Pig/Webb on Conventions
In Sunday’s Deseret News, Webb & Pignanelli share their contrasting views on Sarah Palin and the political conventions of the past two weeks, and what impact they might have on political races in Utah. Check it out in Sunday’s opinion section or on-line.
Future of Housing in Utah
At a recent Envision Utah meeting I heard a fascinating presentation about the future of housing by one of the nation’s top planning experts. Arthur Chris Nelson, presidential professor and director of the Metropolitan Research, City and Metropolitan Planning Department, University of Utah, is convinced housing trends are changing, away from McMansions on large lots in the suburbs, to condominiums and townhouses in downtowns and mixed-use developments. Some of his insights:
-- The best housing investments will be attached-housing in downtowns, urban perimeters, and mixed-use developments, not in traditional suburbs with large lots. Condos, townhouses and attached housing values will outpace the value of single-family suburban homes.
-- Housing trends indicate that plenty of traditional suburban, single-family housing stock already exists for the next few decades. The nation is already overbuilt with large-lot suburban homes. ALL new housing construction should be high-density housing in urban areas or mixed-use developments around transit stations.
-- These trends are being driven by an aging population and a huge increase in single-person and non-children households.
-- SLC’s growth is moderate and manageable, better than the boom and bust cycles in Las Vegas and Phoenix. The U.S. population will continue to grow, far outpacing Western Europe, Japan, and even China. China is going to have a labor shortage. The U.S. growth will be good for the economy.
Washington Watch
Bennett Touts Health Care Plan
Roll Call: At a panel discussion in Minnesota, Sen. Bob Bennett outlines his bipartisan plan for expanding health care coverage through expanded tax breaks.
Bennett, Hatch Praise BLM PLan
Sens. Bennett and Orrin Hatch hail the BLM for a completing a multi-year, multi-million dollar study which sets the environmental rules for oil shale development on federal lands in Utah, Colorado and Wyoming (see Hatch and Bennett press releases).
Taxpayers Association Newsletter
The Utah Taxpayers Association has posted its September newsletter. This month's edition analyzes Utah's spending limitation law and features a column by Assoc. Pres. Howard Stephenson on "why the Supreme Court ruling in the Ysursa case (on paycheck political deductions) could change Utah politics."
Today in Political History
Sep 5, 1774: The first Continental Congress assembles in Philadelphia.
Sep 5, 1836: Sam Houston is elected president of the Republic of Texas.
Sep 5, 1882: The nation's first Labor Day parade is held in New York City.
(Source: NY Times)
Wise Words
“A man should never be ashamed to own that he has been in the wrong, which is but saying that he is wiser today than he was yesterday.”
-- Alexander Pope (Patriot Post)
Utah Politics
Dems Win in 1964 Election
For the first time since 1948, Utah voters gave a majority to the Democratic presidential candidate, Lyndon B. Johnson. Johnson was John F. Kennedy's vice presidential running mate, and became president when Kennedy was assassinated on 22 November 1963. Johnson might be considered an incumbent, and his 219,628 votes to the 181,785 votes for Barry N. Goldwater gave a 54.7 percent victory for Johnson and his "Great Society" over the conservative Goldwater. Nationally, the American voters gave Johnson 61.4 percent of the vote, so the Utah vote for Johnson was nearly six percent behind the national average. Some analysts attributed Goldwater's better showing in Utah to local support for Ronald Reagan, whose nominating speech for Goldwater at the Republican national convention was broadcast several times in Utah. (Source: utah.edu)
National Politics
Best Stories From . . .
-- New York Times: "McCain vows to end 'partisan rancor,' seizing theme of change from rival
-- Los Angeles Times: McCain vows own kind of change
-- Times Online: Gerard Baker: Sarah Palin: it's go west, towards the future of conservatism
-- Associated Press: More than 40 million people see Palin speech
-- Politico: How Palin changed the race
-- Wall Street Journal: How Palin beat Alaska's establishment
-- CBS News: Poll: McCain, Obama tied
-- The Hill: Obama campaign says RNC too negative
-- Washington Post: Galvanized parties head to homestretch
Blog Watch
-- Lots of discussion, pro and con, about Sarah Palin's convention speech and her potential impact on the presidential race: See Leadership that Delivers, Salt Blog, Reach Upward, COL Takashi, Jeremy's Jeremiad, Simple Utah Mormon Politics, Utah State Democratic Party, KVNU's For The People, and Steve Urquhart.
Lighter Side
“I was married by a judge. I should have asked for a jury.”
