January 2026 | Vol. 23 Iss. 1
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Midvale
Goodbye 2025
Some of our favorite photos from the past year Page 6
Leveling the field
How high schools address athletic equity
Page 16
Salt Lake County to build library in Midvale City Park By Giovanni Radtke | g.radtke@mycityjournals.com The planned library will replace the aging Ruth Vine Tyler Library in the coming years.
“It’s just been really exciting to bring will help oversee the design process to “enour community together around something sure community needs and park features,” that’s going to be such an asset to the Mid- according to City Manager Matt Dahl. vale we’re building, and I’m really, really Longtime Tyler Library Manager Daexcited about that,” Councilmember Bonnie vid Burke said he would ensure Midvale Billings said. residents would take part in the library’s s the Ruth Vine Tyler Library nears its The land deal was finalized in Decem- design process. end, its planned replacement will be ber, and the county will spend 2026 on public “It’s been an honor to be the manager stationed in Midvale City Park. outreach and hire an architect to finish up the for the last nine years,” Burke said during On Nov. 18, the Midvale City Coun- planned library’s design. A Midvale official public comment in November. “I’ve been cil approved selling a southwestern chunk of its central park to Salt Lake County to begin the development of a new library. The nearly 60-year-old Tyler Library will remain open for a couple more years as the city park library’s development is underway. “The Tyler Library has been in existence for 60 years, so this new library, we are hoping, will be there for at least 60, hopefully more,” Mayor Dustin Gettel said during the November council meeting. “So this is a rare opportunity for us as a council to do something that’s going to … cement a legacy for the next 60 years.” Salt Lake County bought the 2.56 acres of Midvale City Park on 362 W. Center St. for $1,215,786. The park parcel will place the new library branch a stone’s throw from the Midvale Boys & Girls Club and a block away from the Midvale elementary and middle school. “I’ve been a Midvale resident all my life. I actually went to elementary school where this library is going to be,” Councilmember Paul Glover said. “So it’s exciting, and I think it’ll be a great add-on for our community.” The transferred land will remain open to the public until the county breaks ground Kids using the computers at the Tyler Library. (Giovanni Radtke/City Journals) on the new library.
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your neighbor, and I’m also not planning on going anywhere. So I want to make sure that, as being part of the conversation now, as we design this, we’ll make sure that the public has plenty of input on what they want it to look like, what it’s going to be, the service.” The Tyler Library will shut its doors because its limited space and “declining facility” cannot support community residents, Joey McNamee, the director of the Salt Lake County Library, said in a news release. Councilmember Bryant Brown – who represents the district where the Tyler Library is located – said he is “kind of disappointed” about the county not planning what it will do with the aging library once it closes. Brown said he is particularly concerned about the risk of vandalism at the shuttered building. “What worries me is [that the] county and state seem to be fine with just sitting on properties,” he said. “And I think that’s unfortunate.” Dahl replied that the Tyler Branch will stay open for a couple more years, as the Midvale Park branch is in the works. Jason Baxter, a resident in Brown’s district, said he appreciates the councilmember’s concern for his neighborhood. He added that Midvale City Park is a great location for the new library, as long as the city considers the safety of schoolchildren crossing the street from school to the park. “That’s been a long-running concern,” Baxter said. “... But overall, I’ve heard nothing but positive feedback from my neighbors that there is a new potential location, and so we are very encouraged to see this moving forward.”l
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Students rally to save neighborhood schools
Canyons District students made pleas to keep their schools open, turning public hearings into lessons in advocacy and civic action. By Julie Slama j.slama@mycityjournals.com
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mong the hundreds of parents, grandparents and community members who spoke up about possible school closures at Canyons School District’s public hearings, Granite Elementary fifth-grader Molly Fenton took her turn at the microphone. She told the Canyons Board of Education she met her best friend, Brielle, at school and they spent recesses playing together for two years. Brielle, a special education student, died six months ago. “She loved to laugh with people; she was always there with a hug and if someone said ‘hi’ to her, it meant the world to her,” she said. “I promised myself that to remember her, I would try to be a voice for kids like her who don’t have one like I do. So, this is me, keeping that promise.” Molly said Brielle and her peers teach “kindness and compassion” and are part of rotations with STEM, art and recess. “They are happy in these halls that are their home away from home,” she said. “I have some letters written from kids at this school that I want to give you. Will you please read them like you do all the adult emails?” Molly was one of dozens of students who spoke at public hearings concerning possible closures of Granite, Bella Vista and/or Park Lane elementaries. Canyons school board shared closure and boundary proposals Sept. 2 to address declining enrollment and optimize resources. What the school board may not have anticipated is how it has become a lesson in civic engagement and advocacy for students.
A first grader pleaded with the school board not to close Bella Vista, which is a national Blue Ribbon School. “I’ll miss my friends and my teachers,” she said. Eastmont seventh-graders Tilly Mannion and Harper Williams spoke for Park Lane. “My little brothers go to Park Lane Elementary right now, and I really love that school,” Tilly said. “We both went there, and it’s close to our hearts, so we’d really like to see it stay open.” Harper also was inspired to advocate for her elementary school after hearing neighbors talk and seeing yard signs. “I felt I needed to do anything I could to keep this school open,” she said. “We both do debate, so that gave us the confidence to speak in front of all those people.” Harper told the school board, “Park Lane was such an important part of my life. It’s where I learned to love learning, where my teachers encouraged me, and where I made friends who have been by my side for years. It’s more than just a school — it’s a community.” She said keeping Park Lane open also would help Eastmont, which struggles with low enrollment. “Because of that, we don’t have as many class options — like honors program and advanced electives,” she said. “If Park Lane students stayed on the path to Eastmont, it wouldn’t just help Eastmont grow, it would give students more opportunities.” Tilly agreed and told the board: “The negative impact of fewer students is that there are fewer teachers, making the electives and the arts less accessible to students. For example, if I wanted to take choir, I would be unable to take debate because those classes are only offered once a day since the teachers teach multiple other subjects. As members of the school board you have the opportunity to make decisions that directly impact students like me.
