Standard-Examiner Editorial: Our View: Review Police Raids

Some people "get it;" and some apparently don't

Yep. The Standard "gets it." Hopefully our state legislature will "get it" too. It's all about reducing the level of potential violence and keeping everyone as "safe" as possible:

• Our View: Review police raids

What's wrong with our "macho" local police administrations, we ask?

Maybe they need to lay off the Viagra, no?

Alternate Editorial Viewpoint: Nassim Taleb Talks Antifragile, Libertarianism, and Capitalism's Genius for Failure

A breath of fresh libertarian air, wethinks

Click to enlarge image

"Chewy" interview, to say the least, which first came to your blogmeister's attention via the Utah Libertarian Party Facebook page this morning. Nassim Taleb's approach, arriving via the viewpoint of an essayist, scholar, and stunningly successful equity options trading pro, exhibits a perspective where he prefers to consider the mathematical probabilities, rather than to simply adhere to the usual "top-down libertarian" political ideology; and his philosphy dovetails nicely with your blogmeister's own non-doctrinaire libertarian philosophy (please note the "lower case "l"). It's a breath of fresh air, wethinks, for anyone who might believe that all libertarians think like Rand Paul. Play and enjoy the video, Peeps. Find out why Mr. Taleb believes that the economy is more like a "cat," and less like a "washing machine." For some odd reason, btw, this video kicks in at 13:34.  So if you want to view the whole shebang, rewind it to the start:

Nassim Taleb Talks Antifragile, Libertarianism, 
and Capitalism's Genius for Failure

If you find Mr. Taleb's points to be interesting, we'd suggest that you order his new book, (via a handy link for which purpose we've also added to our left sidebar):

• Antifragile: Things That Gain from Disorder

That's us! Weber County Forum: Presenting non-mainstream editorial viewpoints since 2005.

Comments, anyone?

Standard-Examiner: Utah’s GRAMA Can Be a Blessing and a Curse for News Agencies

Sodden reminder: If you just lay down like a whipped dog following a bad-faith GRAMA request denial, you merely encourage more government misbehavior

At risk of coming off as "late to the party," we'll shine the spotlight on Saturday's "Behind the Headlines" column, in which the Standard's new managing editor Mark Shenefelt, in the wake of Roy city officials' recent denial of a Standard-Examiner Government Records and Management Act (GRAMA)  request "to release the details of the investigation that apparently led to Roy Police Chief Greg Whinham’s sudden resignation July 17," devotes some irate ink to grousing about "innumerable loopholes with which to delay, deny and wear down even committed requestors, especially those without the wherewithal to engage legal services to keep fighting at the end of standard appeals":

• Utah’s GRAMA can be a blessing and a curse for news agencies

Regular Weber County Forum readers can of course fully empathize with the Standard's plight. What WCF reader can forget our own WCF regular contributor Dan Schroeder's overly-prolonged (but for the most part successful)  or GRAMA battles, for instance?

Down in the Standard's comments section however, the battle-hardened Professor Schroeder offers the Standard a little bit of sage advice (paraphrased for general application and brevity):

"... if the government is using [GRAMA loopholes] to deny a request outright, you should appeal and, if necessary, take them to court. Needless to say, government officials have no incentive to comply with the GRAMA statute if they don't think they'll suffer any consequences from their noncompliance."

Come on, Standard-Examiner. You didn't think these secretive government bureaucrats would just meekly hand over these materials without a fight, did ya's?

Sodden remember.  If you just lay down like a whipped dog following an erroneous and/or bad-faith GRAMA request denial, Mr. Shenenfelt, you merely encourage more government misbehavior.

That's our take; and we're stickin' with it.

 So what say our Gentle WCF Readers about all this?

Proposition: Concept of "Limited Government" Is Right-Wing Bunk

Yes. This will be on the test

"Chewy"and intriguing political perspective from political commentary "up and comer" Jada Thacker. This is for "thinkers" only... and NOT for sappy ideologues.

The author's premise:  "The Constitution was never intended to 'provide limited government,' and furthermore it did not do so."

See if you can find any "holes" in this guy's argument:

• Concept of "Limited Government" Is Right-Wing Bunk

Yes. This will be on the test.

John Swallow News Roundup - Episode XL: 10 Law Firms Vie to Work for Panel Investigating A.G. John Swallow

Looks like a pretty decent gig for some lucky law firm, yes?

