Ogden Approves Amended Anti-discrimination Ordinances

A rare Ogden City Council "Kumbayah Moment," wherein almost everyone seems happy with a "compromised" outcome

Both the Salt Lake Tribune and the Standard are reporting that the Ogden City Council passed amended anti-discrimination ordinances last night, thus avoiding an earlier-threatened Boss Godfrey veto:

• Ogden approves LGBT protections
• Mayor Godfrey: I won't veto amended anti-discrimination ordinance

Since both newspapers are reporting this story as something of a rare Ogden City Council "Kumbayah Moment," wherein almost everyone seems happy with the "compromised" outcome, we'll resist the temptation to go against the flow and hammer the all-too-obvious argument that last night's two amendments leave "holes" in the ordinances gaping enough to drive a whole fleet of Mack Trucks through.

Standard-Examiner: Ogden Mayor Promises to Veto Discrimination Ordinances

Looks like almost a full year of council effort stands to be wasted, just as Godfrey suggests

Not to be overlooked amidst the continuing furor surrounding HB477 is this morning's story from the Standard-Examiner, reporting that"[b]y a 4-3 [non-veto proof] vote, the city council adopted ordinances Tuesday night prohibiting housing and employment discrimination based on sexual orientation or gender identity":

• Ogden mayor promises to veto discrimination ordinances because of exemptions

To no one's surprise, Boss Godfrey eagerly stands by, veto pen in hand. Of course he never favored this ordinance in the first place, with or without the two "amendments" which the council majority rejected last night.

Looks like almost a full year of council effort stands to be wasted, just as Godfrey suggests, unless the constituents of Godfrey sockpuppets Garner, Stephens and Stephenson can somehow persuade these recalcitrant council members to have a sudden change of "heart."

Live Blogging From The Ogden City Council Chambers

Check the comments section below to catch Dan's live reporting

We've just received word from Dan Schroeder, who informs us that he'll be live blogging from tonight's Ogden City Council/RDA meetings, where the Council will discuss BDO Bond refinancing, a revamp of the rules governing capital improvement expenditures, and Ogden City's still under construction anti-discrimination ordinance, among other agenda items.

Check the comments section below, as the Council meeting is about to be called to order.

Ogden City Council/RDA Meeting Heads-up

Remember... the world wide blogosphere is sitting on the edge of its seat, waiting to find out what our gentle WCF readers think

In accordance with our regular practice of providing advance notice of pending Council/RDA Board agenda items, we'll provide a heads up concerning several items of interest coming up for tomorrow night's Council/RDA meetings:

1) BDO Bond refinancing. According to tomorrow night's council packets, the Administration will be delivering reports at both a Special RDA Meeting and the regular Council Meeting, concerning an Administration-proposed refinancing of Business Depot Ogden (BDO) bonding. For your convenience, we'll display both council information packets here:

• Ogden City Council/RDA Joint Study Session
• Ogden City Council Meeting

At first glance, the Administration's proposal seems innocuous enough. Although the principal loan balance will increase to around $6,150,000 from the current $5.79 mil after the refi, with interest reductions the whole deal is projected to save the taxpayers around $120 thousand.

So what about it gentle readers? Is this a good deal for the taxpayers... or are we missin' somethin'?

2) Capital Improvement Rules Revamp. Among other things, the Administration proposes to raise the threshold for discretionary Administration capital expenditures from the current $10,000 to $30,000 before the administration is required to go to the City Council for permission to spend additional taxpayer dough. Another troubling feature of the Administration proposal... the establishment of an array of "slush funds," a frightening proposition, given the Little Lord's well demonstrated "spending propensities," we believe. How about it gentle readers? We invite you to read the applicable City Council packet, and tell us what you think about this:

• Ogden City Council Work Session

3) Non Discrimination Ordinance. In the wake of last month's chirpy announcement that Boss Godfrey was finally onboard with Ogden City's long-awaited anti-discrimination ordinance, it seems that the Administration has now thrown a wrench into the works. As set forth in the Council Work Session Packet (linked directly above), the Administration has now suggested amended language to the still in-the-works ordinance, which would create a legal loophole for "moral or religious" objections.

Rather than go through he whole rigmarole, we'll link to this gay activist website, which forcefully (even if not elegantly) explains the main issue which now seems to be on the table:

• Ogden Mayor Takes Last-Minute Potshot at Non-Discrimination Ordinance

Here's the suspect language in Boss Godfrey's newly-proposed ordinance text:

This chapter shall not be construed to limit or prohibit the expression of a person’s moral or religious beliefs, opinions or views. Evidence of a person’s moral or religious beliefs, opinions or views, or expression thereof, shall be inadmissible to prove violation of this chapter.