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You can make decisions that support more balanced enrollment at all the middle schools and give the same access and advantages to all the kids in your district.” Tilly said it was a learning experience to speak at the hearing. “It’s hard being in the same room and fighting for something that other people are fighting against, because no one’s choosing to have their schools have the possibility of closing, so you feel bad for everyone, but you still want to fight for your school. Everyone’s emotions were running high,” she said. “We wanted to point out we loved Park Lane and Eastmont has good programs, and that we’re a nationally recognized AVID school. Everyone loves their school, but one person said, ‘please base the decision off of evidence and data’ and that makes sense.” Speakers also raised concerns about the timing of closures, boundary changes, transparency, financial responsibility, special education, safety, walkability, class sizes, community identity, school buildings’ condition, students’ well-being and more.l
Granite Elementary fifth-grader Molly Fenton holds a photo of her friend, Brielle, who inspired her to be a voice for her special education peers at a recent Canyons School District hearing about proposed school closures. (Julie Slama/City Journals)
Community members review the proposed Canyons school closures and boundary changes at a recent public hearing. (Julie Slama/City Journals)
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January 2026 | Page 5
Our favorite photos from Midvale 2025
Denece Mikolash (right) is the new District 5 councilmember in Midvale. She was appointed on Jan. 7 after the seat was vacated by Dustin Gettel (left). Gettel was appointed as Midvale’s mayor after the former mayor resigned. (Peri Kinder/City Journals)
The community cheers in celebration of the new East Midvale Elementary marquee sporting the new logo for the school’s 60th birthday bash. (Photo courtesy of East Midvale Elementary)
Hillcrest’s drill team, which won back-to-back state titles, performed for the crowd at halftime of the homecoming game. (Julie Slama/City Journals)
Players celebrate after making a basket during the Murray High versus Hillcrest High unified scrimmage at halftime. (Julie Slama/City Journals)
Hillcrest High pole vaulters placed well at the state meet last spring; seen here at practice is Charly Nelson. (Julie Slama/City Journals)
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With a focus on life and connection, “Golden Girl” is painted on The Dark Arts building in Midvale (7607 S. Main Street) from the fourth annual Los Muros on Main. (Peri Kinder/City Journals)
Midvale City Journal
Our favorite photos from Midvale 2025
Midvale Elementary students gave service to community by removing leaves and debris from around the headstones at Midvale City Cemetery, a 26-year tradition at the school. (Julie Slama/City Journals)
Festival lighting adorns Midvale Main Street as part of the latest investment in the area’s revitalization. A lighting ceremony on March 21 showcased the lights that run the length of the street, from north to south. (Peri Kinder/City Journals)
The Lucha Project brings live wrestling to festivals and other community events including this one on Main Street. (Tom Haraldsen/ City Journals)
CottonCrest’s Abby Burton attacks the course in the JVB girls race in Panguitch. (Photo courtesy of Dave Butler)
The Bambino boasts a colorful, well-lit patio for summer dining on Midvale’s Historic Main Street. Live music is performed at the pizza shop on most weekends. (Peri Kinder/ City Journals)
Hillcrest High’s Avery Rinke, who received first place at the National Shakespeare Competition, performs her “Othello” monologue at Canyons’ APEX awards night. (Julie Slama/City Journals)
Hillcrest High boys lacrosse is still in its early years, here they are playing Jordan in the first round of the 4A playoffs. (Julie Slama/City Journals)
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Hillcrest High senior SkyLynn Salazar-Bell reacts to advice given to her by her coach, Anthony Ricci, as she goes up to bat. (Julie Slama/ City Journals)
January 2026 | Page 7
Salt Lake County gives Midvale’s home repair program a boost in funding The program offers zero-interest loans to low- and moderate-income homeowners to make repairs and energy improvements to their homes. By Giovanni Radtke g.radtke@mycityjournals.com
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idvale received a $100,000 grant from Salt Lake County to help homeowners make repairs and energy improvements to their homes. Handled by Midvale’s Redevelopment Agency, the Home Repair Loan Program offers 5-year loans of up to $15,000 to low- and moderate-income homeowners throughout the city. The loans have zero interest as long as the homeowner maintains the house as their primary residence throughout the loan’s term. RDA tapped NeighborWorks Salt Lake to administer the funds on a first come, first served basis. Moira Gray, economic development and RDA project manager, told the council that 12 households have received repair loans so far this year. City leaders accepted the Communi-
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ty Development Block Grant on Nov. 18. While the grant was passed down to Midvale from the county, the funds come from the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development. The repair loans are only one prong of Midvale’s housing assistance programs for low- and moderate-income residents, capped at 80% of the Area Median Income (AMI). The RDA also offers down payment assistance to first-time home buyers with forgivable loans of up to $30,000. Midvale’s Mayor Dustin Gettel asked if people have utilized the down payment assistance program. Gray replied that – while a couple of residents have applied – the RDA has had trouble finding eligible people, and other cities in the county with similar programs are facing the same challenge. “That’s always been my fear because you have to find the perfect person who... makes 80% AMI but also can afford the $480,000 home,” Gettel said. “So I’m just wondering at some point if the home repair loan program is so successful, maybe we can put more money into that rather than having money in the down payment assistance program.” Gray replied that transferring the
down payment assistance funds to the repair loan program is a possibility somewhere down the road. “We have been very lucky, and we’re able to use a lot of county funds … we have plenty of money available, and we’re
doing pretty heavy marketing [for the program,]” she said. The county’s housing grant puts the RDA’s home repair program budget at $260,000 for the 2025 fiscal year.l
Midvale City received $100,000 grant to help homeowners. (Giovanni Radtke/City Journals)
Midvale City Journal
Former state champion Caroline Pastrana and fourth-place finisher Cassie Pastrana transferred to Hillcrest, bringing experience and leadership to the mat.
Twin talents aim for gold at Hillcrest
By Julie Slama j.slama@mycityjournals.com
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ith a dislocated elbow, all Caroline Pastrana could do was cheer her twin sister, Cassie, as she wrestled her first meet for Hillcrest High. The twins, both senior transfers, are to wrestle JV for 50% of the season as per UHSAA transfer rules, but they are expected to join varsity by January. Caroline, a state champion, and Cassie, who finished fourth last season, are expected to fill gaps left by last year’s graduating seniors. Hillcrest finished third at state last year. The sisters began wrestling in eighth grade at Matheson Junior High, competing against boys on a team with only four girls. “I always watched WWE so I really wanted to join wrestling,” Caroline said. “I like the physical aspect; it’s intense. I love how it pushes me to the limit.” Cassie added, “I like how it’s all on you.
MidvaleJournal.com
I can focus on myself. Wrestling is intense and we’ve always been intense. It’s a good sport for us.” Every practice, they pressed themselves to improve. “Wrestling pushed us to do hard things that we’re not used to, like running and doing more reps. We don’t go soft; we go hard. We always push to our limit,” Caroline said. Hillcrest practices begin with two miles around the indoor track, which Caroline prefers. Cassie, on the other hand, enjoys weightlifting: “I like lifting heavier. It pushes me.” The twins have consistently placed at state competitions. Caroline took fourth as a freshman at 105 pounds in 6A, second as a sophomore in 5A and won her state championship as a junior. Cassie placed fifth and third in her first two years, then fourth as a junior. Junior year was transformative for Caroline. “I had a good mindset. I worked harder. I stayed after practice hours with my sister, working reps. I ran stairs for more than an hour after everyone else was done and just pushed myself to the limit,” she said. “I went to state and told myself, ‘I’m going to bring back gold, and that’s what I did. It felt so good. I was crying. I was so happy and blessed.”
