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01/02/2024 - Formal Meeting - Meeting Materials Salt Lake City Elected Officials Inauguration Tuesday, January 2, 2024 Noon Call to Order Darin Mano, Chair Salt Lake City Council Flag Ceremony Salt Lake City Police Department Motor Squad National Anthem Mila Owen Vocalist Poem Reading “American Dream” Performed by Michaëlle Martial Welcome Darin Mano, Chair Salt Lake City Council Dance Performance “La Negra” Performed by Ballet Folklórico ECK Oath of Office Alejandro “Ale” Puy, Council District Two Administered by Cindy Lou Trishman, City Recorder Eva Lopez Chavez, Council District Four Administered by Judge Clemens Landau, Salt Lake City Justice Court Dan Dugan, Council District Six Administered by Cindy Lou Trishman, City Recorder Sarah Young, Council District Seven Administered by Cindy Lou Trishman, City Recorder Erin Mendenhall, Mayor Administered by Cindy Lou Trishman, City Recorder Musical Number “Win and Guaranteed” Performed by Lil’ Kai Closing Remarks Darin Mano, Chair Salt Lake City Council Salt Lake City Elected Officials Inauguration Tuesday, January 2, 2024 Noon Call to Order Darin Mano, Chair Salt Lake City Council Flag Ceremony Salt Lake City Police Department Motor Squad National Anthem Mila Owen Vocalist Poem Reading “American Dream” Performed by Michaëlle Martial Welcome Darin Mano, Chair Salt Lake City Council Dance Performance “La Negra” Performed by Ballet Folklórico ECK Oath of Office Alejandro “Ale” Puy, Council District Two Administered by Cindy Lou Trishman, City Recorder Eva Lopez Chavez, Council District Four Administered by Judge Clemens Landau, Salt Lake City Justice Court Dan Dugan, Council District Six Administered by Cindy Lou Trishman, City Recorder Sarah Young, Council District Seven Administered by Cindy Lou Trishman, City Recorder Erin Mendenhall, Mayor Administered by Cindy Lou Trishman, City Recorder Musical Number “Win and Guaranteed” Performed by Lil’ Kai Closing Remarks Darin Mano, Chair Salt Lake City Council January 02, 2024 Video TranscripƟon – Council Member Sarah Young at the Oath of Office Good aŌernoon. I am so incredibly excited to be here as an elected official for my first Ɵme being a member of the Council. When I thought about what I wanted to speak about in my remarks today, there were so many things that I could touch on. My incredible family who’s here with me today and the support they’ve shown me, but I thanked you guys in July so we’re going to move to another room. 00:02:04 I could also thank the amazing dedicated teachers in our K‐12 schools. We have two of the women that I incredibly admire here, both Dr. Grant and Dr. Sydney Dixon, who really take lead in supporƟng our K‐12 schools and communiƟes, and I’m so honored to work with you. 00:02:28 But our schools just didn’t seem right today, thinking about the role of our City and how it encompasses more than just our kids, but it really is about every single person. So, I thought back to July and the day I was appointed, and I ended my introducƟon to my fellow Council Members, as well as the Mayor, by talking about a core value of mine, graƟtude. And it is graƟtude that I’m going to touch on here today. 00:02:59 When new Council Members joined our stellar Community Council team, the City Recorder’s Office helped us by seƫng up meeƟngs with all the different departments. It gives us an opportunity as new Council Members to get to know the City and the individual leaders. To ask quesƟons about what is happening, what are the needs, and how we as elected officials can support. 00:03:21 One of those experiences that I’m going to touch on in more detail was parƟcipaƟng in my first ride‐ along with the Salt Lake City Police Department. Officer Bench picked me up along with our District 7 liaison Julee Mori to be able to parƟcipate in my first ride‐along with Salt Lake City Police on a beauƟful day this past fall. 00:03:45 Within a few minutes, we received a call from a ciƟzen that was requesƟng assistance. A Salt Lake City Community College student had reached out because a bag had been taken from an unlocked car in the Sugar House area. We met Officer MarƟnez and Officer Carlson, and while they gathered informaƟon from the student about what was available in the bag, Officer Bench jumped into acƟon, and started looking around at the local businesses to see if perhaps there was security footage that may have captured this parƟcular crime. 00:04:20 With the help of a business manager, who was happy to jump on the case, Officer Bench found the vehicle and the suspect and was able to give their descripƟons to the Greater Salt Lake City Police Department. The officers reported that vehicle and started their patrol. Trying to do my civic duty as well, I jumped in and was like “there’s a white car, there’s a white car, there's a white car.” 00:04:45 Well luckily for Officer Bench, within five minutes he actually heard back from Officers MarƟnez and Carlson. They had found the student’s backpack within the area. It had been disposed in a dumpster and knowing that a lot of Ɵmes these crimes occur and yet the actual evidence in the backpack is leŌ in the area, it was quickly found thanks to the dedicaƟon, criƟcal thinking and thoughƞulness of our Salt Lake City Police Department. 