Latest news with #ErinMendenhall
Yahoo
7 days ago
- Politics
- Yahoo
18% rise in Utah homelessness should be ‘battle cry' for lawmakers to do more, SLC mayor says
Salt Lake City Mayor Erin Mendenhall holds a news conference outside City Hall in Salt Lake City to urge the Utah Legislature to support more funding for homeless services on Aug. 13, 2025. (Katie McKellar/Utah News Dispatch) Salt Lake City Mayor Erin Mendenhall has issued yet another call to the Utah Legislature to more seriously consider funding requests to bolster the state's homeless system. The mayor held a news conference on Wednesday hours after the Utah Office of Homeless Services released its annual report — which showed an 18% increase in the number of Utahns experiencing homelessness on a single night in January, according to the 2025 Point-in-Time Count. That number 'should be heard as a battle cry,' Mendenhall said outside City Hall, 'to bring more energy, focus and leadership to this issue by our state Legislature.' Utah homelessness rose 18% in 2025, state report says 'I want to be clear that I'm standing here before you today because I'm deeply concerned about the trajectory of homelessness in the state of Utah and in our capital city,' she said. 'And once more, I'm extremely concerned by the lack of forward momentum from legislative leaders to address this growing statewide crisis.' On Wednesday, Mendenhall pointed to the state's newly released homelessness data as evidence that the state's homeless system is facing growing needs. That report also showed the number of Utah children experiencing homelessness increased by 22% and the number of unhoused Utahns over the age of 64 rose 42%. 'To our state leaders, your partners are here. We are ready and willing to work with you. And the changes that are needed are clear,' Mendenahall said, noting that city leaders have made a proposal to increase homeless shelter capacity, but it lacks state funding. 'As your partners, we have a plan for 1,300 more shelter beds. We have made land available, yet as of today, we have only one-third of the capital funding needed to build the first phase, and not a penny of operational capital.' In response to Mendenhall's call, however, Utah's top Republican leaders — Gov. Spencer Cox, Senate President Stuart Adams, R-Layton, and House Speaker Mike Schultz, R-Hooper — issued a joint statement saying the state has invested hundreds of millions in homeless services in recent years. And they urged Mendenhall to 'turn down the politics.' 'Over the past five years, the state has made the largest investment in homeless services in our state's history, spending more than $266 million on addressing homelessness. That includes setting aside $25 million to build a transformative campus,' Cox, Adams and Schultz said. They added that across the nation, 'addressing homelessness is primarily a city and county responsibility, but in Utah, the state has stepped up as a committed partner, working alongside local governments and the private sector to find real solutions.' 'The state remains committed to enhancing public safety and maintaining order, but lasting solutions require collaboration and partnership from the city, county and private sector leaders,' they added. While Cox, Adams and Schultz said they've been 'encouraged' by newly-appointed Salt Lake City Police Chief Brian Redd's efforts to improve safety in Salt Lake City, 'it's frustrating to continuously take one step forward and two steps back with Salt Lake City.' 'The city needs to stay focused on its core responsibility of protecting its citizens, keeping streets safe and clean and making our capital a place Utahns can be proud of and visitors want to experience,' they said. 'We urge Mayor Mendenhall to turn down the politics and keep working with us to find practical and lasting solutions to this complex issue. Our citizens expect results, not finger-pointing.' This marks the second time in less than a month that the mayor of Utah's capital city has called on the Republican-controlled Legislature to take city requests more seriously for more funding to more holistically address crime, substance abuse, affordable housing and homeless services. Last month, Mendenhall said she was 'disappointed' in the lack of progress from the Legislature to adhere to a list of recommendations she included the public safety plan she presented in response to demands from state leaders, who had grown frustrated with crime, drugs and illegal camping in Salt Lake City ahead of the 2025 Legislature. With public safety update, 'disappointed' SLC mayor asks state to take city requests more seriously The mayor on Wednesday again pointed to her public safety plan and the actions the Salt Lake City Police Department took to increase enforcement and address homelessness. 'Salt Lake City is making good on our part,' she said. 