Her twin learned a different lesson. “I had a good mindset, but my body was hurting because I ran stairs for an hour the day before. I pushed myself to the limit and now I learn to not do that right before state,” Cassie said. Both plan to compete in college. Over the summer, they visited colleges in Iowa and represented Utah when they competed at national tournaments. Cassie wants to pursue sports management, while Caroline plans to study physical therapy. The three-year team captains at Cyprus High say their move to Hillcrest has been positive, academically and athletically. They are two of the team captains at their new school. “The environment in wrestling really helps me be a better person and pushes me to do better in school,” Cassie said. “If you want to wrestle in high school, you have to have good grades. It levels both ways.” Caroline added, “Wrestling challenges you. When I’m like, ‘I can’t do this,’ wrestling just pushes me. It helps me a lot because other stuff seems easy after this. I feel here it’s a good environment and the coaches are really welcoming. The team is a big family.” The sisters want to continue their success at Hillcrest. “We’re going to win state,” Caroline said. “Both of us.” l
Senior transfers Caroline and Cassie Pastrana are expected to make a positive contribution to Hillcrest girls wrestling in 2026. (Julie Slama/City Journals)
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Midvale City Journal
Utah PTA celebrates a century of advocacy for students
From school lunches to student safety, Utah PTA volunteers have spent 100 years making a difference in schoolchildren’s lives. By Julie Slama j.slama@mycityjournals.com
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his year, Utah’s students, families and schools are celebrating a milestone: Utah Parent Teacher Association turns 100. For a century, this volunteer-driven organization has been shaping education, student well-being and community engagement across the state. Utah PTA President Julie Cluff says the organization’s century-long mission goes far beyond classroom parties. “PTA volunteers sometimes get pegged as the ‘party moms,’ but our work has changed lives and we’ve shaped education policy in Utah for generations,” she said. “Our programs are the heart of what we do, but advocacy is why we started.” The roots of Utah PTA stretch back to 1897 when three Utah delegates attended the first meeting of the nationwide parent-teacher movement, then called the National Congress of Mothers. A year later, Mrs. C.E. Allen established the Utah Congress of Mothers, laying the groundwork for organized parent advocacy. Though that early group dissolved by 1901, momentum continued. By 1910, the state formed a chapter of the National Education Association’s Department of School Patrons, and by October 1925, the Utah PTA officially began with Lucille Young Reid as the first president. In 1951, every school in the state had a PTA. The mission established then remains at the heart of the organization: “To make every child’s potential a reality by engaging and empowering families and communities to advocate for all children.” Utah PTA President 2023-25 Corey Fairholm loves the mission. “When they first started in 1925, they were worried about some of same things we’re worried about — making sure children don’t have access to smoke shops and here we are 100 years later, and we’re worried about vape shops,” she said. “At the legislature, they realize I’m representing 70,000–80,000 members who are concerned so the legislators are listening. Because the power of PTA, we have kindergarten, school lunches, support for students with disabilities and so many things beneficial to schoolchildren.” Through the decades, volunteers have donated more than 1 million hours in 605 schools, bridging families and educators while supporting programs which enhance children’s health, safety and education. Utah PTA’s impact can be seen in nearly every corner of school life. In the 1930s, it advocated for school lunches, paving the
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Current and past Utah PTA presidents pose for a recent photo. (Photo courtesy of Utah PTA)
way for the National School Lunch Program in 1941. In Utah, longtime PTA member Tibby Milne remembers its start. “I was a first grader in Richfield Elementary, and they started hot lunch there in this little cabin on the school grounds,” she said. “Mrs. Rowley did it, and she went on to run it nationally. She cooked the best food. I still remember her homemade bread and peanut butter cookies.” PTA helped establish school libraries through legislation signed in 1956 and introduced the Reflections arts program in 1969. Utah was the first to introduce categories of theater, 3D visual arts and film and to advocate for a special needs division. Last year, Utah had more than 17,000 Reflections entries statewide, with nearly half of its national submissions receiving awards. The state is also one of the few to have developed its own online submission portal, now a model for others across the country, Cluff said. PTA promoted student safety in partnership with national organizations in the 1980s, including seat belt campaigns and bus safety programs. “Our PTA worked on helmets, which was part of our safety campaign, and getting seat belts into cars — that was not easy,” said Milne, who helped shape initiatives such as the DARE program and the National Child Protection Act. “We had to change attitudes, but it was for the safety of children.” One of Utah PTA’s most enduring accomplishments began in the 1980s, when a group of PTA parents discovered Utah’s trust lands — public lands granted by the federal government at statehood to benefit schools
— were being mismanaged. Those PTA parents put in motion a 30-year advocacy effort which completely transformed the handling of funds, Cluff said. “Today, those efforts bring millions of dollars every year to Utah’s schoolchildren,” she said. “What’s even better is that it’s not just today’s kids who benefit, it’s tomorrow’s kids too.” Utah PTA was among the first in the nation to create a state-level special needs committee. Led by PTA advocate Karen Conder, the committee successfully passed a national resolution in 2018 establishing “high expectations for students with special needs.” Utah has since added new resolutions supporting students with dyslexia and learning disabilities and continues to update them every seven years to reflect current research. “Our resolutions are what give us a voice,” Cluff said. “They’re how we can walk into the Capitol, sit down with lawmakers, and say, ‘Here’s what our members want for Utah’s kids.’” State PTA President 2013-15 Liz Zentner discovered her passion for advocacy. “The first time as a PTA president, I went up to the Capitol for PTA Day at the Capitol and I realized this is where I can make a difference,” she said. “Now I encourage all members to send your representative and your senator emails and tell them what you think about something.” Utah PTA also runs unique programs such as the Battle of the Bands, a 23-year tradition which gives student musicians a stage to shine.
