My parents moved to Park City in 1962 and were pivotal in helping transform this town into the world-class destination it is today. In more than 60 years of calling this place home, I have heard two refrains repeated endlessly by residents: “We need to stop development and keep new people out,” and “Is it really that expensive?” Let me answer both, clearly and without apology. My mother served on City Council in the 1980s, during one of Park City’s most difficult chapters, and was part of the leadership that made the pivotal turn toward tourism when this town desperately needed a new direction. My father ran a small business on lower Main Street and spent years promoting Park City — and Utah — to help build the economic foundation we all benefit from today. They didn’t do it for a salary. They did it because they believed in what this place could become. It became exactly that. And now it is expensive — because it is world-class. Our City Council is tasked with navigating an extraordinary range of complex, high-stakes issues that would challenge seasoned executives and policymakers anywhere. That complexity is not a failure. It is the direct result of generations of forward thinkers, my family among them, who had the vision and the will to build something exceptional here. The outrage over the council voting themselves a living wage is, frankly, embarrassing. And if you’re wondering what that means, take a look at the Park City AMI.  These are serious people managing a serious city. If you believe public service in Park City should be a volunteer position, I’d gently suggest that Park City may no longer be the right fit for you. There are plenty of small towns in Wyoming and Idaho with volunteer councils who would no doubt welcome a motivated new resident eager to help build something from the ground up. The rest of us will be here, grateful for a council willing to do the hard work, and proud of the community our families spent decades creating. Matias Alvarez Park City The post Raise is justified appeared first on Park Record. ...read more read less