KVNU’s For The People

Tonight on KVNU’s For The People, It’s THE day after. Last night the Logan Municipal Council voted to start enforcing the park strip ordinance. We’ll hear from some councilmembers on the fallout from last night’s meeting. 

It’s the most wholesome show that always finds itself at the center of controversy: American Idol has a big Utah tie this year with one of its contestants in the final 3, but even though he’s just a 17-year-old kid, he’s finding himself in the headlines for reasons other than his talent.

It’s Americorps week and we’ll talk to the director of the Utah Conservation Corps about the impacts Americorps has had on Cache Valley

We’ll also touch on a Utah blogger attending the Democratic National Convention, tourism growth in Utah and school uniforms.

All of that, your phone calls and more on tonight’s FOR THE PEOPLE…

It might be the most wholesome show that continuously finds itself at the center of controversy, but tonight, there will only be two contestants left on the seventh season of American Idol.

It’s down to Utah’s own crooner, David Archuleta, the cornhusker rocker David Cook, and Whitney Houston wannabe Syesha Mercado.

The show itself has been in the news the past few weeks due to declining ratings (although it remains the No. 1 show on TV, it’s only pulling in about 25 million viewers a week instead of 33 million).

The innocent, soft-spoken Archuleta found himself — or rather, his father — this week when his musician, stage dad father was reportedly given the boot from backstage. 

We’ll talk about all things Idol tonight on For The People, and we’ll give you a heads up on who is most likely to be sent home tonight — though for anyone who is a loyal viewer of the show, tonight’s results won’t be much of a surprise.

Rob Miller of The Utah Amicus blog was selected as Utah’s representative, and one of 55 bloggers nationwide, to be credentialed to blog on the floor of the Democratic National Convention in Denver later this year. Rob Miller will join us on tonight’s For The People to discuss this honor.
From the Democratic National Convention Web site: http://www.demconvention.com/dnc-chairman-governor-dean-announces-blogs-selected-for-2008-democratic-national-convention-state-blogger-corps/

DNC Chairman Governor Dean Announces Blogs Selected For 2008 Democratic National Convention ‘State Blogger Corps’

May 14, 2008

Party Chairman Notifies Selected Blogs Via Online Video Message

DENVER - As part of the Democratic National Convention Committee’s (DNCC) commitment to engaging a broad spectrum of audiences in the 2008 Democratic National Convention experience using new technology and other creative means, Democratic National Committee (DNC) Chairman Howard Dean today announced the blogs selected to participate in the DemConvention State Blogger Corps during the four-day event in August. Governor Dean notified the blogs selected via an online video message available at www.DemConvention.com.

“Similar to the record-breaking voter turnout our Party has seen during the primary season, the demand for these coveted blogger positions is yet another indicator of the tremendous interest in this historic Convention,” said Governor Dean. “The Internet has played a critical role in connecting Americans to elected officials and candidates seeking office. The DemConvention State Blogger Corps will continue to foster this dialogue - in all 50 of our states and our territories too - as we head towards this year’s historic election and elect a Democrat to the White House.”

The DNCC previously announced an expansion of the credentialed blogger pool from past Conventions and the addition of a state blogger credentialing program. As part of the new DemConvention State Blogger Corps, designed for bloggers covering state and local politics, bloggers will receive unparalleled access to state delegations and the floor of the Convention hall. In a truly unprecedented move, the DNCC will seat these bloggers with their respective delegations during the historic four-day event, providing even greater access for local coverage and perspective. Highlights from these blogs will also be featured on www.DemConvention.com in the lead up to and during the Convention.

I have been contacted by sources indicating that several large lawsuits will likely now be filed by the Property Owners against the City.

Points of contention:

• Gentrification
• Selective application of laws from neighborhood to neighborhood
• Damage to property value (can’t rent units lacking parking)
• City’s complicit nature in park strips

-Tom

The vote was 4-1 with Thompson voting against.

There were minor changes by Community Development. One change was that single family owned homes will get free parking passes while rentals will still pay $200 per car.

Steve Thompson and Laraine Swenson exchanged blows.

Steve Thompson presented his Special Improvement District (SID).

They talked about the Landlord proposal briefly.

“I’ve been getting emails” was envoked.

-Tom

Coalition Members,

The City Council meeting starts at 5:30 tonight,  we suggest all who can attend the meeting.  Hopefully there will be some open minded debate on the issue by the council.

