Caucus night is coming. Here’s what Westside voters should know.
On the evening of Tuesday, March 17, neighbors across Salt Lake City’s Westside will head to schools, libraries, and community buildings for one of Utah’s most unique political traditions: caucus night.
In neighborhoods like Rose Park, Glendale, Poplar Grove, and Fairpark, the meetings are often small — sometimes just a few dozen people gathered in a classroom or cafeteria. But what happens there can shape which candidates appear on Utah ballots later in the year.
Utah uses what’s known as a caucus-and-convention system to nominate candidates for office. Instead of relying only on a primary election, the process begins with neighborhood meetings where residents elect delegates to represent their precinct. Those delegates later attend county and state conventions, where they vote on which candidates move forward in the election process.
Reading out of “decadence”: How Amigos y Libros builds community through Spanish literature
In Salt Lake City, a small group of readers gather regularly to discuss novels written thousands of miles away. Their books come from Mexico, Nicaragua, Peru, Chile, and beyond. And the books all share a common trait — they’re written in Spanish. In this special book club, some members grew up speaking Spanish; others learned it later in life. Some arrive having finished every page, others come simply to listen. But everyone is welcome.
Community Spotlight: February 2026
In this edition of The West View community spotlight, learn about efforts to preserve long-standing artwork on the Westside while also expanding newer artwork installations. This community spotlight also looks at a new health clinic on the Westside and a recent conference held by the Utah Afterschool Network.
Familiar face takes on new chair role at Glendale Community Council as neighborhood faces continued change
After spending the last several years helping in various capacities on the Glendale Community Council, Jennifer Madrigal has stepped into the role of council chair.
Taverna Pizza: A true slice of New York on the edge of the Westside
If you’re looking for a true pizza experience, you have to check out Taverna Pizza. Tucked away on the edge of the Westside at 427 N 300 W, this hidden gem won’t stay hidden for long. Taverna is bringing a vibe to Salt Lake City that feels refreshingly new — a classic New York–style slice shop blended seamlessly with the comfort of a neighborhood bar.
Op-Ed: The Great (Downfall of) Salt Lake
As pioneers settled in the Midwest of North America in 1847, their right to freely practice their religion was finally realized. Fireplaces built into each family-centered home filled living spaces with warmth. By the 1880s, coal and wood were the primary fuels used to stay snug. What filled the skies on cold winter nights seemed not to matter.
Salt Lake County would later grow to 1.21 million residents by 2024. The risks of living here are significant: proximity to the Wasatch Fault line and potential impacts from a long-overdue supervolcanic eruption in Yellowstone. Yet, rated the sixth most kid-friendly metro area in America, families of all backgrounds continue to find comfort in staying put.
There is just one issue: pollution is becoming impossible to ignore. The seasons feel as though they are slowly disappearing, blending into the bipolar weather patterns locals have come to normalize. Dust pollution, combined with industrial and vehicular emissions, creates inversions that consistently rank Salt Lake City among the worst in the nation for toxic air. What are officials doing to ensure their constituents can live — and breathe?
Blaming broken promises for Great Salt Lake, lawmaker threatens to block homeless campus
Signs of solidarity: Anti-ICE messages appear at Westside businesses
If you’ve walked down the streets of the Westside recently — visiting a local business or shop — you may have noticed red and yellow signs on windows and doors reading “No ICE Allowed” or “ICE Out of Utah.” At first look, they may seem like simple statements. But each sign represents an act of solidarity, community organizing, and resistance — all rooted in the real fear that many immigrant families are facing every single day.
Community Spotlight: January 2026
2026 started off with a lot of news, including several high-profile stories taking place on the Westside. From a shooting outside a funeral service to anti-ICE demonstrations outside a warehouse rumored to become an ICE detention facility, January brought quite a bit of attention to the Westside. At the same time, smaller businesses continue to expand and the city continues to work on improving West-East transportation.
Several of these things are featured in this month’s Community Spotlight.
Westside representatives offer insights, answer questions, and address concerns surrounding legislative session
The 2026 legislative session has officially begun — the Utah Senate and Utah House gaveled in at the State Capitol on January 20th — and lawmakers hit the ground running. Many spent months preparing ahead of time, finalizing bills, educating themselves on issues, and meeting with their constituents.
