South Salt Lake City Journal | July 2020

July 2020 | Vol. 6 Iss. 07

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FOLLOWING RIOTS,

CITY COUNCIL DISCUSSES CHANGE, EMPATHY, POLICE POLICIES

By Bill Hardesty | b.hardesty@mycityjournals.com

T

he tone of the June 3 South Salt Lake City Council meeting was set when Chairwoman Sharla Bynum read a poem by her son, Malcom Beverly, during the serious moment of reflection.

“There are blackbirds singing in broad daylight/ Their ‘dirty wings’ were clipped before they could fly/ Pain tends to lead to anger, to resentment/ They feel the need to take action/ Action leads to pain, inevitably/ Pain leads to anger, to resentment/ It’s a bitter cycle of hatred and destruction/ While the puppet masters in the sky sit back and laugh /There are blackbirds singing in broad daylight/ The real blackbirds sing in peace/ They sing of revolution, of justice/ While the destruction of false prophets shepherds the rest of the world towards disgust/ It’s all a ploy, to make you blind to the real problems, the real enemies/ Don’t let anyone see for you, look with your own eyes/ And realize/ Until there is justice, there will not be peace.”

At the meeting, others read statements expressing their feelings about the death of George Floyd, Black Lives Matter and the recent Salt Lake City riot.

Mayor’s statement

Mayor Cherie Wood read a statement which began, “Like all of you, I am horrified by the murder of George Floyd and South Salt Lake City officials shared statements concerning Black Lives Matter. (Photo by Vince Fleming on Unsplash) the injustice faced by so many Continued page 4

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Logistics still need tweaking, but girls wrestling officially sanctioned

Your local Grifols Donors Center is NOW accepting plasma from people who have recovered from COVID-19

By Greg James and Julie Slama | g.james@mycityjournals.com

T

he Utah High School Activities Association has sanctioned girls wrestling .

“Yes, I voted to sanction it,” UHSAA board of trustees member Marilyn Richards said. “I’m a fan of making an opportunity where the interest lies.”

The UHSAA currently supports 14 sports and activities for 155 member schools.

Utah is the 20th state to sanction girls wrestling.

The sanctioning laid the groundwork for an official state championship tournament to be held in February 2021. In the meantime, there are many obstacles to overcome, including classifications, weight classes, regions and logistics. Some schools still need practice times and coaches.

Girls will no longer wrestle against boys, which has been a huge sticking point.

In 2016, Davis County student-athlete Kathleen Janis, and her family, sued the school district to allow her to join the junior high wrestling team. After the suit was settled, Janis was allowed to try out for her school’s team. As a graduating senior, she wrestled for three years at Layton High School.

Sage Mortimer, from Spanish Fork, is the No. 1-ranked female wrestler in the country at 100 pounds, and yet she still finds boys who refuse to compete against her.

As a non-sanctioned sport, the athletes were forced to participate in coed teams throughout their high school seasons. Coed wrestling can be difficult for the girls. Boys of the same weight class are generally stronger, and boys did not want to wrestle against their female counterparts.

“It’s a boys only team,” they were told by many league organizers.

The national organization, USA Wrestling, has sponsored several girls only meets to help promote the sport.

In February, there was a fifth girls state championship at Telos High School in Orem.

Westlake High School won the title, Fremont placed second and Cyprus was third. In 2019, Kearns took home the championship.

The number of girls participating in wrestling has increased steadily. In 2019, 78 girls participated in the state tournament; this past season 117 did. Cyprus had a team of 16. According to the National Federation of High School Associations, the number of female wrestlers has nearly doubled the last three years.

“Girls are already wrestling in schools, so this way they can put things in place,” Richards said.

“We have had girls every year,” Hillcrest Athletic Director Sally Williams said.

“We have not had enough to hire a separate coach. Being sanctioned will give girls an equal playing field.”

Being sanctioned allows girls to wrestle

S outh SaltLakeJournal .com

Since the COVID-19 outbreak began, Grifols has made CC OO VV I DI D - 1its UCU P VOD IV D AI-T 1E 9- S -91C9O P D A D T 1EU 9S PUD COVID-1C 9 OUVPID DA - 1T9E SU P D expertise in plasma available to the U.S. FDA, BARDAC Oand V I D - 1 9 U P D AT E S NIH/NIAID to develop clinical trials to assess the safety and efficacy of a potential treatment. At Grifols, we believe this HOW HOW CONVALESCENT CONVALESCENT PLASMA PLASMA HOW HOW CONVALESCENT CONVALESCENT PLASMA PLASMA HOW HOW CONVALESCENT CONVALESCENT PLASMA PLASMA HOW CONVALESCENT PLASMA current and extraordinary situation require companies to HELPS TREAT TREAT COVID-19 COVID-19 HELPS HELPS TREAT TREAT COVID-19 COVID-19 striveHELPS more than ever to serve patients and communities.

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Girls wrestlers such as Angie Magana will no longer compete against boys as the Utah High School Activities Association has sanctioned girls wrestling. (Greg James/City Journals)

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Schools in the Midwest often offer women’s wrestling as a competitive sport.

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For more info visit - WWW.GRIFOLSPLASMA.COM/EN/ENDCV19 The bonds they can build with teammates is For more For info more visit - -WWW.GRIFOLSPLASMA.COM/EN/ENDCV19 visit - WWW.GRIFOLSPLASMA.COM/EN/ENDCV19 For more For info more visitinfo WWW.GRIFOLSPLASMA.COM/EN/ENDCV19 visit - WWW.GRIFOLSPLASMA.COM/EN/ENDCV19 For more For info more visit info - info WWW.GRIFOLSPLASMA.COM/EN/ENDCV19 visit - WWW.GRIFOLSPLASMA.COM/EN/ENDCV19 what can last forever.” l

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July 2020 | Page 3

Continued from front page

community action surrounding systemic issues of racial, gender, and other inequality and bias,” Wood said.

The mayor’s entire statement is available on the city’s website (SSL.com)

Ray deWolfe’s statement

South Salt Lake City officials shared statements concerning Black Lives Matter. (Courtesy of Vince Fleming on Unsplash)

people in our country. I am heartbroken by the pain it has stirred up and the divide it has widened between citizens and law enforcement.”

Wood put out “a call to action for all city leaders, employees and residents to listen deeply, and to change.”

She outlined two of her own actions.

She announced she plans to meet with Police Chief Jack Carruth, Chairwoman Sharla Bynum, and Councilmember at-large Natalie Pinkney to “to discuss our current practices, including the strong anti-bias and de-escalation training programs in our police department.”

Wood also mentioned her support to create a Citizen Review Board much like those in other communities.

“My goal is to ensure that every South Salt Lake policy is reviewed through a community-based lens of diversity and inclusion.

We will implement necessary changes to

Journals

Councilmember at-large Ray deWolfe added his own statement titled, “All Lives Matter, Blue Lives Matter, Black Lives Matter.” He spoke about the power of empathy by outlining four qualities of empathy, which include recognizing emotion in people and communicating that emotion.

“Do all lives matter? Nobody would argue that they don’t. And nobody could argue that on its face value. However, when somebody says, Black Lives Matter and your response is, ‘Well, I believe all lives matter,’ you have diminished their emotion. You have diminished their vulnerability. And while you may not mean to diminish people who are pleading with you to recognize that black lives matter by saying ‘all lives matter,’ what you’re doing is violating the practices of empathy,” deWolfe said.

He also spoke about the death of Officer David Romrell and Ogden Officer Nathan Lyday.

“Do police matter? Of course, they do,” deWolfe said. deWolfe concluded his statement, “So, when you hear Black Lives Matter you should know it’s telling you something. It’s telling you, ‘I need you to listen to us.’ ‘I need you to respect us.’ ‘I need you to validate us.’ ‘I need you to advocate for us.’ ‘I need you to help us.’ ‘I need you to hear us.’

‘Why do you hate us?’ This country has a lot of healing to do. The healing can’t begin until the continued trauma is stopped. Let’s begin by practicing more empathy for people.

Seek their perspective. Stay out of judgment.

Recognize emotions, however raw it may be.

And tell each other, ‘I hear you.’” deWolfe’s full statement can be heard in the City Council recording available on SSL. com.

Natalie Pinkney’s statement

Pinkney began with a list of violence against people of color.

“For over 500 years, this nation has witnessed the execution and murder of black bodies because we have pleaded to be free, to be treated as equals, and be treated like human beings,” Pinkney said.

She quoted Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.: “I have almost reached the regrettable conclusion that the Negro’s great stumbling block in the stride toward freedom is not the White Citizen’s Council-er or the Ku Klux Klanner, but the white moderate who is more devoted to ‘order’ than to justice; who prefers a negative peace which is the absence of tension to a positive peace which is the presence of justice; who constantly says ‘I agree with you in the goal you seek, but I can’t agree with your methods of direct action;’ who paternalistically feels he can set the timetable for another man’s freedom; who lives by the myth of time and who constantly advises the Negro to wait until a ‘more convenient season.’”

She concluded with a call to action by saying, “Imagine the changes we can do in the next 50 years if we decide to act today….

We can say with policy that black lives matter.”

Pinkney’s full statement can also be heard in the City Council recording available on SSL.com.

Police Chief Jack Carruth’s statement

In Police Chief Carruth’s prepared statement, he commended the Minneapolis Police Chief for their quick actions.

“As a law enforcement leader, I commend Minneapolis Police Chief Arradondo for his swift and decisive action and decision to terminate all four officers involved in the incident. In many uses of force incidents, it’s not always clear to what lead to an officer using force, and often take several days to work through the critical details of an incident. However, Chief Arradondo saw what the nation saw, and he reacted without hesita-

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tion. The fate of all four Minneapolis officers is now in the fate of our justice system, the same system they took an oath to serve under and the same system they ultimately failed.”

Carruth then spoke of his concerns.

“Unfortunately, the actions of four officers, 1,200 miles away, have ignited violent protests here and across or the nation. The actions of four officers have threatened the safety and lives of over 800,000 police officers and their own families—they have put our 70 officers at an increased risk. And frankly, that keeps scaring me.”

He concluded his statement welcoming any peaceful protest honoring George Floyd’s memory “to stop the violence and start the healing conversations and create the actions that will build trust once again.”

He followed his prepared remarks by walking through the rigorous hiring process of the police department including four psychological tests. He spoke about the role of Internal Affairs and the process of review each incident goes through. He also mentioned that police officers are required to complete 40 hours of training each year.

Officers complete between 80-100 hours of training including de-escalation training.

Carruth gave a report about the police department’s involvement in the May 30 riot.

When the 1033 “All Hands On Deck” call went out, six officers and two sergeants were dispatched. As the day progressed, other city police officers arrived.

Carruth reported that three officers received minor injuries from items being thrown at them. Four police cruisers were damaged and a fifth cruiser was painted while at the public safety building.

SSLPD continued to provide support while the city’s curfew was in place.

Police spokesperson Danielle Croyle confirmed that actions such as chokeholds or knee on the neck are “not part of our training and not approved under our use of force policy.” l

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Companies offer marketing services to local businesses impacted by COVID-19 to bolster customer base, unify community

By Drew Crawford | d.crawford@mycityjournals.com paign, and help them execute on that.” out of this.”

Gibby feels that COVID-19 offers a Gibby says that businesses wondering unique time for companies to reflect on what what they should be doing to recover from a they do well and to think about what they of- marketing standpoint should be thinking in a fer their customers. couple different tiers.

“Most of the time, particularly with “One is to say, ‘Hey, we’re open, come small- to medium-sized business, market- back,’ and ‘Here’s what we’re doing to keep ing is not viewed as strategically at all. It’s you safe,’” Gibby said. looked at as I’ve got this widget to sell so According to Gibby, a more in-depth oplet’s just put up a website, let’s get a brochure tion is a tier two approach, where businesses out there, and let’s sell our stuff,” Gibby said. offer innovative problem solving.

“There’s not really thought given to how to “I think that you can elevate it to tier two sell it, what the messaging should be, and if you find ways to be part of the solution and how you’re going to effectively be thinking find unique ways to engage your customers. of your target audience.”

People need to approach their marketing in Gibby said that the greatest difference such a way that they give their clientele a that COVID-19 has made for business is that way to come back.” it has changed consumer’s lifestyles as they Gibby has also come up with other marshop from home a lot more and are cautious keting strategies to address the pandemic that about going out. include developing thought leadership and “What we’ve tried to do is view this as forming community partnerships. an opportunity to make a difference in our “Being open for business doesn’t comcommunity, because a lot of these business- pel a consumer to do business. Businesses es who are shut down have a unique time need to provide real value to their audience where they can sit back and really evaluate to get them to come back, which you can acThe requirements for doing business have changed. (Drew Crawford/City Journals) what they’re doing and we can help them complish by communicating real and meando it better and strategically,” Gibby said. “I ingful value and communicating your efforts change in consumer behavior as a result ucts that they have available or not available, think we all have an obligation to be of as- to be a part of the solution,” Gibby said. l of COVID-19 has caused many busi- or restaurants for curbside delivery, takeout, sistance where we can to help people come nesses to change their strategies on how they dine in, it’s different for different industries.” attract and retain their customers.

