SALT LAKE CITY, UTAH – August 18, 2015 (Gephardt Daily) – Mayor Ralph Becker has dropped plans for a proposed parks, trails and open space bond, and Jackie Biskupski is reacting.
Becker said in a statement: “After listening and considering input from the community, the City Council, Salt Lake County officials and others, I’m convinced that a parks, trails and open space bond is the right thing to do, but now is not the right time to do it.
“The Connecting You to Nature proposal represents an amazing opportunity to create parks and recreation experiences a city on the rise deserves, and I remain committed to making this opportunity a reality. Unlocking the potential of the Jordan River, creating more and better trails in our foothills, and better connecting City neighborhoods to our outdoor environment are all key parts of the vision we’ve been working on for the past eight years to make Salt Lake City the best place to live, work and play in the country.
“Several factors stand in the way of the bond’s success this year. As I’ve been walking through neighborhoods and talking with residents, I’ve heard concerns about the size of the bond, the relatively quick speed at which we’ve moved to create a compelling proposal, the fact that other election issues may make it difficult to sufficiently educate voters, and how this ballot measure could affect other proposals, such as the countywide transportation initiative.”
“Given all those concerns, it’s best that we take more time, further engage the community and work closely with Council Members to develop an even better proposal. We’ll also be looking for alternate sources of funding that may help meet our needs, such as potential revenue from the proposed transportation measure and ZAP funds. A parks, trails and open space bond proposal should be pursued for voter consideration.
“When I came into office, we overhauled a failed referendum to bond for a new Public Safety Building through a thorough analysis and public process. We took the time to make sure the public understood the need for, and benefits of, that project and brought forth a new proposal with less impact on property taxpayers. The same approach, with more time, can result in a remarkable improvement of recreational opportunities for Salt Lake City and regional residents and visitors.”
Biskupski was quick to respond with a statement of her own. “Mayor Becker has been pushing the Connecting You to Nature bond for the last several months, touting it as the centerpiece of his reelection platform,” she said. “Now that he’s the recipient of public outrage, he’s changing his position.
“He’s scrambling to try and gain support for reelection and, as a result, is making poor leadership decisions that are negatively affecting the city and its residents. Rather than involving the public and key stakeholders, he forged ahead with his own plan and then flipped his position when it became detrimental to his bid for re-election.
“As mayor, I will seek first, the input of residents, taxpayers, and community leaders. Preservation and expansion of open spaces are a critical component to the future of our city and I support the creation of new recreational opportunities, but this growth must be fiscally responsible, it must be sustainable, and above all, it must have the support of the residents who will foot the bill.”