00:05:17 We hurried to the scene to be able to meet them. Every single item that that student lost, including his computer with all of his course work on it, was there. Thank you to our Salt Lake City Police Department for looking out for our ciƟzens. Now you might think, “why is she telling this story? There are so many things that are happening in the greater city,” and that is true. 00:05:49 Big things are occurring. And we have big tasks and challenges ahead of us. But I will also say that it’s these daily small moments of service that we see from every single member of the Salt Lake City larger community that is what truly makes our community what it is today. And it is the place that I’m proud to call home. So to end with graƟtude, I cannot possibly thank every single individual here within Salt Lake City for the good deeds that are done, but I’d like to highlight a few. 00:06:25 To O fficers Bench, MarƟnez, Carlson, DetecƟve Fallows, and Chief Brown, thank you to the Salt Lake Police for keeping us safe here in our City. I appreciate you. To Urban Forestry, who if you don’t know, makes trees available for parking strips in front of homes all across our great City. Not only does it help in terms of creaƟng community, but it makes a difference in terms of the clean air that we breathe. Thank you to those individuals for helping our City. 00:06:58 To Judy Short, Landon Clark, and all of the leaders of the Sugar House Community Council, these are individuals who, in unpaid roles, dedicate themselves to making sure our communiƟes have access to the resources and the soluƟons they need, including sidewalks that fit strollers and are accessible to all of our ciƟzens. Thank you. 00:07:24 To the Public UƟliƟes team under the direcƟon of Laura Briefer, we really appreciate you. Not just in terms of your efforts for sustainability, but also protecƟng one of the greatest resources we have here in Salt Lake, which is our watershed. 00:07:40 To Julee Mori, who is the District 7 liaison, I am so grateful to be able to work with her and appreciate the kindness and the way that she treats every consƟtuent who reaches out to our office like family. And finally, to Chief Lieb and the firefighters of Salt Lake City who respond to incidents like one that happened in October of an auto pedestrian accident, where my father was the pedestrian. 00:08:14 I am incredibly grateful that you look out for every single one of our residents, as is my family and my father who is siƫng here with us today. Thank you to the residents of District 7 for this opportunity. Thank you to my fellow Council Members and to the Mayor. I am very grateful to be able to support all of the great people here within our City who make those small acƟons every day that create the community that I am proud to call home. Thank you so much. Oath of Office remarks Good afternoon. What a wonderful day! Thank you, Mila, for that beautiful national anthem. Thank you, Salt Lake City and District Six, for the opportunity to serve a second term as your District Six Council Member. I am honored to be here today to accept this responsibility and declare my continued commitment to the city and the district. I am also honored to serve alongside this wonderful team. I want to start by acknowledging my challengers, Taymour and James, for participating in our democratic process, for taking the time to get to know our community and for your desire to serve our city. Thank you to my campaign staff, Jackie, Gabi, Ben, and Sara, for their tireless work and for keeping me on track. Thank you to all the volunteers who knocked on doors, wrote letters, and believed in the vision. You are the best! And my biggest thanks go to Sarah for being my soulmate and my senior advisor. All of you made this possible. Salt Lake City is an incredible, vibrant city, and District Six is a wonderful place to call home. I could not be prouder of this place. The last four years were challenging. We experienced a pandemic, an earthquake, a windstorm, and economic uncertainty but together we pulled through and grew stronger. Looking ahead, we have opportunities to grow even stronger and a team of committed public servants working to find the solutions our city needs. I am eager to continue improving our efforts to support our residents by working with our diverse communities, listening to the needs and desires of our city's residents, understanding one another, and using data and research to make the best decisions for our future. As I have said before, my focus is our people and our planet. I have a vision for one city with a seamless connection to all the communities within it. My focus on people means focusing on our quality of life and health —mental and physical— by addressing affordable living. Not simply affordable housing but affordable living. This means housing of all types, and for all income levels, as well as walkable and bikeable safe streets; well -maintained parks, trails, and community centers; and hubs of housing and local small businesses, places that bring people together just to be together. This also means increasing public transportation options and improving street infrastructure. In District 6 we are home to one of the largest employment areas in the state but have only one bus line that runs on Foothill Drive and every 30 mins. If you want a picture of gridlock visit the intersection of Sunnyside and Foothill at Sam and 4pm. We