'Your City Could Be Better': What Portland Needs To Know About Utah's Controversial 'Homeless Campus' Plan
Homelessness is one of the major issues that cities like Portland are trying to solve. The state of Utah is planning to build a 16-acre homeless campus on the outskirts of Salt Lake City, where unhoused people with mental illnesses or addiction issues could be sheltered and in some cases involuntarily committed. This controversial idea is the brainchild of conservative think tanks, and it’s one that’s very much being embraced by the Trump administration and the Utah legislature. City Cast CEO David Plotz talks with City Cast Salt Lake podcast host Ali Vallarta about how this plan is meant to work, the concerns about forced institutionalization, and why the state is pushing for this even though it goes against the recommendations of local experts and service providers.
Mentioned on the show:
- Interrogating Controversial Homeless Policy Proposals (City Cast Salt Lake)
Is there something your city is doing that we should be talking about? Email David now!
We’re also on Instagram: @yourcitycouldbebetter
Looking to advertise on Your City Could Be Better? Check out our options.
Subscribe To Our Newsletter

Stay connected to City Cast Portland and get ready to join the local conversation.
Latest Episodes
'Your City Could Be Better': Why Seattle Gives Every Voter $100 — Presented By City Cast Portland
Could public financing get more Portlanders involved in local elections? For the last decade, the City of Seattle has issued $100 in vouc...

Affordable Housing Leader Under Fire, Lowering Bar for Forced Treatment, and Best New Thai Food
We're talking about how the CEO of Portland's housing authority, Home Forward, spent more than $100,000 in taxpayer dollars on travel, a...

Music Millenium’s AI Backlash, State Abortion Law Ruled Unconstitutional, Plus Mailbag!
We’re talking about how AI landed a beloved local record store in hot water and why our state’s abortion coverage law is being ruled unco...

Vancouver’s Light Rail Problem, Worker Death in Amazon Facility, and Essential Group Bike Rides
We're talking about the puzzling plans for a Vancouver light rail and the horrific response to a worker’s death at a Troutdale Amazon war...

Gov. Kotek’s Only Possible Veto, Alleged Child Abuser Escaped, and Local Cosmetic Tattoo Industry Shakeup
We're talking about the one bill Governor Kotek might veto and how it might affect our city council, local law enforcement asking for hel...

Portland Monthly’s Shaky Future, Our 911 Dispatchers Among Best in World, and Free Stuff To Do
We're talking about what the sale of Portland Monthly means for local news coverage and the people working there, how our city's 911 disp...

'Your City Could Be Better': Why Portland’s Considering Hiring a Night Mayor
Nightlife is a huge economic driver for cities, but city offices are often closed when those businesses need help. That’s why Portland is...

Mayor Wilson vs Reality, a Vision for the Waterfront, and a Controversial City Leadership Pick
Today we’re looking into how the city and county are fighting (once again) over the state of our ongoing homelessness crisis and talking...

Why Sports Teams Oppose Raises for Uber Drivers, New E-Bike Discounts, and our Mailbag
Today we're talking about a new city e-bike rebate you might qualify for, why almost all of our sports teams are against a city ordinance...

East Portland Needs More Grocery Stores, Rene Gonzalez Sues the City, and Fun Wildflower Hikes
We're talking about how East Portland might be slowly becoming a food desert, the return of City Commissioner Rene Gonzalez — and this ti...

