🧵 A local sew-ciety you should know about

Illegal Demolition

The demolition of a historic building sparked outrage on Sunday. The Fifth Ward Meetinghouse has served various purposes since 1910; it was even a venue for the rock band Nirvana in the ‘90s. But despite being designated as a local historical landmark, wrongful demolition of the structure was stopped by the city on Easter morning. City officials are in talks with the owner who will have to rebuild the demolished parts. [FOX 13]

Pedestrian Crashes

The number of fatal car crashes statewide is on the rise, and most of them happen along the Wasatch Front in Salt Lake, Utah, and Weber counties. According to the Utah Highway Safety Office, pedestrian-involved crashes constitute 18% of Utah’s fatal crashes. The Utah Department of Transportation has implemented infrastructure like speed bumps and pedestrian refuge islands to enhance safety. And Salt Lake City has a Vision Zero goal, which set aside $2 million for traffic calming measures. [Salt Lake Tribune 🔒]

Biden Challenged Over Student Loans … Again

Republican-led states, including Utah, are suing the Biden administration to halt the implementation of the new SAVE Plan for student loan repayment. The SAVE Plan aims to expedite loan cancellation and reduce monthly payments for millions of borrowers. The lawsuit contends that President Biden is exceeding his authority in establishing the plan. The Education Department, however, asserts that they have the authority, granted by Congress in 1993, to define the terms of income-driven repayment plans. [KUER]

The MLB Text Exchange

A hot text exchange between two city council members has revealed the truth about how Salt Lake’s Major League Baseball stadium plan really came together. City Cast Salt Lake podcast host Ali Vallarta and executive producer Emily Means break down the news stories catapulting us into the week. [City Cast Salt Lake 🎧]

Juicy Political Texts, Illegal Demolition, and Free Renter Resources

Juicy text messages reveal Salt Lake City Council members’ knee-jerk reactions to a bill paving the way for Major League Baseball and a stadium entertainment district on the Westside. Host Ali Vallarta and executive producer Emily Means share key takeaways from the digital skirmish. Plus, a historic building took a hit on Easter Sunday, and Ali and Emily share local shoutouts.