City Cast Seattle logo
March 8, 2026

Your City Could Be Better: What Seattle Needs To Know About Utah's Controversial 'Homeless Campus' Plan

City Cast Seattle

Your City Could Be Better: What Seattle Needs To Know About Utah's Controversial 'Homeless Campus' Plan

00:00:00
View all City Cast Seattle episodes

Homelessness is one of the major issues that cities like Seattle are trying to solve. The state of Utah is planning to build a 16-acre homeless campus on the outskirts of Salt Lake City, where unhoused people with mental illnesses or addiction issues could be sheltered and in some cases involuntarily committed. This controversial idea is the brainchild of conservative think tanks, and it’s one that’s very much being embraced by the Trump administration and the Utah legislature. City Cast CEO David Plotz talks with City Cast Salt Lake podcast host Ali Vallarta about how this plan is meant to work, the concerns about forced institutionalization, and why the state is pushing for this even though it goes against the recommendations of local experts and service providers.

Mentioned on the show:


Is there something your city is doing that we should be talking about? Email David now! 

We’re also on Instagram: @yourcitycouldbebetter

Looking to advertise on Your City Could Be Better? Check out our options.

Subscribe To Our Newsletter

Hey Seattle

Stay connected to City Cast Seattle and get ready to join the local conversation.

Can't subscribe? Turn off your ad blocker and try again.

Latest Episodes

See all
October 6

The Ave’s Car-Free Pilot, Ferry Engineers Call In Sick for Better Pay, and Paid Parking Expands

After the Pike Place Market pilot, a new car-free experiment will be taking place on University Ave. Host Jane C. Hu talks to urbanist or...

City Cast Seattle podcast episode art
October 5

Your E-Scooter Hot Takes, Best PSLs in Seattle, and Liam's First Seattle-versary

Where can you find the best pumpkin spice lattes in Seattle? Heather Phan Nguyen went all-in on a PSL rankings project, so we brought her...

City Cast Seattle podcast episode art
October 2

Surveillance in Seattle, Budget Drama, Plus Policies For Pop-ups

Today on the podcast, Jane gets an insider perspective on how difficult it is to navigate the city’s regulatory system for local business...

City Cast Seattle podcast episode art
October 1

Could More Art Activations Make the City Safer? Plus, Seattle Real Estate Trends and Karaoke Recs

Is it really a buyer’s market in Seattle? Host Jane C. Hu talks with real estate broker Posey Gruener and Daryl Fairweather, Redfin’s chi...

City Cast Seattle podcast episode art
September 30

Your Guide to October 2026 in Seattle

Fall is here, with Halloween right around the corner, and we’ve got Seattle-specific costume ideas for you (Jimothy is just the beginning...

City Cast Seattle podcast episode art
September 29

Is Seattle’s Coffee Scene Missing Anything? Plus, a New Indie Rock Podcast and the Valley of the Gnomes

2004 was the year indie rock exploded on the music scene — at least, that’s according to a new podcast that launched last week. Host Jane...

City Cast Seattle podcast episode art
September 28

Our Global Fashion Influence, What Bees Teach Us About Social Isolation, and the Original Gayborhood

The Washington Department of Corrections has used solitary confinement for decades, often in violation of UN rules. Could a neuroscience...

City Cast Seattle podcast episode art
September 25

Mayor Wilson’s Budget Explained, Seattle’s Neon Sign Past and Present, and Boeing’s Grunge Influence

Today on the podcast, Jane is joined by two first-timers to City Cast Seattle, Amy Sundberg, reporter at The Urbanist, and Megan Ulu-Lani...

City Cast Seattle podcast episode art
September 24

U District's Movie Theater Revival, Elvis at the Space Needle, and a Popsicle Party

Host Jane C. Hu talks with Shane Wahlund and Michael Anderson, co-hosts of Collide-O-Scope, about how Seattle’s image on film has shifted...

City Cast Seattle podcast episode art
September 23

Twihards Help Quileute Tribe, Archie McPhee Owner Changes Course, and AI Enters Civics

Today on the podcast, Jane is joined by contributor Brett Hamil and creative producer Liam Billingham, both non-robots. Jane runs down th...

City Cast Seattle podcast episode art