The Salt Lake Tribune’s Robert Gehrke is an admirable journalist, usually on what I consider the “right” side of the issues.
While his Dec. 28 piece on Gov. Gary Herbert’s accomplishments focused on his enlightenment over time, and his economic successes, it contained two errors.
Economies can collapse in a heartbeat. More long-term and irreversible are the things Herbert did badly: mishandling the pandemic and endorsing the inland port.
Thousands of Utahns are permanently scarred by COVID. And 1.7 million Salt Lake Valley residents will be permanently scarred by the inland port, with its dramatic increase to our air pollution from daily diesel truck and car trips. The northwest quadrant of Salt Lake City will become a “diesel dead zone,” as has happened in areas surrounding every other inland port built in the United States.
Herbert loved the idea of jobs, although warehouse jobs at $13.50 per hour without benefits will not support a family. Herbert cared not at all about environmental justice. The earliest health impacts of that toxic air will be felt by the low-income, minority communities, which include three schools, that border the port. Those folks had no say in the port’s business plan, as an appointed Port Authority Board ignored them as summarily as Herbert did. But of course — they are not Republican donors or Republican voters.
As the port grows and pollutes this valley, soon premature deaths, fetal abnormalities and myriad health effects will rapidly combine to insure that Salt Lake is no longer a desirable place to live or work. So much for Herbert’s legacy of a vibrant economy.
Alice McHugh, Salt Lake City
