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Show Viewpoints The A-13 Park Record. Sat/Sun/Mon/Tues, June 20-23, 2020 editorial Arts festival makes right call, and now it’s City Hall’s turn T guest editorial Reduce your food waste and help curb climate change KATYA PUSHKA AND JACKSON CROWLEY Park City High School As Park City High School energy ambassadors, we’ve been empowering our peers to reduce their environmental impact by using the Summit Community Power Works (SCPW) Challenge. The Energy Ambassador internship — created with support from Vail Resorts’ EpicPromise — allowed SCPW to provide us with opportunities to develop leadership skills and learn more about climate change. Unfortunately, schools were closed shortly after our internship began. When we were stuck inside, we found ways to reduce our carbon footprints from home and encourage our peers to do so as well. One thing we can all do in our homes is address food waste. While some things are opening up, leaving home for unnecessary trips is still a risk. Just a trip to the grocery store can feel intimidating, so we’ve put together some tips on maximizing the food you have at home to reduce your food waste. Reducing your waste helps you avoid the store and also has a significant impact on your carbon footprint. According to Project Drawdown, food waste is one of the highest contributors to carbon emissions. Food waste harms the environment and needs to be reduced to control climate change. The pandemic shed a light on the importance of using what we already have. Now is the perfect time to discover new recipes using your current food supply. According to the New York Post, “Americans throw away 103 pounds of spoiled food from their fridge every single year.” Take inventory of what’s in your pantry. Once you know what you have, find creative recipes to use what’s on hand. You can even plan out your meals for the week before you go grocery shopping, so you only buy the food you need. Strategic meal planning can help you avoid spending $1,500 a year on uneaten groceries. Some may think that stocking up on food is the best way to go, but this creates more food waste. Perishable items including fruits, vegetables, dairy and meat go to waste when you buy too much. Not only is the food wasted, but the energy and water for growing, transporting and packaging are wasted as well. Most people don’t realize that when food is piled up in landfills, it produces a greenhouse gas called methane. Methane is extremely harmful to the environment. According to the World Wildlife Fund, about 11% of agricultural emissions could be reduced if we stop wasting food. Even if you’ve been careful about planning your meals, things happen, and you may end up with a little food waste. In that case, compost your extra food to avoid sending your waste to the landfill. While social distancing continues, we will be cooking, experimenting and eating at home. It’s important to minimize the food waste we produce. There are many easy ways to conquer this challenge. Cook with the food you already have before you buy groceries, plan meals to avoid over-buying and compost extras. Reducing how much food goes to waste will create a cleaner, safer future. Learn more about living sustainably by using heading to SCPWChallenge.org to calculate your carbon footprint and create your home energy plan! So far this year, we’ve had more than 150 Park City High School students join the challenge, and we can’t wait to see the kind of impact we’ll have if the whole community gets on board. he middle of summer will be less vibrant. On Thursday, the Park City Kimball Arts Festival organizers announced this year’s event will not be held due to concerns about the coronavirus. Doubtless, the decision was painful. The arts festival is among the most treasured events of the year, delighting attendees and serving as a crucial avenue for artists to make money and gain exposure. And after one of the most challenging springs in memory, few Parkites couldn’t have used the lift that gathering with friends and strolling Main Street during the festival would have provided. Alas, the Kimball Art Center unequivocally made the right call. As beloved as the arts festival is, now is not the time for unnecessary risks. True, the number of new coronavirus cases in Summit County has remained relatively stable over the last couple of months despite the easing restrictions. But that can change quickly. Disregarding the advice of health experts and holding a mass gathering — even a scaled-down one — where the coronavirus could spread would be reckless, especially considering the festival typically brings in hordes of people from the Wasatch Front, where cases continue to surge and where people seem to be less strict about wearing masks and taking other precautions. That’s also why City Hall should nix the annual Fourth of July parade on Main Street and the associated festivities in City Park. Officials, though, have been noticeably quiet about their plans. At a City Council meeting Thursday, the elected officials indicated they’d address the holiday next week, leaving residents in limbo about what, if anything, will be on the Independence Day slate. Given concerns city councilors recently expressed about the prospect of the arts festival going forward this year, and the Marsac Building’s support for coronavirus-fighting restrictions, it’s hard to imagine the city not either scrapping the Fourth of July celebration altogether or proceeding only with activities that allow for social distancing, like a fireworks show. But with the holiday just two weeks away, the lack of official word from City Hall is perplexing. The Kimball Art Center should be proud to join the Park Silly Sunday Market, the Tour of Utah, the Park City Institute and others in sacrificing popular events for the health of the community. And we’ll applaud City Hall if and when it does the same, even if the