A state House representative told students Monday night that Salt Lake City could match its scenery by having a “common vision,” and by not dwelling on differences between clashing cultures.
“Sometimes I want to cry about the lashing out of Mormons and non-Mormons, the east side and the west side,” said Rep. Ralph Becker, D-Salt Lake City.
Mageb Senbel, U assistant professor of urban planning, said, “It’s an issue but it’s not talked about a lot.”
Ben Holt, a law student at the U, said, “It’s definitely present on both sides.” However, Holt said, “Most of us aren’t concerned with what religion the other person is.”
Becker described Salt Lake City as a “place of phenomenal attributes” and “terrific neighborhoods.”
However, there is a need for cultural integration.
“We’ve got to work together and play together,” Becker said.
Becker called for individual efforts on behalf of creating a more unified city.
“Government can’t do it alone, businesses can’t do it alone,” he said.
We need to “bridge our differences by common sense,” Becker added.
“The more people we have involved, the better we will be,” he said.
In addition to lecturing on community relationships, Becker spoke briefly about a mountain transportation plan he said needs to be explored and seriously considered.
The plan would make use of old railroad beds in Big and Little Cottonwood Canyons to create a shorter journey between Salt Lake and Summit Counties.