Ahead of the session, state lawmakers who represent the Westside came together for a Q&A session with locals. The event, hosted by Westside Coalition and catered by All Chay, took place at the State Fairpark earlier this month.
Westsiders prepare for upcoming legislative session with help from HEAL Utah
Salt Lake City’s Westside residents are watching a new partnership grow between the Westside Coalition (WSC) and the Healthy Environment Alliance of Utah (HEAL). At their November board meeting, the WSC confirmed HEAL as an advisor to help educate and train community members on how to effectively participate in the upcoming legislative session.
Buzzed Coffee House: From Westside roots to downtown brews
If you’re in downtown Salt Lake City and searching for exceptional coffee, Buzzed Coffee House is a spot you need to check out. Located at 265 State Street, Suite 113, Buzzed Coffee House has brought its Westside roots into the heart of downtown while staying true to its community-centered mission.
Jordan River bridge reconstruction underway in Rose Park
Motorists traveling through Salt Lake City’s Rose Park neighborhood will face a new detour for the next several months as the 600/700 North bridge over the Jordan River is rebuilt.
The bridge closed Monday, January 5, for demolition and a complete reconstruction and is expected to remain closed through June 2026.
New child care options open on Westside
A new satellite daycare center has opened its doors at the SPARK apartment complex on North Temple, bringing affordable, high-quality childcare to local families and residents. Operated by Neighborhood House, this center is part of an innovative partnership that combines affordable housing with accessible daycare — a model that Executive Director Jennifer Nuttall calls “the right solution at the right time.”
Nature transcends language with Tracy Aviary's bilingual bird walk
On a gray Saturday in September, Jess John led a group of seven people along the shores of the Jordan River looking for birds. As she used a laser pointer to direct the group’s attention to various birds and noted their calls, Estrella Segovia repeated the information in Spanish.
Tracy Aviary’s Pai Okwai Nature Center, 3310 S. 1000 W. in South Salt Lake, hosted the bilingual bird walk during Latino Conservation Week, a first step in its effort to reach out to residents in western Salt Lake County. The nature center is currently working on translating into Spanish descriptions for its exhibits and posters detailing common birds in the area, as well as including indigenous names of wildlife on labels. In fact, the nature center adopted the indigenous name for the Jordan River, Pai Okwai.
“Having the indigenous names be highlighted and prioritized, I think, is very important to recognizing just how long these bird species have been here,” said John, the tour leader. “That they've been here significantly longer than most of us have alongside our indigenous communities.”
The bilingual bird-watching tours launched a few years ago as a pilot program and have continued annually, said John, a conservation outreach ecologist.
Community Spotlight: Glendale park opens, Yuletide in the Village holiday market
In this edition of The West View Community Spotlight, we highlight the recent ribbon-cutting of the new Glendale Regional Park and the first-ever Yuletide at the Village market.
Measles spreads in waiting rooms, so call ahead instead of walking in, health officials say
Koyote: Cozy, comforting ramen in the heart of Guadalupe
If you’re looking for a place to warm up during these cold winter days, Koyote is the perfect spot. Located in the Guadalupe neighborhood at 551 W 400 N, this hidden gem brings authentic Japanese flavors to the Westside with a menu centered around comforting ramen and a variety of Japanese-inspired dishes.
From The West View team
The West View has been a cornerstone of Westside community journalism for nearly 15 years, bringing you local stories, amplifying diverse voices, and fostering connections. As we look ahead to 2026, we’re focused on telling the story of the Westside. Your support powers our ability to continue to publish The West View.
A new creative era rises at Salt Lake City’s historic Art Castle
On Salt Lake City’s Westside, a 125-year-old landmark is entering a new chapter. The Art Castle, formerly the historic 15th Ward Chapel for The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, has long stood as a symbol of the neighborhood’s layered history. Built in 1900, the Victorian Gothic revival structure has served as a chapel, a playhouse, and — most famously — a world-renowned recording studio used by artists such as Dolly Parton, Elton John, BB King, and Eminem. Now, thanks to the Utah Arts Alliance (UAA), the building is being transformed into a center for creativity, community, and cultural preservation.