"Ten law firms will now compete to work for the special Utah House committee investigating embattled Attorney General John Swallow":

• 10 law firms vie to work for panel investigating A.G. John Swallow

"A five-member evaluation committee of lawmakers and legislative staff reviewed 61 applications for the job. After scoring each firm, it pared the list to 10. None are from Utah [of course]":

• Akin, Gump, Strauss, Hauer & Feld LLP - New York
• Davis Wright Tremaine LLP - Seattle
• Harrang Long Gary Rudnick P.C. - Eugene, Ore.;
• Hinshaw & Culbertson LLP - Chicago
• Jenner & Block LLP - Chicago
• Jones Day - Atlanta 
• Kelley, Wolter & Scott P.A. - Minneapolis
• Lane Powell P.C. - Portland, Ore
• Sidley Austin LLP - Los Angeles
• Steptoe & Johnson LLP - Chicago

Impressive list, to say the least.

Once again, here's a mini-ruoundup of the possibly-conflicted BIG-TIME U.S. firms who got "bumped from the list," for varying,  but what "should be obvious reasons":

• Interesting Tidbits from the Law Firms Vying to Be Part of the Swallow Investigation

"Finalists will be interviewed next week and a contract offered Aug. 9. The investigative committee plans to hold its first meeting Tuesday," the Deseret News' Dennis Romboy reports.

Added bonus: Here's a handy online link to the Martindale-Hubbell Law Directory, which provides background information on U.S. lawyers and law firms, for those research oriented readers among us who might want to further check out these law firm hopefuls:

• Martindale-Hubbell Law Directory

Looks like a pretty decent gig for some lucky ...or soon to be a nationally BIGTIME law firm, yes?

John Swallow News Roundup - Episode XXXIX: The Plot Sickens

"When sorrows come, they come not single spies, but in battalions." - Shakespeare

For your Friday morning viewing pleasure, we've helpfully googled up the latest developments in the John Swallow Three-ring circus:

A Utah citizens' group, Alliance for a Better Utah, asserting "that the failure to properly vet" former House investigative committee member and chairman Rep. Lowry Snow "exposed the committee to unnecessary scandal, has released an open letter to House Speaker Rebecca Lockhart, asking for more details about how members of a House investigative committee were vetted before being chosen to gather information on embattled Attorney General John Swallow":

• Group wants to know how House Speaker Lockhart chose committee investigating Attorney General Swallow - Dnews
• Group wants details on Swallow committee - Standard

"Some committee members, including Snow, said Lockhart only spoke to them briefly and didn't ask about potential conflicts of interest before appointing them," the Deseret News reports.

"State taxpayers are footing the legal bill for Utah Attorney General John Swallow in his defense of an ethics complaint before the Utah State Bar. Swallow is being defended by lawyers from his office from allegations that he violated rules of conduct that govern attorney-client relations concerning a phone call he had last year with a Utah businessman facing a $400,000 fine for violating state consumer protection laws, the office confirmed Thursday":

• Utah taxpayers foot bill for part of A.G. Swallow’s defense - SLTrib

"David Irvine, a Salt Lake City attorney associated with Utahns for Ethical Government and the Alliance for a Better Utah, said while he couldn’t cite legal authorities, having state attorneys represent Swallow in the Bar case didn’t seem appropriate since it involves alleged ethical violations," the Salt Lake Tribune reports; and if that's what Mr. Irvine believes, that's good enough for us.

There are some interesting tidbits to be found in the list of law firms bidding to be part of the Swallow investigation:

• Interesting Tidbits from the Law Firms Vying to Be Part of the Swallow Investigation - UTPolicy

"Another man has come forward to accuse Attorney John Swallow. Like the previous accusers [Marc  Jenson and Jeremy Johnson] , Brian Arthur Fitts is accused of felony fraud. The charges were published on Utah Political Capitol in a story by veteran freelance reporter Lynn Packer. In the story, Fitts says Swallow brought false criminal charges against him because Fitts sued a client and friend of the Attorney General’s. He claims Swallow used his office to retaliate. Fitts is currently a fugitive in Canada from multiple fraud charges":

• Third Accuser Comes Forward With Allegations Against AG John Swallow - UPC
• New Swallow Accuser Steps Forward (Video) - KUTV2

"When sorrows come, they come not single spies, but in battalions." - Shakespeare

Standard-Examiner: Ogden City Ordinance Ruffles Feathers; Election Could Decide Fate of Backyard Birds

Or... Backyard Birds Could Decide Fate of  Council Incumbents

Weirdly enough, it looks like we're seeing the first murmurings of a genuinely devisive campaign issue in the 2013 Ogden Municipal election race, as the Standard this morning reports that "Results from the upcoming Ogden City Council elections could determine the fate of backyard chickens in Ogden for the next four years."

We look at it the other way around of course, and wonder: "Could backyard birds decide the fate of council incumbents?" we ask.