announcement comes somewhat belatedly. guest editorial Stevens’ background in the public sector sets her apart in County Council primary ALEX BUTWINSKI Former Park City councilor Small town elections are tough. Very often friends are running for the same position and that makes decisions all the more difficult. A well-deserved thank you goes to Park City Television, KPCW and The Park Record for broadcasting the annual Park City Rotary candidate forum. We were able to see that both candidates are eminently qualified. Both are articulate, thoughtful and committed to serving Summit County. However, one candidate’s experience sets her apart, which is why I am voting for Malena Stevens. The choice for voters comes down to what differentiates these candidates. One candidate is a businessman from the private sector and one candidate has extensive experience in the public sector. It is not a “false narrative” to describe the other four current council members as businessmen. In fact, all of their careers have been in the private sector — Roger Armstrong has successfully run a law practice; Chris Robinson has owned and operated multiple businesses; Glenn Wright is a Vietnam veteran who also was an insurance company executive; and Doug Clyde has worked for and with multi-million dollar land planning businesses for many years. Retiring Councilmember Kim Carson has been the only member of the council whose experience has not been in the private sector, and her perspective is a vital component of council decisions. Two of the current members of council are again running unopposed, which makes it all the more important to ensure a diversity of views on council. At the end of the day, business and the private sector are profit motivated. That’s not a bad thing, but it presents a whole different set of parameters for decisions and budgeting. With her experience in the public sector, Stevens has a firm understanding of how government budgets operate and how we can better use the budget to help individuals, families and our local businesses as we recover from the coronavirus pandemic. We will have a more dynamic council if we have leaders with different backgrounds and experience from different sectors. The public sector is quite different than the private sector. Budgeting is not as simple as “money comes in and money goes out.” Having been both a business owner and a city councilor I can attest to that. The public sector is not, nor should it be, profit driven. It is there to serve the public interest, safety and welfare. It’s not about a return on investment. It’s about listening to what’s important to people and making difficult choices about how to meet those needs and provide necessary services. We like to say he or she “checks all the boxes” as we evaluate candidates. As in other local elections both these candidates recognize the importance of transportation solutions, growth and regional collaboration. What differentiates them is their career experience and here the distinctions are clear. Malena has been a victim advocate, managed a government budget, worked on domestic violence, suicide prevention, mental health outreach, graduated from Leadership Park City and served as a Snyderville Basin planning commissioner. Malena’s master’s degree in public administration provides her with the knowledge of how government works and the importance of building consensus. Those insights and her career experiences will provide an alternative perspective necessary to debate the pros and cons of policy decisions. This primary is unlike most others. The successful candidate in this primary election will be the winner of the November general election barring a successful write-in candidate. Malena is my clear choice for Summit County Council, please consider her yours as well. letters to the editor Actions were necessary I can’t agree with Amy Roberts’ statement that the protests in Lafayette Square, which is across from the White House, were peaceful. News reports that I have seen say that dozens of law enforcement officers were injured by thrown projectiles, and that this violent behavior led to the decision to move the protesters a block away. The U.S. Park Police officials claim to have used pepper balls, not tear gas, to disperse the crowd when they refused to follow the instructions that they move. The violent behavior that included the fire attack on St. John’s Church across the Square from the White House probably contributed to the concerns about the safety of the White House and the need to provide additional protection there. I lived in and around Washington, D.C., for The Park Record Staff PUBLISHER ....................... Andy Bernhard Editor ................................... Bubba Brown Staff Writers ......................Jay Hamburger Scott Iwasaki Alexander Cramer Contributing ............................. Tom Clyde Writers Teri Orr Amy Roberts Tom Kelly Joe Lair many years, and the efforts to provide protection to government officials, diplomats and employees are extensive and often are intrusive. Streets are frequently blocked for official caravans, and public spaces are cordoned off for a variety of reasons. While in the service I was stationed in D.C. in 1968, when Lyndon Johnson had the military protect the U.S. Capitol Building after the assassination of Martin Luther King Jr. That terrible event resulted in riots and looting that destroyed parts of Washington. Sometimes the U.S. Secret Service acts in ways that seem excessive in their efforts to protect the president, such as shutting down part of LAX airport so Bill Clinton could have a haircut by Christophe on Air Force One. But I would rather have the Secret Service act cautiously, even if it results in inconvenience for many, because the consequences of presidential assassinations and attempted assassinations have been so damaging to our country. The consequences of another presidential assassination