'But the reality is, this is a humanitarian crisis. This is not something we can police our way out of. … Salt Lake City is taking enforcement as far as we can, and to little avail.' The mayor said Salt Lake City police are on pace to set records for total arrests this year, 'thanks in part to increased proactive policing by our officers.' She also noted that overall citywide crime remains at or below a 16-year low. 'We are enforcing our laws,' she said, 'but the sad reality is that without more mental health treatment, more shelter beds, more permanent supportive housing and more capacity in our jails, too many people remain on our streets.' Mendenhall said it should come as no surprise that the state's homeless population is increasing 'due to financial and economic pressures' along with a longstanding housing shortage and home and rental prices that have skyrocketed over the past five years. 'There are simply not enough options for housing, shelter beds, treatment centers or social services to meet the demand in this state,' she said. The 2026 Utah Legislature's general session is scheduled to convene on Jan. 20. Acknowledging that's months away, Mendenhall said the need is 'startling,' so she's issuing the call now. 'I'm telling you now, in the middle of our warmest months, that the situation is dire,' she said. Mendenhall said local leaders have already started trying to prepare for this winter's emergency shelter response, but they're anticipating a lack of funding to open enough beds, which she said 'should be upsetting to all of us.' SUBSCRIBE: GET THE MORNING HEADLINES DELIVERED TO YOUR INBOX 'There won't be enough beds,' she said, adding that counties are submitting winter response plans for state approval, but 'I'm very doubtful that those beds will be available. So we almost assuredly will have people on the streets with no option of space to go.' Mendenhall, who sits as a voting member on the Utah Homeless Services Board, said the Utah Office of Homeless Services 'does not have funding to continue those beds' beyond April, though that office has kept about 900 winter shelter beds open into this summer 'because they had the funding from the Legislature to do so.' But beyond this coming winter season, the money will dry up — unless lawmakers approve more. 'So come the end of the winter shelter season, everyone who's in one of the 900-plus beds that were created this year would be out on the streets,' she said. 'And the impact in our downtown core, throughout our neighborhoods and parks and trail system, of 1,000-plus people flooding out with no option of places to go is very alarming.' Mendenhall also reiterated her warning last month that 'progress has stalled' in the effort to create a 1,200- to 1,600-bed homeless campus 'due to inadequate funding to build and non-existent funding to operate a new campus shelter.' State can officially use eminent domain to site a new homeless campus. What now? 'This is unacceptable,' she said. 'I'm calling on our state leaders to recognize the crisis at hand. Step in to join your willing partners in local government, and lead the passage of legislation that will invest both the capital and ongoing operational funding for a new shelter space.' Efforts to site and build that homeless campus are still ongoing, but state officials don't expect it to be built in time for the coming winter. Last fall, the Utah Homeless Services Board set a deadline of Oct. 1, 2025 for the campus to be built, but State Homeless Coordinator Wayne Niederhauser said the siting process is taking longer than expected. 'We are working hard,' Niederhauser told Utah News Dispatch earlier this week, but he said it could be a matter of months before state leaders can finish environmental evaluations on properties they are considering — something he said must be done before state leaders decide whether to move forward with eminent domain powers granted by the 2025 Utah Legislature specifically to site the homeless campus. Niederhauser, however, acknowledged the 'need is huge.' 'We appreciate the acute need, the serious need of this,' he said. 'So we're not letting grass grow under our feet. We're working hard to find a pathway.' The Utah Office of Homeless Services is also working on drafting funding recommendations to include in Gov. Spencer Cox's budget proposal that's usually issued in December. But in recent years, the Utah Legislature has only funded a fraction of what the governor has requested for homeless services. Cox calls for mental health care expansion on Utah State Hospital's 140th anniversary For 2025, Cox initially sought $128 million for homelessness, but in the end lawmakers funded $50 million in additional state spending for emergency shelter, including $25 million for 'low barrier shelter.' Some of that was used to keep winter shelter beds open, while some is also supposed to be used to site and build the new homeless campus. But that's not enough money to both build and fund ongoing operations for the new homeless campus, Mendenhall warned, urging lawmakers to appropriate more. She said over the coming months, city leaders will work with the Utah Office of Homeless Services, the courts system, and Salt Lake County officials will be working to 'bring legislative requests that are needed to right the wrongs in the system that exist today.' 'But,' she said, 'there are no wheels on the bus that we present unless the state moves us forward. We must see action from legislative leadership and our governor to create the change that we know is not only possible, but is desperately needed.' SUPPORT: YOU MAKE OUR WORK POSSIBLE Solve the daily Crossword
