Let’s be honest, whether it is a gondola or expanded bus service up Little Cottonwood Canyon, taxpayers will be paying a $550 million plus bill so a select few have an easier ride to a luxury recreational activity that, given climate change, may not even be feasible by the end of the next decade.
Our state would benefit far more from using the funds for basics such as affordable housing. Spending $550 million to make it more convenient for people to play in the snow when we are only spending $55 million to get people experiencing homelessness into housing is, frankly, obscene.
I want people to enjoy our beautiful canyons. I want to protect those canyons from the environmental degradation that comes from far too many people driving up the roadways. But not at the expense of people living without a roof over their heads — the very same people who may never experience Little Cottonwood Canyon’s resorts because skiing is a sport for those who can afford the high costs of lift tickets and equipment, and a bus pass to go with it all.
Taxpayer funds should be prioritized for projects that will do the greatest good for those most in need. Housing people is recognized as the biggest need in our state right now and incredible, life-changing good could be done with $550 million for deeply affordable and permanent supportive housing. The same cannot be said for spending $500 million to get people who can afford to ski up to their favorite resort.
Jean Welch Hill, Holladay