would be felt for years and would undermine the already-fraying social fabric of our nation. For that reason it has been my constant prayer since the election of Barack Obama for his safety, and now for the safety of Donald Trump. F. Joseph Feely III Trailside Engagement Editor............. Jeff Dempsey Photographer .........................Tanzi Propst Circulation Manager ............. Lacy Brundy Distribution........................... Henry Knight ADVERTISING Advertising Director ........... Valerie Spung Advertising Sales ................... Jodi Hecker Lindsay Lane Director of Digital Marketing .. Tina Wismer Production Director ..................Ben Olson Production ......................... Louise Mohorn We need Harte’s leadership We hear today about essential workers. Our thriving Summit County now requires essential government officials. Good leadership is imperative as we elect public servants who are dedicated, experienced, focused and proportioned in their judgment. Canice Harte is such a person. Canice brings a diverse background to the table as a father, former business owner, nonprofit employee, Marine Corps veteran and a person who can empathize with the underserved. His seven years of work with the Snyderville Basin Planning Commission is assurance of his deep understanding of the issues confronting Summit County. Canice is a thoughtful advocate for moderate and planned development, improved traffic and transportation and affordable housing. As an assistant governor of Utah Rotary District 5420, Canice has excelled in mentoring and leading local and statewide Rotarians. The ethos of “Service Above Self” is a natural fit for this candidate who has continually reached out to those in need in the community. Please join us in supporting and voting for Canice Harte for Summit County Council. Karen and Jeff Nielsen Snyderville Basin Harte embodies service I’ve known Canice Harte for a decade. His older daughter and my younger son have attended school together for most of that time. Additionally, my husband Jeff and I have enjoyed professional interactions with Canice and his spouse Katy. Our family benefits, directly and indirectly, from his commitment to the community. You may have benefited from his volunteer work without realizing it. A Marine veteran, Canice embodies a commitment to service, both as a member of Park City Rotary, and in his seven-plus years of service as a Snyderville Basin Planning Commissioner. His passion for long-distance running offers context to his skills. The adage, “It’s a marathon, not a sprint,” inspires a certain amount of patience. Canice takes an even longer view. He’s completed six 100-mile races, and then some. He values the journey — learning from the community around him — as much as the result. In all of these capacities, he knows when to push, and when to listen and gather resources or consensus. As a candidate and if he is elected, Canice brings unique experience and perspective. In both cases, he’s the only one who has worked for a local nonprofit and the only one who has launched two small businesses. Canice’s perspective will be much-needed as our county prioritizes economic recovery. He’s the only one with children in the public schools. I have served on school community councils at JRES, EHMS and continue to serve at PCHS. I know his view of how community issues impact families; the insights he can share will be valuable. Importantly, Canice grew up in affordable housing. He knows its value in a healthy community, in having our workforce, our essential services workers, and our educators to live and work within the community they serve. He understands the need for age-in-place options in the county. Creating better affordable options requires some ingenuity; he will work to create those opportunities. Canice Harte will have our votes for County Council. I encourage you to vote for him. Bari Nan Rothchild Jeremy Ranch Voters must step up I would like to respond to David A. Edmunds’ letter to the editor published June 12, which asserts, “Summit County’s electorate has long been among the most sophisticated in Utah. Voters here understand that local government(s), and its policies, have a huge impact on our day-to-day lives.” If city and county politics matter to the people of this county in terms of our sophistication, then state politics should matter to us also. Our state Legislature vastly impacts what our city and county governments have the power to do — and frequently, though the heavily Republican Legislature espouses “local control,” they enact legislation that does just the opposite and takes our local control away (see: COVID-19, criminal justice reform, environmental laws, etc.). I hear time and time again that people in Summit County think that only Democrats are elected here. Did you know that Summit County has only one Democrat of five total state representatives in the Utah House and Utah Senate? That Democrat is Rep. Brian King of Salt Lake City, and he represents a mere 6% of the voting age population of Summit County, in Summit Park and a small portion of Pinebrook. Summit County’s voting residents could do a lot more to support our state-level candidates if they want to be called “sophisticated.” There are three open seats at the state Legislature that have three very qualified Democrat candidates to represent Summit County: Meaghan Miller, state House District 54 (who lost by a mere 162 votes in her race in 2018), Katy Owens, Senate District 19, and Cheryl Butler, state House District 53. It’s up to all of us who want a voice in the Utah Legislature to ensure that these candidates get the support they need through both volunteering and donating. For the voters of Summit County who would like to see some true local representation at the state level — what are you going to do to change that in 2020? Stephanie Dolmat Summit County Democratic Party chair of fundraising and communications |