Utah Legislature: In Session but are they attuned?

We appreciate the representation of our Senator Riebe and Representative Bennion and their efforts on our behalf. They are working tirelessly toward sustainable answers to 21st Century challenges.

However, it is up to all of us to influence, as best each of us can, the misguided elected representatives who are not attuned to how we are “killing the goose that lays the golden eggs’ here in Utah with a build, build, build (our way out of our problems) mentality. The next shiny new toy is NOT the answer to sustainability, quality of life, safety and good health.

Brian Muench, MD, describes it this way when it comes to legislation going on right now at Capitol Hill: “Utah’s business leaders indulge in their personal real estate fantasies at everyone else’s expense: the dirty energy inland port, more drying up of the Great Salt Lake courtesy of the Bear River Project, the Lake Powell pipeline, carving a huge new open pit mine in Parley’s Canyon and cramming a new city of 500,000 onto a fake island in the middle of Utah Lake.

“We need the Utah Legislature to LOOK UP and pay attention to the destruction and damage inflicted on Utah by moving forward with these projects. We need them to support legislation like HB 164- which offers free public transportation, reducing toxic emissions, and oppose, vehemently, legislation like HB 232 which repeats the mistakes of the Inland Port process.”

I’m in a time in my life when, though I could fill every waking moment with my hobbies, interests, outdoor recreation, children and grandchildren, I see the opportunity to apply the skill sets and knowledge acquired over my lifetime by spending part of my time devoted to community. It is satisfying, fulfilling acting in the role of city council member. There are many amazing people serving on committees, boards and/or on specific community issues and needs sporadically, which takes lesser chunks of time. For anyone who wants to add this dimension to their life, I urge you, now is the time! Your opinion and voice matters. Let’s share and grow together with “Smart Growth” principles attuning ourselves and our elected representatives to the things that matter.

Financial gain, at a personal, city or state level, does not have to be at the expense of our air, water & soil quality, the very things that sustain our lives.