 According to this morning's Randi Weston report, the battle lines are being drawn, with incumbents Doug Stephens and Bart Blair standing historically opposed to the raising of backyard poultry by Ogden lumpencitizens, whilst their council challengers Turner C. Bitton and Courtney White, in the Ward 3 and At-large "B" races, respectively, cry foul over the council's current anti-backyard chicken stance:

• Ogden City ordinance ruffles feathers; election could decide fate of backyard birds

There's no word on the positions of any of the other council candidates, although Ward 1 incumbent Neil Garner appears to be anti-chicken too.

"Although not directly noticeable by looking through the city ordinances online, chickens are not allowed within Ogden city limits," Ms. Weston's morning story reports. And Ms. Weston says a real mouthful,  in light of  woefully "muddy" condition of the existing Ogden City "chicken ordinance":

• 12-7-8: KEEPING FOWL IF ALLOWED; ENCLOSURES REQUIRED; PROHIBITED WHERE:

Thankfully, the very trendy BackyardChickens.com website provides a "plain English" summary of the current Ogden ordinance, framed in language unladen with the usual Ogden City legalistic gobbledygook:

• Ogden Utah Chicken Ordinance

For a little background reading concerning the circumstances precipitating this highly polarizing issue, here are a couple of recent articles on that topic:

• Pair on Ogden council revive backyard chicken debate
• Salt Lake Tribune: Ogden Couple Fighting City to Keep Backyard Chickens

And for those who'd like to examine the plethora of material which the council considered the last time the Ogden Council considered the Ogden backyard chickens issue, check out the November 27, 2012 Council work session packet which includes the draft of a proposed (but ultimately rejected) ordinance, pro and con citizen correspondence and a marvelous collection of local news articles addressing the "urban chickens" issue:

• CHICKENS IN RESIDENTIAL ZONES

Added bonus:  As cited in this morning's S-E story, navigate via this link for a glimpse of the chatter occurring within in the "backyard chicken underground":

• Facebook - Ogden Urban Chicken Fans

Nope.  The issues forming up as we approach the November Municipal election don't have the quite the pre-election gravitas of Gondolas, Downtown Money Pits, Velodromes, Giant Downtown Icicles or creepy Money-laundering Scandals, but in an election season which has been so far a mite ho-hum, we'll take what we can get, so long as it will motivate Ogden voters, and drive them to the polls, we guess.

City Council Meeting Special: Live Blogging From the City Council Chambers Tonight - Updated

$18 million water infrastructure bonding proposal on the agenda

We just received some good news from Dan Schroeder a couple of minutes ago, regarding tonight's Ogden City Council Meeting, wherein the Ogden City Administration's $18 million water infrastructure bonding proposal, which was the subject of  Dan's WCF writeup of yesterday, will be discussed and put to a Council vote.

Just to get you all into the spirit, here's a (slightly generic) video lead, which we nevertheless believe to be a highly suitable prelude for a council meeting of such importance as tonight's Ogden City "legislative branch" meetup:


Pull up your Barcaloungers and pop up your Oville Reddenbacher's folks...

Meeting kicks of at 6 p.m. sharp!

Look to our comments section, to read Dan's realtime posts.

Happy day! We have Dan's live blogging from the Ogden City Council Chambers tonight.

Update 7/31/13 6:30 a.m.:  The Standard's Mitch Shaw provides a morning report of last night's meeting, noting, among other things, that "... for the water plant bond, both the total amount of the bond and the number of years it will be repaid could change before the bond issuance is finalized after an Aug. 20 public hearing on the matter":

• Ogden OKs bond resolutions for storm sewer repairs, new water plant

Thus there's still one more chance to lobby your council members to minimize the total debt to be bonded and interest to be accrued, people:

• Contact Ogden City Elected Officials

And with November's 2013 Municipal Election polling fast approaching, Ward 3 council challenger Turner C. Bitton demonstrates his attention to important Ogden City issues and chimes in with last evening's water infrastructure bonding-topical press release:

• Ogden Council candidate blasts proposals for water bonds

Additional thanks to Dan Schroeder for his dogged gavel-to-gavel coverage of last night's meeting.

Update 8/4/13 2:00 p.m.:  The full Council video is now available for viewing:

• Ogden City Council July 30 2013

Ogden Crime Beat Video: Ogden Police Department Needs Your Help

Looks like Ogden City's "curfew" ain't working out so hot!

Via: Ogden City Police Department

Ogden investigators are asking for assistance in the identification of four suspects who forced their way into the State Liquor Store at 1156 Patterson during the early morning hours on June 23 2013. The break-in was over in less than a minute, but images of the burglary were recorded by a number of interior surveillance cameras. If you recognize any or all of the suspects, please contact Detective Ziegler at (801)629-8430.


