Hey, Rocky — I don't have to eat in Salt Lake

Wow, I'm making Rocky Anderson sick.

Since I'm a Davis County resident, Anderson's State of the City address hit a nerve. I'm not supposed to take it personally. But this personal column deals with all aspects of food, and Anderson's comments can affect where people spend their food dollars.

The Salt Lake mayor said he didn't want the city's "friends from the north" to "increase our city's traffic, further foul our air, undermine the quality of our lives and make us sick simply because of the choices they make about where they live and how they get around."

"Friends"?

While out doing stories this past week, I gazed at all the cars on Salt Lake City's busy streets. Surely these ALL can't be from Davis and Weber counties. It's hard to believe that NONE of the million or so people living in Salt Lake City ever drives a car. It's hard to believe that this city's air quality has nothing to do with the residents who live in it.

But he's right — a lot of Davis and Weber county residents work in Salt Lake City. I see them at the food courts and restaurants, or shopping at downtown malls or getting groceries on their way home from work.

We all don't have Mayor Anderson's single lifestyle. We can't squeeze a family of six into a fuel-efficient hybrid car. Unlike some political posts, our jobs aren't guaranteed for four years. With today's corporate downsizing, why move next to your company's Salt Lake headquarters, even if you could afford it? Next year you could be working in Ogden, Layton or Orem.

When I worked for a rival newspaper, it was a quick commute from our Kaysville home to the Layton office. But I made a whopping $8.08 per hour. I went to Ogden, then Salt Lake City, for a better salary. My neighbors, too, have gone through many job changes in the past 15 years. But we have stability in our homes, our neighborhood and the good friends our kids can walk to school with (and walking to school is good for the environment!).

Commuter rail? Bring it on! But meanwhile, I'm stuck fouling Mayor Anderson's air.

Whenever I talk to Salt Lake restaurateurs, I sense that they welcome more customers, no matter where they're from. The organizers of last year's Dine O'Round were pleased that so many people came from out of town to try the downtown restaurants. Because it's my job, I'll continue to enthusiastically cover Salt Lake restaurant events, as well as other food-related topics.

But I'll spend less of my own money here in Salt Lake City.