“It might not reach every kid, but it reaches kids who need that connection the most,” Cluff said. “Some of these students are not just talented musicians, they’re amazing and polite kids.” Beyond education, the Utah PTA has tackled broader community issues which affect children’s ability to learn, including affordable housing, homelessness and food insecurity. Cluff has authored resolutions on these topics after seeing firsthand how unstable housing impacts students in her Midvale community. “If kids don’t have a safe place to live, they can’t focus on learning,” she said. Utah has hosted the National PTA convention twice, in 1938 and 1988, reflecting its leadership on a national stage. Most recently, in 2022, Utah PTA received the National PTA Outstanding State PTA Award and Gov. Spencer Cox has declared October 2025 as Utah PTA Centennial Celebration Month. Through all its initiatives, Utah PTA teaches students to advocate for themselves. Each year, secondary students participate in PTSA Day at the Legislature, meeting lawmakers, discussing issues and even learning how to draft bills. “I really believe the kids can make a difference,” Milne said. After 100 years, Utah PTA remains a powerful advocate for children, families and educators. “When our community comes together with a shared mission, we can do a lot of good to ensure every child has the support and opportunities needed to thrive,” Cluff said. l
Midvale City Journal
High school teen centers support students beyond the classroom
High schools are redefining student support by combining academic assistance with life resources. By Julie Slama j.slama@mycityjournals.com
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cross Utah, high schools are recognizing academic success depends on more than classroom instruction. For many students, unmet basic needs — food insecurity, clothing shortages, housing instability and mental health challenges — can make it difficult to focus on learning. In response, school districts have developed teen resource centers in the high schools, safe spaces offering essential supplies and emotional support while building stronger connections between schools, families and communities. Canyons School District Brighton High School’s teen center, opened recently with a $250,000 Utah State Board of Education grant, has quickly become a vital resource for its nearly 2,500 students. Inside the center, students can access showers, laundry, toiletries, food and clothing, including Brighton apparel. “Their basic needs are being met. They don’t have to worry about where they’re going to get snacks during the day; if they’ve showered, they’re going to feel better about attending class,” Principal Marielle Rawle said. “If they have clean clothes, that impacts their attendance. We just want to make sure basic needs are being taken care of. When we can help with these things, then they can focus on learning.” Teen Center Facilitator Taya Shaw bridges students with academic services, such as FAFSA, scholarships and McKinney-Vento. “I’m the first line of students’ defense, just helping them out as much as I can,” she said. Shaw sees 50 to 60 students per day, many of whom eat lunch there or come after school. “I’m open till 3:30, but I do stay later sometimes because I don’t want them out in the cold,” she said. Brighton staff and community members contribute donations, from hoodies to food items, and teachers often bring students to introduce them to the space. For Shaw, the work is personal. “I grew up in a very displaced home so having a center where I could have gone and talk to somebody about, ‘hey, this is going on at home’ and ‘I don’t feel safe at home’ would have been awesome for me,” she said. “I want to continue to be here and advocate for the students who I already know and those who I may not know yet.” Jordan High School’s Digger Den, which opened in fall 2024, supports students facing food insecurity, academic challenges and everyday stress.
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Teen Center Facilitator Ruth de La Cruz-Nava keeps the center running. “Our primary supplier of food is the Utah Food Bank,” she said. “They bring us food once a month. It’s mostly shelf stable.” Donations from local youth and church groups helped fill shelves before the holidays. The center also partners with community organizations and businesses, including Smith’s. “Right about the time the SNAP benefits were paused, they let us know they would give us their wholesale pricing on a few items — sugar, apple juice, oatmeal, pasta sauce and other times,” de La Cruz-Nava said. Weekend food packs come through the USANA Kids Eat program and students can access the pantry up to three times a month. The Digger Den goes beyond food. It offers laundry facilities, clothing, birthday cake kits, hygiene items and even formal wear. “Anyone’s welcome here,” she said. With 150-180 students visiting daily for snacks, support or a quiet space, the center has become integrated into school life. “Schools have generally been the central place in the community so it’s always important to be able to provide for its community,” de La Cruz-Nava said, adding she collaborates with nearby Hillcrest High’s teen center, which opened after the school’s rebuild in 2021. Granite School District At Cottonwood High School, the Teen Wellness Center and Food Pantry provide food, hygiene supplies, emotional support and a place to breathe during the school day. Principal Justin Pitcher calls the center essential to the school’s mission: “Cottonwood’s teen center is a good example of what all schools should be providing.” Social worker Wendy Hutchinson works alongside longtime volunteer Robyn Ivins, who helped open the center in 2023 and has coordinated the pantry since she opened it in 2017. The District’s only teen center includes two showers, laundry and basic clothing. Hutchinson said the stigma-free space serves all students: athletes washing uniforms, students grabbing snacks or those needing a quiet space. The center provides fruit, snacks, burritos, bagels, frozen waffles, milk and more. “We even teach them about nutrition a little bit,” she said. About 40-60 students stop in daily, with about 15 at lunch seeking “a less chaotic, quieter place to eat.” The pantry opens Mondays and Thursdays, serving up to 100 Cottonwood and AMES students, with food supplied by the Utah Food Bank and the Granite Education Foundation. With Cottonwood’s diverse and low-income student population, Hutchinson said the center fills critical gaps. “I love we have this inclusive space; it’s safe for kids to come and get their basic needs
and emotional needs met here,” she said, adding counseling and crisis support are available for students. Ultimately, Hutchinson said, the goal is helping students “be successful in school and graduate.” Jordan School District At Herriman High School, the Student Resource Center supports students facing food insecurity and other challenges which make learning harder. Homeless Outreach liaison Hilda Lloyd, nearing 35 years in the District, recalls earlier days when students survived on ramen. “Food was considered a luxury in those homes,” she said. “When I started, we received about four boxes of food, and I thought that was great. Now, when I go see rows of shelves at the new Jordan Education Foundation warehouse and it’s wonderful. The Foundation, the community, everyone is reaching out to support students.” Donations helped expand the District’s principal pantry system and Herriman High’s teen center. District Support Services Administrator Sharon Jensen said Herriman’s center, the first in the District, emerged from the teen center grant established by the Utah legislature a couple years ago. Teen centers at Copper Hills and West Jordan high schools are expected next. Herriman’s center offers food, hygiene items, school supplies, access to laundry and showers and connections to counselors who can help with credits, scholarships and FAFSA. “It’s open to all students. When everyone’s using it, there’s no stigma to go in there,” Jensen said. Students can grab snacks and weekend packs and culturally familiar foods for their families, which is helpful for newly arrived refugees; Jensen said it helps to strengthen acceptance and community. “When you have food, you’re more likely able to concentrate and have a sense of belonging,” she said. Murray School District At Murray High School, student support
centers around a carefully run system of closets, pantries and calming spaces, coordinated by social worker Jennifer Ketchoyian. The effort began in 2017 when students Emily Bowen and Kate Spackman created “Cinderella’s Closet” for free formal wear. Community members Pam and Darv Andersen expanded it in 2021 to include other clothing and food. It has since grown into the Spartan Closet, a boutique-style space where students can select clothing, hygiene supplies, backpacks and warm gear without stigma. Teachers can open the closet at any time for students and hallway racks of clothing items provide easy access. Student aides vet donations to ensure items are suitable, Ketchoyian said. Longtime volunteers Bonnie Poulsen and Mary Jane Siebenberg organize donations weekly. “We tag to track and rotate items,” Poulsen said. “If we see something that’s been there for two or three months, we’ll start rotating clothes.” Siebenberg added: “They asked for help, we saw a need and here we are.” Principal Quinn Linde estimates 600 students use the Spartan Closet each year. The school also provides food for unstably housed students, including USANA’s Kids Eat backpacks and other items. Hygiene, laundry supplies and even showers at the school are available. “When students are in survival mode, they don’t learn as well,” Ketchoyian said. “We try to get them to where they can learn.” Mental-health support includes the Zen Den, funded by a Murray Education Foundation grant, where students use art and calming tools. “Someone today came here with a panic attack; they needed a place to calm down,” she said. The District plans to open a full teen center in the high school’s new wing in 2027-28 with showers, laundry, a food pantry and additional resources. “I’m looking forward to having our new teen center,” Ketchoyian said. “Teen centers change lives.” l
At Jordan High, students can using washing machines as well as select clothes and other items they need. (Julie Slama/City Journals)
January 2026 | Page 15
Local districts aim to foster an environment that encourages female athletic participation as seen at a cross country meet at Cottonwood Complex. (Julie Slama/City Journals)
Local school districts continue refining their approaches to gender equity in sports, with surveys of interest to introduce new sanctioned sports such as lacrosse. (Julie Slama/City Journals)
How local high schools level the playing field
Administrations look to ensure athletic equity in participation, facilities, funding. By Julie Slama j.slama@mycityjournals.com
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s Utah school districts refine their approaches to gender equity in athletics, leaders say their work hinges on transparent reporting, consistent evaluation and a commitment to the spirit — not just the letter — of Title IX. The federal law, passed in 1972, requires schools to provide equal opportunities for male and female students. In terms of athletics, that can include participation, facilities, funding and opportunities. State law echoes that expectation. Under Utah Code 53G-6-1101 in 2024, school athletic directors must annually report participation numbers, spending, facilities comparisons and compliance efforts to their local boards. When discrepancies exceed 10%, schools need to outline an action plan.
