Someone needs to tell our leaders and the Legislature that the homeless problem in the Rio Grande area has not been solved; it has actually gotten worse as the homeless people, drug addicts and prostitutes have spread out to North Temple, downtown Salt Lake, South Salt Lake and other adjoining towns.
When the problem was mainly at Rio Grande it was centrally located where many services were available to these people. Relocating them to satellites in crowded neighborhoods will not solve the problem; it will only get worse. They will have to find a way to get to where there is help.
I would suggest that the homeless remain in Rio Grande or be moved near the site of the new state prison west of the Salt Lake City International Airport. That way they would not be in the neighborhoods that don’t want them. They would be near the TRAX for rides to Rio Grande for the help they need or services could be brought to them near the prison site. It’s just a tough problem to solve or ignore or throw money at. The homeless need help, which means more than the heavy police presence out there. It would be better to flood the area with social workers instead.
Marty Bernstein, Midvale
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