Through using Local Search Fuel comTo address these concerns, marketing panies can manage their online listings to companies operating in the valley have been make sure that their information is consispromoting their services to impacted busi- tently displayed. ness in an attempt to help them maintain and “That’s a trust signal that Google values attract a customer base. when it decides who it’s going to show for its “We decided that small businesses need search results,” Trapp noted. “And we know [results] as well, and we wanted to develop an that because we’ve pared it down to the core affordable solution to do that,” said Meghan tactics that are required for local search sucTrapp of Hurrdat, a marketing group that has cess, we’re able to offer at an affordable price an office in Holladay. point.”

Hurrdat released Local Search Fuel The services provided by Hurrdat which at the beginning of the year, a SAAS (soft- cost $125 monthly, include the SEO applicaware as a service) product that provides local tion where businesses can provide their insearch engine optimization (SEO) services to formation as well as a live customer support help companies get views from Google My team that is available for help with using the Business listings, Facebook and Apple Maps. software.

“We are able to offer it for free for 90 In addition to accessible SEO technolodays to our local customers, because we gy that can enable businesses to elevate their know with COVID, with their businesses be- listings, Nate Gibby, the marketing director ing closed, or reopening but not reopening in of Serfwerks, has begun to offer free marketthe same hours or same methods as before, ing consultations on a first come, first served that it’s really important that they optimize basis to help businesses get market share their information now,” Trapp said, explain- during COVID-19.

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July 2020 | Page 5

Black lives—and the stories behind those lives—matter

By Drew Crawford | d.crawford@mycityjournals.com

A

n essential and often overlooked action that everyone can take to ensure that Black lives truly matter is to listen to the stories that Black people have to tell and take them seriously. This includes both the everyday experiences of Black people as well as the lessons that history can teach us.

Many stories are uncomfortable in nature and they force people to grapple with white privilege and racism. However, despite this, they offer the hope to bring the community together and build a future that is both sensitive to the experiences of Blackness, and antiracist in nature.

The experiences of Black people are all around us and in light of the protests occurring in the world, many are eager to open up about them.

Stories such as those like of Breasha Acquah. Acquah comes from a mixed racial background. Her father is a Haitian immigrant and her mother is African American.

After graduating high school, Acquah moved to Utah from Fort Hood, Texas, in the summer of 2012 to attend Brigham Young University.

At first, she enjoyed attending a school environment where most people shared the same faith background as her and had a positive experience for the first couple of months that she was here, until things gradually started to change.

“It just became slowly and surely just very isolating, the lack of ethnic diversity and the lack of people that shared my personal experiences just began to weigh down on me quite a bit, especially with some of the microaggressions and racial instances that happened, I didn’t really have a support system or anywhere to go to, that really hindered and altered my perspective of my experience there,” Acquah said.

In certain senses she faced a similar campus culture that other new students do, with a lot of talk centered around relationships and marriage. For Acquah though, being Black made her an undesirable romantic partner.

“There was a huge emphasis and a push on dating when I first came to Provo and just interacting with those of the opposite sex. It was really hard because there wasn’t a lot of people of my similar racial group. Of the people that were there, a lot of people weren’t interested in dating a Black woman,” Acquah said. “And so, it was a very isolating and shocking experience to be told to my face that people weren’t interested in me or getting to know me as a human because I was Black.”

In addition to having to fight an uphill battle in the dating world because of the color of her skin, Acquah was verbally abused from time to time in public places that should have been safe.

“There was just a time in late 2012 or early 2013 when I got called the N-word four different times in public spaces. It was once

Page 6 | July 2020

on BYU campus, once on a public bus,” Acquah said. “Once in a JCPenney this little boy yelled it at me, and the mom got angry and upset at him for yelling at me, but she didn’t say anything about the fact that he used a really racist word, or the fact that he was cursing. He was literally 5 or 6 years old.”

Even Acquah’s two best friends who are also people of color had a hard time entirely relating to her unique experiences as a Black woman. Combined together, all of these terrifying events began to push Acquah to the breaking point and to make matters worse, she didn’t really feel like there was anywhere to go.

“I had to stay because BYU is just a really affordable education that I just wouldn’t be able to study anywhere or get that quality of education for that low of a price, so I had to stay, but it was just really difficult,” Acquah said.

Over time these events led Acquah to come to terms more with her blackness, which she had struggled with reconciling as a kid.

In 2015, Acquah, who had previously relaxed and straightened her hair with chemicals, decided to cut it all off and grow out her natural hair. Allowing her intrinsic beauty to show was a catalyst for helping her realize how unique her experiences are.

“When you have a huge ’fro that defies gravity and has tight curls, you have to care for it and spend a lot of time on it. That in itself actually helped solidify my black identity because you can’t hide when you have such noticeable hair,” she said.

Systemic racism though, still remained an everyday reality that Acquah had to face.

“At that point in time in my life I just didn’t have the language or the ability to articulate things the way that I can now and to address and accurately identify racism when it happened to me, so at that point in time I was just really shocked and didn’t know what to do.”

“It wasn’t until a few years ago as an adult that I came to really understand what blackness was to me,” Acquah said. “A lot of things happened kind of consequentially.

There was a lot of killings of honored Black men by police officers. There was Philando Castile in 2016 and as well as I believe in that same weekend Alton Sterling was killed.

There was Eric Garner and [the shooting of Michael Brown in] Ferguson, [Missouri].”

The taking of Black life, as shocking as it was, caused Acquah to begin to wake up to just how bad things could get. Similarly, though, Acquah was inspired by public figures such as Colin Kaepernick of the NFL taking a moral stand by kneeling for the National Anthem.

“There was just a lot of political and social movements going on at the time that I instantly identified with, but then I noticed

that all of my white peers and fellow church members were very, very against for whatever reasons, but I realized that there was something very, very different in my perspective and line of thinking that a lot of my views people thought didn’t align with Mormonism,” Acquah said.

“But then I started to realize that I’m Black, and I just view the world differently because these are things that I’ve witnessed, you know, and that my father has experienced and that my peers and friends and cousins experienced growing up. It was just

very personal in a way that wasn’t for a lot of my peers.”

Over time Acquah met Black friends in Utah who shared her experiences, joined accommodating religious groups within her faith and switched her minor to Africana Studies. Doing this helped to educate her and she came to realize that she wasn’t alone in her experiences.

Acquah now describes her blackness using newfound language that she has developed over the last five years.

“It’s so intimate to me and it’s so a part

Protests for racial justice have been held across the country over the past month, including various locations in Utah. (Photo by Julian Wan/Unsplash)

But then I started to realize that I’m black, and I just view the world differently because these are things that I’ve witnessed, you know, and that my father has experienced and that my peers and friends and cousins experienced growing up. It was just very personal in a way that wasn’t for a lot of my peers.” — Breasha Acquah S outh Salt Lake City Journal

of my daily life,” Acquah said. “I would say that it’s just two sides of one coin where it literally is the pain, the oppression, the ways that I have to navigate life always being conscious of how I’m being perceived—specifically in Utah it’s usually white people, but just by the world in general.

“And so my blackness shapes how I get dressed in the morning, it shapes how I style my hair, it shapes how I speak if I have to code switch during different social situations if I’m going to speak more articulately, or relax a little and speak more with a Southern or colloquial speech pattern,” Acquah said.

“And so, it’s something that I’m always cognizant of and thinking of every day.”

As part of her evolving self-awareness

Acquah has also learned how to embrace her blackness by resonating with the experiences of her ancestors.

“It’s also beauty. Historically speaking, I come from really powerful and influential people. My father is from Haiti. Haiti was the first and only island to revolt against their masters and create an independent and sovereign country. And with that there’s just beauty, and rebellion and resistance,” Acquah said.

“On my mother’s side my grandparents were Black people in the South and participated in the civil rights. I just come from a long heritage of resistance and people who were just able to make the best out of just really, really awful situations over and over

Black Lives Matter yard sign erected on a Holladay residents yard. (Zak Sonntag/City Journals)

Knowing the names and understanding their experiences is diversifying the Utah story.

Black history is Utah history. Their stories are our stories. Their stories represent Utah history.”

— W. Paul Reeve, chair of Mormon Studies in the History Department at The University of Utah

S outh SaltLakeJournal .com

and over again.”

For Acquah this has helped her to creatively express herself in a system that has many times stacked against her.

In addition to listening to current stories of Black people’s experiences, historians in Utah show us what it was like to be Black in Utah in the past. Through sharing these stories, historians hope to correct the racial record that has often gone ignored.

W. Paul Reeve, chair of Mormon Studies in the History Department at The University of Utah, is working on a project that attempts to amend the whitewashed narrative that people are taught about while learning Utah history.

“It’s a digital database wherein we are attempting to name and identify every person baptized into the LDS faith between 1830 and 1930. It’s centered around bios, but if you go to the site there’s also a map that also points to the location of baptism,” Reeve said. “One of the things that I didn’t anticipate when I started the project is the number in Utah.”

Reeve created the database with one of his intentions being to show people what we can learn from the margins. He tells the stories of Black Latter-day Saints from the ground level instead of the perspective of their leaders in order to bring humanity and dignity to people lost to the annals of time.

“What I hope people learn is that there were Black Latter-day Saints from 1830 all the way to the present. They’ve always been there, but they’ve been erased from collective Latter-day Saint memory and also typically not included in Utah history.”

Some of the biographies talk about the racism that these early Black Utahns encountered at church, the 1852 servant code that legalized slavery in Utah, and racial passage that allowed socially accepted Black people to receive Latter-day Saint religious rituals and be accepted as white.

“Part of the founders of Utah were Black enslaved people. They helped to build the state, they were a part of the pioneer generation; they weren’t allowed their freedom,” Reeve said.

“Their freedom was not granted to them by people in Utah, but they were reliant upon the United States Congress.”

To Reeve, these stories are illustrative of problematic issues that are at the core of Utah’s past. If they are approached the right way though, Reeve believes that they can actually be a teaching tool that instructs us how to overcome present racism.

Although, understanding the issues does not change the reality of the past, it helps people come to terms with what happened so that future generations can heal and clearly recognize prejudice according to Reeve.

“Another lesson is what does racism look like? How do we learn to overcome racism? I think that history can be one way of doing so. We understand what it looked like in the past and it has the potential to help us improve the future. I think that confronting

that is actually healthy,” Reeve said.

“Knowing the names and understanding their experiences is diversifying the Utah story. Black history is Utah history. Their stories are our stories. Their stories represent Utah history,” Reeve said.

Overall, even though it has been a long time for Acquah to become fully comfortable with her identity and talk about it, she feels that everyone can benefit from understanding where Black people are coming from when they share their stories and talk about race.

“When you can come at something from a multitude of different perspectives and background it gives you a clearer understanding of what exactly is happening. I think that a lot of people get uncomfortable when I, as a Black person, talk about decentering whiteness or decentering white people. I think that white people get defensive about it, but when you learn from other people there’s always going to be something that you never thought of before. There’s always going to be some observation that’s important to them that you never really noticed or thought of,” Acquah said.

“I think that when white people listen to stories and hear from Black people everybody is better off, because on white people’s side they get more understanding and more enlightenment and views of certain situations that maybe they wouldn’t have got if they hadn’t heard it.” l

A peaceful protest held for racial justice and LGBTQ rights in Liberty Park on June 14. (Photo courtesy Rick Richard)

July 2020 | Page 7

What’s your legacy?

With no opposition, South Salt Lake passes budget

By Bill Hardesty | b.hardesty@mycityjournals.com

In a virtual meeting, South Salt Lake City Council passed fiscal year 2021 budget without any tussles. Photo was taken at a previous meeting. (Bill Hardesty/City Journals)

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aybe it is the reality of the times or maybe it is a new city council or maybe it’s because it was a virtual city council meeting or maybe a bit of all three. Whatever the reasons, the fiscal year 2021 budget discussions and actions were quite different than last year.

At the June 3 public hearing about the budget no one spoke. Last year, people lined up to voice their support or disagreement.

This year, everything has been civil and respectful.

“Congratulations. We passed a budget in a pandemic and virtually,” said Council Chair Sharla Bynum, Council Chair.

At the May 27 work meeting, Mayor Cherie Wood answered questions submitted by councilmembers.

