Plan Unveiled To Clean Up North Temple On West Salt Lake
Apr 6, 2021, 7:28 PM | Updated: 7:45 pm
SALT LAKE CITY, Utah – Officials have unveiled a new plan to clean up North Temple Street on the west side of Salt Lake. City and business leaders said they want people to feel safe, and they want businesses in the area to thrive.
“(The area) needs our help,” said Mayor Mendenhall at a press conference held outside the Red Iguana restaurant Tuesday.
The mayor and other leaders talked about bringing in new housing and business development into the area and providing more resources for the homeless.
They also planned to have a group of downtown ambassadors walk the streets of North Temple daily. The ambassadors meet with the homeless to help provide resources and an extra set of eyes and ears for police.
Chief Mike Brown with the Salt Lake City Police Department said their team of bike squad officers have picked up patrols in the area. In the last three months, they’ve made 86 felony arrest, confiscated 10 firearms, recovered 9 stolen cars, and taken 2,000 grams of illegal drugs off North Temple.
Happening now: Presser along North Temple street “it really needs some work” says mayor @KSL5TV pic.twitter.com/j6qZ6eKCkB
— Dan Rascon (@TVDanRascon) April 6, 2021
“If you are down here to sell dope in our community. If you are down here to steal cars, to threaten people, they will find you and arrest you,” said Chief Brown.
Red Iguana business owner Lucy Cardenas said she was excited to see some changes.
“We are a successful restaurant. I want to attract more successful restaurants. I want to attract more businesspeople. I want them to take a risk and believe that they can be successful this side of town,” she said.
Long-time resident Steven Rivera, who lives just two blocks off North Temple, was worried nothing would really change. He said he’s heard the same call to action before, and he still can’t let his teenagers walk to school.
Rivera showed up at the press conference to express his concerns with the mayor.
“It’s just so disheartening when I see another press conference saying there is going to be change, but it doesn’t change,” he said. “I like our mayor and I like our police force and I don’t want to harp on them, but I don’t see a change. I just see it getting worse.”
Mayor Mendenhall said the city does hear the concerns of Rivera and others like him, and will do everything they can to make sure his family feels safe and wants to stay in the area.
