One Utah

What about a commission on housing with authority? 

Becker:  We may need a commission to do it, but this is a new proposal for me.  In the past, was on a board with authority to make decisions and a also to advise the council and that was 15 years ago.  SRO’s - single room occupancy - needs to be part of the solution.  2nd and 2nd is a good example of how it can work - these are green units with 4.50 per month in electrical costs.  If we’re going to shut down existing State Street SRO’s we need to provide another SRO location.  We need a city policy about trading out so they are replaced as they are closed.

Buhler:  First inclination is to use existing agencies rather than create a new one but lets play it by ear.  SRO’s on State are a good place to start - they could close and be moved and chances are good they won’t be in that location in the future.  We need to take care of the people - the address is not as important as the people.  Needs to be close to transit and other services.  We need to take care of people no matter what.

Ted Gurney:  Transportation question. 

Buhler:  Need to figure out solutions for downtown and to get people so they can get around downtown.  Maybe we do a specific city area transit system such as a trolley car system.  UTA looks regionally and we need an urban system.

Becker:  As an urban area, we need a good bikeable city and we need a good urban area plan, but ultimately, it is a UTA issue over which we have  no control.  Some good specific ideas as far as approaching solutions.  Bus service is the backbone of our transit service.  UTA did not pay attention to the role of buses and transit in the city when they planned and made changes in their routes and plans.  Mayor, City council, community councils need to start figuring out solutions - we need a good strong bus system in the city.  We need to make sure UTA hears us and gives us what we need.  Need a good mix of transit options.  SLC needs to make a greater commitment to transit in the city.

Final Question, Glenn Bailey from Crossroads.  A few years ago, the Mayor signed “common ground” document that held that homeless services could coexist with high income development in the Gateway area.  Do you support continuation of services in Pioneer Park?  Do you support Pioneer being a neighborhood park?

Becker:  Yes, we have to continue those services in that area.  It works well where it is, it’s accessible and is not looking to make any changes.  The changes in the park have been distressing.  Pioneer Park is not a place to just build - it’s a rare, large downtown green space and it should be maintained as such.  We need to find a way to keep people from being frightened to go there.  We need to restore the park and make it a place people want to go.  We could create a dogpark there and make it a good space and get people there.  What we have done there in these last 20 years or so has not worked and we need to reappraise how we use and plan and manage the park.

Buhler:  Signed the common ground document.  The homeless services there are working well, but if the services themselves choose to move that’s different and they should not be forced out.  Did not support making the park an amusement park and wanted to put $1million into the park to create an “off leash” area and to make other improvements there.  The park should not have an ice rink and a movie screen.  We need to enforce existing laws- if you walk through you will be approached to buy drugs.  It should not be an open air pharmacy.  We need to work with the police dept. to control the crime in the area - the homeless are not the problem, the crime is the problem.  Often homeless are victims of crime.  We can make some improvements to make the park usage better for people.  It should not be an amusement style park - the money can be used better elsewhere.  We can’t put so much into one place that we ignore the rest of the city.

Closing Statements:

Becker:  Boilerplate thank you.  Questions were good and it’s what we should be doing as a city.  Whoever wins can use these questions to help guide us.  Thanks for educating.  Has been an incredibly exciting, energizing, exhausting effort over the last year - started right after last election.  Has been a wonderful experience, have learned, have listened, have developped idea about where to go and how to get there as a city.  It’s been a long time since we have galvanized around ideas for the future and how to get to the future.

Buhler: Boilerplate thank you.  One final issue.  With regard to issue of poverty, we need to emphasize the importance of education to create self-sustaining adults who can take care of themselves.  Committed to education system and distressed it is under attack.  Public education creates opportunities for people.  1/2 of hispanic youth do not graduate from high school, and that limits opportunities.  Must have more than high school to have self sustaining income.  We are not over it, or in control, but can do some things.  Mayor can advocate for city at the state leg.  “R” is not for republican, it is for reasonable.   As mayor, my door is open to you.  I can listen, I can work with city council, I can work with other stakeholders.

This entry was posted Saturday, September 15th, 2007 at 11:53 am and is filed under Ralph Becker, SLC Politics, Salt Lake City. You can leave a response, or trackback from your own site.