Questions that remain unanswered in my mind and with several people that I have visited.

1.  If this is a city ordinance, why is it not going to be inforced by the city in the city.  So far this issue has been directed at one area, the Adams school area, and one group, Landlords.

2.  I have been critized for the photos distributed in the “public meeting”, I was told that these were not violations.  I want everyone to know that these photos were shown to Herm & Jay, and to Tami in meetings held with them prior to the “public meeting”.  I did not take any additional photos, interesting how our perspectives change.

3.  If the photos didn’t depict park strip violations within the city of Logan, then the flyer sent out with the city utility notices back in April of 2007 was incorrect.    To quote that document: “at a minimum, restoring the physical condition of streets and frontyards will require the following actions by property owners. (maybe we should insert BUT ONLY IN SOME AREAS OF LOGAN and in those areas it will only affect landlords, not personal residences, nor commercial, nor city properties)

a.  Removal of illegal parking from city rights-of-way, particularly in the parkstrip (the area between the face of the curb and the inside of the sidewalk.

b. Removal of illegal parking in frontyards.

What about  park strip areas in other locations of Logan city, filled with Cement, rock, tar paper?  What about the new double parking pad poured in the front yard of the mayors neighbor?  Can we drive past these violations on the way to work every day and ignore them while trying to beautify Logan City?  Could someone address why we’ve not heard anything about these violations from our City officials are we to focused on one area, to administer the ordinance.

Why do they call it a city ordinance?

Those who administer the ordinances should do so regardless of who lives in which areas of town.  This issue in my mind has to do with the City’s attempt to further throttle the landlords of Logan City.  Proposals have been offered by a city councilman, and by the landlord coalition.  Until earlier this morning it was thought that these proposals might have open discussion at tonight’s meeting.  From comments in the news paper I question how open the discussion will be.  I have tried to remain quiet on these issues but I felt the letter this morning undermined what discussion was done in good faith.

Best Regards,

Kent Dunkley

 

 KVNU's For the People 05.13.2008 Hour 1: Play Now | Play in Popup | Download

 

 KVNU's For the People 05.13.2008 Hour 2: Play Now | Play in Popup | Download

Tonight on KVNU’s For the People…

The Logan City Council meets tonight to possibly vote on the City’s new park strip policy. Will they vote or will they consider alternative proposals that have emerged since the public hearing?

KVNU’s Craig Hislop talks with Ryan Hall about the third annual Aggie Blue Bikes festival.

Congress is considering haulting purchases of oil for the Strategic Petroleum Reserve in order to alleviate market demand and force gas prices down. Dr. David Kreutzer of the Heritage Foundation will discuss whether this is a good idea or not.

A topic delayed for the past week- should some people, based upon good behavior, have the opportunity to have their names removed from the Sex Offender Registry.

All of that, your phone calls and more, tonight on KVNU’s For the People!

Read this article in the Tribune and the accompanying documents.  It’s clear to me that Texas authorities did not and do not see the FLDS women and children as fellow humans because they are so different.

I tip my hat to the Mental Health officials for having the courage to speak out.  The greatest test of tolerance and love is our ability to manifest them to those most unlike us.

-Tom

Tonight the City Council is expected to vote on the City’s Plan to address the War on Property Owners/Re-claiming inner-Logan (however you choose to frame the debate).

At the public hearing on the 29th Council Chair Tami Pyfer offered admonition to all present to keep an open mind.  She read a quote and did a great job of setting the mood for the hearing.  She also did a great job of moderating the hearing in a very heated topic even extending the hearing so that everyone who wished to speak on the subject could.

That’s what I was a little surprised today to read a letter from Pyfer completely dismissing the proposal by Steve Thompson to address the complicated issues in “inner-Logan”. When Steve Thompson emailed out his plan originally, Pyfer responded with opposition in just 29 minutes.

I had hoped that the very difficult situations in inner-Logan would be approached by the Council in a more deliberative and collabrative manner. It’s wonderful that so many different groups are coming up with different ideas. The best approach now is not to dismiss entire proposals, but to discuss them and take from each the best and cull the worst.

Now is not the time for rigidity. Here’s to hoping the entire Council approaches tonights meeting with an extra measure of thoughtfulness and open mindedness.

-Tom