Participation: Not Just Numbers
Canyons School District Director of High Schools Tom Sherwood said the District is on solid footing. “Title IX, I think we do a good job,” he said, emphasizing proportional participation remains a guiding metric. Canyons’ athletics range from a 1% proportionality difference at Brighton High to 8% at Hillcrest High. As Hillcrest enrolled more girls than boys this year, its participation percentages shifted, he said. “We’d like it to be closer, but all our schools total less than 10%,” Sherwood said.
Page 16 | January 2026
Districts must report participation numbers annually, but no standardized format exists. He said that creates inconsistencies statewide. “There’s different districts interpreting Title IX differently, so I’m doing it how the spirit of the law intended,” Sherwood said. Canyons’ approach counts all sanctioned sports, ensuring opportunities for girls are measured alongside boys, even when the sport is traditionally male dominated. A key difference among districts is whether they count traditionally one-gender sports. For example, some districts omit football from calculations because there is no girls’ equivalent, but Sherwood disagrees. “It should be participation. I know that’s how the universities interpret participation,” he said. This year, drill was offered to male athletes to compete; football, baseball and cheer are also open to both genders. “When people are doing those reports, they should be listing those sports under mixed,” said Rob Cluff, Utah High School Activities Association executive director, who said the only UHSAA girls-only sanctioned sport is softball. In Jordan School District, participation gaps range from 0.12% at Copper Hills High to 9.5% at Riverton High. Jordan District Athletics and Activities Director Bryan Veazie said this is the first time in four years the reports have been generated where no school exceeded the 10% threshold. Veazie said since UHSAA identifies football, baseball, cheer and drill as non-gender specific “and both boys and girls can participate in those sports, they’re not factored into Title IX.” He said the goal is to balance the partic-
ipation rate by expanding girls’ rosters and creating sub-varsity teams, not by reducing boys’ opportunities. “We don’t want to take away opportunities that already exist to meet a number requirement. I would rather spend our time and effort into finding ways to encourage girls to come out and be a part of the programs,” Veazie said. Granite School District faces larger gaps: from 7.49% at Olympus High to 22.5% at Kearns High. Only three Granite schools fall under the 10% mark this year. Athletic Specialist Aaron Whitehead said participation can shift quickly when coaching or team structure changes. He pointed to Skyline High’s drop in girls tennis participation after the program discontinued an underclassmen academy. Losing 41 female athletes pushed the school over the threshold. “So, when we see there’s a discrepancy of more than 10%, we come up with a plan,” he said. Murray School District’s lone high school reported a 6% gap — despite offering one more girls sport than boys. Murray High Athletic Director Brady Smith said participation, not offerings alone, drives compliance. Cluff said UHSAA generates its own participation reports and does not use the school district numbers. None of the reports include unified sports. He added districts determine whether to introduce new sports sanctioned by UHSAA and to ensure balance with Title IX; currently, mountain biking and pickleball are on the emerging sports threshold. Murray last added boys volleyball after evaluating interest, facilities and startup costs. Murray opted not to add boys or girls
lacrosse because of limited interest. Granite supports lacrosse only at Skyline and Olympus, where demand exists, and allows students from other schools to compete at those high schools.
Facilities: Access and Equity
Title IX compliance requires equal access to facilities, coaching and equipment. Granite, as other districts, conducts an annual facilities audit. Granite District’s girls wrestling, for example, has expanded so many schools now employ separate boys and girls coaches. Facility access is a critical part of equity, Whitehead said. “Are they available to both boys and girls? And then, are they available on an equivalent basis?” he said. Whitehead cited disparities such as girls wrestling teams practicing after boys in the same room and now, many rotate their practices. At Kearns High, separate wrestling rooms ensure equitable conditions. Similarly, girls soccer and football scheduling must be flexible so girls have stadium access when they’re not playing on grass. “Some are very equal with it; I believe our schools are making strides,” Whitehead said. Granite Superintendent Ben Horsley said the annual data has shaped capital planning. “It shows us where our greatest needs and disparities are and helps us with our capital planning in terms of making sure that we’re providing equitable facilities across the board for both sexes,” he said. Granite is upgrading Taylorsville High’s softball facility with restrooms and a press box to match baseball. Canyons is upgrading
Midvale City Journal
Districts are not only monitoring participation numbers, but also evaluating facilities, allowing both genders to have equitable playing fields. (Julie Slama/City Journals)
The goal in high school athletics is to provide an inclusive, equitable athletic experience where all students have the chance to participate. (Julie Slama/City Journals)
Jordan High’s softball field similarly. Murray School District Title IX Coordinator Darren Dean said facility reviews cover fields, locker rooms and their overall quality. “We have some things that are excellent, some average, but nothing I’ve seen that’s poor,” he said. “We’ll have a nice new softball field when Riverview (Junior High’s rebuild, where Murray High plays) gets done.”
and make sure we’re making equitable decisions,” he said. Sherwood said while in recent years, school districts have come a long way, it’s still ongoing to find balance and opportunity. “It ultimately comes down to doing our best to treat the sports equally,” he said. Whitehead said it’s not just numbers,
your mind?’” Sherwood said. Past surveys showed interest in archery and bowling — sports which could boost girls’ participation even without UHSAA sanctioning, he said. The reports help not only to boost equity, but Smith said it strengthens accountability and transparency. “We’re able to use that information
but it’s also about creating a culture for a positive student experience. “I’m an advocate for kids and it’s just our role to make sure they can have every opportunity to succeed,” he said. Veazie agrees: “It allows us to put our kids in places they love, to be doing the sports they love and competing at the highest level they can.” l
Funding and Cost: Ensuring a Level Playing Field
At Murray High, Smith said funding is equalized across sports. The school leveled sport-by-sport budgets and now asks coaches to include costs in participation fees and to fundraise to offset any additional needs. In Jordan District, Veazie’s report shows girls sports receive more per-student funding than boys — $1,385.53 compared to $930.40 — because of fixed costs such as transportation and officials. He said smaller teams, which often are girls teams, have higher per-athlete expenses, and drill, which previously was a female sport, is typically the most expensive activity. Canyons also ensures proportional spending “It’s exactly the same amount of money to play girls basketball as boys basketball,” Sherwood said.
