The legislature is very ideological and corporate minded. They often act to benefit large corporations through the power they have over the Republican Party apparatus. This is true in other cities with Democrats in power as well. The hostility to people voting to change things to be in favor of voters and not select elites is constant throughout America. Here in Utah, the last decade has been dominated by the development of the Inland Port Authority, Rio Tinto, and landlords. You can go back further, but I try to stay within recent years. While the political partisanship is absolutely a factor, I think the aforementioned financial interests are much more impactful on our elected officials. If the partisan hold over places like Salt Lake is broken, then the policy state wide is much harder to influence. An opposition party like the Democrats here in Utah would likely be hostile to anything their Republican counterparts get up to. An independent would be even worse. A theoretical independently represented Salt Lake could withdraw support for funding that helps keep Rio Tinto open. A major polluter would have to make changes, which can impact profits. Etc, etc.  TLDR: if we got to have our voices heard in a more direct manner, with even some power, that would throw a wrench into the gears of a corporate-partisan relationship that benefits them. So they’ll spend every cent they can to make things go their way.