buhler and being introduced.
Opening Statements 3 minutes. I’ll do my best to summarize.
Buhler:
Usual boilerplate welcome for our commitment to fighting poverty. Personal details: Salt lake city native, his dad was a police officer, attended South High, attended UofU. Committed to serving Salt Lake - Sugarhouse Comm Council, State Senate, last 8 years in the City Council. Looking forward to working with Becker. Basic take on poverty issues: recognizes that SLC is unique in the state, the only real urban area in the state, a very diverse city. A welcoming and compassionate community, evidenced by our homeless shelters. As city council member, helped changed policy from using fed money only for building to using it for human services. Funds have declined over the years. Has lobbied congress to keep these programs from being cut.
Becker:
First time that we’ve been just the two of us at an event - it’s kind of lonely but we prefer to be lonely. We can become a truly great American city by looking at where we are and where we need to go and how to get there. In this campaign, he has looked at major areas - see the website www.ralphbecker.com to see the blueprints. Education - every child deserves the opportunity that public education can provide. We’ve done badly at the state level but we in Salt Lake see it particularly. Salt Lake is unique in terms of its population in the state. Proposals to bolster public ed - partnerships betweeen businesses, city, and higher ed institutions. Blueprint for Green City - building on Mayor Anderson’s work and taking some significant steps forward, calling for bikeable communities and trails, using energy efficiency for city and community. Third primary area of focus is on neighborhoods and downtown. Downtown is another neighborhood. In recent years, the city has failed to protect the character of our historic neighborhoods. We need to get involved in developping plans as a community for downtown and the neighborhoods. Downtown is our city and regional gathering place - downtown should be supported to become a vibrant center. Within 5 to 10 years, we can make downtown what it was and what it can be. 30 years as environmental planner and lawyer.  We get things done by generating good ideas, getting people involved, having a vision and going out and achieving it as a community.
 First Question:
Bill Tibbits from AHAC, on healthcare issues:
Mayors around the country have promoted federal programs - like CHIP and Medicaid. As mayor would you do something to promote these programs?
Becker: Yes. This is a federal issue primarily. Need to make people aware of the availability of services and get people enrolled. City can only do so much since these are federal programs.
Buhler:Yes. Need to educate citizens about EITC (earned income tax credit) so that people get the credits they’ve earned and that will help them. We can work with business community to help get word out. Use office of community affairs, working through community councils and use multiple languages.