Shouldn't these burglars of "tender years" have been home in bed?

Whoa. Looks like Ogden City's "curfew" ain't working out so hot!

Update 8/1/31 6:18 a/m.: Better late than never, the Standard has picked up on the story too:

• Police seek Ogden liquor store burglars

Standard-Examiner: Three Candidates Competing for Ogden’s At-large Seat "A" in Election - Updated

Certainly an interesting race to watch as it develops, indeed

Better late than never

To our great delight, we're pleased to observe that the Standard, with a short 14 or so days left until the 2013 Ogden Municipal Election Primary, better late than never, is finally devoting at least a little bit of electronic ink to the one, single pending Ogden Municipal Primary race, i.e.,  the Ogden City At-Large Seat "A" contest:

• Three candidates competing for Ogden’s at-large seat in election

Gotta admit that we were gobsmacked when council candidate Stephen Thompson was qouted in this morning's S-E story thusly:

I think the biggest issue Ogden is facing in the immediate future is our water infrastructure and what that means for our water rates,” Thompson said. “We need all of these different infrastructure improvements, but it’s a huge challenge because of the costs associated with it."...

"I understand the logic behind not using all the reserve cash to pay for it, but I don’t think we should bond for it either,” he said. “I think we should work toward sensible reductions in spending, so we don’t have to bond for so much.

Stephen D. Thompson
The Real Deal?

It's absolutely uncanny, wethink, that candidate Thompson zeroed in, during a beforehand S-E interview, on the same issue which we featured in Dan Schroeder's lead article this morning, don't you think, whilst meanwhile, Mr. Thompson's Seat "A" opponents were spouting relative generalities and all-purpose political slogans?

Savvy grasp of the most important Ogden issues; or mere good luck, we ask?

Could it be that this Thompson guy is the REAL DEAL? 

Needless to say we'll be keeping a particularly close eye on Mr.  Thompson's campaign, as we move forward to the August 13 primary, along with those of his opponents,  Sheri Morreale and Marcia L. White, (of course).

No doubt about it. This will certainly be an interesting race to watch as it develops, indeed.

Update 7/30/13 11:00 a.m.:  In answer to a private inquiry from one of our gentle Weber County Forum readers... No.  Our above reference to Mr. Thompson's impressive and timely recognition of what we consider to be one of Ogden City's most important pending issues, i.e., tonight's prospective water infrastructure bonding decision,  should not be interpreted at this time as an early endorsement of his candidacy.  If indeed we do endorse anyone in the At-large Seat "A" race in the future, that's something which will happen, if at all, w-a-a-a-y down the road, after the 2013 campaign season has run its course, and ALL the evidence is there on the table.  

Ogden Council Poised to Borrow $18 Million for Utility Projects

Sole purpose of new debt is to maintain even larger cash balance in case of “emergency”

By Dan Schroeder

The Ogden City Council will vote this Tuesday on the proposed bonds that were discussed at its July 9 work session. The bonds are intended to fund a new water filter plant below Pineview Dam ($11.6 million), some smaller water infrastructure projects ($1.8 million), and a series of storm drain improvements to alleviate storm water hazards on Harrison Blvd. ($4.7 million). These bonds would add to the utility funds’ existing debt of approximately $60 million.

Nobody is questioning the importance of these utility infrastructure projects. But at the July 9 work session, several council members wisely questioned the idea of paying for them with borrowed money, when the utility funds have more than enough cash already sitting in the bank. City treasurer Mike Goodwin stated on July 9 that the water fund balance was currently at approximately $11 million, while the sewer and storm drain fund was at approximately $17 million. He further stated that these cash reserves are held in a variety of investments that earn from 0.5% to 1.25% interest.

Thus, the city administration is proposing to borrow approximately $18 million at 4 or 5% interest, for the sole purpose of maintaining an even larger cash balance that’s earning approximately 1% interest.

The council’s agenda packet for this Tuesday (relevant pages excerpted here) shows a few further details and minor changes to the proposal.

First, to partially address the council’s concerns, the staff are now offering four different borrowing options for the water portion of the bonds (see Council Staff Review, page 3). The three new options would reduce the water bond amount from $13.4 million to $11.6 million, or reduce the repayment period from 30 years to 20, or both. Making both changes would reduce the total interest payments from about $11 million to only $6 million (not including the interest on the storm drain bonds).

