I have watched public and legislative discussions of limits on reproductive health care with dismay. Not only are women’s rights being attacked, and not only is their health care being compromised, but the economy of Utah risks being undermined.
I am a business school professor and former mayor of the ski resort town of Alta and, in my opinion, too tightly regulated abortion and reproductive health care laws will greatly harm the tourism and other industries in our state. Well-informed and prudent people who may become pregnant, or even those who are happily pregnant, will avoid skiing in Utah, traveling to or through Salt Lake City International Airport, and serving in or visiting business offices or other facilities in our state given the risk that they will not receive the health care they seek or, in emergencies, need.
My unit at my university saw an unusually small number of applicants for a recent job posting, for example, and I suppose that this decreased interest in our position is because of the pending restrictions on health care for women.
I urge our citizens and our legislators to continue to further Utah’s reputation as a business-friendly state and protect those industries that depend on the wide popularity of companies that care about, employ, or cater to women from around the U.S. and the world. Please oppose limits on reproductive health care for the sake of our economy (among other reasons).
Harris Sondak, Salt Lake City