Biskupski was elected
Salt Lake City Mayor on
November 17, 2015, defeating two-term incumbent
Ralph Becker with 51.55% of the vote, receiving 17,290 votes to Becker's 15,840. During her transition, she called for the resignation of most city department heads, drawing criticism from former Mayor
Rocky Anderson and others. During her first year in office as mayor, Biskupski made local air quality and climate change issues central to her platform. She called for Salt Lake City to be completely run on alternative energy by 2032 and a reduction in carbon emissions by 80% by 2040. In 2016, Mayor Biskupski called for the creation of the Department of Economic Development. In September 2016, after a year-long negotiation, Biskupski announced a new franchise agreement between Salt Lake City and
Rocky Mountain Power in which both parties promised to work together to develop clean-energy projects that would enable Salt Lake City to meet its clean energy goals. Biskupski also focused on finding long-term solutions for Salt Lake City's growing homeless population. In December 2016, the Mayor announced the creation of four new homeless shelters in the city. This generated controversy about where to put the shelters and the cost of land acquisition. In 2017, Biskupski approved Salt Lake City's first "Transit Master Plan". This was designed to implement a frequent transit network (FTN), develop pilot programs and partnerships for employer shuttles and on-demand shared ride services, develop enhanced bus corridors, and implement a variety of transit-supportive programs and transit access improvements that overcome barriers to using transit. In September 2018, Biskupski announced the formation of the Commission Against Gun Violence designed to explore policy questions regarding gun violence and to make funding recommendations to be shared with city, county and state officials, as well as the School District.
National Leadership In 2018, Biskupski was involved in the
U.S. Olympic Committee selecting Salt Lake City to bid on behalf of the United States for the 2030
Winter Games. Biskupski served as co-chair of
Sierra Club's Mayors for 100% Clean Energy. In August 2018, Salt Lake City was selected to host the 68th United Nations Civil Society Conference, the first time a UN conference took place in the United States outside of
New York City. On November 19, 2018, Biskupski led a group of 21 mayors and council members from around Utah in submitting two amicus briefs with the
U.S. District Court for the District of Columbia supporting the cases challenging
President Trump's decisions to shrink
Grand Staircase–Escalante (GSE) and
Bears Ears National Monuments. The two cases,
The Wilderness Society, et al. v. Donald J. Trump and
Hopi Tribe, et al. v. Donald J. Trump, will be heard in the D.C. Court after a federal judge denied the
Trump Administration's attempt to have the cases moved to the
Utah District Court in Salt Lake City. In June 2017, Biskupski lead Sierra Club's "Mayors for 100% Clean Energy," and joined with the Sierra Club's "Ready for 100" campaign in a new effort to engage and recruit mayors to endorse the goal of transitioning to
100% renewable energy in cities throughout the country. In June 2017, Mayor Biskupski joined 61 U.S. mayors in committing to adopt, honor, and uphold the
Paris Climate Agreement goals. In 2017, the U.S. Conference of Mayors made Biskupski Vice Chairwoman of Mayors/Business Alliance for a Sustainable Future. In February 2018, Mayor Biskupski joined hundreds of mayors opposing
Clean Power Plan repeal. In July 2019,
United States Conference of Mayors formally adopted Resolution 66 introduced by Biskupski, urging congressional action to combat the
impact of climate change through a national
price on carbon emissions. In what was regarded to be a surprise, Biskupski announced on March 16, 2019, that she would not be seeking a second term in the
2019 mayoral election, citing a "serious and complex family situation".
Environment Biskupski served as co-chair of Sierra Club's Mayors for 100% Clean Energy. In 2016, Biskupski created Salt Lake City's Department of Economic Development. In July 2016, the department become an official part of city government. Since its creation, the department has been responsible for attracting or expanding 29 companies in Salt Lake City, resulting in $895,000,000 of capital investment and 9,000 jobs. In July 2016, Biskupski launched Climate Positive 2040, Salt Lake City's initiative to transition the community to 100% renewable energy sources by 2032 (adjusted to 2030 in 2019) and to reduce carbon emissions city-wide by 80% by 2040. In keeping with Salt Lake City's clean energy goals set by Biskupski, in 2018, the Salt Lake City Fire Department made history by opening the first two net-zero fire stations in the country.
Housing On December 12, 2017, the Salt Lake City Council voted unanimously to adopt Biskupski's
Growing SLC, a housing plan for the city. In February 2017, Biskupski launched the city's first affordable housing plan in 20 years.
GrowingSLC, from 2017 to 2022, laid out a plan for policy changes, investment, and direct action to create and preserve affordable housing in Salt Lake City. Since 2017, the city has increased the number of units in the city's affordable housing pipeline from 200 in 2016 to more than 2,000 today. In August 2019, from funding from a .05% increase in sales-tax, Salt Lake City launched the first phase of the city's "Transit Master Plan". Three frequent transit network lines were opened on 900 South, 200 South, and 2100 South. In November 2018, Salt Lake City voters approved Biskupski's $87-million bond for road repair. extending the benefit to recently hired mothers, fathers, and those who become parents through adoption or foster care. Salt Lake County followed Salt Lake City shortly after. At the 2019 Salt Lake City Women's March, Biskupski called on Utah to ratify the
Equal Rights Amendment, which would enshrine gender equality in the
U.S. Constitution.
Utah Inland Port Biskupski has been a vocal opponent of the
Utah Inland Port in its current legal state. Issues cited by Biskupski include loss of local control of the land, lack of transparency in the decision-making process, and environmental disruption. On March 11, 2019, Biskupski directed the Salt Lake City's Attorney's Office to bring a lawsuit against the port, challenging the legality of the legislation underlying the port's creation.
Public Safety In April 2016, Biskupski announced a plan to restructure SLC911, including addressing staffing issues. By November 2016, numbers show an 84% decrease in mandatory overtime shifts.
Public Art In April 2017, Biskupski inaugurated 18 permanent public art sculptures in downtown Salt Lake City. In February 2018, Biskupski launched the "Arts for All" program which provides eligible residents the opportunity to receive up to four free tickets per year to select performances at the
Eccles Theater. To be eligible to enter the ticket drawing, residents must receive
Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) benefits or be eligible for free or reduced school lunches. In August 2019, Biskupski completed ColorSLC, the largest public art project in SLC history. == Voting record: Utah Legislature ==