SOUTH SALT LAKE, Utah, March 31, 2017 (Gephardt Daily) — Salt Lake County Mayor Ben McAdams has selected a South Salt Lake option for the homeless resource center, he announced Friday, which didn’t set well with South Salt Lake Mayor Cherie Wood.
Wood is rallying residents to fight the decision or, at least, to make sure the county makes good on everything McAdams has suggested in the way of enhancing the South Salt Lake community. And that’s the focus of a community meeting she scheduled for Friday night.
The site for Location E of the homeless resource center is at 3380 S. 1000 West.
In his letter to Utah Lt. Gov. Spencer Cox, dated Thursday, McAdams said, “After careful consideration of each location, criteria met, potential mitigation options, community feedback and the evaluations of a 16-member volunteer committee, I recommend the State Homeless Center Coordination Committee proceed with a resource center in the area of our proposed location E, 3380 S. 100 West.”
But the battle over where to put — or not put — a homeless shelter in Salt Lake County isn’t over by a long shot.
McAdams’ offer of the vacant lot prompted Wood to hold a news conference Friday after McAdams’ announcement, to make clear where she stands on the issue.
A visibly emotional Wood started out by saying that South Salt Lake had been “dealt a lethal blow” with McAdams’ decision to make the property available for the homeless resource center.
Although the location is on a dead-end street close to the Salt Lake County Sheriff’s Office and a juvenile detention facility, Wood pointed out that the location is near the Jordan River Parkway Trail, where moms jog and bring their babies.
On Friday morning, McAdams praised South Salt Lake, which he said “has stepped up to the plate” more than once on behalf of county government.
McAdams called for county and state support of the city in adding more open spaces, “… even a county library, so it can help continue the commitment to the community that already exists in South Salt Lake.”
McAdams said that sense of community was demonstrated when residents opposed the homeless resource center that has now been finalized. “It was not fun,” McAdams said, but asked that the state make sure that South Salt Lake get its fair share.
He also called for improvements in roads, public transit and trails in the area, and said he hoped to see more private investment as well.
McAdams had said that the selection of this site, in addition to two previously announced sites in Salt Lake City, represents “a critical first step, but not the last step.” He added that “this facility will be safe and will be a place of hope and healing for people who need a temporary stop on their road to healing.”
McAdams’ comments about open space, a library and various improvements were not lost on Wood.
In her news conference, Wood said the South Salt Lake community will stand “shoulder to shoulder to fight this battle” against putting the homeless shelter in South Salt Lake until promises made by the county are kept.
On her Facebook page, Wood urged, “Please come to the community meeting tonight! I need to hear YOUR concerns about this location, to add to my long list of issues to bring to the county and the state. We will hold them accountable for promises they make to our city. We will keep standing up for South Salt Lake!”