Second, staff have provided some updated numbers for the current financial position of the water fund (see pdf page 9, numbered 4 on the page). Apparently the water fund balance stood at $10.2 million at the end of June, somewhat less than Goodwin had informally indicated on July 9. Furthermore, the city is making an emergency expenditure of $1.4 million to replace the pipeline that recently ruptured near the mouth of Ogden Canyon and temporarily closed Highway 39. (I’m not sure why this long-overdue pipeline replacement wasn’t already in the city’s near-term plans.)

On the other hand, the water fund had an operating surplus of $3.2 million for the most recent year, and another rate increase of 7%, approved in May of last year, just took effect this month. So by the time the bills for the filter plant come due in 2015, the fund should have accumulated several million dollars more.

(The council packet does not include any updated information on the cash balance of the sewer and storm drain fund—only budget projections that are now out of date.)

So again, why would the city borrow money at 4 or 5% interest, just to maintain an even larger cash balance earning only 1%?

The council actually adopted a resolution last year that endorsed the concept of maintaining large cash balances. At that time, the justification provided by the city’s financial consultant (Laura Lewis of Lewis, Young, Robertson, and Burningham) was that large cash reserves look good to investors, making it possible for the city to borrow money at lower interest rates. In other words, the reason to borrow the money, rather than paying for the projects with cash, is so the city can get a lower interest rate when it borrows the money.

Lewis did not repeat this line of circular reasoning on July 9. Instead she pointed out that if the city uses up all its cash reserves and then an emergency repair needs to be made, the interest rate on an emergency loan or bond would be relatively high. Nobody in the room gave an example of what sort of emergency expenditure they thought the city might expect to make.

Even if the city forgoes the bond and pays for the filter plant and other projects with cash, the total balance in the utility funds should should never drop below $10 million. And the city’s utility infrastructure is widely dispersed, so it’s hard to imagine an emergency that would cost more than a couple million dollars in the short term. (The $1.4 million pipeline replacement near the mouth of Ogden Canyon is an excellent example.)

I recently asked a couple of council members what sort of disaster they have in mind that might cost the city more than $10 million in emergency repairs. The only scenario they’ve mentioned is the potential failure of Pineview Dam, perhaps due to a major earthquake. Geologists estimate that major earthquakes on the Wasatch Fault occur on average every 300-400 years. In such an unlikely event, it is highly probable that Ogden’s utility systems would be eligible for federal grants that would cover at least 75% of the cost of replacement.

Lewis, Young, et al.,
Taxpayer Leeches
"Financial Consultants"

So I’m still at a loss to understand the motivation behind these proposed bonds, which would ultimately cost the city about $10 million in net interest payments (plus or minus a few million, depending on the option chosen and the actual interest rates obtained). That’s $10 million that the city could instead spend on other needed infrastructure upgrades in coming years—or refund to the citizens in the form of lower utility rates.

But it’s quite clear that the Caldwell administration is behind this bonding proposal—as is its consultant, Laura Lewis. Lewis’s firm would presumably act as the city’s “financial advisor” on the bonds, and (according to the final page of the packet excerpt) receive a fee of 0.4% of the amount borrowed, or about $70,000.

Boss Godfrey Post-Public Sector Retirement Update

Great to see that Godfrey is letting no grass grow under his feet

By: Fly on the Wall

Looks like former Mayor Matthew "Boss" Godfrey , who set up shop in the private sector in 2012, has been busy with a project in Price City, the county seat of Utah's Carbon County:

• Carbon Commission Holding Public Discussion Concerning the Future Use of Courthouse Building
• Carbon County and Better City want your input

Expanding his reach to locations outside of Utah, and leaving no stone unturned, Godfrey appears to be likewise bending the eager ears of city planners in East Liverpool, Ohio, of all places:

At the helm for 15 years?

Over a period of 15 years, with Godfrey at the helm, [Ogden] was revitalized and when he decided to rejoin the private sector, officials from other communities began asking Godfrey for his expertise in revitalizing their towns, leading to formation of Better City, LLC.

• Company may help revitalize

An Ogden Restaurant that employs 750 people?

Another blighted building was transformed into a restaurant that now employs 750 people, and an area that Godfrey said once was "the place you went of you were homeless, looking for a prostitute or a fight" is now filled with boutiques, restaurants and residences:

• The right track?

A concept with a familiar ring: "What you need is a fieldhouse":

"It is the direction of successful, innovative education around the nation," Godfrey said. "That's why the federal government is funding it so heavily." "In addition to gaining what he says could be a model school in the region, the district would gain an attractive venue to draw sporting events and other productions. The fieldhouse, when not in use by the school or hosting an event, could also be open to members of the greater community as a practice field or for league sports," he said:

• School board hears proposal for charter development

"Partnering" with local educational institutions:

Specifically, Godfrey said, he wants to build upon an education "cluster" that already exists in the city, with Kent State University, the active high school alumni association, the online school and another post-secondary school looking at locating downtown:

• Firm shares city revitalization plans with BOE

Great to see that Godfrey is exploiting the "expertise" he developed during three terms of office at the "helm of Ogden City government," touting his legendary "job creation skills", and letting "no grass grow under his feet," no?

