Cultural & Architectural Value relating to Tourism.
When I ran for Ogden City Council a very important issue was whether or not we preserve Polk Elementary. I pushed back against losing our Architectural Heritage & although I didn't win my election I was able to make an impact. A Bond which included destroying Polk did not pass.
I fought for this building because Utah has wonderful Architectural & Cultural Heritage. Utah is growing & we are at risk of losing the flavor of our communities as we grow.
People from all over the world want to come to places like Utah for our healthy way of life, our reputation as a people with integrity, our history, our work ethic, our lifestyle, flavorful history & vibrant communities. Utah has always been seen as a haven or Oasis between pioneers traveling from East to West. We are a community that has flourished like a rose in the desert. People from Silicon Valley & the big cities on the East Coast are coming to the Wasatch Front because we are one of the best places to live on Earth. Tourists from far away lands want to come visit our Artsy Old Western Community that has splashes of many different people working together in one place.
As we grow I want to make sure we are preserving & promoting local Culture which goes hand in hand with Architecture. Let's preserve our beautiful older buildings as we grow. Let's make sure we have Green Space & walk able communities.
We are a community nestled in mountains with farmland that stretches to a desert. The City of Ogden has traditionally built low so when you are on the mountain you really only see beautiful Gothic Architecture nestled among trees. It's breathtaking & people come here so they can feel as though they're on a secluded mountain w/in reach of a rodeo & 20 minutes from Belly Dancers in a Greek Restaurant next to an Art studio. We need to build smart & Green so we don't lose our distinct way of life. We need to protect the environment including Light Pollution which hurts the quality of life of our youth & impacts our way of life.
I would like to explore building in the deserts on the Western region of our valley. I believe tourism can greatly feed our communities & I would work to bring investors who see the value of our unique way of life.
Let's not forget where we came from, let's preserve what we have & use our unique qualities to thrive.