Who deserves praise and criticism this week in Northern Utah?

THUMBS UP: To all those who volunteered, organized and coordinated all of the many festivities related to the sesquicentennial celebration of the Golden Spike. There were strong crowds at Promontory Summit last Friday and Saturday, as well as in downtown Ogden around Union Station. The trains were truly showcased, and it was wonderful to see so many visitors flock to Northern Utah and celebrate the diverse history of the railroad and its impact.

We were especially appreciative of organizations like the Chinese Railroad Workers in North America Project and special speakers from Weber State and other universities that spoke to the contributions of Chinese railroad workers who had largely been publicly unacknowledged in the last 150 years. Other wonderful events like the “Gold Mountain” musical highlighted how these men succeeded in a situation many others at that time could not.

The anniversary of the transcontinental railroad was also celebrated by Utah’s black community for their role in its construction and running in subsequent years. In fact, black presence increased with passenger rail travel, as many worked as porters and waiters on trains.

THUMBS DOWN: Reporting crimes on a regular basis, it has been difficult to not observe the increase in child pornography-based arrests. According to The Associated Press, 226 people were arrested in 2018 on such charges in Utah. In Utah, it’s being reported that police are seeing more victims aged 5 and under. Technology has brought much good in recent decades, but it has also enabled the spread of filth and crime. However, improved technology has also helped the fight against it, for Utah’s Internet Crimes Against Children task force. Viewing child pornography is not harmless. Victims of child abuse can reach out to nonprofits for help, like the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children. In addition to local police task forces locating and arresting child pornography users, we appreciate organizations like Operation Underground Railroad that seek to eradicate human sex trafficking.

THUMBS DOWN: New information this week points to the fact that Weber County is faced with more homelessness per capita then anywhere else in the state. And yet, Weber County’s funding to address such a crucial issue has decreased from the state. While Salt Lake County might deal with high numbers of homelessness, it definitely isn’t the only exclusive area grappling with solutions. According to a report released in May, 2,551 homeless lived here in Weber County as of 2018, up 66 percent from 1,533 in 2014. The Standard-Examiner reported this week that Weber County is home to 13%-16% of the state’s homeless, the study said, but received just 8.9% of state funding in 2019 meant to aid the population.

Part of Utah’s homelessness issue ties back to a lack of affordable housing, and this too needs to be addressed in Weber County. Until more affordable housing is available in the markets across Utah based on actual current wages, homelessness will continue to increase.

THUMBS UP: To the many moms celebrated in the last week, whether they were officially Weber County mother of the year, or mother of the year to their own families. Women contribute significantly to Utah’s success, and their role is frequently overlooked. Thank you for all you do!

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