So who'll be the first to lodge an ever-savvy comment?

Ferris?

John Swallow News Roundup - Episode XXXVIII: Tying Up a Few More Loose Ends

A feeding frenzy in the U.S. legal community; and Becky Lockhart reshuffles the deck

Here are the latest reported developments in the John Swallow Three-ring Circus, folks. It definitely gets "interestinger and interestinger":

Responding to harsh criticism of the potential conflict of intererest of Rep. Lowry Snow,  House Speaker Becky Lockhart on Thursday removed Snow from the committee investigating John Swallow, replacing him as Chairman with current committee member Rep. Jim Dunnigan, and filling Snow's now-vacated slot with new committee member Rep. Francis Gibson:

• Speaker Lockhart Drops Snow From Swallow Investigation, Adds Dunnigan and Gibson - Utah Political Capitol
• Lockhart replaces Snow as head of House’s Swallow probe - SLTrib
• Lockhart replaces Swallow committee head to avoid conflict - DNews

There's no word on whether Lockhart will be forced to further re-shuffle the investigative committee deck, as the above Utah Political Capital story reveals that "[although] Gibson made no contributions to Swallow, however he did lend his name as a “Leader for Swallow” on Swallow’s campaign website."

It looks like a feeding frenzy in the U.S. legal community as "[m]ore than 60 law firms from across the country — from national powerhouses with hundreds of lawyers to small Utah outfits — are vying to serve as legal counsel to the House committee investigating Republican Attorney General John Swallow":

• 61 law firms submit bids to help with House’s John Swallow probe - SLTrib

"Thursday marked the deadline for bids, which will be scored and the selection made Aug. 9," the Salt Lake Tribune's Robert Gehrke reports.

John Swallow News Roundup - Episode XXXVII: Post-holiday Tidbits

 Political dynamite? You bet!

It's a slow post-Pioneer Day news day, so why not?  While you were all slacking off yesterday and sleeping late this morning, we were busy scouring the net for the latest news in the ever-enthralling John Swallow Saga.  So here are a couple of new tidbits to digest whilst you clear out those post-holiday cobwebs:

1) Citizen-activist and Utah Political Capitol reader Matt McCarty offers a sound argument that "[i]n order to maintain the integrity investigation and the public trust, Speaker Lockhart must find another House investigative committee chair, one who doesn’t have connections with any of Mr. Swallow’s accusers and who hasn’t contributed to the Swallow campaign fund":

• Reader Op-Ed: Investigatory Committee Shouldn’t Have Connections to Swallow

2) In the below-linked blockbuster Salt Lake Tribune "tattle-tell" guest commentary, Salt Lake attorney Greg Skordos, who represented convicted fraudster and Swallow bribery accuser Marc Jenson as recently as 2012, reveals that former Utah Attorney General Mark Shurtleff (along with everyone else in the Utah A.G.'s Office) was well aware of the close connections between Jenson, Shurtleff and Shurtleff's then-chief assistant Swallow, but willfully ignored his own staff attornies' recommendations to withdraw from the still-pending Jenson prosecution matters, and to rather remain on the case despite the clear conflicts of interest, ostensibly in order to shield his hand-picked successor, Swallow, from political blowback in the run-up to Swallow's 2012 GOP convention nomination.  Here's the gist:

Sadly, as early as the spring of 2012, discussions were held in the A.G.’s office with then-candidate Swallow about the wisdom of that office prosecuting Jenson when the relationship between Swallow, then the A.G.’s chief deputy, and Johnson was already known.
It was no secret that Swallow and his boss at the time, Attorney General Mark Shurtleff, had spent considerable time with Jenson at a luxury resort and had solicited and received campaign contributions, either directly or indirectly, from Jenson, all while Jenson was under investigation on one matter and was serving a plea in abeyance on another.
Over the objection of staff in the A.G.’s office, the order came down to continue that prosecution, not because it was sound legal strategy, but because Swallow was facing a tough opponent from his own party at the upcoming Republican state convention and that the information about Jenson could damage Swallow’s chances.
One can easily imagine how that convention would have turned out had the delegates known what we all know now.

Check out the full Greg Skordos guest commentary here:

• Skordas: Swallow’s tactics no secret 

Political dynamite?  You bet!