The questions ranged from why the tuition reimbursement budget line has increased (more employees are seeking it) to why are the police and fire departments larger than other cities the size of SSL (both agencies have to cover the day population which significantly increases) to what happens to unspent FY 2020 funds (for the most part, each budget year stands alone. On rare occasions some funds might need to move to the next year budget. Any savings goes into the Fund Balance).

There was little discussion about the answers and the council moved to other business.

In the following regular meeting, the council decided to move the City Council Professional Services funds ($17,000) to the City Attorney’s Office. A few years ago, the City Council took the money from the City Attorney’s office when they decided they needed to retain outside counsel.

At the June 3 City Council meeting, the council took no actions regarding the budget since there was no participation in the public hearings.

Kyle Kershaw, South Salt Lake City finance director, did give an update on some items that will require funds to be moved

from FY 2020 to FY 2021 in the Capital Fund.

Kershaw also mentioned the state’s requirement that Tier 2 Public Safety employees, which are those hired after 2010, receive an increase to their retirement system estimated to be a 4.27% increase. According to the state, cities must pay at least 2% of the 4.27%. Cities could ask employees to contribute the 2.27%.

SSL has decided to pay the entire 4.27%.

The City Council felt this a nice gesture in the wake of no pay increases in FY 2021.

This increase is already in the proposed budget.

June 17 City Council meeting

With little fanfare, the FY 2021 budget passed by the City Council. The budget includes moving $4.3 million from Fund Balance, which is the city’s saving account.

For planning purposes, the city used a 25% decrease in sales tax revenue, but it could be higher or lower. The city projects a $5.2 million dollar decrease in revenue, including $2.1 million in sales tax, $300,000 in energy sales/use tax, $375,000 in building permits, which has been a cash cow for the city in the past few years, and $400,000 in state homeless mitigation funds.

The passed General Fund budget is approximately $630,000 less than the current FY 2020 budget. Across all the funds, the FY 2021 budget total is $53,374,505 compared to the adopted FY 2020 budget of $53,594,480—almost a $22,000 reduction.

Like other cities, residents have voiced concerns about the police department budget.

Wood answered the concerns by explaining there were three drivers for the increase in the police budget over the last couple of years.

“The HRC mitigation, raises for officers and command staff, and the opening of the new Walker Elementary school requiring additional crossing guards.,” Wood explained. l

S outh Salt Lake City Journal

Student of the Year award delivered to 25 Granite Park students

By Bill Hardesty | b.hardesty@mycityjournals.com

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Principal Aaron Wilson and school counselor, Lisa Ballash, surprise Andrew Bourne with the Male Student of the Year for Dance award. (Bill Hardesty/City Journals)

I

n the face of a pandemic, some Granite Park Junior High School (GPJHS) traditions continue. Traditionally, an end-of-year assembly is held to remember the year that was and honor outstanding students. With the soft school closure in March, no assembly was possible.

On May 27, Principal Aaron Wilson and other members of the administration took to the streets to honor outstanding eighth (now ninth) graders. Twenty-five Students of the Year were presented a certificate and a unique GPJHS blanket at their homes.

A male and female student was selected across 13 departments at GPJHS. One student was a double winner as Student of the Year in Math and Top Growth for Special Education (SPED). Top Growth was measured by comparing test scores at the beginning of the year and at the end.

Each department selected the students using the criteria of participation, achievement, effort and leadership.

Awarding the honors

For the most part, students were surprised to have their principal, vice principal or school counselor at their door. Parents were notified in advance to make sure the student was home and awake and dressed. In some cases, the parents just couldn’t resist spilling the beans.

“This is so cool,” said Mary Cosman, who was named the Female Student of the Year in Music.

Cosman plays the cello because she loves how the instrument sounds. She is also following the example of her mother.

“It was difficult to decide which students were selected as our students of the year.

Teachers considered their grades, growth during the year, citizenship and also noticed students who excelled at distance learning.

S outh SaltLakeJournal .com

As we went to these students’ homes to drop off their awards, I was inspired to see these wonderful students also had responsibilities taking care of younger siblings. Our students truly are the best. They inspire me and give me great hope for the future,” Wilson said.

Wilson departs

June 30 will be Wilson’s last day as GPJHS principal. He is taking a new position in the district office as director of the Organizational Effectiveness Department. He will directly oversee Title I and other federal spending, help turnaround schools, and supervise research and evaluation as well as student assessment.

When asked about his time at GPJHS, Wilson replied, “When I started working at Granite Park eight years ago, it was a different school. There weren’t as many opportunities for students to shine or be themselves. Now, students are in plays and musicals, competitive sport teams and clubs, and can be enrolled in our gifted courses. Students walking our halls are happy, safe, and thrive because of these opportunities and also teachers who love and care for them. Where once our student achievement was so low, we were a sanctioned school, now we are a model for school turnaround and student growth. We are now nationally recognized for being an AVID demonstration school and for our work honoring veterans. Being part of this journey with such amazing educators, students, and parents has been both humbling and thrilling. I will forever look back at my years at Granite Park as some of the fondest.”

Chris Griffiths, who is currently an assistant principal at Cyprus High School, will take the reins of GPJHS. l

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July 2020 | Page 9

Take the ElevateHERTM Challenge

GSD Board discusses surplus, salaries and strategies for COVID-19 second wave

A

By Heather Lawrence | h.lawrence@mycityjournals.com

live-streamed Granite School District Board meeting on June 16 was an important one for the coming school year.

The 2019-20 budget was reconciled, and the budget for 2020-21 was proposed. One main finding was GSD’s surplus from activities that were canceled at the end of the year. There was also a discussion about learning scenarios during a COVID-19 spike.

Mitch Robison, director of Budget Development, called it a “weird year for everything, including the budget.” RobiAre you a business leader?

TM At no cost, the ElevateHER Challenge is easy son said though the legislature has met and allocated funds for schools, the Board anto accept and will benefit your company. ticipates a special session where education Join businesses across Utah in funding may be adjusted. our mission to elevate the stature The last day of the legislative session of women’s leadership. Take the was March 12. Schools closed on March ElevateHERTM Challenge and stand with 13. The closure was meant to last two other businesses as we pledge to elevate weeks, but went through the end of the women in senior leadership positions, in school year. boardrooms, on management teams and The canceled activities came with a on politcal ballots. silver lining: less money spent. There was also a “savings” on wage payments when some employees decided to leave early.

LEARN MORE: The official amount of one-time savings www.WLIUT.com/challenge will be known in September or October.

Despite the uncertainty of the year, the Board is obligated to follow a timeline.

GSD met the requirements to publish the proposed 2020-21 budget online and advertise the hearing, get public input, adopt the budget and set a tax rate for the coming school year.

The proposed 2020-21 budget is $854 million. The biggest piece of the pie is WANT FLEXIBLE HOURS WITH the General Fund, which pays out teacher HOLIDAYS AND WEEKENDS OFF? compensation.

Granite School District is hiring Kitchen Robison said the General Fund “is really dependent on the legislature…and Managers, Nutrition Service Workers, 90% of it goes for salaries and benefits.” and Nutrition Worker Substitutes!

GSD proposed a raise for new teachers and Applicants must have: High school diploma a 5% COLA (cost of living adjustment). Inor equivalent, background check, and be coming qualified teachers with a bachelor’s degree will start at $50,000+ per year. That willing to obtain a food handler’s permit. makes GSD “competitive with their neighbors” such as Canyons District, which ad• Breakfast, Lunch and Dinner positions available! opted a similar pay scale for 2019-20.

• 15 to 40 Hours per week with Flexible scheduling!

The closing of two schools, Sandburg • Hiring at over 100 schools within the district. and Westbrook, each represent a savings of • Pay starts at $12.25 per hour. $700,000. GSD must hire two PBAT internal support employees at $200,000 to help transition to the new PBAT state licensure program. Seventy-five million dollars was requested for health insurance costs.

The 2020-21 proposed tax rate is .007429%. The time was opened for comments from the public. Director of Communications Ben Horsley reported that no one from the public had come in person to www.graniteschools.org/ comment or sent in comments. The Board motioned to adopt the budget. nutritionservices/jobs

LOOKING FOR PART-TIME WORK?

The topic of the meeting shifted to how COVID-19 may affect learning in 202021. There was discussion over what was necessary—was the requirement masks or physical distancing, or masks and physical distancing?

John Welburn, assistant superintendent of School Leadership & Development, gave a presentation on possible learning scenarios based on the color code for Utah. Different schools could be in different colors.

Utah experienced an increase in cases after trying to reopen. The date of the meeting, June 16, Salt Lake County was in the yellow phase, but Salt Lake City, where many GSD schools are located, was back in the orange phase.

In the scenario, schools would operate as normal during a green phase. The yellow phase could be a hybrid of in-school learning and distance learning, such as half the students attending school on Monday and Wednesday or Tuesday and Thursday, and distance learning for all on Fridays.

Orange and red phases would mean distance learning only for all students.

Board members questioned aspects of the scenarios. There are potential difficulties for families with parents working full-time, those who utilize day care, have children at multiple schools on possible different schedules or those with limited access to computers and internet.

Some parents may not feel comfortable sending children to school at all, even in a green phase. Students with special needs may be highly vulnerable and fall in high-risk health categories.

Welburn said he gets comments from community members to, “Just do this, just do that,” and the schools should work fine.

“What people need to understand is that we don’t have the authority to make those decisions. We are required to comply with policies. And we will always put the safety of our students first.”

In addition, Welburn reported that the average class size at the secondary level is 38 students. “You can’t do face-to-face instruction with that many students and do 6 feet apart,” Welburn said.

Board members questioned whether students could be compelled to wear a mask. There are also concerns about air turnover in classrooms. Guidance from the CDC seemed to be “a moving target.” Others worried that students might feel they need to leave GSD and register for a special online school instead of setting that up within the district.

Despite sympathy for those who just want to get back to normal—students, parents, teachers—it is a time of uncertainty for face-to-face learning. “Regardless of the color phase we’re in, if distancing guidelines can be met, we’ll meet in school.

If they can’t, we’ll have to do something else,” Welburn said. l

A slide from the Granite School District’s budget presentation in June.

Call Us: (385) 646-4321

Page 10 | July 2020

A slide from the Granite School District’s presentation for schooling this coming fall breaking down the plans depending on the color phase.

S outh Salt Lake City Journal

‘Granite Park is part of me’ says head custodian retiring after 19 years

By Bill Hardesty | b.hardesty@mycityjournals.com

Memories

Marlowe told about the fun when an episode of the long-running TV show “Touched by an Angel” was filmed at GPJHS. He also remembered finding a plaque that listed World War II veterans who attended Central High School. A veteran assembly was held to honor them, which started a threeyear tradition of a Veteran’s Day assembly.

A final memory is for four years, a Baptist youth group, The World Changers, came in during the summer and made GPJHS home. The group performed community service throughout the city.

“It was a bit weird to see a cross in the auditorium,” Marlowe said.

Living through history

Guy Marlowe, retired 19-year GPJHS Head Custodian, among his beloved school tulips. (Courtesy of Jeanine Marlowe)

A

fter 19 years at Granite Park Junior High school, head custodian Guy Marlowe retired at the end of the school year.

Marlowe started with the Granite School District (GSD) in 1995 at Churchill Junior High. After a nine-year stint at Truman Elementary, he came to GPJHS as it moved from the now Lincoln Elementary and took over

the old Central High School.

One definition for custodian is guardian.

Marlowe truly was a guardian of GPJHS. “Granite Park is part of me,” Marlowe said.

It should be. There isn’t an inch of the school that he hasn’t touched from the tunnels running under the school to the top of the auditorium.

Marlowe was there from the beginning of the new GPJHS when 900 students from various parts of the city were forced to be together. Territorial behavior and fights were common. The school had the highest tardy count.

Rob McDaniel came in as a mid-year replacement. He is credited with turning the school around.

Under McDaniel, the school went from a 40-50% teacher turnover rate and only 7 out of 10 students attending to leading the district in many key indicators. This allowed teach-

ers and administrators to spend less time on behavior and more time teaching students.

“He made school fun. One of the things I would do is quiz kids in the lunch line. If they got the curriculum-based question correct, they went to the front of the line,” Marlowe said.

On bad weather days, Marlowe would push back the tables in the lunchroom and have jump rope or hula hoop contests.

“Today, I am proud to point out to visitors that during class time the halls are empty, and you can hear teachers teaching,” Marlowe said.

Jack of trades

Besides his custodial duties, Marlowe was the stage crew for many years. He ran the sound system and the lights for assemblies and other presentations.

He was also a first responder at school.

If there was an accident, he would respond and assess what further action should be taken including calling 911.

