Inside Voices: Hopes and fears for downtown Salt Lake City

Happy Saturday, and welcome to Inside Voices, a weekly newsletter that features a collection of ideas, perspectives and solutions from across Utah — without any of the vitriol or yelling that’s become all too common on other platforms. Subscribe here.

Salt Lake City City Council members recently voted 6-0 to give their final approval to Jazz owner Ryan Smith’s proposed sports hub. They also authorized a half-a-percentage-point sales tax increase, which will funnel $900 million into the district.

I wanted to know more about your hopes and concerns regarding efforts to revitalize Utah’s capital city. Here’s what you shared:

Some celebrated the decision.

• “This is excellent! Plenty of jobs will be created, which means more opportunity, and the city will stop being such a sleepy place. Salt Lake City is growing up,” @bconnerton commented on our Instagram post announcing the news.

• “People will complain. Two years after it’s done, everyone will love it and it will become a draw — especially for the Olympics,” Jed wrote on Facebook.

Some were concerned about other areas of interest downtown.

• “UMOCA is an important asset in the cultural profile of a growing city and the intellectual and professional offerings it provides. I encourage Mayor Jenny Wilson, Mayor Erin Mendenhall and Smith Entertainment Group to keep it a dedicated component of their vision for the new downtown development and keep the visual and experiential arts alive in Salt Lake City,” wrote Rita in Springville.

And some wondered if it was the best use of taxpayer dollars.

• “City after city have found that spending big on large sports stadiums don’t pay off, why are we funneling local money into some billionaire’s pockets rather than investing in the things that actually make Salt Lake City great, like local businesses, parks, event venues or any number of other things that will actually benefit the people of the city and the area?” asked Ash in a response to a question posed in a recent Top Stories newsletter.

• “Wish that ‘nearly a billion’ would go towards saving the lake and our air quality but ok,” @catmullin wrote on Instagram.

Are you following The Tribune on Instagram? I’d recommend it — it’s a great place to keep up with the news, share your take and read others’ perspectives.

Utah Voices

The following excerpts come from op-eds recently published in The Tribune.

Faith

• “This shift in perception of religion — and the subsequent declines in religious affiliation and practice — have significant implications for our nation. Those implications are, according to our research at the Wheatley Institute, extremely harmful,” writes Distinguished Fellow of Religion Shima Baughman. Read more.

• “As Jews, we have dealt with many shadows in our tumultuous history. We pray that the shadows will fade as light overcomes the evil in our midst. Our local community, together with Jews and friends around the world, connect with grief and hope with the families impacted by Oct. 7,” writes Ron Zamir, a long-time Salt Lake City resident who serves on the Board of the United Jewish Federation of Utah. Read more.

Utah

• “Salt Lake has ‘car brain,’ but we have the means to cure it. The city and the University of Utah must invest in both transit and making alternative modes of transportation safer and more feasible, which will lead to a happier and healthier city,” writes Nathan Burns, a doctoral candidate at the University of Utah Department of Human Genetics and an avid runner and cyclist around Salt Lake. Read more.

• “Utah is known to be a leader among other states in areas such as mail-in voting and juvenile justice. Where other states haven’t seen the benefits of enacting these important laws, Utah has ensured that its residents will benefit from research-based policies. Utah has a chance to join other states by being a leader in sexual education, as well,” writes Rachel Hyatt, a social work student at the University of Utah. Read more.

International

• “I recently received a text from my friend, ‘Is your family okay? There were massive explosions in Beirut.’ I refreshed my feed, and there it was: the explosions that collapsed multiple residential buildings near my family’s neighborhood. Shaking, I called my loved ones to make sure they are okay. The seconds between the rings and the pickup, the delivered messages and the replies, felt like an eternity.” writes Tala Shihab, a 22 year-old first-generation Lebanese-American, born and raised in Salt Lake City. Read more.

• “The traumas of war and oppression around the world continue to haunt women for generations after they have been resettled in places like Salt Lake City. At Women of the World, a locally-operated non-profit, my peers and I have advocated on their behalf for nearly 15 years,” writes Samira Harnish, founder and executive director of Women of the World. Read more.

Share Your Perspective

As we approach the election, I’m curious: Is there a difference in the trust you have for local elections and processes compared to other districts, state elections or national elections? What could inspire more trust in local election practices for you? Let me know.

From Bagley’s Desk

I’m always looking for unique perspectives, ideas and solutions that move our state forward. Learn more about our guidelines for an op-ed, guest essay, letter to the editor and more here, and drop me a note at voices@sltrib.com.