Utah Gov. Cox says state ‘must build’ to keep living up to its motto: industry

Utah Gov. Spencer Cox issued a call to action in his annual State of the State speech in front of lawmakers at the Utah Capitol on Thursday. “Now is a time for building.”

He painted a bleak picture of today’s United States, saying Americans have strayed from what made the U.S. a world leader for much of the 20th century — in “infrastructure, housing and technology.”

“We built roads, bridges, and homes at an unprecedented pace. We harnessed our industrial might to win world wars and stop fascism. We stood as a bulwark against communism,” Cox said. “Strong families, neighborhoods and communities were the foundation of this era of growth.”

However, he expressed concern that over the past two decades, “a tragic gap has formed between American ideals and our actions.”

“Negativity and inertia have replaced America’s culture of building,” Cox noted, highlighting several areas of concern.

“We stopped building infrastructure, as a tangle of overregulation, outdated permitting processes, and entrenched NIMBYism fed by special interests and bureaucracies block the projects we desperately need,” he said.

“We stopped building technology — ceding far too much of our manufacturing, industry, critical minerals and energy production to our adversaries. And, worst of all, we stopped building resilient people,” Cox continued.

“The mental and physical health of our teens is threatened daily by large social media companies. Our national birth rate is in steep decline, and demographic concerns now present one of the gravest threats to our shared future, all while deaths of despair have skyrocketed.”

Despite these challenges, Cox highlighted that Utah offers hope. He stated that while “there are those who would see us turn into what so many parts of the country have become, where ambition and building have died,” Utah remains an outlier.

“Utah is still weird. In the best way,” he remarked, recalling a historical perspective on how the region has evolved.

Cox recounted how the Salt Lake Valley was originally seen as a “barren wasteland” when first settled. “Almost 180 years later, our Utah desert has pulled off the most miraculous upset,” he said, celebrating the state’s growth and transformation.

He credited this success to builders throughout Utah’s history who have fought against adversity to create and connect communities.

Cox reassured his audience that from the “thousands of conversations” he’s had, he knows “Utah is not done dreaming. We’re not done doing big things. And we’re not done building.”

However, he also recognized that concerns around affordable housing are paramount for many Utah voters. “When I talk about building, some people get a little nervous,” he acknowledged, citing worries about the state’s growth pressures.

Cox referenced a headline from Utah’s oldest newspaper, warning that the state’s resources were “unable to support” more growth, dating back to 1942 when Utah’s population was significantly smaller.

He posed a question about how the state managed to expand while improving quality of life, asserting that “we must build” and that history shows Utahns have always found a way forward when united.

The governor outlined that Utah is at a “fork in the road.” He urged legislators to join him in “bold action — and building — in five key areas,” emphasizing the importance of a proactive approach.

In response, Utah’s top Democratic leaders acknowledged their commitment to protecting the rights and dignity of all Utahns. They expressed intentions to counteract punitive policies and prioritize community-centric solutions.

With calls for continued public engagement during the legislative session, leaders encouraged Utahns to participate in discussions and influence policy decisions that affect their daily lives.

In discussions about energy policy, there was a push for investments in renewable energy sources, aiming to transition away from coal-fired power and enhance sustainability for future generations.

The leaders also highlighted the urgent need to address rising living costs, housing challenges, homelessness, and mental health resource shortages, advocating for reforms rather than punitive measures.

“Rather than criminalizing those among us who are experiencing homelessness, we must break the cycle of housing instability, incarceration, trauma, and addiction,” one leader emphasized.

Furthermore, there was strong opposition to potential voting restrictions that could complicate the electoral process, with commitments to ensure democratic values are upheld while prioritizing fairness and compassion for all residents.

“As we continue to work through public safety challenges through proven, effective strategies, we will confront all issues with meaningful solutions,” was a key message from the Democratic leaders.

Lastly, there was a call to invest in public education, opposing voucher systems that benefit only a few, while aiming to support institutions that build future leaders and innovators for Utah.