need to change this picture. Let's get people out of their cars and expand our 9-Line design from the Peace Gardens to This is the Place, connect Rose Park to Arcadia Heights, Poplar Grove to 151h and 151h, and Sugarhouse to City Creek with safe bike routes. Let's connect our communities by taking the bold move to bury the train tracks that slice the city in two. Taking steps forward to improve our residents' quality of life allows us to also look out for what makes us healthier and more productive — clean air and water. I am proud of the efforts we have made in the last few years in improving our air quality and increasing our water conservation. We must continue the momentum and continue to lead the state in these efforts. If we are going to continue growing, then new construction must be of the highest energy efficiency. And large commercial buildings and warehouses must have solar panels and water smart landscaping. A flat roof is wasted space without solar panels. Kentucky bluegrass does not belong in Utah. Natural scaping is a must. We must also be firm and strong in our efforts to protect Great Salt Lake and its wetlands. The cost of focusing on profits in these areas will forever negatively impact the health and quality of life for our residents. This will not be easy. There will be struggles and we will have to change some of our behaviors but as a team and a city, united, we can make it all happen. Salt Lake City and District Six, I am excited for the opportunity and responsibility to continue serving you. Thank you again for placing your trust in me. Fellow Council Members and Mayor, I look forward to another four years. Have a great day. Keep the Faith. *Slow Down* Opening: Before I begin, I have a message to share specifically with my family. Many join me today in person as well as back in Mexico, our homeland. Message in Spanish: Como familia hemos cumplido tanto. En solo una generación, juntos cumplimos lo imposible. I stand on the shoulders of giants; in particular, my grandmother, Graciela Corona Chavez, a woman who lived in true poverty and has completely shaped my life. Thank you for your sacrifices. In my family, we practice this saying: “La familia es primero”. That family is first. In just one generation, in our city, my family has made its mark. Only in our city, can an aspiring community organizer take the helm of such leadership. I want to say thank you to my campaign team whose support and tireless efforts made this possible: ● Debbie Sigman ● Stuart Hepworth ● Ashlee Jackson *Slow Down* ● Camryn Fife ● Joel Paredes Guardado ● Josh Velasquez ● Kyle Friant ● Laia Juni ● Lily Donis ● Sheila Srivastava ● Spencer Young ● Kevin Nickels ● Cristobal Villegas ● Johnny Hebda You continually inspired me along the way– 9 months to be exact– and brought an infectious energy to our neighbors. You forever have my heart and my personal phone number. Thank you to my friends, neighbors, and volunteers who supported me along the way. You give me a lifetime of hope. To our community, district and city: This win is for you. I am humbled by the opportunity to serve you. I want to get a little vulnerable now… *Slow Down* As a person who wears many hats … and you guys know I love wearing hats… It matters to proudly wear all your identities. One of mine is that of the incoming generation of new leaders in our city. Much like the earthquake that shook our city, it is this generation that will continue the shockwaves of growth for our district. I’ll never forget driving into Salt Lake City a decade ago. I was in awe of our skyline. These red-ominous hues that inspired me to chase my dreams. Fast forward, ten years later, I look back at our skyline and think…” DAMN, have you seen all the construction lately?” But really. I am forced to ask myself: for whom is this city being built? District 4 is known to be a place for families. These are families, children, renters - people with diverse backgrounds. Its geography is a perfect rectangle in the center of our city made up of our neighborhoods: East Central, Central City, Downtown, and Central Ninth communities. It is the beating heart and soul of our city. Diversity and density are our strengths. Someone tell that to Ryan Smith because you sure won’t find that at the point of the mountain. We are expecting 10,000 new residents in our Downtown by 2025. I am excited by the potential for new investment and families in our downtown neighborhoods. *Slow Down* I invite you to share your ideas about how we can preserve neighborhoods for those families. We need to invest in the community that we are trying to create. Our small businesses are crafting communities every day. These businesses inspire me to protect the spaces where community is ignited. They are the lifeblood of Salt Lake City and showcase our diverse economic resiliency. In 2034, we will light an Olympic torch representing our pioneering spirit. It matters to me that we include all of our businesses and families in light of this momentous event. Closing (slow down): I'm excited and honored to embark on this journey to city leadership, together. Having you by my side excites me, it empowers me. Thank you for entrusting me with this great responsibility. Because today we have created history together. Remember: District 4 is for families. I am Eva Lopez Chavez, I am your neighbor Douglas