Utah leaders support Salt Lake City Mayor's new public safety plan and express readiness to collaborate on improving safety.

Police presence would look much different in Salt Lake City areas under a public safety plan the mayor’s office unveiled this week. And the bold initiative comes ahead of the proposed massive overhaul of a three-block downtown area east of the Delta Center that state leaders have said must include crime and homelessness mitigation plans.

Salt Lake City Erin Mendenhall released a plan to address homelessness after state leaders demanded one in a letter sent last month.

Salt Lake City unveiled a new public safety plan to address crime and homelessness. Initiatives would increase the police footprint, target gang activity and enhance affordable housing and emergency shelters. The plan emerged in response to demands from state Republican leaders who say the city is neglecting public safety.

Salt Lake City Mayor Erin Mendenhall released a series of recommendations Thursday to help curb homelessness and crime in Utah's capital city. Why it matters: The roughly 50-page public safety plan was spurred by a December letter from state GOP leaders,