That's it for now, folks.

Pioneer Day 2013 Special Edition

Have a safe and sane one!

And for those of you who might be tempted to detonate loud explosive devices late into the night... pretty please with sugar on it,  show some kind consideration for our "furry friends":

Have a safe and sane one, Utah Lumpencitizens!

The Solution: Officers of the Peace - Updated

Citizen Call to Action: Roll up your sleeves and get involved!

Encouraging new 2014 Utah legislation proposed by the Libertas Institute, tackling the "police militarization problem" which we've addressed here at Weber County Forum in recent months:

The solution: officers of the peace

Legislation will be presented in the 2014 general session (beginning in January) to restrict the instances in which forcible entry may be authorized. Suspects and police officers alike should only be placed into dangerous, high-risk circumstances when absolutely necessary, such as when a violent crime is suspected. This procedural roadblock will help protect the lives of police officers by requiring them to employ force only in cases where somebody's life or property needs protection. Such a restraint will also divorce Utah from the nationwide trend of innocent people being harmed and killed in home invasions because of drugs or other non-violent crimes.

What can you do?

Share this page on Facebook, Twitter, and your email list. Stay updated on this legislation as it moves forward by providing your email address. Talk to your friends and help them understand the need to reform how warrants are served in Utah.
Utah needs officers of the peace, not heavily armed "law enforcement officials" that put innocent lives at risk. It's as simple as that.

Click this link if you'd like to roll up your sleeves and get involved:

• The solution: officers of the peace

Needless to say, we'll be closely following this proposed legislation, as we stand poised for the opening gavel of the 2014 Utah legislative general session, which kicks off a mere 5-1/2 months hence.

Update 7/27/13 9:00 p.m.:  The Standard is all over this story too:

• Groups seek to limit raid-style search warrants in Utah

John Swallow News Roundup - Episode XXXVI: Weeding Out the Conflicts and Threats - Updated

Odd that Committee Chairman Snow failed to inform Speaker Lockhart of his potential conflict, No?

Here's the latest from the John Swallow Three-ring Circus, folks:

The ever-savvy Utah political blogger Daniel Burton wonders: "Could Utah Attorney General John Swallow be preparing to sue the state for civil rights violations if he is impeached?":

• Is Swallow planning on bringing a civil rights claim against the state? - Publius Online

The Tribune fleshes out the profiles of the nine committee members who'll conduct the the Swallow investigation:

• Meet the nine House members on Swallow panel - Trib

The above investigative committee roster may not be "chiseled in granite" however, as the Trib reports that "House Speaker Becky Lockhart met Monday with [Committee Chairman] Rep. Lowry Snow, but said she hasn’t decided whether legal work he did for a key player in the John Swallow scandal will prompt her to replace the St. George lawmaker as head of the House committee investigating Utah’s top law-enforcement officer":

• Lockhart weighs removing Snow as head of Swallow probe - Trib

Careful and prudent lawyers routinely resort to extreme measures to detect potential conflicts of interest in their own law practices.  Odd that Rep. Snow failed to inform Speaker Lockhart of this potential problem prior to his appointment, No?

Update 7/23/13 11:29 a.m.: Breaking: We've just learned from Utah Political Capitol that "[t]he Lieutenant Governor's office has announced they have hired the huge lawfirm Snell & Wilmer to investigate Alliance for a Better UTAH's elections-fraud complaints against Attorney General John Swallow. According to UPC's initial search of the lawfirm's 200+ partners, there were 0 direct donations made to Swallow's election campaign."

Update 7/23/13 12:28 p.m.:  Great graphic:

Update 7/24/13 5:00 a.m.: The Standard confirms the above-referenced UPC report, which first broke the story concerning the retention of the Snell & Wilmer law firm:

• Ariz. firm selected to investigate Swallow

Standard-Examiner Editorial - Our View: Keep Education Compulsory - Updated

"Making education for children an elective is dumb public policy," says the Standard-Examiner.

As a followup to our min-rant of July 14, wherein we slammed certain "right wing Utah hippie fruitcakes," who've been recently floating the idea of  "making Utah schools voluntary rather than compulsory," the Standard-Examiner carries a strong editorial in this morning's hard-copy edition, giving this knuckle-headed idea a no-nonsense thumbs-down: 

• Our View: Keep education compulsory

Coincidentally and parenthetically, The Salt Lake Tribune also chimes in this morning with a similar take:

• Not optional

Of course in our view, the Standard and the Trib editorial boards get it pretty much exactly right.