Street, and I cannot wait to keep working for you. Ale Oath of Office speech 1/2/24 Thank you for gathering here today and joining me as we embark on a new chapter in the service to our beloved Salt Lake City. It is an honor and a privilege to stand before you once again, having been again entrusted with the responsibility of representing the vibrant community of District 2 in our city government. It feels like just yesterday, (exactly 729 days, and maybe two hours) I was standing here reflecting on the moment and thanking all those that helped me be here. The truth is that nothing, literally nothing that I’ve accomplished these last two years could have happened without the assistance of my awesome liaisons and council staff. Brian for his ingenuity and tenacity, and never forgetting a task, but you are dead to me you left to work for the administration… (rolls eyes while looking at the mayor, we shall see how easy that next budget goes through). Priscilla for knowing how to make all my crazy ideas a reality, while juggling so much more, and my current liaison Vili who gets things done, keeps me on task and always has my back (even when I don’t even have my own). What an incredible talented team of professionals, this city owes so much to this council staff that works tirelessly in the background. They deserve more credit than they get. But now Looking back on the past two years, one of my first tasks was to get myself a white board for my cubicle and write all my objectives on it, big, small, even silly ones. Then keep adding to that list as issues arise. Because every week we get swamped with fires to put out, and fires we like to start… The white board was my way not to lose focus and to make sure I delivered things my district needs. Let me say that the white board got lots of check marks marking a completed task… those achievements are a testament to the strength of our community, and I continue to be inspired by the dedication and resilience of the people of District 2. 1. Record capital improvements approved to district two. Infrastructure, roads, street lightening. 2. New density allowed across the city. 3. Record affordable housing funding. 4. Revamped ADU ordinance (council members don’t twitch... that was a rough one) 5. Increased commercial space requirements on new developments. 6. Thriving in place a comprehensive plan to fight the forces of gentrification in a growing city. 7. Stronger presence of the city on the west side, including brining the council meetings to the west side every year. 8. Allowing sanctioned camping that is now a test pilot behind the Rio Grande to allow those experiencing homelessness an additional path to find a safe and warm place to live while they can focus on the next challenges ahead. I remember being told “this will never happen in SLC” and here we are… 9. Funding of more cameras, to fight crime. 10. Technology to text those that call police with an update on their call. 11. A new police substation on north temple which we will open doors very soon. This has led to record low crime numbers for my district, but there is more work to lot do on addressing crime. 12. Assisting in the envisioning of a new regional park in my district and advocating on all the languages I speak to get people to vote for the bond... then approving funding for a future Glendale regional park. 13. Funding for the Jordan river, and funding for other parks in my district. 14. Repealing our donation ordinance and streamlining it so we can accept donations from individuals and corporations. Then accepting donations from Home Depot in labor, and materials to revamp the 20-year-old missing pergolas in Jackson Park, fixing the Japan Garden at the International Peace Gardens, and the Horseshoe field at Glendale Park. (Just to mention a few examples) 15. Along with other community and volunteer projects like the alleyway cleanups, and park projects 16. We’ve welcomed new businesses like 43 bakery and The Spa. 17. Lowered speeds limits, focused on safer streets, record funding on speeding mitigation, made silly signs to get the attention of drivers to slow down… like Luis Fonsi and Justin Bieber say: drive despacito please there are grandmas (abuelas!! )at play in my district. 18. I am in a continued fight against blocked railroad crossings, if you have not shared your story.. please do so at… tinyURL.com/SLCTrains or the District 2 webpage None of this would be possible without the dedicated support of my Council colleagues, Mayor Erin Mendenhall, City leadership, and partners, advocates, and constituents who create the beauty of our communities and recognize opportunities to rectify historical injustices. We are evolving, we are getting the nice things, we are not only righting historical wrongs but also enhancing the quality of life for current and future generations of communities of color. I’m proud of how the community showed up and we will have more PICKLEBALL courts. Today as I take my oath of office, this is not merely a reaffirmation of my commitment to public service; it is a call to action for all of us. The challenges we face are complex, and we need your energy, commitment, ideas, and sometimes money to not only BUILD BRIDGES but to fill that gap. We need the gap of historical injustice to be gone… and we need your help. Help us keep our focus on issues we can actually