I grew up in San Bernardino, California. Our home rested on the crest of a hill affording us a view of the entire city and Inland Empire.
Gradually, the distant view was marred by smog. It got so bad that it was difficult to see more than a quarter mile away.
Then, our inland port was built, promising jobs, growth and opportunities for residents. Growth came from traffic and increased pollution. Nearby neighborhoods were ruined. It now appears to be an oasis of warehouses.
I was too young and too involved in my own life to care when the port was proposed. But now that Utah is my home (and has been far longer than I lived in southern California) I do care about the negative impacts of the inland ports around Salt Lake City — and now encroaching into other counties (with ports planned for Weber County, Box Elder, in Spanish Fork and Tooele).
Not only will they increase truck traffic, pollution, use water that we don’t have — further depleting the Great Salt Lake. They also marr the essence of Utah as a beautiful, iconic place for the outdoors.
They all also encroach on existing wetlands, vital for healthy water systems and migratory birds.
Not only will these impact our health, the health of our ecosystems, but they will threaten our billion dollar tourist and outdoor industry.
I don’t want Utah to turn into southern California.
Tell your legislators to stop subsidizing the inland port and its surrounding ports and keep Utah a beautiful state.
Patricia Becnel, Ogden
