S.L. making gigante mistake on west side

"I get no respect."

That was the well-known cry of the late Rodney Dangerfield. And once again, Salt Lake's west-side residents have reason to say the same.

West-side residents have often claimed City Hall has neglected them. You would have thought the city had learned its lesson about not involving citizens in matters affecting their neighbor- hoods. But once again, the city leaders spring another "deal" on them. This time it's "Gigante," a foreign owned, giant box store from Mexico, the kind the mayor once strongly opposed.

In 2002, the mayor, without involving the local residents, traded the Main Street Plaza to The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints for a piece of west-side property to build the Unity Center for the people. But after much public outcry by the local residents of not being involved, the city held token community meetings to gain public "input" about what should go into the building. Over three years the building has morphed in to several things, but ground has yet to be broken.

During the 2003 campaign, the mayor made several promises: "I envision a more vibrant city, which prizes its unique small businesses . . . walkable neighborhoods . . . shops, and the most accessible . . . the west side has specific needs and concerns, which should be addressed in a collaborative manner between residents and city government. . . . We are also committed to revitalizing the Glendale Plaza."

The mayor and City Council laid out three main policies: citizen involvement, walkable neighborhoods and small business development, including minority businesses. Now, it seems, they will be breaking faith with the residents and small-business folks on the west side.

So much for campaign promises. Forget the families who bet their nest eggs on neighborhood grocery and clothing stores, bakeries and other businesses that have sprung up as walkable shopping areas. What about a commitment to local businesses? While city hall becomes enamored with the foreign gigante project, the west-side residents and businesses are still awaiting the revitalization of the Glendale Plaza.

Residents and businesses have a right to know why the city is considering giving a foreign investor a $3.6 million loan when it still hasn't kept its commitment to local small businesses that will have to compete with the big "Gigante" from out of the country. Why hasn't the administration kept its commitment to small businesses and diversity? It seems its first responsibility ought to be to local people who have made a commitment to invest in the city. And while the small-business loan office of the city has a pot of loan money, how come it has barely trickled to the west side?