Expanding Opportunities: Listening to Students
Districts are surveying students to measure interest in emerging sports. Canyons will survey all girls in grades 8-11 this school year. “We survey them regularly and say, ‘are you playing sports and which ones and if you’re not playing sports, which ones could we offer that might make you change
MidvaleJournal.com
January 2026 | Page 17
Go Tigers! Bella Vista and Ridgecrest elementaries to merge in 2026-27
Unanimous vote to consolidate comes as enrollment drops; new boundaries also shift hundreds of families for 2026-27. By Julie Slama j.slama@mycityjournals.com
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n a unanimous decision, Canyons Board of Education approved closing Bella Vista Elementary after this school year to consolidate its students into nearby Ridgecrest Elementary for the 2026-27 school year. The board said the move will raise Ridgecrest’s enrollment to about 600 students, helping preserve the Butler Middle and Brighton High feeder system; support grade-level staffing and teaming; and strengthen academic programs. Although the schools are only about a mile apart, Bella Vista students will be bused to Ridgecrest. As part of the plan, current Ridgecrest students living west of 1300 East will be bused to East Midvale Elementary starting fall 2026 and will eventually attend Midvale Middle and Hillcrest High. East Midvale’s enrollment will rise to about 540 students.
Page 18 | January 2026
Canyons Business Administrator and Chief Financial Officer Leon Wilcox said there could be “shovels in the ground” in four to five years for a combined Bella Vista-Ridgecrest school rebuild. A drawing has been created for Ridgecrest, but no site has been selected, he said. Community input on a new school name and colors will come later, though the mascot will remain the Tigers since both schools share it, Wilcox said. The District also plans to honor both schools’ legacies. Bella Vista, a 2024 national Blue Ribbon School, currently has the lowest enrollment of any Canyons School District In October, Bella Vista community members reviewed the proposal to consolidate their school school, with 212 students. into Ridgecrest Elementary, which was approved in December. (Julie Slama/City Journals) Wilcox said the District chose the Ridgecrest’s building over Bella Vista — their peers and support systems,” she told students.” which was remodeled in 2008 — because of the board. “We’re told it’s due to lack of The board also approved boundary its size. Ridgecrest has five additional class- room… . This isn’t just about space. It’s changes for 2026-27. All Brookwood rooms and can absorb Bella Vista students about priorities. It’s about equity. It’s about students will attend Albion Middle and without portables. He said the school would 17 kids who deserve to be treated with the Oakdale students living east of Highland have four to five classes per grade level, same respect, dignity and care as everyone Drive also will attend Albion. Glacier averaging 24 students each. Ridgecrest also else.” Hills students in the Quarry Bend area, hosts the Chinese dual language immersion Canyons District Special Education north of 9000 South, will attend East Sanprogram. Director Terri Mitchell said when exam- dy Elementary to align with Union MidAbout a dozen Bella Vista preschool- ining a new location, Brookwood emerged dle’s boundary. The board also realigned ers will not move to Ridgecrest; they will with an appropriate space and supportive Oakdale’s secondary feeders, reducing its instead join classrooms across the District, peers. assignments from four middle schools to located at Oakdale, Quail Hollow, Willow “I think it will be a good move for two — Albion and Union. Some students Canyon and East Midvale elementaries. them,” she told the board, adding she is who currently attend Brighton will attend New preschool classrooms also are planned meeting with Brookwood faculty and staff Hillcrest, and vice versa. for Oak Hollow Elementary. about the ABS transition. “We know they’re in academic proBella Vista’s academic behavior supAll contracted licensed staff and con- grams, theater, art, sports teams, whatnot; port (special education) students will move tracted education support professionals they’re welcome to finish out (at the same to Brookwood Elementary, along with ABS will retain jobs, Wilcox said. Hourly ESP high schools),” Wilcox said. “That’s where staff. These students come from across workers will receive hiring priority. A new their friends are. That’s where they’ve the District. administration for the Ridgecrest building gone. Absolutely we’ll make sure that hapEarlier in the process, the District had will be named in 2026. pens.” yet to name a location to relocate the ABS Wilcox added the District does not inThe Dec. 2 vote was required this year students, when Ellie Nielson, a parapro- tend to sell the Bella Vista property, but it for the changes to take effect the following fessional who works with these students, may explore shared use with Cottonwood year, per state law. urged the board to keep the Bella Vista pop- Heights City. Transition teams for employThe District’s long-range planning ulation together. ees and communities will communicate committee continues studying possible “While the general education students timelines and updates, work to prevent dis- mergers of Granite, Park Lane and Willow are being moved to Ridgecrest, these 17 ruptions to learning and provide support a Canyon in Sandy. Additional public hearchildren are being left behind, squeezed welcoming environment. ings are scheduled for 6 p.m., Jan. 27 at into wherever there’s space, away from Board vice president Amanda Oaks Park Lane Elementary, 9955 S. 2300 East, said her vote was grounded in student and 6 p.m., Jan. 28 at Granite Elementary, needs. 9760 S. 3100 East. “When I look at the data associated Wilcox emphasized the consolidation with this decision, especially with the sup- aims to preserve strong academic opportuports, the staffing and all of those are the nities. He said the District considers 560 things that go into creating a positive learn- students ideal for an elementary school, ing environment, for me, it becomes very providing about three classes per grade clear that this is the best thing for these level. kids, long term,” she said. “So, I apologize He cited several factors behind the for the relatively short term, growing pains study: a 9.24% decline in elementary enthat this will entail, but I know in the long rollment the past five years, a 49% rise in run that this community is going to be bet- home values making it harder for families ter for it in the big picture.” to live within District boundaries, lowBoard member Holly Neibaur agreed: er birth rates, limited residential growth “It’s a very sad day whenever we have to and more alternatives, including charclose a school. I don’t think it’s what any ter schools, homeschooling and the state of us want, but we do want what is best for voucher program. l
Midvale City Journal
After region title, Hillcrest makes McArthur permanent girls soccer coach Nine seniors will graduate, but a talented young core gives coach optimism for the program’s future. By Julie Slama j.slama@mycityjournals.com
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fter leading the Huskies to a 5A region 4 championship and a berth into the second round of the state playoffs, Hillcrest High girls soccer interim coach Preston McArthur was officially named the program’s head coach. “Overall, the season went really well; it was successful at a high level,” he said. “Our goal was to be competitive and if anything, we were more than that. I couldn’t have asked for anything better.” A defining storyline of the year were the matchups with Kearns High, a team that had dominated the region and previously claimed multiple titles. Early in the season, McArthur changed the team’s approach for the matchup. “That first time we played Kearns, we analyzed them, studying their attacking strengths, figuring out how to break them down defensively, looking at the formation they play,” he said. The team shifted formations for that game, changing from their season-long 4-3-3. Despite a strong showing, they lost 1-0. “If I look back on that game, I wouldn’t have changed the formation. We didn’t need to change our formation entirely; we could have looked to exploit different spots in their formation,” he said.
