I suppose our state leaders and the Utah Legislature are congratulating themselves over the success of their single-minded pursuit of economic development for the state of Utah and the Wasatch Front. We are one of the nation’s leaders in population growth, economic expansion and a low unemployment rate.
Unfortunately, there are other quality of life issues important to the residents of Utah that are not faring as well. Housing has become unaffordable for many wage earners, especially our younger generation and families. Many of our sons and daughters are finding they will have to move out of state if they want to own their own homes. The high cost of living which impacts everyone is especially burdensome for seniors.
Furthermore, the population growth with the accompanying increase in pollution-spewing vehicles — combined with longer commutes, more congestion and a failure to mitigate tail-pipe emissions — has given us some of the dirtiest air in America. For health reasons, many of us, including myself, are being forced to move away from the toxic air in the Wasatch Front. Other problems loom over our future as the pressures of unrestricted growth strain the limits of our state’s natural resources of healthy air and clean water.
As noted in recent studies, the receding shoreline of the Great Salt Lake, caused by the diminishing water flows, will expose toxic chemicals that when airborne will present another serious hazard to the residents of the Wasatch Front.
We reap what we sow. It’s time that our state and legislative leaders expand their vision of the Utah Way to embrace and protect our Utah family values and quality of life in the pursuit of joy, beauty and health.
Chad Mullins, Salt Lake City