At risk of seeming overly long-winded, here's our additional take on this new wrinkle in the anti-discriminitation ordinance story. The above carefully-crafted language would unfairly prevent a complainant from offering evidence of moral or religious bigotry to prove discrimination under that ordinance; yet there's nothing in the proposed language to prevent an accused respondent from offering the same evidence to prove any act of discrimination does not fall within the ordinance. That's our interpretation, in any event. In legal parlance, the ordinance as proposed, would allow the respondent to use the ordinance "as a shield," while a complainant would be prevented from citing an incidence of moral or religious discrimination "as a sword."

We do hope our City Council is careful with this. Boss Godfrey's newly proposed ordinance "exception," would render the new ordinance entirely unenforceable as practical matter, wethinks. It would be a real shame to see a council which has been working on an ordinance for almost a year, to ultimately enact one with no teeth.

Please don't hesitate to chime in on any of the subjects relating to tomorrow night's Council RDA meetings.

Remember... the world wide blogosphere is sitting on the edge of its seat, waiting to find out what our gentle WCF readers think.

Standard-Examiner: Ogden Gay Rights Ordinance Makes Progress

Has Boss Godfrey turned over a new leaf, and resolved to listen to other people's ideas... or should we chalk just this up as a one-time aberration?

The trouble with having an open mind, of course, is that people will insist on coming along and trying to put things in it.

Terry Pratchett
Hot-shot British Writer

In a marvellous display of uncharacteristic open-mindedness, and after dawdling for some eight months, it appears that Boss Godfrey has now been finally persuaded to instruct Ogden City Attorney Gary Williams to draft up that anti discrimination ordinance which has recently been a topic of discussion here on Weber County Forum and at the Standard-Examiner. Ace Reporter Schwebke provides the full lowdown:

• Ogden gay rights ordinance makes progress

Who says you can't teach an old dog new tricks?

Although we've learned that Boss Godfrey has been under considerable fire on this issue from all points of the compass, we'd like to believe that Boss Godfrey didn't merely succumb to public pressure, but rather simply decided to Choose the Right.

So what about it, gentle readers? Has Boss Godfrey turned over a new leaf... and resolved to listen to other people's ideas... and to treat folks with differing viewpoints and lifestyles with respect... or should we just chalk this up as a one-time aberration?

We invite our readers to either comment on topic, or consider this an open topic thread.

Standard-Examiner: Ogden Should Quit Stalling and Ban Discrimination Against Gays

Eight months is far too long for a no-brainer human rights measure such as this to have languished on the City Council back burner

Yes, small minds will seize on something like this to accuse others of promoting homosexuality, and small minds make noise. It takes courage to stand up to them. That's where leadership comes in.

Charles Trentelman, Standard-Examiner
Ogden should quit stalling and ban discrimination against gays
January 4, 2011

Excellent Wasatch Rambler column in this morning's Standard-Examiner, joining with Weber County Forum in urging the Ogden City Council to do "the right thing -- and the smart thing," and to pass a strong ordinance prohibiting discrimination based on sexual orientation without further delay:

• Ogden should quit stalling and ban discrimination against gays

Coincidentally, the council selects new leadership this evening (see agenda item #9), so hopefully we'll have a new council chair with the courage to quickly and decisively ramrod this proposed measure over Boss Godfrey's small minded, patently transparent, passive-aggressive stonewalling. As Trentelman aptly notes, "[t]hat's where leadership comes in."

Eight months is far too long for a no-brainer human rights measure such as this to have languished on the City Council back burner, we believe.


And what say our Weber County Forum readers? Can anyone offer any rational argument supporting the view that the Council should not pass this ordinance?

Standard-Examiner: Gay Advocates Want Enforceable Anti-discrimination Ordinance in Ogden

In a scenario where local governments all over Utah have already adopted similar anti-discrimination ordinances, proponents of this proposed Ogden measure accuse Boss Godfrey of "dragging his feet."

Interesting Scott Schwebke story in this morning's Standard-Examiner, reporting that Utah lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender rights advocates have scheduled a Jan. 7 meeting with Mayor Matthew Godfrey "in the hope of resolving legal issues, allowing the adoption of a city ordinance prohibiting discrimination based on sexual orientation or gender identity":

• Gay advocates want enforceable anti-discrimination ordinance in Ogden

Although this morning's story reports that local governments in Salt Lake City, Park City, Logan, West Valley, Taylorsville, Murray, Moab, Salt Lake County, Summit County and Grand County (among others) have readily adopted similar ordinances, proponents of this particular proposed measure accuse Boss Godfrey of "dragging his feet," and jockeying for some kind of weak "nonbinding resolution."

Of course human rights advocacy has never been Boss Godfrey's strong suit, has it?

Seems to us that this issue is straightforward, and that the council ought to adopt an ordinance with teeth, if for no other reason than to bring Ogden City municipal policies into the 21st Century and into alignment with those of more progressive and humane Utah communities.

If you're in favor of having our City Council bring this matter forward on its own initiative, be sure to contact your City Council representatives, via this handy link:

• Ogden City Council Contact Link

And if you would like to publicly express your opinion on this matter, the comment section below is just the place to do that.

The floor is open for a discussion on this topic, WCF readers.

Who will be the first to throw in their own 2¢?