Salt Lake Ushers in a New, Calmer Mayor

After eight years with highly controversial mayor, Rocky Anderson, behind the wheel Salt Lake City residents are embracing a new kind of leader in Ralph Becker. The 55 year old, Becker, who served 11 years on Utah's Capitol Hill has big plans to unite the city and mend some of the bonds and connections broken by the former mayor.

Becker, a thirty year resident of Salt Lake City and the co-founder of Bear West, an environmental planning firm, has already laid out his 'forward-looking' vision for the city on his website. His plan includes:

Working closely with the Salt Lake County School District to make the local schools the 'social and educational centers of their neighborhoods'.

Developing a large network of trails, making more of Salt Lake's foothills and parks available to hikers.

Helping small local businesses to obtain affordable insurance and making it easier for those businesses to obtain the necessary permits to operate successfully.

Working with the airport and local colleges to offer greater hospitality to visitors.

Introduce open air commercial centers throughout the city. Include things such as outdoor dining and street fairs

Embrace the varying communities of the city providing greater equality for all it's residence.

Enhance downtown Salt Lake to improve it's status culturally, socially, and economically

Become more environmentally friendly as a community

Develop and expand upon the best kinds of city transportation. Including light rail to the airport and other major city centers, bike trails, commuter rail, and improved pedestrian foot paths