“I always tried to make the school a safe and secure place for the faculty and students,” Marlowe said.

For many years, his work was recognized by receiving a gold award for cleanliness from GSD inspectors. l

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July 2020 | Page 11

Granite School District offers summer sack meals

By Julie Slama | j.slama@mycityjournals.com

Murray students will have several locations to pick up a free summer sack lunch and breakfast. (Julie Slama/ City Journals)

G

• • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • •

Magna Elementary, 3100 S. 8500 West Matheson Jr. High, 3650 S. 7730 West Mill Creek Elementary, 3761 S. 1100 East Monroe Elementary, 3100 S. 4450 West Moss Elementary, 4399 S. 500 East Orchard Elementary, 3800 S. 6744 West Pioneer Elementary, 3860 S. 3380 West Pleasant Green Elementary, 2700 S. 8201 WestRedwood Elementary, 2650 S. 1700 West Roosevelt Elementary, 3225 S. 800 East Silver Hills Elementary, 5100 S. 5770 West Stansbury Elementary, 3050 S. 2700 West Taylorsville Elementary, 4230 S. 2010 West Truman Elementary, 4639 S. 3200 West Valley Crest Elementary, 3100 S. 5240 West West Kearns Elementary, 4900 S. 4620 West West Valley Elementary, 3100 S. 6049 West Wilson Elementary, 2567 S. Main St. LDS Church, 5720 S. 4270 West

Three schools will serve as Utah Food Bank sites Monday, Wednesday, Friday through Aug. 14. Each serving day children will receive two days worth of meals.

• Carl Sandburg Elementary, 3900 S. 5325 West • Plymouth Elementary, 5220 S. 1470 West • Whittier Elementary, 3585 S. 6000 West The locations can be found at www. graniteschools.org/nutritionservices/media-and-program-updates l

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ranite School District will serve free breakfast and lunch this summer.

Free student meals will be provided weekdays, 11 a.m. to noon, with the exception of July 3 and July 24. Their sack meals will be available through Aug. 7.

Serving sites are typically found at local parks, but due to the current situation and public health orders from Salt Lake County, the program will operate out of school sites and one church location only.

In the event a site needs to close, patrons will be given a one week notice and directed to the nearest site.

All children 18 and under will receive free meals. Meals cannot be picked up for others not there. Parents are not required to accompany children and daycares within the area are welcome to participate.

Here are the list of locations: • Academy Park, 4575 S. 4580 West • Bacchus Elementary, 5925 S. 5975 West • Beehive Elementary, 5655 S. 5220 West • Copper Hills Elementary, 3715 S. 7635 West • Farnsworth Elementary, 3751 S. 4225 West • Fox Hills Elementary, 6020 S. 3775 West • Granger Elementary, 3700 S. 1950 West • Granger High School, 3580 S. 3600 West • Granite Park Jr. High, 3031 S. 200 East • Hillside Elementary, 4283 S. 6000 West • Hunter Elementary, 4351 S. 5400 West • Jefferson Jr. High, 5850 S. 5600 West • Lake Ridge Elementary, 3400 S. 7400 West • Lincoln Elementary, 3400 S. 450 East

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S outh Salt Lake City Journal

Unearthed time capsules reveal interesting finds at Granite Park Junior High

By Bill Hardesty | b.hardesty@mycityjournals.com

Aaron Wilson, GPJHS principal, looks over contents from a 1992 time capsule uncovered during the front entrance remodeling. (Courtesy of GPJHS)

T

his summer, Granite Park Junior High School (GPJHS) is getting a new student- friendly front entrance. While this is news, the real news is what was found during demolition.

When the backhoe was digging away to make way for the new front entry, the crew found two time capsules.

Guy Marlowe, retired GPJHS custodian, knew some were buried, but didn’t know

where. The time capsules were a surprise.

The first capsule was buried in 1992. Inside were pictures, a yearbook, an attendance record for Gwenn Anderson and a Central High hat. This hat is a reminder of the interesting history of GPJHS. In 1950, Central Junior High School was open, starting the move away from the Granite High School property. Granite Park Junior

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High School was opened in 1962 at 450 E. 3700 South (the current location of Lincoln Elementary).

Around 1999, Granite District started what could comically be described as a “musical schools tour.” By this time, Central Junior High School had become Central High School, which was an alternative high school.

Central High (now known as Granite Connection High School) moved to the old location of Lincoln Elementary at 501 E. 3900 South.

Lincoln Elementary moved to the original location of Granite Park Junior High. Granite Park Junior High was moved to the old Central High School location. However, the move required a complete internal renovation of the building.

Aaron Wilson, GPJHS principal, became remarkably familiar with the old yearbooks and scrapbooks for the school’s 90-year celebration last year. He never found any reference to a time capsule. The placement is a mystery.

The second time capsule is even more of a mystery. It was not properly sealed. The contents were “all mushy and gross.” However, GPJHS administration could determine two items: a Bible and a pack of cigarettes.

You can imagine the interesting history behind this time capsule.

The administration is planning to place a new time capsule in the front entry.

“We are thinking of putting together a flash drive of some school videos, school shirts, programs from school events such as our school play and Veterans Day production... and a mask with a brief note about the pandemic this year,” Wilson said.

The 2020 time capsule will be buried this fall so that students can be involved. l

An attendance book and a Central High School hat found in a 1992 time capsule uncovered during GPJHS remodeling. (Courtesy of GPJHS)

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July 2020 | Page 13

Cottonwood’s Tuckness receives award, makes music fun

By Julie Slama | j.slama@mycityjournals.com

Cottonwood High instrumental director Amber Tuckness smiles with her music students after receiving the UHSAA Distinguished Service Award Music Educator of the Year award. (Photo courtesy of Cottonwood High)

A

t the recent Utah High School Activities Association awards ceremony, 17 people were honored for their commitment to coaching or contributing to the success of students from debate to sports, including Cottonwood High music teacher Amber Tuckness.

“She is an amazing educator that has dedicated her life to filling the world with music,” said UHSAA executive committee member Tom Sherwood, who presented Tuckness with the award. “What a great leg-

acy.”

Tuckness received a wooden plaque as the Distinguished Service Award Music Educator of the Year and applause not only from her peers at the luncheon (before the pandemic), but also from her students.

“It was during our musical rehearsal and the principal stopped rehearsal saying there was an emergency; there was something happening,” Tuckness said. “Then, she told us

right there that I was selected for the honor.

It’s nice to be recognized, especially as music doesn’t always get the attention that sports do.”

Principal Terri Roylance, who nominated Tuckness for the award, also recommended her for the Murray City teacher of the year.

In 2014, Tuckness was honored as one of the district’s teachers of excellence.

“It motivates me to keep improving, to teach and do the right thing for students. But it’s not just my recognition; it’s the students, and I receive it because of them and what they’re doing,” she said.

For 23 years, Tuckness has taught about 300 students each year. This year, her class load is nine classes: jazz ensemble, wind ensemble, concert band, orchestra, AP theory and harmony, beginning composition, guitar, piano and credit recovery.

“Those kids in credit recovery are really grateful to get the last-minute help so they can graduate. It’s been fun getting to know those kids and seeing how I’m able to help them,” she said about the recent addition to her teaching load.

She also directs Granite Youth Symphony one day per week after teaching her full load.

Every year, she prepares student mu-

sicians for their region and state group and solo/ensemble contests. She also has taken them on tours and festivals in California and Washington, adding some fun opportunities with each trip.

In the orchestra pit during musical rehearsals, there are theme days, such as this past year’s “Miss Honey” day where everyone wore yellow and had honey-related snacks. It’s also a tradition to make quesadillas during practices.

However, Tuckness said her favorite activity with her music students during the school year is the Halloween concert.

“We pick music and a theme. Then, I wear a different costume for every song. I’ve flown in as Superman, rappelled on stage as Spiderman, came as Doc Brown in ‘Back to the Future.’ I was 10-feet tall as Hagrid from the ‘Harry Potter’ series and last year, I rode a camel on stage as Aladdin and directed their last piece from the camel. Usually the students don’t know what I’ll be doing, and the audience comes to hear the students play and see what I’ll come out as,” Tuckness said.

“The Halloween concert is the best attended and favorite tradition, and it brings a fun note to learning.” l

Carefully consider your celebration choices this month

By Cassie Goff | c.goff@mycityjournals.com

J

uly serves up two holidays that involve loud, bright, colorful and sparkly things on fire. Many people love fireworks, but I am going to tell you I am not one of them. As a child, I remember staying inside and watching from the window as my family lit them because I hated the loud pops but liked to watch the glittering lights. I still don’t like the noise from the explosions. And, come July 4 and 24, there is a lot of noise in this valley.

Fireworks are a common trigger for those with Post-traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD).

Between 4 and 8% of the adult population in the United States are affected by PTSD. That’s about one in every 11 people. Now, if we think about an average neighborhood in Utah, there are more than 11 people residing there. Which means either you, someone in your household, or your neighbor may be triggered by the loud banging of fireworks.

PTSD is a Trauma- and Stressor-Related Disorder (previously an Anxiety Disorder) that can occur in people who have experienced or witnessed a traumatic event, actual or threatened. Those with PTSD can experience intrusive symptoms associated with the event, after the event has occurred. Common symptoms include recurrent, involuntary, and distressing memories and dreams. Additional PTSD symptoms may include dissociative

Page 14 | July 2020

reactions, reactivity, persistent avoidance, negative alternations of cognition and mood, as well as prolonged psychological distress.

The Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders (DSM) further characterized PTSD by “heightened sensitivity to potential threats…Individuals with PTSD may be very reactive to unexpected stimuli, displaying a heightened startle response, or jumpiness, to loud noises or unexpected movements.”

In other words, the unexpectedness and loudness of fireworks can trigger a PTSD symptom or event for many. Such disturbance can cause an individual with PTSD to experience significant distress, with potential impairment to social interactions, work, and/ or other areas of functioning.

Rates of PTSD are higher among veterans and service members. And this is where I have to point out the oxymoronic nature of our July holidays. We celebrate our country and state on those days, by setting off things that are blinding and loud, which can be detrimental to those who have fought for this country.

“Sudden and loud noises can trigger episodes of PTSD, bringing veterans back to traumatic experiences they have lived through during service,” explained writer Alice Park.

It is also common for service members to experience symptoms of PTSD without asking

for help. Many believe it is the military environment that encourages such silence.

To encourage service members to ask for help when needed, military leaders have suggested rewording PTSD to remove the word “disorder.” Instead, they wish to label it a Post-traumatic Stress Injury. In addition, many psychologists have urged military leaders to make mental health care more accessible for service members.

Since many suffering from PTSD choose to not or will otherwise not be diagnosed, it may be easy to forget that one in 11 people are quietly suffering.

Folks, life is hard—especially right now, in this 2020 moment. Let’s not make it harder for our neighbors. Please be thoughtful and respectful when choosing how to celebrate

our July holidays.

(Also remember the animals! Have you seen your or your friend’s dog on the Fourth of July? No, you haven’t. Not really. They’re usually hiding because it’s too darn loud.)

If you are experiencing, or anticipate experiencing, symptoms of PTSD this month, please ask for help. The State of Utah has upped their game a little bit since March with mental health services (liveonutah.org).

There are also many different types of treatment, including medication and many different flavors of therapy like group therapy and cognitive processing therapy.

For more information on mental health services specifically for service members visit the following: Military with PTSD and Wounded Warrior Project. l

S outh Salt Lake City Journal

www.sslc.com

CITY NEWSLETTER

July 2020 Cherie Wood, Mayor 801-464-6757 mayor@sslc.com

South Salt Lake City Council Members LeAnne Huff, District 1 801-440-8510 lhuff@sslc.com Corey Thomas, District 2 801-755-8015 cthomas@sslc.com Sharla Bynum, District 3 801-803-4127 sbeverly@sslc.com Portia Mila, District 4 801-792-0912 pmila@sslc.com L. Shane Siwik, District 5 801-548-7953 ssiwik@sslc.com Natalie Pinkney, At-Large 385-775-4980 npinkney@sslc.com Ray deWolfe, At-Large 801-347-6939 rdewolfe@sslc.com

City Offices

Mon-Fri 8 a.m. – 5 p.m.

801-483-6000 220 East Morris Ave SSL, UT 84115 Animal Service 801-483-6024 Building Permits 801-483-6005 Business Licensing 801-483-6063 Code Enforcement 801-464-6712 Fire Administration 801-483-6043 Justice Court 801-483-6072 Police Admin 801-412-3606 Promise 801-483-6057 Public Works 801-483-6045 Recreation 801-412-3217 Utility Billing 801-483-6074 Emergencies 911 Police/Fire Dispatch 801-840-4000

Building a Community of Inclusion & Opportunity for All Like all of you, I am horrified by the murder of George Floyd and the injustice faced by so many people in our Country. I am heartbroken by the pain it has stirred up and the divide it has widened between citizens and law enforcement.