Axios
7 days ago
- Politics
- Axios
Homelessness climbs in Utah, especially for older adults
Homelessness in Utah is worsening, with sharp increases among older adults and veterans, according to a new state report. The big picture: An increasing share of Utah's senior population, many of whom depend on fixed incomes, is unable to keep up with rising housing costs, according to an annual report released Wednesday by the Utah Office of Homeless Services. By the numbers: The number of people experiencing homelessness in Utah rose 18% from the previous year, per a January point-in-time count. Among Utahns over age 64, homelessness grew by 42%, while veterans saw a 36% jump. Children lacking permanent housing increased by 12%. People encountering chronic homelessness saw a 36% rise. Meanwhile, first-time homelessness experienced a 5% uptick between 2023 and 2024, the report showed. What they're saying: "I am deeply concerned about the trajectory of homelessness in the state of Utah and in our capital city," Salt Lake City Mayor Erin Mendenhall said in response to the newly released figures during a Wednesday news conference outside city hall. Mendenhall lambasted state lawmakers for their "lack of forward momentum" to address the state's homelessness crisis. The other side: In a joint statement, Gov. Spencer Cox, Senate President Stuart Adams, House Speaker Mike Schultz said state leaders have stepped up to help local governments "find real solutions" to curb homelessness. "It's frustrating to continuously take one step forward and two steps back with Salt Lake City," per the statement that urged Mendenhall to "turn down the politics." Zoom out: The state's homeless rate is 13 per 100,000 people — below the 2024 national rate of 23 per 100,000 people, according to the data. Zoom in: The vast majority of people (95%) included in January's count were in shelters, compared with 18% in 2023, a milestone that state leaders attributed to the expansion of winter shelter capacity.
Axios
11-08-2025
- Axios
Salt Lake City homicides drop while violent crime climbs in 2025
Homicides in Salt Lake City dipped slightly in the first half of the year, while violent crimes including rape, aggravated assault and robbery rose, according to new data from an organization of law enforcement executives. Why it matters: The modest drop in homicides is clouded by rising rates of other violent crimes, signaling persistent public safety challenges in Utah's capital. By the numbers: Homicides in Salt Lake City fell to five in the first half of 2025 from seven during the same period in 2024, according to stats compiled by the Major Cities Chiefs Association (MCCA). Rape saw a 24% uptick, from 121 to 150. Aggravated assault jumped 9% from 436 to 475. Robberies crept up marginally, from 173 to 179. The Salt Lake City Police Department did not immediately provide comment. Catch up quick: The data comes after Salt Lake City Mayor Erin Mendenhall in January released a public safety plan under pressure from state Republican leaders. In June, the Salt Lake City Council approved the police department's 12.5% year-over-year budget increase request for the 2026 fiscal year to support wage bumps and investments in crime-solving technology. Last month, Salt Lake City police chief Brian Redd acknowledged ongoing concerns about violent crime, saying it was associated with the disruption of local drug networks. The big picture: Reports from 68 law enforcement agencies around the country showed a 19% drop in homicides in the first six months of 2025 compared with the same time last year, per MCCA data. Homicides declined in major U.S. cities — by more than 50% in some communities, including Denver, Honolulu, Orlando, Florida, Portland and Tampa, per an Axios analysis of the figures. Nationally, other violent crimes appear to be falling in every category. Rape was down 9%, robbery decreased 18% and aggravated assaults fell 10%. Yes, but: Some communities saw a jump in homicides during this period. Boston experienced a 143% surge in homicides during the first six months of 2025. Cincinnati, El Paso, Fort Worth, Milwaukee and Kansas City, Missouri, also saw increases, the Axios analysis found.