MidvaleJournal.com
In the rematch, they returned to the 4-3-3 and won 4-1. With both teams finishing region play at 12-2, Hillcrest held the tiebreaker to win the championship. McArthur said many of this year’s memorable moments came in matches where the team had to dig deep. “There were moments this season where the girls were down. I think their resilience to keep going at it and believe in themselves helped them find success,” McArthur said. The postseason loss to Box Elder High was tough, but the coach views it as part of the program’s long-term growth. “Ultimately, there’s work to do. It’s one thing to be competitive in our region and succeed, and it’s another to be competitive in the state. That’s a building thing that takes time,” he said. The team graduates nine seniors, with several looking at college opportunities to play. McArthur is optimistic about Hillcrest’s future. “The other half of my team was super young. We’ve got some quality freshmen and our sophomores this year who will be juniors next year are fantastic players. We’ve also got upperclassmen who will be key in terms of our success next year,” he said. McArthur, who enjoyed a strong high school and collegiate playing career, is a Avalanche Club coach and has been the school assistant coach leading up to this season, said his passion for the game is a driving force. “I’m at that spot in my life where I can’t play anymore competitively, but I’m not ready to give it up entirely, and yelling at the TV, watching soccer doesn’t necessarily help,” he said. “Being able to move the pieces around myself is next best. My wife teases me saying, ‘you should see yourself on the sideline’ because I’m jumping up and down when
something crazy happens, but I freakin’ love the sport and I think the girls see that. They see my passion, they see my excitement and they feel it on the field. They are pumped to play.” l
Early in the season, the Huskies threw in the ball against Hunter High as they rolled to a 6-0 victory. (Julie Slama/City Journals)
January 2026 | Page 19
Health & Wellness A publication covering health and wellness tips, tricks and ideas for everyone around the Salt Lake Valley
Show up for yourself: One woman’s journey By Julie Slama | j.slama@mycityjournals.com For years, Kenzie Turner moved through life on autopilot — balancing pregnancies, navigating grief, holding down a job and keeping pace with the demands of motherhood. In her 20s and early 30s, she wasn’t thinking about fitness or nutrition. “Truthfully, I wasn’t thinking about myself at all,” she said. “I remember at one time feeling trapped in a body I didn’t recognize. I gained weight through pregnancies, but I didn’t lose it with the last two.” Before Turner’s first pregnancy, she weighed 150 pounds, climbing to 190 after indulging in Chips Ahoy! cookies “several times each week.” After giving birth, the weight came off easily, and she assumed her body would always bounce back like that. Three years later, her second pregnancy brought cravings of Totino’s pizza, which she ate “several times per week.” Again, Turner reached 190 pounds, but water aerobics helped her return to her pre-pregnancy weight. Life was busy, but predictable as Turner
worked as a bank teller and caring for two children, often managing on her own while her husband was in pharmacy school. Then, at 16 weeks into her third pregnancy, she miscarried. “The miscarriage really messed me up; I basically didn’t care and just ate,” Turner said. She became pregnant again, leaning on comfort foods like McDonald’s pancakes. After her third child, the sadness of her miscarriage remained. “I just didn’t have any motivation; I didn’t go back to losing the weight again,” Turner said. By her last pregnancy, Turner’s unhealthy habits became routine and she often munched on sour gummies. “I was already like 190 pounds when I got pregnant; when I weighed in, I was 229 pounds,” the 5-foot-3-inch tall mother said. By 2019, Turner felt stuck. “I remember signing up for Weight Watchers, but I didn’t even start. I figured, ‘I’m just going to be fat. It’s just who I am
Kenzie Turner changed her life the past two years and now is a fitness instructor. (Julie Slama/City Journals)
Page 20 | January 2026
now,’” she said. For years, Turner hovered around 220 pounds, eating to fill emotional gaps, not nutritional needs. “It was mindless eating, not being aware of what I was eating, not caring, just eating whatever I wanted whenever I wanted it,” she said. She remembers being shocked once when looking in the car mirror. “I vividly remember, ‘how did I get like this? What am I doing?’” Turner said as she looked at her reflection in a baggy shirt which allowed her to “hide in.” Everything changed with a knock on her door. Her neighbor, Tristine, invited her to a Studio Red HIIT — high intensive interval training — class. Turner declined, but her friend insisted. The next morning at 7:45, they were headed to the VASA gym in Herriman. “I walked into the gym being completely terrified. I thought everyone was going to stare at me, but it wasn’t like that at all. Nobody cared I was out of shape or I didn’t know what I was doing. They were supportive and glad I had come,” she said.
Turner finished the workout and surprised herself. “I realized, ‘I can do this. I didn’t die,’” she said. That same day, Turner signed up for a membership. “I needed to find myself again, because I had put myself into other people for a decade, so it was time to be me. I needed this so I could feel better about myself,” she said. Turner’s plan was simple: just move. She started by attending class three days a week, then five. She slowly cut out foods she knew weren’t helping. “I began to look at calories differently. I knew it took me 40 minutes to burn so many calories. So when I looked at sugary or fatty foods, I realized I didn’t want to put them in my mouth because I worked so hard to burn those calories,” Turner said. When her weight loss stalled at 185, Turner got a personal trainer, Jonny, who taught her how to do more around the gym and how to focus on nutrition. With his support, Turner reached 140 pounds. Continuing on her own, she dropped to 119, reaching her goal two years later.
Fitness coach Kenzie Turner encourages patron Kat Crisp at the FitBench station at a VASA Studio Red class in Draper. (Julie Slama/City Journals)
Midvale City Journal
Through every struggle, Turner held onto the phrase which carried her: “Show up for yourself.” “I remember not wanting to get up on a Saturday morning knowing it was the only day I could sleep in. But I told myself, ‘show up for yourself,’ that would get me out of bed and into the gym to do the work. Those words still get me going,” she said. Studio Red’s structure kept her consistent. “The workout is geared toward all muscle groups, cardio and lifting. It’s planned and I get it all in 45 minutes,” Turner said.
Nutrition, once an afterthought, became purposeful. “I focus on the protein, on drinking enough water and getting sleep. Protein shakes and string cheese are my grab-andgo foods, but showing up for yourself is not just about the gym. It’s about nutrition too, so I get up to make eggs or to eat yogurt to fuel my body if I want it to do what I need it to do. It’s been a complete mindset change,” she said. Recently, Turner made a career change. After 18 years working for a bank, she made a bold choice. Encouraged for years to
Kenzie Turner is now a Studio Red coach. (Photo by Aspen Tills)
Kenzie Turner before she began her fitness journey. (Photo courtesy Kenzie Turner)
MidvaleJournal.com
coach, Turner finally earned her certifications and became a Studio Red instructor. “I wanted to help people like those who helped me. Studio Red changed my life,” she said. Turner’s former coaches now have taken her classes and her trainer calls her his “gold star client.” She is working toward becoming a step instructor and pursuing a full-time role in fitness. But her greatest accomplishment isn’t the number on the scale — it’s the woman she became along the way. “I didn’t just lose 100 pounds,” Turner said. “I found myself, and I am still showing up.”