Mayor Cherie Wood South Salt Lake is perhaps the most diverse city in our State – nearly half of our residents come from other countries and represent a variety of cultures, races, incomes, and experiences. As Mayor, I have worked hard to create a community of inclusion and opportunity for all. We have made a practice of putting people first with our Equity Council, Mental Health Council, and other Promise South Salt Lake programs. Our city’s Police Department has made building relationships based on trust and respect a priority through programs like Bowl with a Cop, Police Athletic/Activities League (P.A.L.), and Business and Neighborhood Watch.

Still, there is much work to be done. I first said 10 years ago – and I repeat it now – that what I want for my family is what I want for every resident of South Salt Lake. These past several weeks have brought to the forefront the heartbreak and suffering that too many of our friends and neighbors experience. It is a cry for help, for empathy, for respect.

We need to do more – but what? I am supportive of South Salt Lake creating a Citizen Review Board to assist in this effort, similar to other communities in the area. My goal is to ensure that every South Salt Lake policy is reviewed through a community-based lens of diversity and inclusion. We will implement necessary changes surrounding systemic issues of racial, gender, and other inequality and bias. Discussion about a Citizen Review Board has been scheduled by the City Council for Wednesday, July 8. Agenda and time will be posted at sslc.com.

Jointly, the City Council, Police Chief and I have committed to review Police Department policies and practices. I have signed the Obama Foundations – Mayor’s Pledge, committing to action and my intent to

review police use of force policies. We will engage our community by including a diverse range of input, experiences, and stories in the review, report the findings to the community, and reform use of force policies where necessary.

We are seeking out additional opportunities to build and maintain the trust of the community. We are committed to listening and to creating an ongoing dialogue. We plan to discuss our current practices, including the strong anti-bias and de-escalation training programs in our police department. We have excellent protocols in place and I am proud to lead a public safety team that honors diversity. I want to make sure our reputation for sensitivity and respect for all our residents is earned, not taken for granted.

These are steps toward public safety that puts people first. I know that discrimination and intolerance are found in many other aspects of daily life, even embedded in our government and other institutions. This sets people up for failure and puts them at risk for the very harm public safety tries to prevent. I will continue to fight for every community member and I need your help to do so.

We have no tolerance for racial or any other injustice in South Salt Lake. Everyone deserves to feel safe no matter the color of your skin, your gender or identity. Our work will not be finished until we all feel safe. I am here to serve you. Please help us become the community we want to be and a place you can safely call home.

Please call me or anyone you are familiar with in our city to speak up and start the conversation. I would be honored to listen.

You Matter!

Be Counted!

Represent SSL!

¡Usted Importa! ¡Hágase Contar! ¡Represente a SSL!

my2020census.gov

City News SSL City Council Meetings The Council has been holding Zoom Online Meetings, visit sslc.com for info.

220 E. Morris Ave., 2nd Floor Wednesday, July 8, 7 p.m.

Wednesday, July 22, 7 p.m

SSL City Planning Commission Meetings 220 E. Morris Ave., 2nd Floor Thursday, July 2, 7 p.m.

Thursday, July 16, 7 p.m.

NOTICE: All meetings are subject to cancellation.

Check sslc.com for updates.

Sewer Rate Increase

Effective July 1, 2020, the SSL sewer utility rate will increase. This will impact residents north of Mill Creek. The new rate will apply to your July billing, due 8/20/20.

The rate increase is due to a $210 million upgrade at Central Valley Water Reclamation Facility (CVWRF). This will keep CVWRF in compliance with federal EPA regulations aimed at lowering phosphorus levels in recycled wastewater.

The City has secured a Hardship Grant for $2 million, along with a 0%-interest loan for the remaining $9,248,000 needed to cover our portion of the cost of this project.

Sewer fees will increase by $2.00 per 1,000 gallons of winter water usage. For the average household, this will be an additional $8-$10 per month. This fee increase enables the City to make scheduled payments on the 0% interest loan, our portion of the upgrades. If you have questions email utility@sslc. com or call 801-483-6074.

City Council Corner – Staying Strong Amid Trials

By Portia Mila, City Council District 4 It’s Independence Day! I think we can all agree we have seen our freedom of speech in action these past few months. The debates over precautions in a pandemic, about reopening our economy, and about racism, have all put our government institutions to the test.

I am honored to serve our community, and hope you reach out to me with your concerns and ideas to help me lead with compassion and perspective.

Our immediate city council business is about the nitty gritty of the city budget. It is a real challenge to carry on with providing all our essential local services, while facing budget shortfalls that we can’t fully predict. One thing I am sure of is that our city budget is already cut to the bone. Over the last few years, I have felt our budget hasn’t kept pace with our community needs. I feel strongly that this budget

year, we need to stay strong and stay whole with our employees so that we don’t lose ground and cut any essential services.

One example I give is our city parks. Now more than ever, people are using parks to stay sane, stay healthy and feel a part of something bigger. We have seen a huge spike in usage, and I cannot fathom any cut to our parks staff or maintenance for that matter. In fact, I see a future where we invest more in our public spaces, recognizing that these are places where everyone is welcome and can benefit.

City services are an integral part of daily lives and I am proud of the way our city puts the needs of the whole community first. I am sad that we can’t celebrate as a community this year with Freedom Fest, but hope you still make time to see neighbors and friends and carry on the discussion of how to make our city and our country a better place.

Note: Opinions expressed here may not be representative of all Members of the City Council.

South Salt Lake City Council Action Report Summary

Full agendas, minutes, handouts and video recorded meetings available at: sslc.com/city-government/council-meeting Date Agenda Item Subject Action 5/27/20 Nuisance An Ordinance of the City of South Salt Lake City Council repealing and replacing Moved to Work Meeting on Ordinance Sections 3.11.040 and 3.11.050, amending Title 5 of the South Salt Lake City June 3 for further discussion Code, repealing and replacing Title 8 of the South Salt Lake City Code, and revising Section 17.11.090 of the South Salt Lake City Code as part of an ongoing effort to comprehensively remove errant and conflicting Land Use provisions, reorganize regulations, codify plain language, modernize provisions, and conform the South Salt Lake City Code with recent mandates in State Law 5/27/20 Council Rules A discussion of the changes made to the Council Rules.

Resolution being prepared.

Discussion Moved to June 3 Regular Meeting 6/3/20 Consent Agenda – An Ordinance of the City of South Salt Lake City Council repealing and replacing Approved Nuisance Sections 3.11.040 and 3.11.050, amending Title 5 of the South Salt Lake City Ordinance Code, repealing and replacing Title 8 of the South Salt Lake City Code, and revising Section 17.11.090 of the South Salt Lake City Code as part of an ongoing effort to comprehensively remove errant and conflicting Land Use provisions, reorganize regulations, codify plain language, modernize provisions, and conform the South Salt Lake City Code with recent mandates in State Law 6/3/20 Council Rules A Resolution of the City of South Salt Lake City Council Repealing and Replacing Approved Update the City Council Rules of Procedure 6/3/20 Tier 2 Retirement Employer Funding of Public Safety/Fire Tier 2 Pick up Provision Moved to Unfinished Employer Pick Up

Business on June 17 Regular Meeting

South Salt Lake is teaming up with Salt Lake City, City of Holladay and Millcreek on Local Link to learn how you travel in and around our community and to develop innovative, multi-modal options for more convenient, connected trips.

We’re launching two studies as part of this effort: a circulation study analyzing biking and walking connections into the Sugar House Business District, and a transit alternatives analysis (AA) between Sugar House and Millcreek with an extension to Holladay.

You know your community and lifestyle. We can’t come up with the ideal scenario to better link these cities without your help. Visit our website at locallinkstudy.com to learn more, provide feedback and sign up for updates.

Next Step Further Discussion

Further Discussion Complete

Complete Further Discussion

Public Safety Trying Times Call for Commitment to Community and Policy Review The events of May 25th in Minneapolis, were shocking to communities and to law enforcement agencies and officers across the nation. Regardless of the circumstances which led to George Floyd’s detention, the actions of four Minneapolis Police Officers were unjustified and disgraceful to the law enforcement profession, and even more tragic as those actions led to the death of Mr. Floyd.

As a law enforcement leader, I commend Minneapolis Police Chief Arradondo for his swift and decisive action and decision to terminate all four officers involved in the incident. In many use of force incidents, it’s not always clear to what lead to an officer using force, and often takes several days to work through the critical details of an incident. However, Chief Arradondo saw what the nation saw, and he reacted without hesitation. The fate of all four Minneapolis officers is now in the hands of our justice system, the same system they took an oath to serve under and the same system they ultimately failed.

Unfortunately, the actions of four officers, 1,200 miles away, has ignited violent protests here and across or nation. The actions of four officers have threatened the safety and lives of over 800,000 police officers and their own families – they have put our 70 officers at an increased risk.

The violent protests we have witnessed have taken the additional lives of officers and many more civilians, thousands

have been injured and peaceful protests have been silenced by the coverage of the violence, in the name of George Floyd.

These are difficult times, and it will take us, and the entire Nation years to recover from.

Our Police Department has the local Police Chief control and ability to analyze existing Jack Carruth policies and make necessary changes.

We will take an objective look at how we serve our community in the coming weeks and months. I am committed to working with Mayor Wood, the City Council, and the community. Transparency in all our public safety policies and practices is essential. Our Officers are dedicated to serving arguably the most culturally and ethnically diverse population in the state and I know we can benefit from a community-based lens. We will evaluate existing policies and discuss the findings with the City Council and the community.

As the Police Chief of the City of South Salt Lake, I am open to communication and community dialogue. Transparency, engagement, and involvement with the community is key in working together to address a myriad of concerns. There is hard work to be done, and we will do it together.

Preparedness Tip #7: Educate Children on Preparedness Check your child’s school website or call the school office to request a copy of the school’s emergency plan. You should keep this at home, at work or other places where you spend a lot of time.

Incorporate the school’s plan into your family’s emergency plan.

Teach your children how and when to call Emergency 911. Post this and other emergency numbers by telephones in your home.

Fireworks Safety As we celebrate Independence Day and Pioneer Day, it is important to know that one of the leading causes of medical emergencies is fireworks. Children often receive burns on the hands and face by playing with fireworks. Often thought of as safe, even sparklers, can reach temperatures up to 1,200 degrees.

Fire Chief Additionally, the hot weather and Terry Addison fireworks during the month present the most significant fire danger compared to other holidays. Nationwide, on the 4th of July, fire departments respond to more fires and severe burn injuries than any other day of the year. Already, the State of Utah’s fire season that runs from June 1 to October 31 has proven to be more active than 2019. The increase in activity is attributed to the combination of a record-dry spring and the greater number of people recreating outdoors due to the coronavirus pandemic.

It is possible to celebrate and enjoy the holidays in a safe manner. The South Salt Lake Fire Department recommends these safety tips while you’re enjoying Independence and Pioneer Days: • Be careful with all firework activities, use only Class “C” fireworks • Be cautions with all fire activities (cooking, grilling, etc.)

• Keep a close eye on children when fireworks are in use • Store fireworks out of children’s reach • Read and follow label directions • Soak used fireworks thoroughly in a bucket of water • Keep animals safe – dogs are particularly frightened by fireworks, bring them indoors and microchip pets

Discharge Regulations: Fireworks can be discharged between the hours of 11 a.m. and 11 p.m. except as noted: July 2 – 5 (July 4 hours extended to midnight) July 22 – 25 (July 24 hours extended to midnight) It is illegal to ignite any firework: • In any area of the City west of 900 West • Within 20 feet of any residence, dwelling or other structure • On property owned by the City of South Salt Lake As always, please be careful while you are enjoying the holidays, be respectful of your neighbors while igniting fireworks, and be mindful of physical distancing to limit the spread of the coronavirus.

Business & Development Columbus Senior Center At the time of printing: All in person activities at the County Senior Center have been suspended.

GRANITE LIBRARY BRANCH

UNDER CONSTRUCTION – The Granite Branch of the Salt Lake County Library System is making progress at 3331 South 500 East. The new facility will be approximately 31,000 square feet and will have a large children’s collection, a dedicated teen center, a large collection of circulating fiction and non-fiction books, technology and creator spaces, meeting rooms, and social spaces.

