Utah’s growth has been a popular topic of discussion for state officials with the announcement of the 2034 Salt Lake City Olympics. Because Salt Lake has held the Olympics before, there is an opportunity to focus on building infrastructure other than venues. Utah Gov. Spencer Cox said this in a July news conference, emphasizing the need for more East-West corridors.
While this is a long-needed change for the city, current west-side residents will not benefit from it due to gentrification. These changes are not being made for current residents, but for people moving to Salt Lake for its new attractions.
Salt Lake City’s west side has faced a long history of segregation and injustice leading it to have both a disproportionately high number of Hispanic residents and denser air pollution. This demographic disparity is a legacy of redlining — a discriminatory practice that systematically withheld federal home loans from people of color, exacerbating racial segregation. Factories, the airport and major highways have been placed on the west side of the city with its Hispanic residents, leaving them drowning in smog during periods of high inversion.
The real issue behind increased air pollution is the health effects it has. The EPA reports that exposure to small air particles, PM10, can cause “premature death in people with heart or lung disease, nonfatal heart attacks, irregular heartbeat, aggravated asthma, decreased lung function and increased respiratory symptoms.”
Salt Lake’s race and pollution disparities have led to environmental injustices spanning decades.
One of the most effective solutions for this injustice would be an expansion of public transportation and biking paths on the west side. Given that 55% of Utah’s emissions are from vehicles, this would greatly reduce air pollution in the area. Gov. Cox acknowledged the lack of these on the west wide, but only in the context of growth, not the ongoing environmental injustice.
The governor’s acknowledgement was specifically made about the Olympics and other Salt Lake developments like the NHL team and potential MLB team. These developments to the city increase the appeal of living in the area, and will increase gentrification in an area already suffering from it. The Urban Displacement Project report for Salt Lake City from 2022 found that west side residents already face a high risk of displacement — and this will only increase with the Olympics and new sports league venues.
Salt Lake City’s “growth,” or gentrification, is the real motivation behind finally addressing the poor state of transportation in Salt Lake City’s west side, not the enduring environmental justice issue. As current residents are forced out of Salt Lake, they are likely to find housing in areas which face the same issues as the west side, but without new infrastructure. That is of course, if they can find a place to live at all with Utah’s housing prices so high.
As Salt Lake City prepares for its next chapter, it is imperative that infrastructure improvements serve all residents, not just the newcomers. Gov. Cox and the Legislature must commit to improving living conditions on the west side and implement policies that keep communities intact. These could include rental assistance for families at risk of displacement or updated fair housing rules. Without such measures, the promise of growth risks leaving behind those who need it the most.
I’m thrilled to see Salt Lake City embracing new sporting teams and preparing to host the Olympics. But as we celebrate these milestones, we must also ensure our city remains diverse, accessible and safe for everyone. Imagine a Salt Lake made for everyone — a city in which our west side boasts safe transportation corridors connecting every corner of our city.
If you share this vision, join me in signing Alliance for a Better Utah’s petition. Urge Gov. Cox, the Utah Legislature and Mayor Erin Mendenhall to invest in these crucial improvements while we have this unique opportunity.
Autumn Barney (they/them) is a student studying political science at the University of Utah and an intern at Alliance for a Better Utah.
Autumn Barney (they/them) is a student studying political science at the University of Utah and an intern at Alliance for a Better Utah. Views expressed are their own and do not express the views or opinions of Alliance for a Better Utah.
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