SLC Mayor Becker Focuses on Livability in State of the City

01.13.2010 by Elizabeth Ziegler

(KCPW News) Salt Lake City Mayor Ralph Becker pledged to make Utah’s capital a more livable city by focusing on the environment, engagement, equality and efficiency in his state of the city address last night. Speaking in the city council chambers, Becker said Salt Lake City is on its way to becoming a great American city.

“I took office two years ago with blueprints in my hands,” Becker said. “And today, at the midpoint of my term, I have in one hand a list of accomplishments, and in the other hand, lists of action items for implementing and completing the many initiatives that are now underway.”

Becker’s speech touted the city’s nondiscrimination ordinances that extend new protections to Salt Lake City’s gay and transgender community, plus the passage of a bond to build a new public safety complex. Looking forward, he’s hoping to finish reforming the city’s liquor laws, reviving North Temple on the west side, and making the city more sustainable with projects like switching out streetlights with more efficient LEDs.  The city will also begin a glass recycling program for downtown businesses.

However, there have been some hang-ups during Becker’s two years in office. He says that’s part of the job.

“Part of what we do as a city when we take on tough projects, when we try to move the city forward in ways that the community wants to go, but are going to have people with strongly varying views,” Becker said. “And we need to listen, we have to adapt, and we have to make the best decisions we can based on what we hear.”

After a relatively quiet first year, Becker ran into opposition from residents when he first proposed to build a public safety complex on Library Square.