If Rob Bishop Gets Within Striking Distance

I may not have the verbiage exactly right, but at the Davis County Republican Convention last Saturday, Rob Bishop was at the podium handling business on amendments to the party constitution. One such amendment would have given the Vice-Chairs, the Davis County Republican Women, and the Teenage Republicans both membership and a vote on a crucial body. One substitute amendment would have removed two of these groups from the amendment.

Bishop summarized the motion this way.

'So we're clear, the vote we are now having is to strike the women and the children.'

Republican Convention Thread

With the Davis County Republican Convention tomorrow I would love to say that I am completely apprised of who is running for office, but I am not.

My only information source on who is running for office is what I've got coming to my email.

Does anyone have any insider information on tomorrows event?

Caveat Emptor: Internet Fascism

So, you've purchase this thing called the 'internet', and you'd like to get a handle on how it works. Here is a primer.

The 'internet' has been compared to the wild, wild west, which is fine and good if you think that the west can be tamed.

It cannot. Not this time. Nor should it be tamed, unless one thinks that the alternative, fascistic internet, would be any better. If we make the wrong turn, make no mistake, we will have reached the end of the internet.

Pornography Police Pursue Chilling Statute

"I provide free access to Salt Lake City and to the city library. They can do that, and I'll just shut down my free access zones, and Utah's reputation will be damaged as a place that is restricting technology rather than expanding it."

Pete Ashdown, Founder, Owner of Xmission

Lawmakers need to understand the distinction between the possible implications of regulating the technology and stemming the message. Restricting global pornography by regulating, exclusively, local providers is ludicrous.

Desnews:Lawmakers seek ways to block Net porn

"Parmesan" Substance Leads To Evacuation

The Bountiful Courthouse has just been evacuated when a substance resembling Parmesan cheese was found on some letters.

Clearly, no one tried to put it on spaghetti.

Update: This substance turned out to be shredded Styrofoam from letter sorting machines. Maybe the USPS should require packing materials to be colored (pink or blue), because everyone knows you can only have white anthrax, right?

If Parmesan was pink, nobody would be tempted to eat it.

You've got to wonder who lost their finger?

NSL May Close Skater Park

Bountiful tried to put in a skate park, but didn't due to active citizen/neighbors. Now Hatch Park in NSL may close because of the problems of vandalism and a general disruption of the peace.

We hate to say we told you so.

NIMBY's In WX See Red

The last stop in Davis County for commuter rail has been getting opposition from residents.

Let me just say this. There will never be enough parking for the less than 5% that choose to use the rail. Imagine what parking will be like if the rail is a success and has a full 5% use!

Utah Rattler Outs Members Of Historical Board

The Utah Rattler has outed board members of the 'Bountiful Historical yadayda' as being members of the City Council and, formerly, the sitting Mayor.

Joe Johnson is entrenched in a number of extra-curricular boards.

Question, yet unanswered. Is it illegal for a sitting elected official to fund raise on the clock, and on the taxpayers bill, for a non-profit?

WX Residents Worried About Rail

Woods Cross citizens should not be alone in worrying about the new rail system. Farmington has a stop as well.

Hat tip: KSL

"Joy In The Garden" Lecture In WX

Joy Bossi will be talking about landscaping and square foot gardening tomorrow night at the Woods Cross City Hall.

Time: 7:00PM

Hat tip: Woods Cross City

Funding Transportation: Solving Transportation Woes

The Utah Taxpayer is talking about the problems with funding transportation by increasing sales tax. Enjoy!

I have to say, having just returned from Hawaii, which has transportation problems of its own, I have a fresh perspective on the issues that we face here.

First, on Oahu, the highest posted speed limit is 55 miles an hour and the average is 35. Most people obey those limits. It takes a little work to get out of the 'rush' mentality that is in our blood here, but it is liberating to drive slowly. Not once did I fear for my life, which in Utah is an almost daily experience.

Second, on the North Shore, there's only one road to anywhere. They had a mudslide, while we were there, blocking off one direction travel. The solution? Just go the other way and loop around the other side of the island.

Hawaii is considering mass transit options, one form would be a high speed train moving from island to island, but the overall lesson should be that no matter how much money they throw at the problem, they won't 'solve' their transportation issues.

What ought we to do about congestion here? First, it might be wise to not fear, or loath, congestion as we do. Congestion is one sign of a healthy economy, and should give us a sense of the vitality of the people who live here. Second, we could drive responsibly. By all means, use the bus if you can, and obey the speed limit.

