Opinion: Olympic improvements should serve all Utahns, not just the newcomers

Utah’s growth has been a popular topic of discussion for state officials with the announcement of the 2034 Salt Lake City Olympics. Because Salt Lake has held the Olympics before, there is an opportunity to focus on building infrastructure other than venues. Utah Gov. Spencer Cox said this in a July news conference, emphasizing the need for more East-West corridors.

While this is a long-needed change for the city, current west-side residents will not benefit from it due to gentrification. These changes are not being made for current residents, but for people moving to Salt Lake for its new attractions.

Salt Lake City’s west side has faced a long history of segregation and injustice leading it to have both a disproportionately high number of Hispanic residents and denser air pollution. This demographic disparity is a legacy of redlining — a discriminatory practice that systematically withheld federal home loans from people of color, exacerbating racial segregation. Factories, the airport and major highways have been placed on the west side of the city with its Hispanic residents, leaving them drowning in smog during periods of high inversion.

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Opinion: Olympic improvements should serve all Utahns, not just the newcomers

Opinion: Olympic improvements should serve all Utahns, not just the newcomers

Opinion: Olympic improvements should serve all Utahns, not just the newcomers

Opinion: Olympic improvements should serve all Utahns, not just the newcomers

Opinion: Olympic improvements should serve all Utahns, not just the newcomers