I love Murray’s cozy neighborhoods and small town feel, and where we have that we need to preserve it. I do not favor infill townhomes anywhere we can squeeze them in or redevelopment of established suburban neighborhoods. But Murray is showing early signs of economic struggles as housing prices go up and there are fewer and fewer options for residents whose use of our local businesses create jobs and support the tax base of the city. We are seeing business closures and empty storefronts as a result of this ‘hollowing out’ of Murray’s economy. Adding a diversity of housing choices including higher-density housing and mixed-use developments is critical if we want to keep Murray the amazing place to live that it is. The key is going to be doing that in a way that doesn’t disrupt our suburban neighborhoods, and that means targeting Murray’s urban core: along State Street, near the Hospital, and at key commuter interchanges. Those are the only places where I support high density development.

We need to continue fully supporting and funding our police force, and also start to add some more tools to our public safety toolbox. We should take an integrated, casework-oriented approach with nonviolent offenders to help address the root cause of their bad choices and free up our armed officers to respond to dangerous situations and crimes in progress. We also need to improve our community infrastructure. Murray (especially District 2) has a significant number of abandoned buildings and overgrown lots that are proven to invite crime into communities and has built a city that is too often intimidating to walk or bike through. The best thing we can do for crime in Murray is restore our struggling commercial areas like at the corner of 700 West and 5300 South or 5900 South and State to bustling, welcoming areas.

I support reducing Murray’s plastic waste, but do not support a plastic bag ban. Research shows that the environmental consequences of reusable and paper bags are similarly severe to single use plastic, and the costs of plastic bag bans are felt most sharply by the people with the lowest incomes. On balance, this policy does not work well enough to justify the burden on the community.

For a date night, Soy Sushi.
With the kids in tow, you can not beat Italian Village!

I’m Joe Silverzweig, candidate for Murray City Council District 2. I’m an attorney by training, a former small business owner, and have built a career creating partnerships between government and community. I love Murray and live here with my wife and three young kids- Emilia is eight, William is five, and little Jack is two. I’m honored to serve on nonprofit boards, volunteer in my community, and fundraise for causes I believe in. In some ways, I feel as if I’ve been preparing my whole life to help steer local communities to new heights of prosperity and togetherness.

My campaign is about embracing the promising future of Murray while honoring our proud past. I believe in preserving the quality of our suburban neighborhoods by investing in a thriving, dynamic commercial and cultural heart of the city. I believe that our community must put our shoulder to the wheel and take responsibility for modern challenges like air quality, water conservation, and inequality. My core values are integrity, accountability, and compassion. I believe that these traits are the foundation of a joyous, successful life that creates a legacy a person can take pride in.

Source: The City Journals