solve. Keep us accountable but bring solutions to our neighbors. There are people in my district, today, right now, with no food on their tables. There are people in our neighborhoods, right now, behind on rent or mortgage that need the tools to stay housed. There are neighbors of yours that need a hand, that need your hand. Let’s use our collective strength. United and with determination we can make good to the wrongs of the past the present. Let’s keep civility above all, because if we constantly tweet (or x each other??) with attacks we never get anything done. Let us foster an environment where open dialogue and collaboration flourish. I invite you to share your ideas, voice your concerns, and actively engage in the decisions that shape our community's future. I am excited about the opportunities that lie ahead for Salt Lake City. As we navigate the challenges, let us do so with a spirit of cooperation, understanding, and a shared commitment to the well-being of every resident in District 2 and beyond. In closing, let us embark on this new term with optimism, determination, and a steadfast belief that our collective efforts will continue to transform Salt Lake City into a place we are all proud to call home. Thank you for your trust, your support, and your unwavering commitment to our community. Thank you! Thank you for being here today. It’s an honor to serve our city and I am so grateful that Salt Lakers have put their trust in me to serve as mayor again. I want to thank my family —Kyle,Cash,Everett and Mila —your willingness to share much of my time and attention with our capital city is selfless.I am so lucky to have your love and your support.Thank you. I want to thank my campaign team -Ian,Joshua,Kalani,Becca,James,MJ,Blair,Alexa,John, our campaigners,our volunteers,our donors,and everyone who helped make this honor of taking this oath possible once again. My Mayor’s Office team -thank you.You work so hard every day in the service of this city.You love Salt Lake City,you believe in its people,in its potential,and I am forever grateful for the pieces of yourselves that you put into your work.Our city is made better by your work on our behalf. To every single public servant who works for Salt Lake City,Thank You.There are nearly four thousand of you,and each of you plays a critical role in supporting the day to day lives of our residents.You are the muscle behind the scenes making sure the water runs,the street lights are timed,the snow gets plowed and the potholes get filled.You answer the phones when someone calls with a need or an emergency,and you protect and serve in times of danger.You envision the needs of our residents and bring those ideas to fruition in millions of different ways. You are all a part of what makes this city run for Salt Lakers and I am thankful for the way you show up and make this city great each and every day. And finally,I want to thank the people of this great city.The backbone of this city comes from the character of its people.That’s you.You’re generous,you care,you’re diverse and unique,and you’re brave and creative.You love our city’s roots and you see its incredible potential.You’re the reason that,as our city grows,its direction is toward a future that’s better for everyone in it. Thank you for electing me to help shepherd us toward that future,together. Standing here four years ago there was no predicting what would come next —a pandemic, earthquakes,months of protests calling for a reckoning with racism,an historic windstorm, flooding. Let’s try to avoid those during my second term,ok? One day our children and grandchildren will ask us what 2020 was like here in Salt Lake City.I’ll tell them that it wasn’t a beginning or a breaking point,and it certainly was not our end —it was 1 a revelation.It exposed the deepest parts of our character —our grace,our grit,our compassion and creativity,and our deep connection with one another. As our city has grown,and in some ways,our connection to each other has stretched and frayed.Even as our density has increased,so somehow has the space between us. Our community’s connection is worth fighting for.Our neighbors,our neighborhoods,our shops, our restaurants,our bars,our bookstores.Our sports teams. We need only think back to the pandemic to be reminded of how important our connection to one another is,not only to our community,but to our sense of place in the world. It’s our responsibility to fight for what connects us,and to seize the opportunities we’ve earned; to strengthen those connections further and to build new bridges when opportunities arise. To build those bridges not only for ourselves,but for our neighbors —from Westpointe to the East Bench.From Glendale to Sunnyside and Capitol Hill to Liberty Wells. It is our responsibility to be stewards of the city we inherited and trustees of the city we leave behind. If the last four years were forged by historic crisis,the next four will be forged by historic opportunity.It may be an understatement to describe this moment as unrivaled in our city’s history —with four historic threads intersecting with breathtaking complexity. Between the preparations for the Olympic and Paralympic Games;the determination of the long-term future of the Utah Jazz and the pursuit of Major League Baseball and National Hockey League franchises;the construction of Glendale regional Park and the momentum behind a Downtown Green Loop;and the ongoing record investments in housing construction in our city with massive city investments in wealth building for renters and homeowners. They’re all happening. Right now. Any one of these on its own would shape our city in substantial and highly visible ways,but together,they could weave investments and improvements greater than we’ve seen in the 177 years since the city’s founding. This is it. This is our moment. There is no room for timidity and we should have no patience for parochial squabbles. 