Author: Sugar House Council

July 2015 Chair Report

[caption id="attachment_1196" align="alignleft" width="107"] Amy Barry[/caption] Happy July! This month starts off with the 4th of July festival in the heart of Sugar House. Thank you to the Sugar House Chamber for their work to pull off this festival and fApollo Burger for returning as the lead sponsor to bring you the fireworks! We celebrate Independence Day and our freedom, but I am left wondering how engaged we are in the rights and freedom we are afforded. Salt Lake City has a primary election for Mayor this year and an estimated 20% of registered voters will actually vote. We celebrate the independence and freedom on the 4th of July as an honored tradition. Yet, too many citizens are not engaged in electing our leaders.

June 2015 Chair Report

[caption id="attachment_1196" align="alignleft" width="107"] Amy Barry[/caption] I want to use this month's chair report to update you on a bunch of little projects that may not get a feature in our newsletter, but I field a lot of questions on throughout each month. The official ribbon cutting for monument plaza is scheduled for June 12th at 5:30 pm. I am excited for our new pedestrian place, but we are already seeing damage from skateboarders. The benches, bike racks and brand new functioning fountain feature are being damaged. No skateboarding signs have been erected at either end of the monument. However, monitoring will take all of us. If you see skateboarders please call the police to report it 801-799-3000 is the non-emergency number.  Let's work together to keep our plaza in the best repair possible so we ALL can enjoy it. I am happy to write that the operation hours for the S Line will be extended at the end of August to match the hours for the Trax train schedule. That means you can utilize the streetcar to get downtown and not be stranded after 9:00 p.m.

May 2015 Monthly Chair Report

[caption id="attachment_1196" align="alignleft" width="107"] Amy Barry[/caption] Even though it is snowing as I begin this month's chair report I wanted to focus on the move into spring. I wanted to focus on the rise of outdoor activities in Sugar House and highlight pedestrian safety. We live in an area that experiences high volumes of traffic, especially during rush hour. I realize motorists complain about the traffic and how long it takes to move along 1300 E and 2100 S, but I would like to remind everyone that these arterial roads are adjacent to residential areas. It is a balance between moving vehicles and providing safe walking routes for residents. I don't think we've found that balance as I regularly get emails from people complaining about various crosswalk areas being unsafe for pedestrians. More people are out walking and riding bicycles as the weather warms up. The issue of pedestrian safety is a shared responsibility. Drivers need to pay extra attention to pedestrian crosswalks. Every day I see a car drive right through when a pedestrian is either ready to step out or in the crosswalk! Likewise pedestrians need to respect these rules and refrain from jaywalking because they don't want to walk a little ways to the designated crosswalk.