Salt Lake City Mayor Erin Mendenhall delivered her State of the City address, where she reflected on her city’s resiliency over the past year and how her city has emerged stronger, safer, and more equitable.
In her address, Mayor Mendenhall noted her city had made historic progress in improving its air quality and delivering more renewable energy sources. Salt Lake City has installed new air quality monitors, expanded its urban forest by planting 2,000 trees, improved public transit options, and advanced several renewable energy partnerships.
“Sometimes it’s hard to power through the exhaustion. It’s hard to see past the vitriol and the condescension on social media. It’s hard to see leaders in the Capitol sitting back instead of stepping up,” she said. “It’s hard to look at the encampments in our public spaces and see the individual people who are struggling. t’s hard to look at our dangerously low vaccination rates and find compassion for those who are scared or who believe the misinformation they have been fed,” said Mayor Mendenhall. “Masked, unmasked, vaccinated, unvaccinated, house and house-less, activist and elected — we are all Salt Lakers. … Keep your hearts open and your eyes focused on the road ahead.”
Mayor Mendenhall also discussed economic growth opportunities, affordable housing, homelessness, public safety, plans for American Rescue Plan dollars, and her city’s COVID-19 response plan.
Watch Mayor Mendenhall’s address here.
