Salt Lake City mayor is green in very red state

[Green Gaia]

http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/17154193/

Anderson's internationally acclaimed Salt Lake City Green program has slashed the city government's greenhouse-gas emissions, built popular support for public transit, enticed private businesses to go greener, and made Salt Lake more friendly for walkers and cyclists.

 

[jonny]

I guess that goes to show that the environment isn't completely a "blue state" issue. Utah still has a long way to go, but this is a state filled with people who love nature and love being outside in it. I have never been anywhere like it and I'm glad to see that Rocky has done something good. The people here are willing to support environmental issues...they just need a little prodding. It helps to introduce them on a day when the inversion is really bad. The air gets disgusting in the winter here.

I might think Rocky was a good mayor if he didn't spend so much time trying to get more bars and strip clubs downtown Salt Lake. Because of that, I just put him in the category of "ok".

 

[Katzpur]

I might think Rocky was a good mayor if he didn't spend so much time trying to get more bars and strip clubs downtown Salt Lake. Because of that, I just put him in the category of "ok".

I wouldn't vote for Rocky if he were running against Hillary!

 

[jonny]

The article mentions that people voted to increase their sales tax in order to get light rail in their neighboorhoods. That passed pretty easily in Utah County - likely the most conservative county in the entire country.

 

[jonny]

I wouldn't vote for Rocky if he were running against Hillary!

Every city needs more bars and strip clubs and they should show them off to the world!

I do think he's done some good things up there. The city has been cleaned up a lot in the past years and I think that the light rail is a good thing.

 

[Katzpur]

Rocky is the third or fourth Democratic mayor in a row for Salt Lake City, which is the capital city of the most Republican State in the Nation. I've really liked all of them -- except Rocky -- a lot. Unfortunately I can't vote for mayor of Salt Lake City, since I am not technically a resident of the city, but of Cottonwood Heights, which is just outside the city limits.

 

[SoyLeche]

Rocky is the third or fourth Democratic mayor in a row for Salt Lake City, which is the capital city of the most Republican State in the Nation. I've really liked all of them -- except Rocky -- a lot. Unfortunately I can't vote for mayor of Salt Lake City, since I am not technically a resident of the city, but of Cottonwood Heights, which is just outside the city limits.

Salt Lake isn't very representative of Utah.

 

[Katzpur]

Salt Lake isn't very representative of Utah.

You're right, and I'm glad you're right.

 

[Green Gaia]

Since this is the Green Room and not Political Debates..... is the Salt Lake City Green program one that other cities can and should implement?

 

[jonny]

Since this is the Green Room and not Political Debates..... is the Salt Lake City Green program one that other cities can and should implement?

I don't see why not. They are mostly changing lightbulbs and adding light rail. The problem is that, from my limited understanding, this is focused on the government mostly. Why not have a program which does more to encourage citizens? Why hasn't Rocky Anderson introduced a mandatory curbside recycling program in Salt Lake for example? Why don't they get funding to get free lightbulbs to give out to people to get them used to using them. Once the people see the benefits and how much energy they save, they may just start using them on their own.

I'm glad he's done something, but he could do a lot more.