As Ogden City Council candidate Stephen Thompson succinctly opined during last Wednesday night 's Meet the Candidates event, abandoning compulsory education would be a sure-fire way to turn the U.S.A. into a "third world country," a sentiment with which we also heartily agree.

As an added bonus, here's a rippingly-good Youtube video, provided by yet another sharp-eyed and alert WCF reader, who helpfully furnishes this introduction: "Best argument for compulsory education yet. Every student returning to school should watch this motivating video, along with every tax payer that is paying for that education. Thanks John Green. Not only a great author, but a philosopher and poet as well":


"Making education for children an elective is one of those ideas that is great fodder for a several-hour bull session with other political junkies. But it’s dumb public policy, and we trust that the vast majority of Utah Legislature are wise enough to deflate this balloon," says the Standard-Examiner.

We couldn't be more in agreement.

So what about it, O Gentle Readers?  Is Utah Senator Aaron Osmond simply "batshit crazy," or is he merely trying to start an intelligent discussion, as the Trib half-heartedly suggests?

Update 7/22/13 8:43 a.m.:  Another humdinger of a story from the Trib this morning. Senator Osmond, "like his predecessor Chris Buttars, he has become a tool for the Utah Eagle Forum and like-minded extremists," reports blue-chip columnist Paul Rolly:

• Rolly: Sen. Aaron Osmond has drunk the Kool-Aid

A Weber Count Forum Tip O' The Hat to the ever-savvy WCF Reader Lisa, who made the inititial call.

Bait & Switch Bonding Part Deux: "What Will Be Done With That Extra $700,000 of Pool Bonding Dough?"

As taxpayer rip-offs go, we're labeling this a “two-fer"

In our haste to showcase yesterday's Gentle Reader Smaatguy's very legitimate Weber County Library bonding gripe, there's another  nerve-jangling Standard-Examiner story which we did (unfortunately) leave on the back-burner yesterday. It's therefore time to play "catch-up" wethinks, now that we move into the pre-24th of July sometimes "Red Meat Lean" news cycle week-end. And what better time to do that when most of the other Utah journalists are slackin' off and enjoying the summer weather?

Here's the full text of yesterday's SE' companion"Ogden City Schools Pool Bonding" story, "peeps" wherein SE reporter Rachel Trotter asks the question: "What will be done with that extra $700,000" of taxpayer-extracted pool repair bonding dough?":

• District will be left with extra tax funds after repairs on pools

“If it is earmarked for educational purposes, why didn’t they just call it that instead of masking it in this pool bond? Ogden School District needs to be more accountable to the taxpayers of Ogden,” says Ogden resident Simon Post.

We already learned earlier that the Ogden City Redevelopment Agency was also quietly taking it's own "pound of taxpayer flesh," of course.

Therefore, as taxpayer rip-offs go, we'll go along with Mr. Post, and furthermore label this a "two-fer,"  with zero amount of hesitation.

And howbout YOU?

John Swallow News Roundup - Episode XXXV: Getting The Show On The Road

Let's pull up our Barclaloungers and break out the Orville Redenbachers, folks!

As the long-awaited House investigation finally moves forward, (despite a few possible remaining hiccups) here's the latest news on the John Swallow Three-ring circus, via the Deseret News, the Standard and the Tribune:

Coming to a legislature
near you

"The St. George attorney and legislator tapped to head the special House committee investigating Utah Attorney General John Swallow has links in several lawsuits to Jeremy Johnson, the businessman at the center of the controversy engulfing the state’s top cop. Rep. V. Lowry Snow said Thursday he doesn’t believe his role in the cases would impede his objectivity, but he plans to meet with House Speaker Becky Lockhart, R-Provo, and is willing to step down if she believes it creates a conflict of interest":

• Lawmaker who’ll lead Swallow panel has ties to Jeremy Johnson - Tribune 7/18/13
• Chair of Utah House AG probe might quit due to conflict - Standard 7/19/13

"The nine-member [investigative] committee composed of part-time legislators could face a host of obstacles, from scheduling meetings to dealing with reluctant witnesses and extracting information from other criminal or civil investigations":

• Attorney General John Swallow investigative committee faces daunting job - Deseret News 7/18/13

"Legislative leaders continue to insist most of the meetings of a special committee investigating the alleged wrongdoings of Attorney John Swallow will be held in the open. Their assurances come despite a bill approved this week adjusting some of the rules of the Government Records Access and Management Act and some amendments to the Open Meetings Law":

• Rep. Dee: GRAMA, open meetings adjustments done with care - Standard 7/19/13

Let's pull up our Barclaloungers and break out the Orville Redenbachers, folks!

Update 7/20/13 10:25 a.m.:  Added bonus via the Trib's inimitable Pat Bagley: