This is an archived article that was published on sltrib.com in 2014, and information in the article may be outdated. It is provided only for personal research purposes and may not be reprinted.
I am concerned that Mayor Ralph Becker's approach to clearing Salt Lake City's air is not looking at the simple solutions which cost less and make more sense.
First, he is overlooking the huge impact that adding trees to our city will effect. Although the city has many trees, adding trees will cool the city and clean the air. Two medium-size trees will provide enough oxygen for a family of four for one year, according to the University of Maryland.
Trees also lock up carbon from the atmosphere. The water we use to sustain them is a small price to pay for all the good they do.
Cities in general and ours in particular are environmental hot spots, viewed on a thermographic map in bright red with surrounding areas in green and brown. I would much rather have a tree shading my home than burn coal for air conditioning.
As for additional trolleys, why not have a natural gas powered bus running up and down 1100 East? The street is already very congested in one of the few viable neighborhoods in Salt Lake. Why kill the small businesses with more unneeded and expensive construction to give us a bus on a track? Hasn't Sugar House suffered enough?
Anne Albaugh
Salt Lake City