YouthCity after-school and summer programs are now located in several areas of the City, including Central City Community Center, Glendale Intermediate School, Northwest Multipurpose Center, Fairmont Park, Liberty Park, and Ottinger Hall in Memory Grove (the latter three will open after major renovation of the facilities). Mayor Anderson's Administration has also greatly expanded the tremendous youth programs at the Sorenson Center in the Glendale area.

YouthCity also includes an amazing city-wide arts program (Global Artways), innovative job training, mentoring, and an outstanding employment program.

The hard-working, effective YouthCity staff makes a huge, positive difference in the lives of many young people, families, and in the entire community.

The University light rail line has now expanded to the University Medical Center – and provides momentum for continued progress toward what will be one of the nation's best, most comprehensive regional mass transit systems.

Following the success of light rail, Rocky worked in the successful campaign for a ¼ cent sales tax increase in Weber, Davis, and Salt Lake Counties for transit, which will make possible a commuter rail system and greatly expanded light rail and bus systems.

Mayor Anderson and his adminstration have also taken effective steps to stop urban and suburban sprawl, to decrease dependence on automobiles, to expand mobility choices, to provide for a more walkable community, and to provide for a better quality of life (including a healthier environment) through extensive efforts to plan wisely for future population growth.

The mayor's initiative, "Salt Lake City Green," is widely recognized for its effectiveness in reducing greenhouse gases and health-endangering pollutants. Because of this model program, which resulted in a decrease of more than 1,000 tons of equivalent CO2 emissions during the first year, the EPA sponsored Mayor Anderson's participation in a 2002 United Nations conference in New Delhi. Rocky spoke at that conference about how local governments throughout the world can take effective measures to reduce greenhouse gas emissions and other dangerous pollutants.

As part of the Mayor's Salt Lake City Green initiative, Salt Lake City has also implemented innovative, effective water and energy conservation programs, developed high-performance building standards, conducted a sustainability inventory in every department of city government, provided greater opportunities for bicyclists, and greatly expanded our recycling program (resulting in a 61% increase in recycled materials in one year).

In response to requests for greater discount retail shopping opportunities, the west side, with Mayor Anderson, has worked to attract a Wal-Mart, which will be built near 300 West and 1300 South. During Mayor Anderson's Administration, the City has invested more than $15.6 million in community and economic development on the west side, including investments in housing projects, Community Development Block Grant projects, and business development projects. Since the mayor took office, Salt Lake City has provided financial assistance for new construction of 701 housing units on the west side.

Residents on the west side now benefit from the substantial improvement and expansion of parks, including the redesign of eight playgrounds, the construction of our City's first skateboard park (at Jordan Park), and the acquisition of a large portion of the Jordan River Trail, Cottonwood Park, and the Jordan River Golf Course. Young people on the west side, as well as their families and neighborhoods, will also benefit from a new civic center to be built near the Sorenson Center in Glendale - a project that arose from the anticipated resolution of the Main Street Plaza issue and made possible by the generous pledges of support from several individuals, foundations, and the Alliance for Unity.

Mayor Anderson has focused a tremendous amount of energy and resources on public safety in the west side area. During his administration, serious crime has declined by 23% west of I-15. A new Pioneer Police Precinct is scheduled to open at 1040 West 700 South in autumn of 2003, which will help reduce response times for police on the west side. With Mayor Anderson's support Salt Lake City finally opened Fire Station #9 (which was built more than 10 years earlier) during 2002 and constructed a new fire training facility at 1600 South Industrial Road. As a result of the new fire station, medical response times have decreased in the area by an average of 3.7 minutes per call.

Rocky continually works to bring in more west side businesses and to create community-building retail/restaurant nodes in various parts of the west side. Rocky also fights in every way possible to mitigate the negative effects of the reactivation of the Union Pacific railroad line near 900 South and, over the long term, to reduce or completely eliminate railroad traffic along that line.

