Should lawmakers in Layton dictate Salt Lake City’s street names? That’s the crux of Rep. Trevor Lee’s proposal to rename Harvey Milk Boulevard to Charlie Kirk Boulevard, honoring the conservative leader tragically assassinated in Utah last month. As a conservative resident of Salt Lake City, I wholeheartedly support recognizing Kirk’s contributions and legacy — but not at the expense of local autonomy.
This isn’t just another cultural tug-of-war. Harvey Milk, the San Francisco politician known for his role in the gay rights movement, has little direct tie to Utah. Charlie Kirk, founder of Turning Point USA, built a movement that resonated here, speaking at BYU and inspiring young conservatives across the state before his untimely death. Renaming the street could reflect values like free speech, faith and patriotism that align with Utah’s heritage. Yet the real issue is the method: a state mandate overriding Salt Lake’s decisions.
Salt Lake City chose the Milk name in 2016 after local debate and a City Council vote, aiming to highlight diversity in our community. If we want to honor Kirk instead, that conversation should happen here — in City Hall, with residents weighing in — not imposed from the Capitol. Lee’s bill bypasses that process, forcing the change regardless of our mayor, council or voters.
This fits a troubling trend of state interference in local matters. Utah lawmakers have repeatedly stepped in on Salt Lake’s public safety, urban planning and even symbolic displays like flags. Earlier this year, they authorized “rapid response teams” for policing if they deem our efforts lacking, prompting Mayor Erin Mendenhall to decry it as “punitive” overreach. We’ve seen similar moves statewide, from overriding pandemic policies to redistricting reforms approved by voters only to be rewritten by legislators.
Nationally, this echoes conservative-led efforts in states like Texas and Florida to enforce uniformity on wages, environmental rules and more. While I share many of those conservative goals, the approach risks alienating communities and undermining self-governance — the very principles conservatives champion.
If Kirk merits this tribute in Salt Lake, let’s debate it locally. Hold hearings, let residents speak and allow our council to vote. That’s democracy in action, fostering unity rather than resentment. Imposing it from afar only deepens divides.
As a conservative in progressive Salt Lake, I cherish local control because it lets our city balance diverse views while staying true to Utah’s core values. I wouldn’t force rural towns to adopt urban symbols, and they shouldn’t erase what matters here without our input. Our strength lies in respecting community differences.
Utah values self-reliance and local wisdom. To uphold that, reject Lee’s bill and let Salt Lake decide. This is about more than a street sign — it’s about preserving the freedom for every community to honor its heroes on its own terms.
Rejecting Lee’s bill isn’t about left or right — it’s about protecting the principle that Utah communities govern themselves.