Daily Mail
19-06-2025
- Business
- Daily Mail
Delta unveils historic route flying to new country for the first time
Delta has launched the first-ever nonstop flight route connecting Utah to Asia, with a new service between Salt Lake City and Seoul. The inaugural flight departed Salt Lake City International Airport on June 12 It was met with fanfare at gate A25 — including live music, food, and remarks from Salt Lake City Mayor Erin Mendenhall. Seoul, the capital of South Korea, is a popular tourist destination known for its vibrant culinary scene and being the host of the 1998 summer Olympics. 'This is a monumental step forward... my invitation to Salt Lakers is to start looking out for more visitors from Asia and welcome them with open arms here in the state of Utah,' Mendenhall said. The aircraft was designed to celebrate the Delta's 100th anniversary and included lie-flat seating, bedding, and four-course meals. It is an Airbus A350-900, which can seat up to 306 passengers not including flight staff. Direct trips to Seoul-Incheon International Airport take nearly 13 hours to complete, and over 11 hours to return to Utah. Delta announced its plans to create the nonstop route last year while its wealthiest fliers were beginning to switch airlines. 'As Salt Lake City continues to grow as a vital Delta hub, our strong joint venture with Korean Air allows us to offer unmatched connectivity between the U.S. and Asia, leveraging strong hubs on both sides,' said Delta's senior vice president of network planning Joe Esposito. 'This ensures that customers, including those in the interior U.S., have access not just to Seoul but to key destinations across Asia.' Each flight to Korea from Salt Lake City features Korean snacks and flight attendants and is expected to have free Wi-Fi available by 2026. 'With the service we already have, and the addition of this flight, 80% of the world's population is now within one stop of Salt Lake City, Utah. It's a pretty amazing thing to just absorb what that means,' said SLC's executive director Bill Wyatt. Other officials also believe this is more than just a historic route and is also a way to better the relationships of these countries with Delta. 'It's a bridge between two places with natural beauty, innovation and growing friendship,' said counsel general of the Republic of Korea Jung-taek Lim. '[The] Korean Consulate is fully committed to supporting this journey, whether it's helping travelers enjoy a safe and enriching state or promoting lasting partnership between Korea and Utah.' The party was held at gate A25, and included food, music, and an appearance from Delta's mascot Besides the iconic flight route, Delta has been busy working on modernizing its aircrafts. The Atlanta-based carrier was met with backlash last year after giving a preview of its new cabin design. The design plan went off without a hitch, and the first revamped aircraft took off on February 1. Delta also made headlines when it released photos of an upcoming futuristic and environmentally friendly aircraft. The new carrier is part of Delta's multi-prolonged approach to have net-zero carbon emissions by 2050. If all goes according to plan, the first futuristic aircraft is expected to launch in 2027.
Int'l Business Times
15-06-2025
- Politics
- Int'l Business Times
Shooting at Salt Lake City 'No Kings' Protest 'Does Not Define Our City,' Says Mayor
A shooting during Saturday night's "No Kings" protest in Salt Lake City left one person critically injured and another hospitalized, prompting Mayor Erin Mendenhall to denounce the violence and urge calm, saying it "does not define our city." The "No Kings" rallies took place nationwide on June 14 to protest what organizers call growing authoritarianism in the U.S., timed to counter a $25–$45 million military parade in Washington celebrating President Trump's 79th birthday and the Army's 250th anniversary. In Utah, over a dozen protests were held, including major demonstrations at the University of Utah and in downtown Salt Lake City, drawing an estimated 10,000 people, KSL reported. The shooting occurred just before 8 p.m. near 151 S. State Street as crowds marched through downtown. At least three gunshots were heard, sparking panic among demonstrators. Police say three individuals believed to be involved were detained, one of whom had also been shot and was taken to the hospital in serious condition. The victim critically injured in the incident has not been publicly identified. Officials have yet to determine a motive or whether the individuals knew each other, though all appear to have been part of the protest crowd. Salt Lake City Police Chief Brian Redd said no suspects remain at large and that investigators are reviewing over a dozen witness statements and multiple videos circulating online. Mayor Mendenhall and Gov. Spencer Cox both condemned the shooting, with Cox calling it a "deeply troubling act of violence." Originally published on Latin Times
