The fundamental purpose of our work is to maintain open and transparent government by keeping the electorate informed. Though some find it hard to believe, our state is home to a diverse population of backgrounds and perspectives. Utah citizens put a great deal of trust in local government to ensure that everyone is represented equally.
When elected government officials abuse that trust, whether by acting in accordance with their personal beliefs instead of the law, accepting “gifts” in exchange for political favors, indulging the influence of outside groups or by making important decisions in closed caucus meetings, ABU is there to speak out.
Press Release: Better Utah calls for external investigation into Cottonwood Heights Police Department response to peaceful protests
PRESS RELEASEFOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: August 3, 2020 Salt Lake City, UT – Yesterday, the Cottonwood Heights Police Department, along with other local police departments, responded to a peaceful protest that ended in protestors being pepper-sprayed and detained. Cottonwood Heights City Councilwoman, Tali Bruce, was in attendance at the protest and …
Press Release: Better Utah comment on Trump vote-by-mail tweet
PRESS RELEASEFOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: July 30, 2020 Salt Lake City, UT – Earlier today, President Donald Trump tweeted, “With Universal Mail-In Voting (not Absentee Voting, which is good), 2020 will be the most INACCURATE & FRAUDULENT Election in history. It will be a great embarrassment to the USA. Delay the …
Katie Matheson: Parents should not face pandemic alone
This article originally appeared in the Salt Lake Tribune. Read it in its entirety here. I’m a parent. And like many parents, I often struggle to know what is best for my kids. That comes with the territory of parenting regardless of global events, but is especially true during a pandemic. My latest challenge — knowing whether or not to send …
Press Release: Better Utah calls on Piute County Commissioner to resign
PRESS RELEASEFOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: June 26, 2020 Salt Lake City, UT – Yesterday, Piute County Commissioner, Darin Bushman, compared Governor Herbert to Hitler and a mask order in Salt Lake County to Hitler Germany on Twitter. Chase Thomas, Alliance for a Better Utah’s executive director, issued the following statement: “Utah …
Press Release: A Coalition of businesses and nonprofits request redacted cost estimate for Lake Powell Pipeline
Salt Lake City, UT – As Utah legislative leaders convene this week to reduce funding for essential needs like education and social services because of the pandemic, the question on many people’s minds is how much of this is being done to make way for the multi-billion dollar Lake Powell …
Romney criticizes Trump clearing out peaceful protesters to make way for photo op
This article originally appeared in the Deseret News. Read it in its entirety here. SALT LAKE CITY — Sens. Mike Lee and Mitt Romney met Wednesday with Utah National Guard soldiers deployed to Washington, D.C., to help deal with protests over the death of a black man in police custody, as a left-leaning group in Utah urged the governor to call …
Kaysville City Council issues censure letter for Mayor Katie Witt over her push for public concert amid pandemic
This article originally appeared in the Deseret News. Read it in its entirety here. KAYSVILLE — The Kaysville City Council released a letter of censure Wednesday aimed at Mayor Katie Witt expressing deep concerns for her support of a public concert despite health directives and asking her to resign. The letter is on the agenda for Thursday’s City Council meeting, when …
Utah’s no-bid COVID-19 buys spur some lawmakers to seek checks on spending power
This article originally appeared in the Deseret News. Read it in its entirety here. SALT LAKE CITY — Frustrated by certain multimillion-dollar, no-bid purchases and contracts that state officials have executed as part of their response to the COVID-19 pandemic, a pair of lawmakers are drafting legislation to bring more transparency and checks to the state’s emergency procurement powers. Rep. Andrew …