2 We must think big. Because it’s not just about our economy —it’s about our identity. This moment is about deciding whether our future is more exciting than our past;it’s about protecting and improving our unique quality of life;it’s about hard-wiring equity into the future of our city;and it’s strengthening what brings us together as a community. This is a moment that demands boldness,creativity and most of all,it demands partnership. We must work together so that our future doesn’t happen to us,but rather it happens with us and because of us. And my friends,that future is going to be incredible. Salt Lake is a world-class city,and as you know,we are on track to once again showcase what makes Salt Lake so special again in 2034. We’re Salt Lakers –the outdoors are inside us.They’re in our DNA. We’re going to knock the world’s socks off again,to be sure,but that’s of secondary concern to me compared to ensuring the city continuously benefits from the Games in equitable and sustainable ways. The opportunity of the 2034 Games underscores that now is the time to build our vision for what Salt Lake City looks like a decade from today,and beyond. When our city was chosen to host in 2002,preparing for the Games transformed our city in ways from which we still benefit today —from our economic growth and expansion of our public transportation system,to our reputation as a world-class training ground for winter sport. The legacy of 2002 is all around us and the choices we make in the next few years will define the legacy of the 2034 Games for our children and grandchildren. I will work to expand our public transit system even further,to make it easier for Salt Lakers to leave their polluting vehicles at home. I will work to finally turn 5th and 6th south into the welcoming grand boulevards they ought to be. The Medals Plaza should not once again be a temporary structure in a parking lot,but instead, become a permanent city park that we all can enjoy before and after the 2034 Games. We will add and protect more trees and green space throughout the city. 3 And we should build the five-mile Green Loop around downtown,putting some of our incredibly wide streets to better use with 54 new acres of green space where it is desperately needed.50 new trees per block along the route.Patios,playgrounds,dog parks and places to meet neighbors. After 15 years of quiet discussion,sporadic planning,and a lot of wishful thinking,over this last year we have collected the input of thousands of Salt Lakers,engaged with local business owners,showcased the concept in a month-long demonstration project,and for months have been offering walking tours of the route to help people visualize the concept. I am excited to announce that my administration has begun looking at financing tools to build the Green Loop and plans to move ahead with the project with great enthusiasm. The Green Loop is one of several bold steps I am determined to take…to lead,to partner,to support,and to harness every tool in our toolbox to center and expand the energy of sports, entertainment and culture in and around Downtown Salt Lake City. In case this point wasn’t self-evident,let me be clear:The Jazz belong in Salt Lake City, And more importantly,the Jazz belong at the center of a neighborhood filled with restaurants, bars,shops and activities;one that’s easier to access by public transit;more convenient to reach by car;safer to navigate on foot and by bike;and one that’s alive with activity year-round. I am deeply committed to building that neighborhood,but it’s not for the NBA,it’s for every resident and small business owner who would benefit from it,and for the exponential impacts that investing in the capital city has on every person in this state. If the National Hockey League or Major League Baseball come to Salt Lake City,as they should, we will weave them into this already growing capital city,adding the presence of more teams and fans to our community,our economy,our identity. Pro sports aren’t just about winning and losing. They’re about connecting. They create common ground and shared experiences. They send ripples into communities that can lift up our restaurants,bars,shops,galleries,and more. Managed with thoughtful intention,these opportunities —the Utah Jazz,Major League Baseball,the National Hockey League,the Olympics — they can fuel real progress for our 4 entire city and set the course for the next half century of downtown Salt Lake City and our global identity. And when threaded with projects like the Green Loop,an open Main Street promenade,the remaking of our Grand Boulevards,and a redoubling of our commitment to cleaning the air and protecting our Great Salt Lake,they have the opportunity to transform and modernize our downtown core in a way that lifts our city up for