Facebook Questions

Here are some questions I have been asked on Facebook. I know not everyone is on FB (good for you!), so I thought I would copy the questions and my answers here.

Buckley Draw Mudslide

“…I’m really curious what your thoughts are on the controversy surrounding the mudslide in south provo recently and maybe how you would have handled it differently (or not).”
 

I appreciate this question. I have talked to our Public Works Director and Dr. Bryan Hopkins, and I have listened to the planning commission and City Council meetings where this development was discussed. I have gone up and looked at the site and saw the devastation caused by this series of unfortunate events. It is easy to point fingers after the fact, and I understand where the city is coming from. However, I do think what could have been done differently is that the city should/could have followed through on the development agreement that the debris channel extension needed to be completed before construction–especially before monsoon season.

The Council did the right thing in making sure that there was a Public Infrastructure District created so that the developer had access to the funds needed to extend the channel right away. However, Rocky Mountain Power was dragging their feet about moving a power pole that was in the path.

Like I said, hindsight is 20-20, but there is a pattern, not just in Provo, but in Utah in general, to avoid conflict. We are known as being kind, and I LOVE that, but we can be kind and still have expectations and follow through. When avoiding conflict means that we don’t hold developers to development agreements or we don’t insist that Rocky Mountain Power move their power pole in a timely way, that hurts residents, costs time and money, and erodes public trust. After the fire, it might have been too late to finish the channel and basin, but it would have been good for the city and the developers to take Dr. Hopkins’ warning seriously and at least get started and complete what they could. I would love to hear your thoughts.

Downtown Investment

“Hi Marsha! I was wondering what your plan would be to uplift downtown” – what would that look like under you as mayor?”
 

I love our downtown–it is the heart of Provo–and I think the city could do more to make it a go-to destination. I would like to bring back the rooftop concert series and do more things like the First Friday Art Stroll or the Antique Car Show that bring people downtown. The city could invest in hyping up the holidays and help to make them must-go-downtown occasions. We could partner with students to decorate holiday windows for shop owners who want that–I would love to see holiday themed windows all over downtown. The goal is to increase access to businesses and encourage more visitors.

As mayor, I would collaborate with business owners to create a vision for downtown. Center Street has to be torn up to replace the pipes, and before we do that, we need to know how we want downtown Provo to be. What would be the best configuration?  A couple of the questions we could ask are, 

• Do we want a center island? 
• Would we rather have wider sidewalks, cafe seating, and parklets?
• Do we want to change traffic flow? 
• How do we make it safer for pedestrians and bikers
• What are we going to do about parking?” 

These are some ideas. I would love to hear yours. 

By the way…

Provo Administration recently posted that they have invested almost $112 million dollars in Provo’s downtown over the past 10 years. This is a huge number! However, if you look closely, 85% of that was spent on the construction and refurbishing of city buildings (which bring in no revenue but do add to our expenses–the Covey Arts Center does bring in revenue, but this is more than offset by its expenditures) and most of the rest was spent on routine maintenance of roads and utilities. According to their chart, less than 3% was spent on economic development and projects to improve downtown. Our small businesses are the economic driver of our city. The City can do better to support Provo’s Downtown and make it the best in the state!
 

How Do You Feel About No Soliciting?

This is my fifth election (one term on the School Board and three terms in the State Legislature), but my first running for mayor. This means it’s my fifth time knocking doors in Provo, and I learned something new about campaigning. A couple of weeks ago, after knocking doors in Northeast Provo, I was informed by Provo City government that Provo’s city code specifies that neither commercial nor non-commercial solicitation can knock or leave material at a door that has a “No Soliciting” sign, and that includes political speech.

In past races, I wouldn’t knock on those doors, but I did leave campaign materials. Here was my reasoning:

1. Political speech is in the highest category of protected speech. The U.S. Supreme Court ruled in Mills v. Alabama (1966) that “Whatever differences may exist about interpretations of the First Amendment, there is practically universal agreement that a major purpose of that Amendment was to protect the free discussion of governmental affairs.” 
2. Political canvassing is not considered soliciting because it is non-commercial speech and protected under the constitution. 
3. I thought that residents might like having my contact information and to learn a bit more about me before voting in an important election. To reinforce this belief, no one behind any of the thousands of doors I have left materials on has ever called me to complain, and my phone number is on the flyers. Some have called and we have had great conversations.

I am curious about your thoughts on this and would like to get your feedback. What do you think? Click here for a very short survey. 

Events

September’s Cottage Meetings

Friday, September 19th
Hosted by Marshall Morisse
2323 W 200 N
7:00-9:00 pm

Tuesday, September 23rd
Hosted by McKay Jensen
1569 Willow Lane
7:00-9:00 pm

September 25th
Hosted by Rick West
1184 E. 850 S.
7:30-9:00 pm

September 27th
Hosted by Christian and Kaci Faulconer
1311 Camelot Drive
7:00-8:30

Debates/Forums

Wednesday, September 24th (in-person for students only, livestreamed for general public)
BYU Political Affairs Society student academic association
Location TBA
7:30-8:30
Cancelled at the direction of BYU administration

Tuesday, September 30th

Forum hosted by BikeWalk Provo
Provo Library
7:00 pm

Wednesday, October 8th
Civic Engagement Forum
The Bright Building
33 West 400 South

Saturday, October 11th
Discussion with Conserve Utah Valley
Provo Recreation Center
320 West 500 North

Walk for Hope

The Walk for Hope is this Saturday. My friend invited me to this last year in honor of her son, and it was beautiful, heartbreaking, and hopeful. All are welcome: it is free and includes a continental breakfast, free t-shirts, and a dove release.

I hope to see you at an event or two!

Marsha