rural Utah | Alliance for a Better Utah

Rural Utah counties seek a slice of the state’s inland port development, while a new bill in the Legislature reignites concerns by Salt Lake City

Better Utah February 27, 2019

This article originally appeared in the Salt Lake Tribune. Read it in its entirety here. While many Salt Lake City residents have expressed opposition to the inland port, a massive development planned for the city’s westernmost side, a number of rural counties approached the board overseeing the area’s development with a different outlook on Wednesday.

‘Yet another power grab?’ Bill filed to give Utah Port Authority more reach, power to block lawsuits

Better Utah February 27, 2019

This article originally appeared in the Deseret News. Read it in its entirety here. SALT LAKE CITY — Ever since the Utah Legislature’s special session last summer to reach a compromise between Salt Lake City and state leaders on the controversial Utah Inland Port Authority, there’s been no other legislation filed to bring major changes

Commentary: Utah needs to reach across its urban-rural divide

Better Utah February 18, 2019

This article originally appeared in the Salt Lake Tribune. In Utah, it pays to be part of the crowd. The state is the ninth most urbanized in the nation, with 90 percent of the people packed together on just 1 percent of the land — mostly along the Wasatch Front. And along the Wasatch Front, business is booming. According to the Utah Economic Council’s 2019 Economic Report to

Guest opinion: Proposition 4 values the distinct needs of our diverse Utah family

Better Utah October 9, 2018

This article originally appeared in the Deseret News. Read it in its entirety here. When most people think about gerrymandering in Utah, they think of partisan battles over dicing up liberal Salt Lake County. I think about family reunions. Like many Utah families, mine gathers every other year (or so) for potluck and lawn games, catching

Salt Lake City and Rural Utah Have the Same Problem

Lauren Simpson September 28, 2018

A few weeks ago, the ABU Education Fund released a report addressing the negative impacts of gerrymandering on rural Utah. You probably have not read it, because that report was 20 pages long and full of information that only policy weirdos like us care about. With a fresh coat of tape on our glasses, we

Press Release: ABU EDUCATION FUND RELEASES RURAL REDISTRICTING REPORT

Better Utah September 10, 2018

PRESS RELEASE FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: September 10, 2018 ABU EDUCATION FUND RELEASES RURAL REDISTRICTING REPORT “Fair Redistricting: A Better Deal for Rural Utah” Salt Lake City, UT – Today, the ABU Education Fund released a report focused on the impacts of gerrymandering on rural Utah. The report, titled “Fair Redistricting: A Better Deal for Rural

Commentary: Stop and think about another Olympic bid

Better Utah November 25, 2017

Source: The Salt Lake Tribune The amount of time passing between each public mention of a possible Utah Olympic bid is getting shorter and shorter, and the “volume” of comments seems to be rising. To me, that means that the decision has already been made. Utah will put its hat in the ring to be awarded another

Utah counties pull Oakland port loan application, but haven’t given up on project

Better Utah August 18, 2016

Source: The Salt Lake Tribune Four rural Utah counties on Thursday withdrew their application to invest $53 million of public money in an Oakland, Calif., deep-water port — a project they’ve seen as a way to open up new export markets for Utah coal. The move appears more technical than a sign they’ve given up

Better Utah Calls on Legislature to Change Mail-In Ballot Deadline

Better Utah August 7, 2016

Source: UtahPolicy.com The Alliance for a Better Utah called on the Utah Legislature to make changes to Utah’s election law to allow mail-in ballots to be postmarked on election day. This comes, in part, in response to Lieutenant Governor Spencer Cox’s ruling, required by existing law, that disqualified 64 ballots in Morgan, Rich, Summit and

Group calls for changes in wake of mail-in ballot dispute

Better Utah August 5, 2016

Source: The Salt Lake Tribune The Alliance for a Better Utah urged lawmakers to change the state’s election law to ensure ballots from rural Utahns are counted. The group’s call came two days after the lieutenant governor disqualified 64 ballots in a House race that were postmarked on primary election day. Current state law requires

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