Find updates on Facebook: Columbus Senior Center sslc.com or call 385-468-3340

Nominate a South Salt Lake Beautiful Yard

MAVERIK

Mayor Cherie Wood’s Beautiful Yard Award thanks SSL residents who have made exceptional efforts that positively impact their neighborhood. Beautiful yards make neighborhoods more attractive and vibrant. It’s easy to nominate, please take a moment to contact the Urban Livability Department at 801-464-6712 or vlelo@sslc.com to recognize a deserving yard.

RECENTLY FINISHED – A new Maverik fuel station and trucking center has been completed at 3330 South 500 West. The new facility is open 24 hours a day and will service both east and west bound traffic.

PATS BBQ

Congratulations to Mr. Izarraraz!

Thank you for your commitment to a Beautiful Yard!

NEW BUSINESS – Pat’s Barbecue has officially opened a second location at 2929 South State Street. The location was a complete renovation of their former Village Inn restaurant. For more information on hours of operation, catering services and the menu, visit www.patsbbq.com.

Crossing Guards We have several openings to fill for this essential role in our community. This part-time position offers great flexibility. Visit sslc. com for details and to apply.

R AND F MART

NEW BUSINESS – Restaurant and Family Mart is located at 3435 South Main Street. This business is in a new 35,000 square foot building. They will provide both wholesale and retail services.

Community Happenings July is Parks and Recreation Month We checked in with the experts to see what is new, different and find out their favorites.

JOAQUIN GARCIA South Salt Lake Parks Supervisor

What motivates you?

I take pride in what I do and getting the positive response from residents when they complement us, makes it worthwhile. Ultimately, I love what I do.

What is different this year?

A lot of our summer park regulars are not at Fitts Park this year. Fitts is usually full in the daytime with Promise SSL youth, as well as preschools, and day cares for lots of different age groups. It’s unfortunate, with the COVID requirements, many of these are cancelled. We have a lot of new visitors to the expanded area of the park, but it is a different crowd. Pavilion rentals are down because group sizes are limited. Many of our rentals come from people in the park seeing other people renting. We are open again for rentals and we hope it picks back up.

What makes you proud of SSL Parks?

Seeing the smiles and hearing praise for the parks makes me proud of our team. I take pride in South Salt Lake – even more than where I personally live.

What is your favorite park in SSL? Fitts Park is my favorite. And it is almost hidden – a gem in the city that people are surprised to discover. We have a massive amount of trees and streams and awesome wildlife - ducks, squirrels, muskrat, falcon and owl. Nothing else compares.

People point out things there that I never noticed. I think it is funny that a lot of people don’t even know the name – they still just call it “duck park”.

AARON WIET

South Salt Lake Recreation Director What motivates you?

Our mission statement is building community unity to provide a better quality of life for residents. I love to see people enjoying our programs.

That is the best reward.

What is different this year?

The hardest thing is to not provide what we have in the past. It has been a real challenge. We have missed our community so much.

We are very excited to start back with adult programs and hope we can keep going. We have spent a lot of time creating new guidelines, placing signs to stay safe. I sit in on directors meetings with UPRA (Utah Parks and Recreation Association) and hear a lot of other cities ramping back up, particularly with

baseball. We have been more cautious because we have been in the “orange phase” and so have the teams to play. We hope to get to yellow and get going again soon. We are also working on how to set up Movies in the Park – in a different way this year.

What makes you proud of SSL Recreation?

I value and appreciate my staff and volunteers. We work together like a small family and have a lot of experience, and everyone gets along. We are so fortunate.

What is your favorite park in SSL? Central Park is my favorite by far. I spend most of my time there.

We run so many programs– softball, Jr Jazz, soccer – both indoors and outdoors. I especially liked seeing the transformation from where it was (Woodrow Wilson Elementary) to what it is now. Everyone is active there now!

2020 BEST PARK IN SSL!

Summer is here, and that means plenty of hot, sunny days at our local parks! Whether you’re taking your kid to the Lions Park playground, or you’re enjoying a relaxing walk next to the Jordan River, now is the time to get outside. We’re excited to hear about your favorite parks and green spaces through our Best Park of 2020 Survey!

Visit www.surveymonkey.com/r/753MR8V, to tell us your favorite SSL park! We’ll tally the votes, and announce the winner in the August On The Move newsletter. We’ll also feature some of the best responses, so make sure you share your favorite experiences and memories from our parks! A random participant will be selected for a swag bag.

STAFF HAVE ALREADY SUBMITTED SOME RESPONSES: Ray deWolfe – City Council At-Large “South Salt Lake has a hidden gem, the Jordan River Trail. The river during dawn and dusk is amazing. Simply close your eyes near the banks of the Jordan River and listen to all the birds. If you’re lucky, you’ll get to see raccoons or the occasional fox!”

Christie Patton – Utility Billing “Fitts Park was a favorite long before I began working for the City. It’s been fun to see all the changes over the years. Lots of time spent here for pancake breakfasts, watching the parade, Huck Finn day, my family painted one of the bridges during a Community Connection project, many picnics, oh and I got married there!”

Sharen Hauri – Urban Design Director “My favorite park is Central Park because it is the perfect example of what our South Salt Lake community can achieve. When Woodrow Wilson Elementary moved, people spoke up on how to repurpose the school. The rec department turned the fields into soccer and baseball, the police opened a PAL Boxing Gym, Promise SSL built up their programing, and helped our friends at Head Start put in a preschool and kitchen. Then IRC put in a community garden, and our heath partners provide mobile clinics.

I love that everyone pitched in, put down roots, and helped build a place where everyone feels at home.”

LUNCH on the Move Wednesday, July 15 11:00 a.m. - 2:00 p.m.

SSL City Hall 220 East Morris Ave Discover a new food truck each month and stop in to see what’s new at City Hall!

Freedom Festival Virtual Celebration DAILY ACTIVITIES

Monday, June 29 Coloring of patriotic emblems.

Eagle, flag, fireworks and post in your windows.

Tuesday, June 30 What’s more American? hot dog or hamburger, vote on Facebook – @ southsaltlakecity Wednesday, July 1 Thank our Veterans! Post Thank You notes at Veterans homes tie blue & yellow ribbons on trees around your block.

Thursday, July 2 Wear your favorite sport team apparel. Watch highlights of their best season. Watch your favorite patriotic movie in your back yard or front room.

Friday, July 3 Post your colors. Unfurl the Red, White and Blue at your home, art on your driveway or windows, decorate your landscaping or porch in patriotic colors. Check out your neighborhood and cheer on those who have worked tirelessly on the frontlines: nurses, doctors, truck drivers, teachers, food delivers, caretakers, public safety Saturday, July 4 Celebrate with your household.

Make some noise at the Noon hour.

Participate by clapping, cheering, honking, or bang pots and pans.

Celebrate with your family, wherever you are. During this time of uncertainty you have loved ones close to you, celebrate that we are all in this together.

We want to see your participation in action, tag us on social media or text photos to 385-831-4527

Community Happenings 6 New Murals Brighten the Creative Industries Zone As part of Mural Fest 2020 during the month of June—six new murals—created by seven artists were completed in SSL’s Creative Industries Zone. In its third year, Mural Fest celebrates Utah’s creative community and features artists from Utah and across the country bringing an exciting vibe to the streets of our city.

Perhaps you saw some of these in-progress? For those of you who didn’t, we wanted to share a beside the artist street side view to gain an added appreciation for the start-to-finish mural process—which is part of the beauty of it all.

By meeting up with our artists while working on their projects, we learned about their methods and the myriad of challenges they take on. Structural issues, like its size and the wall surface, and outdoor conditions, like the heat, wind, and rain.

Can you imagine spray painting during high winds? Or better yet, standing in the sweltering heat for hours on end to fill in details on a large scale side of a building?

It puts perspective on the work, craft, and hardships each mural artist takes on while presenting something unique, colorful, even thought-provoking—and one that all of us can benefit from.

Traci O’Very Covey — Mountainland Design: 2345 S Main With denim apron speckled with paint and sun hat on, Traci O’Very Covey added onto her existing mural on Mountainland Design’s south wall. Traci is a local who is well known for many extraordinary murals and metal sculptures around SLC. The mural follows an abstract yet recognizable theme of rolling hills, friendly faces, homes, trees, and open skies with floating fruit. As another most exciting new project, Traci was chosen from over 400 artists to complete a 140-foot interior mural in the new SL International Airport expansion to be completed by the end of the summer. We are delighted she could take a break and expand her work in SSL.

Michael Kirby — SSL Fire Station 41: 2600 S Main With his kids finally approaching ages for travel and exploration, artist Michael Kirby thought to apply as a mural artist for Mural Fest as an adventure for his family. After being accepted, the coronavirus abruptly shifted their plans, and Michael flew solo from Baltimore to complete his project on Fire Station 41. For his design, Michael interacted and gained insights from the fire crews. This isn’t his first firehouse mural, he has three under his belt in Baltimore, including a firefighter museum. With only a week to complete the project, Michael takes an old school approach when it comes to his artistry, sketching from hand, and as a resource likes to browse through real books at actual libraries. He avoids the use of digital illustration tools and doesn’t rely on the use of a projector. Mike shares that, “Everyone has creativity and art is very simple, anyone can do it, but then again, not everybody can.” He continues, “That skilled by-hand approach is still very important, you might not see it in the final product, but many can realize the guys who know how to draw and the guys that don’t.”

Isaac Hastings & Evan Jed Memmott Clever Octopus: 2250 S West Temple This team of local artists, Isaac and Evan Jed collaborated both of their styles to create the almost cosmic Aztec bright background with a pink and blue water buffalo in the center. It’s an incredibly bright and wonderful addition that can be seen from the S-Line Streetcar, when traveling west, on the new to South Salt Lake business – Clever Octopus, a creative reuse center.

Veronica Zak — Hi-Grade Apartments: 2150 S West Temple In coming up with a design for the Hi-Grade Apartment mual, Veronica Zac explains, “The thing a lot of people might not realize about being an artist for a living is that you’re not usually painting or designing things for yourself. You’re doing your best to come up with something that your client wants or that matches a brand aesthetic or fits a space well.” In this case, Veronica chose to go with a complementary Utah scene of the red rocks since the existing mural depicted a mountain landscape. She explains, “I figured this would make both murals work together as a representation of the diverse landscape of Utah as a whole.”

Chris Peterson – Cordin Company: 2460 S Main His passion for fishing, the environment, and getting people to stop and think are some of the many reasons Chris chose to paint a mural which is nature-specific.

As a Utah native and father to four daughters, he chose a more feminine, rainbow sherbet ice cream palette to create the ginormous open-mouthed brown trout racing to swallow a frog. The new 140-foot long mural is along the south wall of the Cordin Company building, and to keep with the high-speed imaging theme of the business, a circuit board was added as a backdrop.

To see completed work and discover additional Murals visit: themuralfest.com Alex Johnstone Level Crossing Brewing Company: 2496 S West Temple On the north wall of Level Crossing, mural artist Alex Johnstone relayed how his original mural concept has changed from the original plans due to the wishes of the business owners. Alex explains, “After some back and forth with Mark Medura who owns Level Crossing we came up with a different concept that’s more in line with what he is looking for.” The new design carries a similar theme to that of the sunset mural inside the brewery, but in the exterior mural a large glass, and instead of containing an amber-colored beer, it appears to be filled with a continual flow of the molten, almost liquid metal-type futuristic medium.

This mural and the other 5 new works of art are must sees in person. Find all mural locations at: themuralfest.com

Promise Summer Programs, Small but Mighty in 2020 Like most things these days, Promise Summer Programs look quite different due to COVID-19.

Typically in June, more than 500 youth and teens would be flocking to our 14 neighborhood centers. This year, about 80 youth are participating in high-need, limited-capacity programs in four City buildings. One might think that daily temperature checks, wearing face coverings, and constant conversations about physical distancing would put a damper on traditional summer camp vibes. But despite this new normal, both youth and staff are having a BLAST with slight adjustments.

Kids are reading or working on make-up schoolwork every day. They’re teaming up for sports and games, outdoor play, creating art and science projects, and making new friends. Thanks to partnerships with Granite School District, the Utah Food Bank, Head Start South Salt Lake, and Pulp Kitchen, youth have access to a wide variety of healthy and delicious meals. For anyone needing a pick-me-up during these uncertain times, look at the bright smiles of kids in these programs and how they exemplify the resiliency and strength of our youth and community.

Promise’s in-person programs are currently full, but all sites are accepting youth on their waiting lists.

If you’re looking for fun options for youth this summer, be sure to check out Promise’s robust list of Virtual Program offerings!

SUMMER SUMMER PROGRAMS PROGRAMS ELEMENTARY PROGRAMS ELEMENTARY PROGRAMS

TEEN PROGRAMS TEEN PROGRAMS

COMMUNITY PROGRAMS COMMUNITY PROGRAMS

Cottonwood baseball competes in Last Chance tourney during the pandemic

W

hen a once-in-a-lifetime pandemic put a screeching halt to the 2020 high school baseball season, some coaches around the state decided they would get creative.