Chill out!

No matter how much money we throw at our transportation problems, we won't solve them here so its a good idea just to enjoy the ride.

Anonymous Posts Banned

I'm back from Hawaii and I find that this blog has gone on well without me. More on my trip later.

One note on the etiquette that has been followed up until now. In late March the Weber County Forum began banning anonymous comments because it was simply too confusing to sort through the many people called 'Anonymous' that had decided to post on the same issue.

That's happening here, and its frustrating to all, so if you're going to post from now on you'll need to pick an Alias. Call yourself 'Princess Tutu' for all I care.

So go sign up with blogger if you haven't already and keep those comments coming!

[Davis County Watch: Guest Bloggers] North Salt Lake Easter Egg Dash

The North Salt Lake Youth City Council is holding their annual
Easter Egg Dash
on Saturday, April 7th
10 am at Hatch Park in North Salt Lake (corner of Main and Center)
Free for children ages 2-12
Come with easter baskets ready!

Don't be late, because it only takes a few minutes for the kids to pick the fields clean. It's like the Swarm. I hope to see everyone there! The NSL Youth Council has put a lot of time into getting ready for the event. We have around 4000 easter eggs filled with candy and prizes.

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Posted By Allie to Davis County Watch: Guest Bloggers at 4/04/2007 06:44:00 PM

[Davis County Watch: Guest Bloggers] Utah PTA President Carmen Snow on Vouchers

I saw this over the weekend and thought it was very well done. I know Carmen Snow, and I admire her passion and intensity. Take a read. It was originally published in the Sunday edition of the Salt Lake Tribune.


Voters deserve a voice in the voucher debate

Carmen Snow

People may have different opinions about the value of vouchers, but Utahns are clear about wanting to be heard. People have said they want a chance to vote on this private school voucher experiment, but a few politicians - with their megaphones and media buys - are working overtime to try to dissuade people from participating in the democratic system. From the moment a group of concerned parents began to try to put the brakes on this misguided idea, some lawyers have been scuttling to find the loophole that says that voters don't really get a chance to question the judgment of "the political class."

I hope no one is discouraged from signing the referendum petition to repeal vouchers because they think it won't matter. It always matters when the voters make their voices heard.

Voucher advocates say the law can't be repealed. They say only parts of the bill can be repealed (elements such as funding and accountability). They say the only ones who will be hurt by the repeal would be the public schools.

The opinions of lawyers, even attorneys general, can be wrong. I know lawyers with arguments and evidence just as compelling who say an act of the people can overturn a law. They also tell me that amendments to a law can't stand alone when the law itself has been repealed, and that seems to make common sense.

The attorney general is right when he says this matter will end up in court. Hopefully this legal wrangle will help us determine whether or not the people of Utah have the right to be heard when the Legislature has made a mistake. Already the referendum petition process calls for an extraordinarily short amount of time to gather an extraordinarily large number of signatures. It would be a shame if the politicians win because the petition effort falls short.

I agree with the vast majority of Utahns: We ought to have a full and open debate about whether or not subsidies for private school tuition are right for Utah. We ought to have a chance to examine whether vouchers have fulfilled their promise in the places they exist. We ought to look more closely at the long-term consequences for public schools and families and communities across the state, and always keep the children's best interest in mind.

It's important to people living outside the state that Utah has a voucher system. Many believe it would help restore momentum to a "movement" that has seen voucher systems in Colorado and Florida rejected by state courts. They hope it helps people forget that despite vast amounts of money spent to promote them, vouchers or tuition tax credits have been defeated every time they've been on the ballot nationwide in the past 30 years. The national voucher movement has expended enormous capital over the past three decades, and has to show something for its money.

They need this voucher experiment to go forward in Utah. Some are afraid that a vote of the people will stop vouchers from happening. After all, in 1988, when Utah citizens had a chance to vote on income-tax credits for tuition paid by students already in private schools, they rejected the subsidies by 70 percent to 30 percent. Utahns for Public Schools believe there ought to be a counterforce to out-of-state money and interests. We believe that parents and others who care about the future of Utah's public schools and our children are that counterforce, and we believe we ought to be heard.

CARMEN SNOW is president of the Utah PTA.

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Posted By Natalie to Davis County Watch: Guest Bloggers at 4/04/2007 03:00:00 PM