Laurie’s County Concerns:

AFFORDABLE HOUSING CRISIS

“We are facing a housing crisis. My own children, as well as others, cannot find affordable places to rent or purchase. We need to relook at our zoning laws, infrastructure and other resources that are available to make responsible decisions.”

The high demand for homes coupled with low supply of homes available, makes buying and renting less affordable. We must have smart growth. Title 19 of the Salt Lake County code lists each and every zoning law that potentially restricts the supply of housing. We need a full review of our zoning laws and to begin the hard work of reforming them to increase housing while maintaining a well-organized, and responsibly planned county. We need to look at our infrastructure plan to make sure what is approved can be supported. We also need to weigh all of this with the available resources, such as water, sewer and waste, and determine what is sustainable.

Bringing together a coalition of those who have the ability to fix this problem, is one of the keys.  We need a plan that has the support of those who have the ability to solve it, along with those who have the interest to protect the disadvantaged. To get a handle on the rising costs of housing we all need to get on board to make smart changes.

PUBLIC HEALTH AND WELLNESS, MASKS AND COVID-19

“COVID-19 is not just a physical disease or pandemic problem. It is an economic, social and mental health issue. We need real, tangible solutions that reach out to those who are struggling and let them know that they are loved, they are needed, and that we will help them.”

The County’s job when it comes to public health is handled through the county department of health in conjunction with the state department of health. Their job is to protect and preserve our health in many aspects of the community. They do this by educating us on how to do things in a safe and healthy manner. COVID-19 is no different.

The message that should be coming from the county is how to protect ourselves, our family and our community from the virus and still be able to do our essential tasks like work, grocery shop, and care for our families. As a school teacher, I am required to teach in person and many of my students have the choice to learn in person or online. But there are some that do not have that option and are coming to school to inadequate resources at home. Masks are important in situations where employees and those they work with do not have the option to stay at home. We also see this in our hospitals, grocery stores and schools. There is another frightening trend coming out of the pandemic and how it is being handled, mental health is suffering and coming to a critical breaking point. I see this with my students and their parents as they try to navigate all the changes happening in their lives. The amount of stress on each one of us and on our children is becoming crippling. We must answer the call for help through education and support for each other.

The first priority should be to increase the number of mental health treatment options in our schools and in our communities. We can do that by investing in education programs for those in the mental health field while decreasing barriers that restrict the amount of mental health providers we have in the state. We can enlarge the scope of practice for various professionals in the field and work to attract top talent to Utah.

HOMELESSNESS

“Our system has failed the most vulnerable of our communities and we must fix it. Their lives are too valuable. We need a plan.”

It is morally wrong to our homeless population and taxpayers to simply move people around or spread them out.  If homelessness were just about getting people a place to live, a job and healthcare (including mental health), we would not continue to have the problems that we have.  We need to continue recognizing that there are a variety of issues to address to lift those out of homelessness. It is more than just providing a home. We have failed at producing lasting results for our fellow human beings and for our communities. Training to get a job is vital, but so are life skills to keep a job. Mental health resources and medication are vital, but so is a community of support and mentoring as they strive to make lasting changes. The process from detox or jail to rehab needs to be more seamless for those dealing with addiction. 

We have very little understanding of how many homeless individuals we have in Utah, much less what their individual needs are. There needs to be collaboration among the service providers to get someone experiencing homelessness into a program that fits their needs. That plan will look different for each person. Some will be able to attain self-sufficiency. Others may need permanent care due to the severity of their condition. Whatever the need, we must meet the challenge to get this population off the streets and into the position of dignity that they deserve.

PUBLIC SAFETY

“Public safety is the number one responsibility of government. It is imperative that we keep our neighborhoods safe and decrease crime. Reforms should be designed to promote public safety and conserve taxpayer dollars.”

To improve public safety, we must reform our criminal justice system. No one who has committed a crime should become a repeat offender. Our system must prioritize rehabilitation over punishment to reduce recidivism and make our streets safer. When someone enters the criminal justice system, that moment should be the beginning of their personal transformation. This should be the type of criminal justice system we create.  To do so, we need to look at serious changes to how we conduct policing, the court system, and incarceration.

WASATCH CANYONS

“If I have learned anything from sitting on various community boards including the 2002 Winter Olympics, the Utah Association of Special Districts, the Kearns Oquirrh Park Fitness Center, it is the critical importance of grassroots efforts, local control and local decisions..”

Link to Deseret News article and Salt Lake Tribune

In Salt Lake and Summit counties, it is time to apply the federal process known as NEPA (National Environmental Policy Act) to determine the solution to our mountain transportation woes. Although the Utah Department of Transportation is managing the project, UDOT must follow the very disciplined NEPA process, due to the fact it is using federal dollars. People live in our canyons. They have their homes there. Because our canyons are faced with natural disasters, it is imperative that we mitigate and solve these issues as soon as possible. It will take leadership from the County Mayor and County Council to work closely with the state to acquire the funding and find the solutions that will make our canyons safe and keep them pristine for decades to come.

TRAFFIC AND ENVIRONMENT

“Salt Lake County contains one-third of the state’s population and accounts for the majority of Utah’s business activity. We have a responsibility to take care of our air. Our air quality is substantially affected by congestion.”

We need to be ahead of the growth that our state and county are facing. As community leaders we can collectively come together to create functional plans that will make roads safer for our residents. The commute through our counties should be effective with less stress. We need to increase the availability of public transportation to increase ridership and take cars off the road. We also need to complete critical infrastructures. Implementing smarter plans will control our county’s traffic issues, resulting in better air quality for our residents.