Becker welcomes Buhler’s belated entry into the discussion of downtown’s future, but declines to engage in similar negative tactics

After another round of negative attacks from Dave Buhler – this time concerning downtown – mayoral candidate Ralph Becker stated that he welcomed Mr. Buhler’s ideas concerning downtown, although they came rather late in the campaign.

“Reinvigorating downtown as the gathering place for the region is one of my highest priorities. That’s why I released my detailed blueprint for downtown over two months ago – before the primary,” Becker said. “I’m pleased that Dave Buhler decided to join the discussion about downtown this morning.”

Mr. Buhler’s press conference included several negative jabs at Mr. Becker. Hoping to end the campaign on a positive note, Mr. Becker declined to respond in kind.

“Everywhere I go I hear that people are getting a bit weary of Dave Buhler’s negativity and attacks,” Becker said. “I can’t control how he conducts his campaign. So today I’d rather focus in a positive way on how we can improve the downtown area over the next four years.”

Key points of Becker’s “blueprint” for downtown include:

• Growing the “24/7” Population Downtown: Becker would expand downtown housing options for all income levels. “We shouldn’t forget that downtown is an important Salt Lake City neighborhood. A stronger residential presence and a larger around-the-clock population is the lifeblood that can bring new life to the bricks and mortar downtown,” Becker said.

• Bringing Art & Artists Downtown: Becker would make public art a priority, by fully committing to efforts like Percent for the Arts and architectural competitions (such as the one that led to the design for the downtown library). Becker is also optimistic about the effort to save and restore the Utah Theater by re-envisioning it as a center for the Utah film industry.

• Locating Major Cultural and Government Facilities Downtown: Becker will work to ensure that major commercial and state developments are built downtown, rather than in locations that encourage sprawl. “As mayor, I’ll operate under the principle that ‘if there’s only one in Utah, it belongs downtown,’” Becker said.

• Downtown Nightlife: Becker would work to revise laws that restrict the location and number of restaurants, bars and similar businesses downtown. “Downtown Salt Lake City should be Utah’s hub of culture and nightlife. To make that a reality, we need to revise current laws that artificially limit the economic and entertainment options downtown,” Becker said.

• Implement Downtown Rising and the Downtown Transportation Plan. “These are excellent plans now in place or in the adoption process, and they provide a template to return downtown to the vibrant center is should be,” says Ralph. “I will work with the business community, residents, and other organizations and institutions to get there within a 5-10 year period.”

Millcreek FIDOS is going to host Ralph this Saturday and you are invited!

Coffee, juice, bagels, donuts, and even dog treats will be provided before heading up the Bonneville Shoreline Trail, Terrace Hills Drive Trailhead. Paula and Gary Evershed have been kind enough to hold the event at their home (1013 Terrace Hills Dr.) starting at 9:00 AM.

Come meet Ralph and let him know your passion for our foothills, open space, your dog(s) and the Bonneville Shoreline Trail.

For more information contact Polly Hart at 231-8118 or by email at polly@millcreekfidos.org.

On Thursday, October 11, 2007, House Democratic Leader, Rep. Ralph Becker, Salt Lake County Water Resources Manager, Natalie Rees, Salt Lake County Environmental Policy Coordinator Ann Ober and Stephanie Duer, Salt Lake Public Utility Conservation Coordinator will participate a Town Hall Meeting to discuss WATER. The panel will address current efforts by each level of government to improve water quality, protect water resources, and increase the stewardship of Utah’s water. KUER’s Dan Bammes will moderate the discussion at the Salt Lake City Main Library Auditorium (210 E. 400 S.)

Thanks to a Partnership for a Nation of Learners grant from the Institute of Museum and Library Services (IMLS) and the Corporation for Public Broadcasting (CPB) The Water Wise Utah Partnership(Utah Education Network, KUED, KUER, J.Willard Marriott Library and the Utah Museum of Natural History) has been formed to host community events aimed to educate citizen about the active stewardship of Utah’s precious water resources.

