Salt Lake City Mayor Erin Mendenhall delivered her seventh State of the City Address, speaking on her determination to continue ensuring public safety, affordability, and environmental stewardship. The city is pushing forward on its commitments to improve public safety, affordability, stewardship of public spaces and lands, and sustainability.
As part of the City’s Public Safety Plan, Project CONNECT has shown great promise and will continue in 2026 to break down barriers and create efficiencies across the criminal justice and judicial systems. It leverages city, county, and state resources to connect the Salt Lake City Police Department’s 50 most-arrested individuals with individualized solutions. Since the beginning of Project CONNECT, 60% of individuals have been arrested less often.
The administration’s commitment to preserving affordability is also having a positive impact on residents. Since 2020, Salt Lake City has invested $135 million in supporting the creation of 7,600 affordable and deeply affordable units. Without supporting those units, it’s estimated that rent would have cost Salt Lakers an additional $13 million in 2025, and $28 million total since the beginning of the Mendenhall administration.
This year, Salt Lake City will launch a program that invests in repairs for existing affordable housing while locking in long-term affordability through deed restrictions. New wealth-building programs that help renters become owners will soon deliver nearly 200 units focused on long-term opportunity. A plan to expand housing options will also be presented to the City Council in order to give residents more flexibility to add housing that fits their neighborhood.
Watch the Mayor’s full remarks here.
At a time when our rights, freedoms, and futures are under threat, Democratic Mayors are showing the nation what real leadership looks like.
