Love Your Block: From idea to impact
Since 2021, Love Your Block has supported neighborhood improvement projects led by residents across the Westside and Ballpark neighborhoods. Originally funded through the Bloomberg Center for Public Innovation, the program became a full-time city initiative in 2023 thanks to Salt Lake City Mayor Erin Mendenhall’s support through the general fund investment.
But these projects are not possible without YOU. Yes, you — the neighbor reading this, the one thinking about that vacant lot you would love to see turned into a pocket park. Or maybe it is that wall you pass every day with your kids and your dog, imagining it brought to life with color and creativity. Or maybe you have thought about adding a little library to your street to share stories with your neighbors.
Summer’s over, now what?
We’ve begun that time of year with a certain melancholic feeling to it. Fall.
From the editor… Summer 2025
Managing Editor Andy Cupp discusses the importance of supporting local businesses on the Westside, and thanks Mestizo Coffeehouse for their years of serving the community.
Op-Ed: Nourishing Possibilities: A Food and Water Genealogy of Place
When I imagine a deeper time, I wonder about the older and often ignored soul of Soonkahni that has nourished the peoples of this place for ages. When I think of the events and social structures that dramatically transformed this place, I now see them as beginning with ‘food fights’ and ‘water wars’, which catalyzed an apocalyptic change across this region. The Varmint Hunt of 1848 and ensuing Battle Creek Massacre, Provo River Massacre, Bear River Massacre, Utah’s Black Hawk War, up to Posey’s “War”, and more - represent a small amount of time with violently unprecedented consequences, including both physical and spiritual starvation. The aftermath has left the elder soul of this place malnourished.
From the editor… Spring 2025
Managing Editor Andy Cupp takes a moment to pause and look back on the first half of 2025. Are you feeling more afraid or more secure with the world right now? How can you lift up, inspire, and help those who might be in a more sensitive place than yourself?
Op-Ed: A Hopeful Road
Baruch Spinoza once wrote, “Fear cannot be without hope, nor hope without fear.” He believed the two are deeply intertwined. Hope carries fear of disappointment, while fear holds hope for a better outcome. In a world where truth and lies coexist, a lack of promises occur, hatred is uplifted, and love is diminished. When everything seems chaotic, what can we do? I propose we face it with values we all know — respect, compassion, gratitude and hope.
Spring into Summer: Local events and happenings on the Westside
Summer means adventure, road trips, late nights, and early mornings enjoying the weather. There’s something about those summer nights that makes everything feel a little more exciting. And with summer approaching, it’s the perfect time to check out what’s happening locally and possibly discover new hobbies.
From the editor… Winter 2025
Editor Andy Cupp focuses his remarks on growth — both within The West View staff and on the Westside in general.