SALT LAKE CITY, UTAH – August 20, 2015 (Gephardt Daily) – Governor Gary Herbert made it official Thursday morning – signing a resolution to move the Utah State Prison from its current site in Draper to Salt Lake City.
The governor announced plans to sign the resolution at his monthly news conference saying, “I’m persuaded that actually the west of the airport location is the best location.” But the governor admitted that, “There is no perfect site, and I recognize that it is emotional.”
The vote during a special session of the legislature on Wednesday was lopsided in favor of the Salt Lake City site which is near I-80 and 7200 West. However, debate going into the vote featured fierce opposition from lawmakers who represent Salt Lake City’s west side. Rep. Sandra Hollins D-Salt Lake City said the choice of the Salt Lake site “is about building up other communities on the backs of another community.”
Supporters of the move to Salt Lake City argued that it gives Utah a chance to invest in important reforms in the criminal justice system and to improve conditions for both inmates and those employed at the penitentiary.
Governor Herbert’s entire news conference will be broadcast on KUED 7 this Sunday, August 23 at 5:30 p.m.
