Yep. They still hate the monument.
Utah's new governor is trying to make good on some campaign promises, I guess. It's amazing how after almost ten years, Grand Staircase-Escalante National Monument is still controversial. What's funny about the new governor trying to challenge the monument size is that he was stopped cold in his tracks by the largest convention group that comes to the state twice a year: Outdoor Retailers. In a classic case of principals vs. money, it's clear that Gov. Huntsman's about-face on his monument down-sizing efforts were quashed into oblivion by the specter of Outdoor Retailer moving its convention out of Salt Lake City.
Last year, my husband and I stopped and talked at length with the folks manning the Outdoor Industry Association booth at Outdoor Retailer. He told them how the state just doesn't care, and how the show should be moved, anyway. The lady assured us that Utah was committed to the environment and pristine public lands, and that a deal had been worked out with ex-Gov. Leavitt guaranteeing the Outdoor Retailer show would stay in Utah through 2009. I had to drag him away because I could tell he was making the people in the booth uncomfortable.
Now, they can't say they weren't warned. Sure enough, Utah is still checking through their bag of tricks to find anything they can to overturn the monument, which was already run-of-the-mill BLM land, anyway. Trust me, they hate every last bit of it. I am not a rabid environmentalist. In fact, I hate that kind of extremism. However, the state of Utah will force you to choose because they are so backward, and so uncaring when it comes to long-term effects on land and the environment. It's almost medieval.
Then there's this goofball. Curly Musgrave apparently hasn't been to Escalante in a long time, since his sad cowboy song suggests the monument isn't allowing grazing for cattle anymore. Trust me on this, cattle grazing is still going on here on the monument. I see it every spring and summer. During a terribly dry year a while back, the cattle were so desperate for food they were eating tamarisk and sage, and you could see their ribs. In any other state, that would have been considered animal cruelty. But not Utah.
And once again, Kane and Garfield Counties in Utah have decided to waste their precious tax dollars on another lawsuit against the monument. This ridiculous lawsuit is absolutely a complete waste of time and money because:
a) Grazing is still going on here on the monument. Ranchers that still hold grazing permits are still grazing.
b) Ranchers here are more like hobby ranchers, and not really contributing anything to the community in tax dollars or jobs. With their 200-or-less head herds, they can't compete with huge ranching operations in Texas and Mexico.They are probably losing money, or just breaking even.
c) The Grand Canyon Trust has bought the grazing rights on the monument fair and square. One of Garfield County's commissioners, in fact, SOLD his grazing rights for a HUGE amount of money to Grand Canyon Trust. Now, he's mad that they are not ranching, just retiring the lands. Almost all of the contested acres in the lawsuit have been bought, BY THE RULES, by Grand Canyon Trust.
d) What little money the counties do have in tax revenue to pursue this ridiculous lawsuit could be used to upgrade emergency services, or the schools, or the hospitals, all of which desperately need to be brought into the 21st century.
And this, my readers, is the environmental state of the State of Utah. There is no common sense. If you are conservative and not for the utter and complete rape and pillage of the land, then in Utah, you aren't a real conservative. At least Outdoor Retailer helped Utah save a little face--most conventioneers and industry lobbyists are not from this state, though. And there you have it.
Last year, my husband and I stopped and talked at length with the folks manning the Outdoor Industry Association booth at Outdoor Retailer. He told them how the state just doesn't care, and how the show should be moved, anyway. The lady assured us that Utah was committed to the environment and pristine public lands, and that a deal had been worked out with ex-Gov. Leavitt guaranteeing the Outdoor Retailer show would stay in Utah through 2009. I had to drag him away because I could tell he was making the people in the booth uncomfortable.
Now, they can't say they weren't warned. Sure enough, Utah is still checking through their bag of tricks to find anything they can to overturn the monument, which was already run-of-the-mill BLM land, anyway. Trust me, they hate every last bit of it. I am not a rabid environmentalist. In fact, I hate that kind of extremism. However, the state of Utah will force you to choose because they are so backward, and so uncaring when it comes to long-term effects on land and the environment. It's almost medieval.
Then there's this goofball. Curly Musgrave apparently hasn't been to Escalante in a long time, since his sad cowboy song suggests the monument isn't allowing grazing for cattle anymore. Trust me on this, cattle grazing is still going on here on the monument. I see it every spring and summer. During a terribly dry year a while back, the cattle were so desperate for food they were eating tamarisk and sage, and you could see their ribs. In any other state, that would have been considered animal cruelty. But not Utah.
And once again, Kane and Garfield Counties in Utah have decided to waste their precious tax dollars on another lawsuit against the monument. This ridiculous lawsuit is absolutely a complete waste of time and money because:
a) Grazing is still going on here on the monument. Ranchers that still hold grazing permits are still grazing.
b) Ranchers here are more like hobby ranchers, and not really contributing anything to the community in tax dollars or jobs. With their 200-or-less head herds, they can't compete with huge ranching operations in Texas and Mexico.They are probably losing money, or just breaking even.
c) The Grand Canyon Trust has bought the grazing rights on the monument fair and square. One of Garfield County's commissioners, in fact, SOLD his grazing rights for a HUGE amount of money to Grand Canyon Trust. Now, he's mad that they are not ranching, just retiring the lands. Almost all of the contested acres in the lawsuit have been bought, BY THE RULES, by Grand Canyon Trust.
d) What little money the counties do have in tax revenue to pursue this ridiculous lawsuit could be used to upgrade emergency services, or the schools, or the hospitals, all of which desperately need to be brought into the 21st century.
And this, my readers, is the environmental state of the State of Utah. There is no common sense. If you are conservative and not for the utter and complete rape and pillage of the land, then in Utah, you aren't a real conservative. At least Outdoor Retailer helped Utah save a little face--most conventioneers and industry lobbyists are not from this state, though. And there you have it.