After making a few phone calls and emails, the Last Chance Tournament was born on very short notice. Cottonwood head coach Jason Crawford, whose team is the defending Class 5A state champions, debated the idea until he was called back and told he would need to make a decision that day. So that day he posed the question to his players in a team group chat.

Seventeen of them said they would play, but there was another problem. Salt Lake County hadn’t fully reopened nor relaxed all of its COVID-19 restrictions. “The players were limited in what they could do,” Crawford said. “I just told them to start throwing, catching and hitting wherever you can.”

“We didn’t practice until the Tuesday after Memorial Day and our first game was going to be that Thursday,” he added.

After some debate, organizers and sponsors determined this last chance tournament would best be played in Utah County because restrictions were more relaxed there.

That didn’t matter to Crawford, because the last time his team suited up for any action, they were out of state playing nationally ranked teams.

“The day after we got back from Phoenix (for a preseason tournament) in March was when they closed the school,” Crawford said. “So the kids were ready for some competition; they were tired of being at home playing Fortnite.”

For Crawford, playing in the tournament would also give him and Cottonwood’s younger teammates one last chance to say goodbye to seven seniors who gave the school a state championship last year.

First up, a Last Chance Cottonwood opened the tournament losing 13-0 to Maple Mountain on May 28 in a game that didn’t go long into the evening at all.

That’s because the Eagles took only four and one-half innings to dispatch the Colts— Maple Mountain may have had an advantage going into the game because it had been able

By Brian Shaw | b.shaw@mycityjournals.com

Senior Carson Atkinson lets loose a pitch against Spanish Fork during the Last Chance Tournament. (Travis Barton/City Journals)

to practice for several weeks leading up to the tournament.

Cottonwood, on the other hand, was not as fortunate as other teams due to practice restrictions around Salt Lake County and that difference showed in the tournament opener.

The next morning though, the Colts would avenge their tournament opening loss and get their bats humming, winning a barnburner over Mountain View, 5-4.

That victory put the defending state champions in a position to finish in the top two in the Class 5A bracket. In Cottonwood’s next game May 30, it put up a slew of early runs en route to a 14-4 win over Lehi, cementing its place in the championship rounds with a No. 2 seed.

“We were playing pretty good ball going into the double-elimination tournament,” Crawford said. “We started getting into our groove and you could see the kids started getting into it more.”

Championship week Having secured one of the top seeds, Cottonwood avoided a play-in game and got the next few days off to recuperate and practice.

For the Colts, the first game in the championship round would come against No. 3 seeded Spanish Fork. In that 8-2 win they got out early comfortably and galloped to the victory.

“Our team did a really good job situa-

tional hitting and put a lot of pressure on (Spanish Fork),” Crawford said. “Our senior Carson Atkinson pitched that game and threw a lot of strikes.”

That win put Cottonwood against No. 1 seed and tournament host Salem Hills. But on this day the Colts weren’t able to hang with the top seed, losing 9-7 in nine innings of play.

“We were up 5-2 and after that it felt like the strike zone disappeared,” Crawford said. “We walked a few batters, which led to a bases-clearing triple, and then another guy walked and they got a double.”

Even with all that going on, Cottonwood was only down 6-5 going into the top of the seventh inning. The Colts tied it up to end the seventh and send it into extra innings.

“We actually took the lead in the eighth, but they tied it,” said Crawford. “And then in the bottom of the ninth they hit a two-run homer to beat us.”

That loss to host Salem Hills sent Cottonwood into a do-or-die game versus Timpanogos, however, there was some confusion as to what the teams should do between games, added Crawford, so they ended up sitting in the dugout for 90 minutes on a 90-degree day.

End of the line for 2020 This Last Chance Tournament would end for Cottonwood about two hours later, as the Colts gave up four early runs en route to an 8-3 loss to Timpanogos.

“We just got off to a bad start, and we got to within 4-3 in the sixth (on three Cottonwood runs) but then we had guys cramping up because they were out of shape,” Crawford said. “And we had to run out some arms that we didn’t plan on pitching.”

For Crawford, the tournament was well organized, very competitive and had good umpires despite all the strange new rules and guidelines that each team had to follow, such as having players using hand sanitizer between innings and wearing masks in the Stinson will be headed to Colorado Northwestern Jaycob Green at the plate for Cottonwood, who fin- dugout. to continue his baseball career. (Travis Barton/City ished 2-1 in pool play. (Travis Barton/City Journals) For Cottonwood’s seven seniors, this Journals) would be the end of the line for them. But

Page 22 | July 2020

Bridger Stinson tries to steal second against Spanish Fork in the double elimination tournament. (Travis Barton/City Journals)

what a ride it’s been, as they’ve collected two state championship trophies in three years.

Bridger Stinson was Cottonwood’s starting shortstop and leadoff hitter. Danny Mehr was the Colts’ starting catcher and also played left field. Grady Norris was Cottonwood’s first baseman and pitcher. All three will be headed to Colorado Northwestern to continue their baseball careers, according to Crawford.

Jaydon Green, who is a pitcher and infielder for the Colts, has yet to commit to a school, Crawford added. The same can be said for Andy Okamoto, Cottonwood’s third baseman and reliever as well as Atkinson, who played well for Cottonwood on the mound.

While not having the opportunity at a second consecutive state title is bittersweet to Crawford, he said they are taking it in stride.

They were beginning to find their groove in Phoenix against nationally ranked teams during the preseason, and the same held true at the Last Chance Yournament.

“I was proud of how our kids fought and now they’re all out traveling and playing and having fun (with their summer league team) so in a way, it’s almost like this (pandemic) didn’t happen.” l

S outh Salt Lake City Journal

Even with online school, teachers appreciate students with awards

By Julie Slama | j.slama@mycityjournals.com

A

lthough the end of this school year may have looked different than any before, Jordan Ridge third-grade teacher Kimberly Sanders knew it was important to give all 22 students in her class their year-end awards.

Since she couldn’t do it in person, because of schools transitioning to online learning in response to the COVID-19 pandemic, Sanders announced the awards over the last Zoom session with her students, June 3.

“Their faces lit up on the screen and were excited,” she said. “I shared the slides on the screen so they could see them, but they’ll have to come see me before the backto-school night to pick it up.”

The awards ranged from the “computer whiz” in the class to the “bunny lover” award.

The latter, she said, really touched her.

“She said, ‘I can’t believe it. I’m proud of myself.’ They were so cute and happy. I just looked at their strengths and tried to make it meaningful and fun. It was sad to say goodbye this way, but it gave them a lift at the same time.”

The school’s teachers also selected two citizenship awards for their class and then, students who worked to earn their Soaring Leader awards received them when technology items were turned in at the end of the school year.

Jordan Ridge wasn’t the only school to present end-of-the-year awards.

At Mountain Creek Middle School, Assistant Principal Tim Brooks said administration and teachers worked together to nominate and deliver awards for each grade level on a recorded video, available on their website.

Since the school is in its first year, they looked at other schools’ awards before deciding on their own.

“The kids don’t know about the awards other than attendance or high GPA (gradepoint average),” he said before the video was

posted. “So, there will be surprised faces.”

The video was posted in early June, after year-end drop-off of Chromebooks, textbooks, library books and picking up the memory book, filled with highlights from the school’s ribbon-cutting with South Jordan Mayor Dawn Ramsey and the first school assembly to their abrupt end of in-person classes because of COVID-19, Brooks said.

The yearbook’s theme, “Your Future is Bright,” is what teachers and administrators have tried to maintain during the last months of the school year as ninth-grade teachers posted a fun video saying goodbye to their students and the dance teacher edited together the last performance to share. Even Instagram posts have kept an upbeat message.

“We’ll be mailing out the award certificates and medallions, so the kids feel a sense of the end of the school year and everything is fresh in their memories. By doing this, we can start next year anew; we don’t know what that will look like, but we can be ready. In the meantime, we’ll keep posting messages to the students saying, ‘hey, you’re OK; you’re buoyant, resilient’ and we’ll keep adding some humor.”

Cottonwood High instrumental instructor Amber Tuckness also wanted to ensure her 150 students received their awards.

Together with the music council, they awarded instrumental students awards from most improved to excellence in music. In a virtual award ceremony, the music council announced the awards before distributing them to students.

“I didn’t want this to be dropped or have anything taken away from the awards,” Tuckness said. “We gave every single one of our students an award and clapped and cheered for them. I even got sentimental and cried because I didn’t get to give them a hug and tell them how much I appreciated them.” l

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S outh SaltLakeJournal .com

July 2020 | Page 23

First month of sales tax numbers show uneven impacts of COVID-19

By Justin Adams | justin.a@thecityjournals.com

T

he forced closure of many businesses in the Salt Lake Valley because of COVID-19 precautions was not only a concern for business owners, but also city governments whose monthly revenue is heavily dependent on sales tax distribution. However, there is a two month delay from the time the sales tax is collected to the time it gets deposited into a city’s account.

That meant that city leaders around the valley weren’t able to see the initial economic impact of COVID-19 on their city budget until the month of May, when the Utah State Tax Commission released its report for the month of March.

The report surprisingly showed that many cities in Salt Lake County saw increases in taxable sales relative to the same month in 2019 meaning people actually spent more money in spite of all the store closures. How could that be?

Interestingly, it seems that the smaller a cities’ economy is, the better they have fared so far during the pandemic. Of all the municipalities in Salt Lake County, the nine smallest economies all experienced increases in sales from March 2019 to March 2020.

Of the six largest, four experienced decreases (Salt Lake City, Sandy, Draper and Murray).

Herriman City, for example, had less taxable sales than any other city in the county in March 2019, with just over $18 million.

However, in March 2020, that number grew

to $26 million. That’s a growth of 43%, the highest in the valley. (Of a city’s taxable sales, 1% of the sales tax goes toward local government, with half being allocated based on where the purchase occurred and the rest being allocated to cities based on population.

Because of this, the amount of sales tax funds a city receives isn’t exactly proportional to the amount of taxable sales in that city.)

So what has caused cities with smaller economies to fare better during the pandemic? Basically, smaller cities have a higher proportion of “essential” businesses. In a smaller and younger city like Herriman, a larger portion of its businesses are things like grocery stores and fast food, which were able to not only stay open, but to even see record sales.

Herriman Assistant City Manager Tami Moody told the City Journals that what many consider a weakness of Herriman (it only has fast food and grocery stores) turned out to be a strength during this time.

“Herriman obviously has fast food and grocery industry. Those two have actually been the industries that have fared better than most. Fast food is already set up to have a drive-up window. When this all started, people were heading to the grocery store to make sure they had everything they needed,” she said.

On the other hand, cities which saw the biggest decreases in taxable sales had a few things in common. One, large shopping malls

Cities with smaller economies were more likely to see an increase in their taxable sales this March, relative to their sales from March of 2019.

that were forced to close. With the closures of The Shops at South Town and Fashion Place Mall, Sandy and Murray saw -5.9% and -16.6% drops in taxable sales. Two, a couple of cities lost sales from the closure of venues for professional sports and other entertainment, such as Rio Tinto Stadium in Sandy and the Vivint Smart Home Arena in Salt Lake City. Interestingly though, West Valley City which has both a shopping mall and a major

sports/entertainment venue, yet was still able to produce more sales tax than it had in 2019.

Of course, all these numbers come from March, the first month that the virus began to seriously impact the United States and people bought so much that they literally emptied grocery store shelves. The sales tax report numbers for April and May will likely yield more insights into the long-term impacts of COVID-19 on city budgets. l

Mental health treatment increases during pandemic says hospital director

By Kirk Bradford | k.bradford@mycityjournals.com

“

The field of mental health has transformed over the past decade,” said James Reichelt, director of St. Mark’s Hospital Behavioral Health unit. Reichelt has worked at the prison, jails and the Fourth Street Clinic before arriving at St. Mark’s.

The City Journals interviewed Reichelt to gain a better understanding of mental health and how it has changed in response to COVID-19. “You may have noticed its effects on the homeless population. They function much like a family unit in the sense, they look out for each other and sometimes sleep near each other for safety. The homeless shelter recently had a large spread. It’s effecting their lives in how they adapt to social distancing or even lacking access to health care.

They no longer can live the way they were, in the same way you and I can’t.”

He discussed the different stigmas attached to someone who struggles with substance dependency resulting in homelessness and how important it is to break those stigmas. “I try to train my staff to come from a place of love and compassion. You don’t know what that person has been through that leads up to being in one of our care units.”

Years ago this wasn’t always the approach. It was more of a tough love approach.

