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The first full six months in office are now history for Salt Lake City Mayor Ralph Becker. At a public event today, he told us he's proud of his accomplishments. But what are they?
Becker speaks in both generalities and in specifics when he talks about what he's accomplished. But he is also well aware that there are serious challenges facing Salt Lake City right now.
From a downtown in transition to gang violence, it's all on his watch. Becker took those topics on at this Rotary Club meeting today.
If there's anything he is keeping alive since his campaign, it is a sense of optimism about the city's future. He strongly believes that mass transit, strong neighborhood loyalty and the City Creek shopping center will be a hallmark of the city's future.
But Becker acknowledges problems, while at the same time rebuffing those who are critical about a lack of visible changes.
"I think our challenges really come from being able to find the resources to serve our residents well and provide the quality of facilities that people and businesses know and expect, and to have government work well for people," Becker said.
Becker's administration has had to deal with critics of the city planning department, which has been blamed for some frustration. He says those problems have been ironed out.
In general, the mayor says he's pleased with how his administration is doing in his first six months. So far, there aren't a lot of critics clamoring forth to say anything different.
E-mail: rpiatt@ksl.com
