Provo City, Welcome Home, Even to Our Young, Single, Professional Neighbors!

I have wanted to publish this blog post for more than a week, but I've really struggled to write it. There is so much to say. So much misunderstanding. What should I address? Which criticisms should I respond to? Which incorrect assertions should I correct? This post could get very long if I get down into all of the weeds. I decided instead to just focus on the most critical point and save any specific responses for a future post.

The claim that young, single professionals are not welcome in Provo is wrong. I apologize to anyone whom I have given this impression. I recognize that I can do better at communicating and cultivating understanding. Young, single professionals are an important, valued, contributing part of our community. You are wanted. You are needed.

Emotions are high. Feelings are raw. Frustration is building. Right now we need to be building bridges. Unfortunately, some are driving wedges instead. This is a wound that has festered for far too long. Our community needs to heal. I ask everyone involved to listen actively, speak responsibly, seek to understand, and not assume the worst in others.

The still unfinished Welcome Home Resolution concludes with, "To all people of goodwill, we say: 'Welcome Home.'" This includes young, single professionals, this includes college students, this includes married couples with and without children. This includes all people, regardless of the stage of life you are in. This includes everyone who wants to contribute to and be a part of a great community.

We do expect everyone to follow the law. No group should be exempt, and no group should feel unwelcome for being asked to follow the law. Where laws need to be improved, let's work together to get it done, balancing the interests of all affected. I believe in the rule of law, it is part of the social compact and is critical for living together in harmony. I believe in our system of electing representatives to create laws that reflect the will of the community.

The wound that is now afflicting our community formed when, for whatever reason, investors came to believe that certain laws wouldn't or shouldn't be enforced and therefore didn't need to be obeyed. This created conflict with those who expected the laws to be followed. Over the years, frustration grew in people who felt the City should be doing more to enforce, as well as in those who were the subject of the complaints being filed. I have heard stories that the City sent mixed signals about whether the laws were going to be enforced. (Though at least some of these stories originated from people with something to gain by others believing the City wouldn't enforce.) By allowing this conflict to fester, the relationship between neighbors devolved into acrimony and distrust. Many people have been hurt, many are angry.

We need to treat this wound so this rift can heal. We need wise laws, and we need people to choose to follow the laws. We need to forgive our neighbors and to be willing to look at the situation through their eyes. We need to rebuild trust and goodwill.

Young, single professionals are an integral part of our community, now and in the future. I invite all to build bridges of understanding, and to work together with civility and goodwill to address the challenges we are facing.