Mayor Rocky Anderson works collaboratively with many long-term residents to identify what additional steps must be taken to improve the quality of life in the wonderfully diverse neighborhoods of Salt Lake City's west side. He remains committed to prioritizing west side development for the benefit of our entire community.

With the opening of the Gateway shopping center, new opportunities arose for Downtown – but tremendous challenges also face our traditional Main Street Downtown area. Rocky continues to work with retailers, property owners, and developers to make certain The Gateway and the Main Street Downtown areas both succeed, while complementing each other.

Rocky views our Downtown as an important gathering place for the Salt Lake City community – a place where everyone comes together for working, for commerce, for shopping, for entertainment, and for dining. Mayor Anderson has identified many of the pieces of the downtown-revitalization puzzle and has taken many effective measures to bolster and enliven Downtown.

The City has added 154 new parking stalls and calmed traffic along 300 South in the Central Business District, which has helped to significantly increase revenues for nearby restaurants, clubs and retailers. The mayor has worked with the Downtown Alliance to implement a program that permits Downtown businesses to provide tokens customers can use for buses, light rail, parking meters, and parking in Downtown lots. Rocky has worked to change ordinances, resulting in far more outdoor dining, more interesting signage, and the allowance of street artists and other performers. Mayor Anderson's administration has also brought more events to Downtown, which have increased the revenues for Downtown businesses, while providing for more interesting, vibrant, community-building gatherings.

A genuine community requires great gathering places – the Salt lake City Downtown is once again becoming the premier gathering place for those who work and reside along the Wasatch Front.

Through our differences - and through our appreciation of those differences - comes greater strength for our community, as well as in our individual lives. With that principle in mind, Rocky convened, along with Jon Huntsman, the Alliance for Unity, a group of religious, civic, and ethnic leaders committed to promoting greater understanding and compassion among people, and dedicated to nurturing a deeper respect for our differences. The "overriding goal" of the Alliance for Unity is "to help people cross boundaries of culture, religion, and ethnicity to better understand and befriend one another."

Collaboration-

Mayor Anderson does not just follow the polls or whatever may be politically expedient at the moment. Rather, he takes a stand, even if it means taking on powerful interests or bucking popular views. He also understands the importance of working collaboratively with others to get things done.

Leading up to and during the 2002 Winter Olympic Games, Rocky worked closely with the other members of the Board of Trustees of the Salt Lake Organizing Committee, making certain that the Games would run smoothly, while protecting Salt Lake City's interests. He also worked effectively with the Utah State Legislature and Mitt Romney in making certain that public safety needs would be adequately financed. As Mitt Romney said, "I think a lot of people would look at (the Olympic funding deal) and say it was a minor miracle. [Rocky] was instrumental, key, in reaching a solution."

Mayor Anderson is committed to the notion that diversity strengthens our community and each of our individual lives. He also believes that our differences can help unite rather than divide us. He joined with Jon Huntsman in convening the Alliance for Unity, a group of civic, religious, and business leaders working together to strengthen our community through greater respect and understanding among diverse people, including people of different faiths, races, and ethnic origins.

Mayor Anderson has worked collaboratively with several ethnic organizations to make certain that everyone in our community feels welcome and has a voice. He has worked closely with homeless service providers, making certain that needs of the homeless were met during the 2002 Winter Olympic Games and planning for the long-term future so that homeless services are available and convenient for those in need. He has also worked with non-profit partners and Salt Lake County to create the most comprehensive after-school and summer youth programs ever in Salt Lake City.

Following the tragic events of 9/11, Mayor Anderson vigorously pushed for 100% screening of checked luggage at airports throughout the country. He won unanimous support of the US Conference of Mayors for his proposal that Congress immediately require comprehensive screening of checked luggage at our nation's airports.

Mayor Anderson has proven repeatedly that his informed, energetic advocacy and effectiveness at working collaboratively with others brings about positive results for our city, our state, and our nation.