As the Utah Inland Port Authority Board listened to a presentation last week about the ongoing public outreach efforts for the massive distribution hub planned for Salt Lake City’s westernmost area, two of its members began to whisper.
House Majority Leader Francis Gibson, who also serves on the port board, had the night before released the text of a new bill that would both expand the scope of the inland port and prohibit any city from bringing a legal challenge against the future development. During the board meeting, Salt Lake City Mayor Jackie Biskupski — who has long been opposed to the port — issued a news release condemning that new legislation.