The following are our neighbors responses to the issues that are impacting Sugar House. If you would like to have your voice appear on this page, please click the "contact me" button above.
Sugar House Streetcar
"Dear Salt Lake City Council members and Salt Lake City Corporation, Office of the Mayor, May 6, 2013
It feels like the eleventh hour for the fate of the Sugar House Streetcar. I bought my home on 1100 East 18 years ago. I am involved with the Sugar House community, shop locally, and personally know many business owners...
...Given the proximity of my home on the threshold of residential and commercial dwellings, I would have thought I might be part of the, "...robust public process and wide-ranging collaboration to guide us to the best decision" as stated by the mayor in a newsletter according to the Sunday May 5 Salt Lake Tribune. Art Raymond, a spokesman for Mayor Becker states, "Hundreds of people attended multiple workshops and meetings and many more participated via email and written correspondence." I never received anything from Salt Lake City Corporation regarding the Sugar House Streetcar until last week...
...the residents and local business owners were not part of the planning process...
...we know what a streetcar is. What both sides of the argument are trying to come up with is the best route for the next phase.
I'm asking each of you to please WALK these areas and proposed routes. Please walk back and forth along 1100 East to 1700 South and then walk up and down 2100 South to Sugar House Park. Take in the sights, homes, businesses, and traffic. As we, the residents, have been asked to learn on our own what is at stake, I hope you will do the same."
- Gerrie from district 7
It feels like the eleventh hour for the fate of the Sugar House Streetcar. I bought my home on 1100 East 18 years ago. I am involved with the Sugar House community, shop locally, and personally know many business owners...
...Given the proximity of my home on the threshold of residential and commercial dwellings, I would have thought I might be part of the, "...robust public process and wide-ranging collaboration to guide us to the best decision" as stated by the mayor in a newsletter according to the Sunday May 5 Salt Lake Tribune. Art Raymond, a spokesman for Mayor Becker states, "Hundreds of people attended multiple workshops and meetings and many more participated via email and written correspondence." I never received anything from Salt Lake City Corporation regarding the Sugar House Streetcar until last week...
...the residents and local business owners were not part of the planning process...
...we know what a streetcar is. What both sides of the argument are trying to come up with is the best route for the next phase.
I'm asking each of you to please WALK these areas and proposed routes. Please walk back and forth along 1100 East to 1700 South and then walk up and down 2100 South to Sugar House Park. Take in the sights, homes, businesses, and traffic. As we, the residents, have been asked to learn on our own what is at stake, I hope you will do the same."
- Gerrie from district 7
"Dear City Council Person, May 2, 2013
I have seen and heard of many ideas you have with regard to adding street car routes in Salt Lake City. I know a lot about such things so here are some of my thoughts about such ideas.
First - you have not said anything about the destination you intend such routes to take people to.
Second - you do not know how much space such routes need to exist on a street. I doubt that you know how much space is required to turn a corner with a rail track.
Third - you don't seem to care about how ugly poles with trolley wires on them are to people who will have to live next to them...
Fourth - you don't seem to remember how dangerous rail cars are...
Fifth - you don't seem to tell us how many people will use such street cars.
Sixth - you don't seem to explain the difference between Light Rail Cars and Street Cars.
Here are some places and events that cause me to have many of my ideas.
First - I grew up on Tenth East and First South when a street car went along First South.
Second - I worked with the Company that built light rail from Main Street to the University Hospital. I did engineering work for that company and I sat in the same room as the person that did the alignment for the job and other work. I visited many sites as the work progressed.
Third - I didn't have nor do I have the same desire for personal approval as you elected people have...
Dear City Council Person, May 7, 2013
Since you voted on the extension along 1100 East in the four to three vote at the meeting on May 7th I feel that my ideas still make sense.
- Keith from district 7
I have seen and heard of many ideas you have with regard to adding street car routes in Salt Lake City. I know a lot about such things so here are some of my thoughts about such ideas.
First - you have not said anything about the destination you intend such routes to take people to.
Second - you do not know how much space such routes need to exist on a street. I doubt that you know how much space is required to turn a corner with a rail track.
Third - you don't seem to care about how ugly poles with trolley wires on them are to people who will have to live next to them...
Fourth - you don't seem to remember how dangerous rail cars are...
Fifth - you don't seem to tell us how many people will use such street cars.
Sixth - you don't seem to explain the difference between Light Rail Cars and Street Cars.
Here are some places and events that cause me to have many of my ideas.
First - I grew up on Tenth East and First South when a street car went along First South.
Second - I worked with the Company that built light rail from Main Street to the University Hospital. I did engineering work for that company and I sat in the same room as the person that did the alignment for the job and other work. I visited many sites as the work progressed.
Third - I didn't have nor do I have the same desire for personal approval as you elected people have...
Dear City Council Person, May 7, 2013
Since you voted on the extension along 1100 East in the four to three vote at the meeting on May 7th I feel that my ideas still make sense.
- Keith from district 7