generations. When left as isolated ideas and without vision,those threads might entangle into a frustrating knot of stifled and lost progress. But when woven together with creativity,focus,hard work,and a clear vision,those threads will create something truly amazing and catalytic. Ours is an incredibly unique moment —and we must rise to that moment —even while looking out on a horizon that is perpetually unsteady and a future that is not guaranteed. These exciting,new opportunities are also reliant on our ability to bring about better solutions than we have today for some of our most vexing challenges. We must put even more energy and passion into getting people who are living unsheltered off our streets,into homes,and connected to the help they need. We must put as much energy and passion into supporting renters,helping those who want to,to be able to buy a home,and preventing our residents and small businesses from being displaced. And we must put just as much energy into the existential threats that climate change brings to our local way of life,chief among them being our poor air quality and the demise of the Great Salt Lake. It’s sometimes difficult to accept how much of our fate is in the hands of the legislature and governor,but fortunately,we have moved beyond the political isolation of the city’s past. We work hard.We show up and we stay at the table to get the best possible outcome we can for our city and our namesake. Salt Lake City will keep conserving water,and we’ll keep looking for new ways to reduce consumption.We’ll keep working to protect our annual 13 billion gallon contribution to the Lake, and we’ll be proactive in sharing our best practices but we will also take every opportunity to advocate for statewide solutions.Saving the Great Salt Lake is going to take all of our work,but especially the State. We can not do it alone. 5 Our city can not save the Great Salt Lake on our own any more than we can single-handedly clean all of Salt Lake Valley’s air or solve the state’s housing crisis. Protesting,demonizing,and shaming may make us feel better,but it won’t get the job done. Four years ago I promised a change in the tone of our city’s leadership along exactly these lines,and our approach is working. The state government is investing more in addressing homelessness and expanding affordable housing than ever before.We have forged a real partnership that has produced unprecedented investments and is creating more housing for people who need it. Because we’ve partnered with the state government,last month we opened the Temporary Shelter Community,pods for 50 unsheltered individuals who’d been living on our streets.And we know the legislature will be asked to support a permanent model of this operation in the coming months. Governor Cox has proposed even more state funding for affordable housing,mental health and substance use treatment.Construction is underway on tiny homes,and as a city we are investing more than ever in affordable housing. It’s still not enough,and I'll be the first to say I wish it all were happening faster,but I also see first hand that change is happening because finally,other cities,the county,the legislature and the governor are with us on housing and homelessness. We will take the same approach on the Great Salt Lake and air quality —do everything we can, do more,and then work with our partners instead of against them. That’s the real lesson to be drawn from the last election.People are tired of the false narrative that the city should bail out the rest of the state and can solve every problem on its own, because we know that’s never been true.People are tired of our city leaders fighting with those who should be doing more to help us make solutions. Salt Lakers want the city to keep its seat at the table and work together to earn the results that we need not just to survive,but to thrive. As you know well,Salt Lake City can be divided,and not only by train tracks and highways. The most painful divides are the deepest and hardest to bridge. We find them between those who are living comfortably,and those who aren’t. Between those who feel safe,and those who don’t. 6 Between those who want things to stay the same and those who need for things to change. We have a responsibility to our neighbors,to our children and grandchildren,to the people who built this city and to every one of us who call it home to find the grace within ourselves to acknowledge that just because we are not personally burdened with a particular challenge is not an excuse for being disengaged and it certainly does not mean we should reflexively oppose potential solutions. Each time we allow ourselves to be divided,we lose a little bit of our connection to others. The way we move Salt Lake City forward is together. We need each other —our neighbors,other cities,and yes,even the state. The stakes of this moment are too high,and we must find the grace within ourselves to see beyond ourselves. The opportunities we have are incredible,but they need not be overwhelming. The challenges we face are difficult,but we need not be intimidated. If we work for our connections;if we continue building bridges;if we engage with grace and lead with love;if we stick together we will keep moving our city forward. I love this city,and I am humbled by the honor of serving as its mayor once again. Thank you. 7