I agree with David Ibarra’s critique of Erin Mendenhall’s performance as Salt Lake City mayor (“Hollywood leadership style not working for Salt Lake City”).
A few years ago she attended the ribbon cutting ceremony at the opening of The Magnolia, a transitional housing development directly across the street from my condo in the Central City district. Since then, she has seldom (if ever) been seen on our block.
My neighborhood already had a high concentration of Section 8 housing, and the presence of The Magnolia has been a big problem for the neighborhood.
Theft, vandalism, and break-ins on our building’s property have increased.
Camping, open drug dealing and use, violence, trash, human feces on the sidewalks, and aggressive dogs are everywhere.
Before Mendenhall became mayor, my neighborhood felt safe. I feel that the mayor and police have given up on our street. These issues and the continual road construction around us has given our neighborhood a third world feel.
I would gladly trade the rainbow whale in her neighborhood for the long abandoned Public Safety Building in mine.
Run, Rocky, run!
Jeff Green, Salt Lake City