According the Division of Water Resources Division of Water Resources with Utah’s population expected to double to 5 million by 2050, and the current level of water consumption, Utah will need twice as much water as it has already developed.

Salt Lake County Mayor Peter Corroon, “With the population of Salt Lake County soaring to more than one million last year, the need for ongoing and short-term planning of our natural resources is extremely urgent. For that reason, Salt Lake County is currently working on the development of a Countywide Watershed, Water Quality Stewardship Plan (WaQSP). Significantly, this undertaking is the first update of a countywide water quality plan since the mid 1970’s”

Representative Becker’s commitment to environmental stewardship draws upon his background in planning and natural resources management. Over the past ten years, Becker has sponsored other legislation in this arena, including the Quality Growth Act, Natural Hazards Planning, the establishment in State law of the Bonneville Shoreline Trail, and increased funding for Trails and Open Space, and proposals for the recycling and proper disposal of Electronic Waste. Most recently, Representative Becker authored HB20 – Declaration of State Water Week.

With Mayor Peter Corroon and City Councilmembers Eric Jergensen and Soren Simsonsen, Ralph Becker announced today his 180 Day Action Plan for his first six months in office. Read the entire Action Plan here. A summary of the Plan is below.

Education
- Appoint an Education Partnership Coordinator
- Create the Mayor’s Monthly School Summit
- Create a “Salt Lake City is College-Bound” scholarship program

Environment
- Accelerate the planning and funding for Salt Lake Bikeways
- Initiate completion of the Jordan River Parkway
- Address a comprehensive review of staff, land-use ordinances, and overall planning policies within the Community Development Department and Building and Housing Services
- Revise Salt Lake City’s building codes to strongly encourage use of LEED (or LEED-equivalent) building standards
- Require carbon-footprint planning for city departments

Equality
- Pass a nondiscrimination ordinance
- Establish a city registry for domestic partnerships
- Change the city’s retirement policy to allow an employee to name a domestic partner or another designee as a beneficiary

Engaging the Community
- Initiate “Salt Lake City Solutions”
- Establish open communications with state government and neighboring communities
- Strengthen security and neighborhood safety
- Provide additional police officers
- Encourage neighborhood involvement in public safety

Excitement
- Implement elements of Downtown Rising and the Downtown Transportation Plan, including a downtown cultural district, in coordination with Salt Lake County, that would include preservation of the Utah Theater and development of a 2,500-seat Performing Arts Center; a year-round Public Market; work with the state of Utah for a Global Exchange Place; create a Downtown Parking Authority; a downtown transit circulator system; capitalize on the completion of commuter rail from the north and our Intermodal Hub Central Station with bike lockers, bike-rental facilities and a safe bikeway system downtown; and develop, in conjunction with the University of Utah, an extension of the campus to downtown and along the transit lines of University Boulevard (also known as 400 South) with research, classroom and housing facilities.

The Becker campaign, along with Plan B Theatre Company, is holding a reception and talk in conjunction with a new play by Utah playwright, Mary Dickson, entitled EXPOSED. The play discusses nuclear testing and its effects on the people of Utah. The special showing will take place on Friday, October 26 at the Rose Wagner’s Studio Theatre. The reception will be held from 7:00 to 8:00 pm, with the play from 8:00 to 9:30 pm, followed by Ralph discussing his platform for arts and culture for Salt Lake City. Tickets are available at the Becker campaign office, 145 South 400 East, at a reduced price of $15.50. There are a limited number of tickets. For questions call Nancy Devenport at 359-4746 or by email at nancy@ralphbecker.com.

About the play: The state of Utah was downwind of many of the 928 nuclear bombs the U.S. government exploded in the Nevada desert between 1951 and 1992. EXPOSED explores the human consequences of the nuclear history of our state and nation.