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: Alliance for a Better Utah statement on attack on vote-by-mail
PRESS RELEASEFOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: August 13, 2020 Salt Lake City, UT – Today, President Trump stated in an interview segment on Fox News that he apparently opposes increased funding for the USPS out of opposition to voting by mail. Speaking about Democrats’ push for emergency funding for the USPS and …
Press Release: Utah advocates call for block of $20 million bailout for bankrupt coal port company
PRESS RELEASEFOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: August 13, 2020 Salt Lake City– Today, a team of Utah environmental and public interest groups called on the Utah Legislature and Permanent Community Impact Fund Board (CIB) to forgo spending public funds to bail out a bankrupt California coal port developer. As reported by the …
Press Release: Better Utah statement on community activist arrests
PRESS RELEASEFOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: August 5, 2020 Salt Lake City, UT – Last night, the Salt Lake Tribune reported that protesters Madalena McNeil and Martin Oliveros were arrested and charged with first degree felonies with a gang enhancement for their involvement in protests against the Salt Lake County DA’s office. …
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 …