-- Groucho Marx (Tea Leaf)
Casual Friday
Utah Fishing Report
Labor Day weekend brought a dramatic weather change, and that has helped fishing. Lake Powell's surface temperature dropped below 80 F, and will continue to cool slowly. Snow fell in the high country and early morning temperatures are now nippy at Strawberry.
Strawberry fishing is becoming consistently good -- we heard multiple good reports this week. Same story at Scofield. Trout are feeding aggressively and are easy to find. These waters, plus Otter Creek, Fish Lake and many others, should offer very good action during the coming weeks.
Streams throughout Utah continue to fish well. Steve Schmidt gives these suggestions: "We are starting to enter that transition period when summer's aquatic hatches wind down to be overshadowed by late summer's prolific terrestrials: ants, beetles and hoppers. The next decent aquatic hatch will be falls Blue Wing Olives. On some of our rivers the giant October Caddis will also begin to emerge. We ran across a decent hatch of BWO's this past weekend on the Weber, but with blue bird days back in the forecast I wouldn't expect to see them consistently on the water for several more weeks." Read his complete report.
Lake Powell should offer very good fishing during the next few weeks, for all species. Striped bass command attention this time of year. Wayne Gustaveson gives this advice: "Best fishing strategy for this week is to search for that big boil. If found, the rewards are tremendous with numerous strong, fat 2-3 pound stripers that can be caught as long as the fish feed on top -- which may be over an hour. These huge boils occur during the first two hours of daylight and the last two hours of light at night." Read his complete report. (These are highlights from the fishing report on RedRockAdventure.com.)
Outdoors Report
-- The Tribune features activities at Flaming Gorge
-- Windsurfers get blown around in Deseret News report
-- Take in the views of the valley from the Tribune’s Hike of the Week
-- Deseret News writer finds alpine inspiration away from the crowds
-- Check out the Tribune’s Outdoor Notebook and Recreation Roundup for sports and recreation activities this week
-- For the latest wildlife news and information and the fishing report visit the DWR website
Weekend Events
New Films
-- Frozen River: Tribune review
-- Kicking It: Tribune review
Concerts
-- Flautissimo, flute choir, Friday, 7:30 p.m., Temple Square Assembly Hall, free (no children younger than 8)
-- Robin Hancock, piano, Friday, 7:30 p.m., Madsen Recital Hall, Brigham Young University, Provo, free
-- Opera Under the Stars, Friday, 8:30 p.m., Gallivan Center
-- “Aloha-USO!” Celebrate America dinner, show and dance, Friday and Saturday, 7 p.m., Evan Stevenson Ballroom, Utah State University, Logan, $45
-- “Who We Are?” An Evening of Choreography by Stephen Koester, Friday and Saturday, 7:30 p.m., Rose Wagner Center, $18
-- Michael and Ruth Stevens Family, folk, spiritual and show tunes, Saturday, 7:30 p.m., Temple Square Assembly Hall, free (no children younger than 8)
-- “Zion Canyon Song Cycle," Red Rock Rondo, Saturday, 7:30 p.m., Rose Wagner Center, $15
-- Moab Music Festival through September 13
-- Organ Recitals, every Saturday, noon, and every Sunday, 2 p.m., Temple Square Assembly Hall
Theater
-- “Defending the Caveman” through September 6, Egyptian Theatre
-- “The Hasty Heart” through September 13, Hale Center Theater Orem
-- “Lucky Stiff” through September 19, Terrace Plaza Playhouse
-- “Big: The Musical” through September 20, Hale Centre Theatre
-- “Cinderella” through September 20, Academy of Performing Arts
-- “High School Musical” through September 20, Heritage Theatre
-- “Beauty and the Beast” through October 3, Center Street Musical Theatre
-- “Seussical the Musical” through October 6, Empress Theatre
-- “The Sound of Music” through October 15, Tuacahn Amphitheatre
-- “Les Miserables” through October 18, Tuacahn Amphitheatre
-- “Scary Poppins” through November 8, Desert Star Playhouse
Museum Exhibits
-- Monet to Picasso from the Cleveland Museum of Art Exhibition through September 21, Utah Museum of Fine Arts
Et cetra
-- Brigham City Peach Days, Friday and Saturday
-- Utah State Fair through September 14
-- Oktoberfest, Saturdays and Sundays through October 5, Snowbird Resort
-- Downtown Farmers Market, Saturdays through October, 8 a.m. – 1 p.m., Pioneer Park
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