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Show A community newspaper serving residents and businesses on the west side of Salt Lake City Issue No. 16 J ANUARY 2005 lected School Board Member Alama Uluave Dreams Big, Works Hard Newl By Charlotte Fife-Jepperson twenty years ago, and has been active in church, scouting, and community groups The Salt Lake City School Board met for like Mobile Watch. During his campaign, he the first time this year with four new members, including one who adds some ethnic diversity to the predominantly Caucasian board. called up everyone he knows. “I knew to ask for their support,” he said. Uluave’s motivation for running for the school board was his interest in education, native and his love for the people and families on Tongan and west side resident, was sworn in as the new school board representative for Precinct 2, which stretches from 2100 South to North Temple (west of I-15) and also includes the Fairpark and Jackson Elementary areas, Uluave won his seat on the school board in the last November election by a single vote. The close race against J. Michael Clara required three counts. “I can’t even fathom that,” said Uluave. “One vote really does the West Side. As a tutor of local Polynesian On Jan. 4, Alama Uluave, a schoolchildren, Uluave witnesses the exceptional talent and creativity of these kids. “They catch on so quick. Mathematics seem to come easily to Polynesians,” he said. He is also motivated by all of the talent he sees being wasted. “I’ve noticed that they just need a little nudge in the right direction.” He hopes that as a school board member, he can help ensure a successful education for west side kids. “Education is the first step toward a successful future,” he said. matter.” Because Uluave is the first Polynesian to be elected to a major public office in Salt Lake City, “many in the Polynesian community feel they have finally arrived with one of their own as an elected official,” he said. But Uluave makes it clear that he is not just representing Tongans or Polynesians, but all people on the west side. : It would be a mistake to assume that the majority of people who voted for Uluave were Polynesian. “Out of the 1,939 votes I received, 95 percent were most likely from Caucasian voters,” said Uluave, who based - his numbers on the probable ethnic make-up Uluave is a very passionate advocate for west side schools, based Alama Uluave attends his first school board meeting as a newly elected school ‘board member, representing the west side of Salt Lake City, Precinct 2. Photo by Charlotte Fife-Jepperson of voters’ last names obtained through voting history data from Salt Lake County. especially with the former West Salt Lake and current Poplar Grove Community Uluave attributes his success in the school board race, in part, to his previous Councils. participation in community service groups, into the Poplar Grove neighborhood about EPA Funded Survey Studies West Siders’ Air Quality Awareness By Edie Trimmer The air in January can be thick with smog and gloom along the Wasatch Front. But in early January 2005, a quick reading of the Utah Division of Air Quality's wanted to know how informed west side residents are on air quality issues and how they access information about these issues. The neighborhoods surveyed included Rose Park, Glendale, Poplar Rio Grande, website promises to start the New Fairpark, West Pointe and West Year out on a “green” note. Green, on the division of Air Quality's scale, means good air. But this follows several days of poor air quality (a yellow rating) in November and December, Valley City. Surveys were trans- Grove, lated into Spanish and Tongan as well as English to assure that minority communities on the west side were interviewed. The survey was funded by a grant from the Environmental and days of poor air quality can Protection Agency (EPA). The threaten human health and quality of life. EPA offers environmental justice In 2004, Utah Society for grants, which target low income minority neighborhoods Environmental Education (USEE) ° and conducted a survey of 198 resibecause these communities” may dents in several west side neighhave a greater exposure to toxic borhoods about air quality issues. pollutants than the gengral Pope a Under the direction of Jennifer - latien. Visitacion, the staff: of USEE on his own chil- dren’s experience. Ten years ago, back when. Glendale and Edison had very poor reputa-_ tions, he was urged by family members and See Air on page 2 . Uluave, with his wife Losaline, moved friends to send his oldest daughter, Tava, to east side schools. But, because Uluave believes that it is better to “stay and fight” rather than running away from problems, his daughter attended ‘both “dreaded and impoverished” schools, Edison and Glendale. Tava, now 23 years old, graduated from BYU last spring with a See Alama on page 2 |