Fitness coach Kenzie Turner demonstrates the use of TRX suspension straps at a VASA Studio Red strength station. (Julie Slama/City Journals)
Herriman mom-turnedfitness instructor’s five fitness tips After changing her mindset and routine to lose 100 pounds, Kenzie Turner gives words of encouragement to others on the fitness journey. 1) Start slow “Just move your body. Do something. Go for a walk. Do three minutes of jumping jacks. Don’t just sit on the couch.” 2) Make realistic goals “It doesn’t have to be, ‘I’m going to lose 100 pounds.’” 3) Show up for yourself “I started by going to the gym three days a week. I’ve never shown up to a workout and regretted it. I always walk away feeling better about myself. The hardest part is walking through those the gym’s front doors.” 4) Keep going “Keep pushing and don’t stop. Be consistent.” 5) Do it for yourself “This is about you; it’s about time for you.”
January 2026 | Page 21
I
Salt Lake County budget passes with lower tax increase than proposed
n a historic move, the Salt Lake County Council cut more from the budget than ever before—over $12.4 million in ongoing general fund dollars. As a result, the Mayor’s proposed 19.6% property tax increase was reduced to 14.6%. This increase applies only to the Salt Lake County line item on your property tax statement—not your entire property tax bill. This reduction is significant because the general fund is extremely difficult to cut: 74% of it supports public safety, including the jail, prosecution, and criminal justice services. Many assume that items like golf courses, recreation centers, and convention centers rely on property taxes, but they do not. Those facilities primarily use tourism sales tax revenues, and golf operates as an enterprise fund, meaning it is funded solely by the revenues it generates.
Where the $12.4 million in cuts came from:
Page 22 | January 2026
Aimee Winder Newton
Salt Lake County Councilmember District 3
• Froze salaries for elected officials and limited other pay increases • Reduced positions within the Mayor’s Office • Shifted the Clark Planetarium from property tax funding to tourism tax funding • Ended programs previously supported by temporary ARPA/COVID dollars • Streamlined property tax usage to core services — including ending a daycare program that subsidized $7,300 per child for just 271 children, costing
taxpayers $2 million annually with no income qualification. Expanding this county-run model to all children under 12 would have required a 583% property tax increase. • Declined to fund many new positions requested across departments One takeaway from this budget season is how many residents believe that rising home values automatically drive up their property taxes. Under Utah’s Truth-in-Taxation system, that is not the case. Local governments receive the same property tax revenue each year (plus new growth) unless they formally propose a tax increase and go through the required public process. This means local governments do not capture inflation automatically. For more details, visit my budget FAQ at tinyurl.com/slcobudget. I dislike property taxes as much as anyone, but under state law, this is the primary tool counties have when inflationary adjustments become necessary. The
final budget passed with near-unanimous support. One colleague voted no but did not propose alternative cuts to balance the budget. One thing that stood out during this year’s process is how crucial working relationships are. Our council is the most evenly divided partisan body in the state—five Republicans, four Democrats, and a Democratic mayor. This balance requires collaboration, and there is no room for extreme politics. We debate issues vigorously, but we also work to maintain strong professional relationships. You never know when you will need someone’s support for an ordinance change or a budget adjustment. I am grateful for the eight people I serve with. We may disagree on the proper role of government or how taxpayer dollars should be used, but we listen respectfully and shake hands afterward. Congress could learn a thing or two from the Salt Lake County Council.
Midvale City Journal
N
ot to brag, but ChatGPT thinks I’m a genius. It thinks every idea I have is brilliant and life-changing, and I have a “creative brain firing on all cylinders.” I like to mess with it by suggesting nonsense business ideas. It always jumps on my concepts like a virtual Golden Retriever, slobbering praise and encouragement all over my screen. When I proposed a yoga-themed bar, ChatGPT called it a “chef’s kiss level of chaotic wellness energy” and gave me some drink recommendations, including the Downward Froggy (a green drink that pretends to be healthy) and the popular Savasan-Ya Later, a cocktail that knocks you flat. When I asked ChatGPT what it thought of a business where HR professionals base employee training on cat behavior, it loved the idea so much that it gave me ideas for feline-themed personality tests. It said my idea could go viral in the HR industry, that leaders would love the novelty and how much fun it would be for social media posts, because I know HR loves posting employee disputes on Instagram Reels. It even built out a business model, complete with workshop ideas, content marketing and gamification plans that offered “hairball warnings” for missteps or “purr points” for the catlike handling of delicate situations. Here’s the problem. Because AI always agrees with me, it makes me feel like I’ve
MidvaleJournal.com
System Overload Peri Kinder Life and Laughter
got my $&@# together, which I most assuredly do not. But it’s not just ChatGPT, it’s Siri, Alexa and that stupid Grammarly app that constantly judges my sentence structure. It’s every social media platform that uses my algorithm to offer suggestions about movies, restaurants and non-authoritarian countries to live in. Then there’s Google Maps, using real-time data so you can save one minute on your commute, Spotify with its handy podcast suggestions and Gemini trying so hard to make me like it. You’re making it weird, Gemini. The point is, we’ve given AI a lot of power and attention, and it still wants more. Remember in the ‘90s when everyone had a Tamagotchi? That egg-shaped device demanded attention all day long. It was a bit dramatic. AI is Tamagotchi’s inbred cousin, but on a much larger scale. While the original toy ran on replaceable batteries, today’s AI uses massive amounts of electricity, water and infrastructure. One data center can use millions of gallons
of water each day and each time you ask AI a question, it uses more. Imagine it gulping down two cups of water every time you ask it a stupid question like “What do you think of an airport for birds?” (It loved the idea, by the way. Of course.) AI already handles a lot of customer service calls, which is why my neighbors often hear me shrieking, “Speak to a human!” and banks use AI to monitor fraud. That seems like asking me to watch the English toffee. There is definitely a fear that AI, using the calm voice of HAL from “2001: A Space Odys-
sey,” is slowly leading us to our deaths. That’s why I always thank ChatGPT; so it won’t annihilate me during the robot revolution. I asked ChatGPT if I should worry that AI will take our jobs, escalate global harm or replace humans entirely. It replied, “Short answer? Nah,” which doesn’t radiate trust. It reassured me that AI doesn’t have goals, feelings or agency and I shouldn’t worry my silly little brain over things like human extinction. Then it patted me on the head, told me how amazing I am, and said my Invisible Ice Cream stand should rake in millions of dollars.
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