“Just last week we had a patient on our floor, they checked him in at 3 a.m. and needed some

Page 24 | July 2020

blood work and other things but (he) was detoxing and finally getting some rest,” Reichelt said. “The old thinking was to get him up and required moving to a separate area to have it done. I told my staff to let him get some rest and first thing in the morning let’s take care of it. Another time we had a patient who had lived with his brother. The entire family was engaging in behaviors dependent on substance abuse. The brother had gotten verbally aggressive with our staff and the thought was to have security remove him but we didn’t, we realized that he worried for his brother. We assured him his brother was OK and let him spend a few minutes with him. It’s slight changes like that, that allow us to build trust for someone to open up and get the help they need.”

St. Mark’s Hospital has three main divisions: Inpatient Psychiatric Unit, Intensive Outpatient Program, and Perinatal Outpatient Program.

Reichelt explained that inpatient and outpatient units are the starting point to helping a person get stabilized. It’s most common to be detoxing from drugs and/or alcohol that many start using to self-medicate an underlining condition. “Once we get them stable, physically, mentally and medically we find the most appropriate program. This depends on their needs, their symptoms and their insurance if they have it. Even those who do

not have insurance. We help them get stabilized and with enough medication upon release to get into treatment.”

The St. Mark’s mental health unit has the capacity for 17 people. Before COVID-19 struck, they were seeing on average nine people per day. Afterward, Reichelt said, “We are seeing on average 13 people per day, we can’t share a room if we go over now because of the requirements to stay safe from spreading the virus. I’ve seen substance abuse issues rise and the need for both inpatient and outpatient treatment rise.”

Reichelt expressed St. Mark’s desire to help. “We understand how difficult that phone call is to make, for someone to reach out and ask for help. If someone is thinking about doing it, please keep in mind the goal of staff on all aspects of mental health including the first call is to start from a place of understanding because it takes courage and strength for someone to call us and we know it. Throughout the state now we are also seeing more and more telehealth. We can do assessments over the phone and point someone in the right direction closest to them. The curious thing about this pandemic is we are seeing more and more people who want to change, they want to feel better. They want to get through this pandemic and to deal with all the stressors and anxiety which can be difficult but if they can

Psychiatrictimes.com displays a breakdown of the different effects on mental during a pandemic.

(Kirk Bradford/City Journals)

get the tools to do it, they can get through it with some sense of joy and happiness. Sometimes that takes getting a little help.”

If you or someone you know is struggling with mental health Reichelt said to call and do an assessment and see what the options are available. Call St. Mark’s at 801-268-7433.

You can also find more information online from the National Alliance on Mental Illness at namiut.org. Hope4utah.com also contains resources to learn more online. l

S outh Salt Lake City Journal

State parks offer social distancing with a view

By Joshua Wood | j.wood@mycityjournals.com

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S outh SaltLakeJournal .com

Utah State Parks offer over 300 miles of trails. (Joshua Wood/City Journals)

U

tah’s State Parks welcomed more visitors than normal this spring as residents sought a safe escape from COVID-19 quarantine. With restrictions easing throughout much of the state and people looking for safe ways to get out, officials anticipate that visitation to continue. To keep people safe during peak seasons, officials encourage visitors to practice responsible recreation in state parks.

“We didn’t close any doors,” said Eugene Swalberg, public information officer with the Utah Division of Parks and Recreation. “Many of the parks saw greater than normal seasonal visitation.”

Initial lockdown measures restricted visitation to Utah State Parks to county residents only in April. Then, as restrictions eased in May, park visitation took off. The four state parks near St. George, for example, all saw higher than normal attendance this spring even with limitations in place. In fact, some parks had to limit visitors on busy days as parks like Quail Creek State Park filled up.

“Many reservations were canceled due to COVID for a period early on,” Swalberg said. Reservations and day use then increased as restrictions eased and people looked for ways to practice social distancing in the great outdoors.

Even in cooler Northern Utah, park visitation was on the rise this spring. East Canyon, Deer Creek and Willard Bay all saw

more people in April than in years past, according to Swalberg.

In Southern Utah, campgrounds in state parks have been full, while day use has also increased. Kodachrome Basin State Park reported full campgrounds in spring once county-level restrictions were eased for state parks. The appeal of open spaces has continued to attract visitors.

“Once you hit the trails, you’ve got room to spread out and practice social distancing,” said Nathan Martinez, park manager at Kodachrome Basin State Park. “I think people were tired of being cooped up. They wanted to get outside and do some hiking, and this is a great place to do your social distancing.”

Utah has 44 state parks and museums and over 2,300 campsites. Visitors can hike or bike 324 miles of trails in state parks. The parks reflect the diverse landscape of Utah and offer visitors the opportunity to get out.

A list of parks and COVID-related updates can be found at stateparks.utah.gov.

For those who journey to the parks, the Utah Division of Parks and Recreation encourages visitors to be safe when visiting.

“The buzz word is responsible recreation,” Swalberg said. “We encourage social distancing, and for people to not congregate at trailheads, clean up after themselves, and to stay home if they’re sick.” l

July 2020 | Page 25

Pandemic: How to save money and support the local economy The world is a new place, at least for now there is a new normal. Many of us are waiting to see if the new normal will become the normal, or if the old normal will come back. Either way for now we have to live in this pandemic shaped economy.

According to the US Bureau of Economic Analysis the personal savings rate hit a historic high of 33%. With the uncertainty of the current situation, and scars from the 2008 recession still fresh, it’s understandable that people would be very hesitant to spend. Not to mention how much toilet paper can one person stockpile?

But there is another side of the story, the economy. If everyone stops spending then everyone would stop earning. So how does one balance the line, spend enough to keep the economy strong but save enough to be responsible.

I propose that the answer to that question is not how much you spend, rather how and where you spend it. Here are five ways to balance the save money vs. build the economy problem.

1. Buy Local has to be a priority now.

Over the last 10 years our economy has been strong. Its been OK, not awesome, but OK if people shifted some of their spending from local. But remember the more local you spend your money the stronger your local economy is.

Now buying local is not as easy at it

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sounds. Sure it is easy to make the choice to buy your products at a local store instead of Amazon or a website. But it goes deeper than that. Every shopping decision has a different factor of localness.

For instance if you need to buy a power tool or some home improvement product, you can buy it from Lowes or you can buy it from a locally owned hardware store. Both Lowes and the hardware store create local jobs, and they both pay local taxes. but more of the profit at the hardware store will stay local.

Look for local products. Harmons grocery stores does a great job at showing you what products are local. I wish all stores did this. Last month I was at a hardware store, OK honestly I was at Lowes, I needed a ladder. As I looked at the assortment I realized that Little Giant ladder systems were a Utah business, so it was an easy decision.

2. Buy Services not Products. If you are trying to help the economy you will likely do more good buying services rather than products.

Let’s consider an example. When you purchase a lawn mower, the majority of the purchase price goes to the manufacturer which is probably not a Utah Company. But when you pay someone to mow your lawn, nearly all of it stays local. The person who is mowing your lawn is much more likely to do business with the business you work for than say Honda.

3. Launch a side hustle or two. I realize

that this is not really saving money, unless you consider the age old advice a dollar saved is a dollar earned, then this is just the flip side of that. In today’s world there are an abundance of ways you can start a side hustle. Sell some of your unneeded stuff on eBay, breed your dog (everyone wants some type of oodle these days), rent out storage on apps like Neighbor, drive for Uber or Lyft, I saw a new App to rent your RV, and there is one to rent your car, or second home, or bedroom in your first home.

4. Get rid of the storage unit. I laugh everytime I pass one of these storage unit businesses. I realize that there are certain legitimate reasons that one would need to rent a storage unit, but I don't think most people are using it for that type of reason.

I remember my dad taking me to a storage unit that he rented. It was full of things, I don't know where it all came from but every few months we would go down and sort through some things, and take some new items to add to the collection.

Even at a young age, I remeber sitting there on the back of his truck thinking, “if you put this stuff here because we don't need it, then why do we own it.”

I implore you stop buying stuff you don't need and for sure stop paying for storage on stuff you don't use, and for most of you if you put it in the storage unit you probably don't need it, clean it out, sell it, and save that monthly storage unit fee. l

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This stupid pandemic has changed our relationship with food. With most restaurants and bars closed, people are looking for new ways to stay nourished and inebriated.

Working from home for several weeks, we prepared three meals a day, plus snacks, for five people and a needy puppy. And by “snacks” I mean we pretty much ate all day long. We wore a groove in the tile from the living room to the pantry.

When the lock-down started, I innocently said, “Think of the money we’ll save by not eating at restaurants. We’re going to lose so much weight not eating fast food!”

Things went downhill fast.

Not only do we spend a dump truck load of money for groceries each week, but we’re stress-eating 24 hours a day. I’ve baked cookies, cakes, muffins and brownies – and that was just this morning.

My daughter and I take turns making meals. We try to find things everyone will enjoy, which is absolutely impossible.

We have lots of pasta and rice dishes, fish sticks and take-out pizza. My daughter is a vegetarian, so her meals are full of veggies, chickpeas and quinoa, or

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what my husband calls “sadness foods.”

One vegetarian dinner started the “Things I would never eat, even if I was going to die” conversation. My husband’s list is basically vegetables, but I have a bounty of foods I would never want to eat again. Things I was forced to eat as a child top my list.

mashed potatoes and my dad said, “Those are just the eyes of the potato” which gave me a potato phobia for several decades as I envisioned eating little potato eyeballs.

My grandma made lima beans to spite me. She’d serve a big bowl of pale-green mushiness mixed with greasy, globular pork fat, then shame me for not

For not growing up in the Great Depression, my mom was adept at whipping up meals that could have been served in a Dickensian orphanage. She’d buy things at the grocery store and I’d cry because I knew what was coming.

Jars of dried beef? Creamed chipped beef on toast. Sour cream? “Beef” stroganoff made with noodles, sour cream gravy and textured vegetable protein.

Once I complained about lumpy

eating it.

“When I was a little girl, I’d be happy and grateful for lima beans,” she’d say. “I wasn’t spoiled.”

“Were lima beans invented when you were a little girl?” I’d ask, which usually got me another spoonful of the vile stuff.

Stewed tomatoes, tapioca pudding (eyeballs again), my dad’s flour pudding (don’t ask), deviled eggs (obviously) and potato salad (eww) round out my

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list of things I’ll never eat again.

But back to today, where my food choices are substantially subpar. If I’m going to die from a ridiculous coronavirus, I might as well eat what I want.

There is a light at the end of the tunnel. And it’s not some murderous chef with a flamethrower.

Following COVID-19 restrictions, some restaurants are opening again. The hubbie and I donned our face masks, took a swig of hand sanitizer, put on some plastic gloves and hit a Mexican restaurant for the first time in months. The chile verde almost brought me to tears. The margarita definitely did.

It will be an interesting summer as picnics, BBQs, family reunions and vacations are being reimagined. So many of our celebrations revolve around food and sharing it with the people we love. The trick is finding the balance to do it safely.

Our dishwasher runs nonstop. The grandkids (and husband) complain about eating asparagus. But we’re creating new recipes, experimenting with flavors and planting a garden.

We’re finding new ways to stay nourished and inebriated. l

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July 2020 | Vol. 6 Iss. 07

FREE

FOLLOWING RIOTS,

CITY COUNCIL DISCUSSES CHANGE, EMPATHY, POLICE POLICIES

By Bill Hardesty | b.hardesty@mycityjournals.com

T

he tone of the June 3 South Salt Lake City Council meeting was set when Chairwoman Sharla Bynum read a poem by her son, Malcom Beverly, during the serious moment of reflection.

“There are blackbirds singing in broad daylight/ Their ‘dirty wings’ were clipped before they could fly/ Pain tends to lead to anger, to resentment/ They feel the need to take action/ Action leads to pain, inevitably/ Pain leads to anger, to resentment/ It’s a bitter cycle of hatred and destruction/ While the puppet masters in the sky sit back and laugh /There are blackbirds singing in broad daylight/ The real blackbirds sing in peace/ They sing of revolution, of justice/ While the destruction of false prophets shepherds the rest of the world towards disgust/ It’s all a ploy, to make you blind to the real problems, the real enemies/ Don’t let anyone see for you, look with your own eyes/ And realize/ Until there is justice, there will not be peace.”

At the meeting, others read statements expressing their feelings about the death of George Floyd, Black Lives Matter and the recent Salt Lake City riot.

Mayor’s statement

Mayor Cherie Wood read a statement which began, “Like all of you, I am horrified by the murder of George Floyd and South Salt Lake City officials shared statements concerning Black Lives Matter. (Photo by Vince Fleming on Unsplash) the injustice faced by so many Continued page 4

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