Sage Boyer
Member since Jul 23, 2015
Recent Comments
Re: “Biskupski and Becker Survive Primary, Move to General Election”
On July 16,2015 I arrived at the mayoral debate early and sat on the first row. I was wearing a tee-shirt that said "Ralph Becker for Mayor" I was approached by the moderator of the event Jennifer Napier-Pearce. She asked me to move to the second row because she said essentially I was wearing a candidate support tee-shirt. I pointed out to her the library was a public place. She then tried to cover that she, a reporter with a masters degree from Stanford, tried to limit free speech; by saying she needed the chair for her assistant. I apologized and moved to the other side of the auditorium still on the first row.
Then, I was approached by Jackie Biskupski who said I needed to sit on the same side of the auditorium as the candidate I was supporting.
So I moved back to the same area in the seat adjacent to the seat I thought Jennifer had said she needed for her assistant. Jennifer then came back over and said she needed the seat I was sitting in for assistant. I said I thought it was the other seat but she of course could have both seats; and I moved one over.
The next day I called the Salt Lake City Tribune and asked if they paid a fee to rent the space. The manger I spoke to said they did not. Therefore, Jennifer Napier- Pearce could not have believed in my opinion, that the tribune had a private endeavor with the library and she was justified legally in attempting to limit free expression of political speech. The fact that Jennifer Napier Pearce asked me to move to the second row initially without a legal justification for doing so, in my opinion, demonstrates a bias. Since Jennifer was the one who screened the questions that were selected from readers, it also in my opinion impugns integrity of the debate.
The fact that Jackie Biskupski said I needed to sit on the other side of the auditorium demonstrates a emotional instability, in my opinion -specifically excessively inappropriate controlling behavior. It's absurd that she thinks she should control where people sit in a public space. It is a telling flaw and should be an alarm for voters.
Mayor Ralph Becker on the other hand has a history of tolerance for all persons. He was honored by the Whitehouse for reducing chronic homelessness among veterans to a functional zero. He has made it unable to target the housing of persons with disabilities. I have seen his successful efforts throughout the community. A disabled veteran told me about his apartment. A man I know is no longer homeless; and no longer carrying a large duffle-bag everywhere he goes. I saw a person who had a verbal disability who used to beg on main street buying stuff to clean an apartment. A disabled senior I know retained his housing.
Ralph was successful in supporting the first non-discrimination ordinance for the LGBT community with regards to housing and employment.
He put together the team that convinced google fiber to select Salt Lake City. We are ahead of other cities in construction because of Ralph Becker's expertise with geographically planing.
He argued against the prison specifically because of the wetlands. His environmental credits make him the most qualified to identify federal protections against the prison at the committee's selected Site. Ralph Becker is substance. Ralph Becker is genuine. Ralph Becker is the best Choice for Salt Lake City mayor.
Re: “Mayoral Wild Cards”
I am passionately supportive of Ralph Becker. When compared to Luke and Jackie Ralph Becker is the only candidate that acknowledged the disabled in a questionnaire put out by poverty news. This is alarming because the disabled account for 43% of the homeless. The league of Salt Lake City Voters compiled research that listed disabilities as 2 out of 7 barriers to housing. The first was a lack of income; which one could assert is strongly linked to many of the disabled -who are on a fixed income. Disability needs to be part of the awareness of our mayor when addressing the issue of homelessness.
Ralph Becker has been acknowledged by the white house for being the second city to reduce chronic homelessness among veterans to a functional zero. One article cited our solutions as more livable than the first city to end chronic homelessness among veterans. After Ralph Becker's efforts with the homeless, I spoke to a disabled veteran who told me about his apartment. Because of Ralph Becker's diplomacy, he was able to get the voucher he wanted for furniture from a private charity. Another individual with disabilities, in a church congregation I belonged to until it was reorganized; now has an apartment and has stopped carrying a large duffle bag everywhere he goes. I recently saw a man with verbal disabilities buying stuff he would need to clean an apartment at the same store as me; who I used to see begging for help downtown.
Ralph has a compassion for Salt Lake City's school children in particular those with special needs. He created a position in the mayor's office to liaison with Salt Lake City's school District. He said a child can't study if their tooth is hurting. He supports the community learning centers which provide medical and dental care. The center also provides peer mentoring and meal support. He said the key to addressing children with special needs is early intervention.
Ralph was able to get us the Hive pass for a second year in a row. He has been successful in getting many private donations for the chronically homeless veterans. He put together the team that convinced google to choose us for google fiber. He is the only one with a masters degree in geographical planning to facilitate a smooth transition with google-a world renowned company.
He replaced city cars with eco friendly options. New city buildings built are also eco friendly.
He wants to save our mountains and the large portion of the 1.1 billion tourism dollars it contributes to Salt Lake City. His geographical planning credit plus the fact he was an firefighter, EMT, and park ranger previously; makes him uniquely qualified to do so.
The other candidates are not prepared to facilitate success with these community and commercial collaborations. Ralph is genuine and non-impulsive. Rather than say what he thinks the public wants to hear; he waits until the research is complete and then proceeds with exceptional results. The other candidates need development.
Re: “Problem Not Solved”
Let's do some real math. In every debate, to my recollection, Jackie dramatically laments Mayor Ralph Becker's efforts with the homeless are essentially "too little too late. Mayor Ralph Becker was honored for his efforts in reducing chronic homelessness among veterans by the white house. http://livable.org/livability-live/782-ral…
His efforts facilitated functionally ending chronic homelessness among veterans in December 2014. http://www.governing.com/news/headlines/go… Salt Lake City is close to eliminating chronic homelessness entirely.
Since announcing the 5000 Doors initiative, 797 Affordable Housing Units have been built, preserved, or supported.
Although Jackie served on a legislative homeless committee; I could find no evidence of commendations for her efforts from the White House. http://thinkutah.org/meet-the-panel-jackie…. "Those who can't" criticize".