Bea Gaddy and My Wish

Bea Gaddy doesn’t have anything to do directly with our Community Coat Exchange. Bea Gaddy has everything to do with inspiring me to serve our community. As a younger woman growing up in Frederick County, Maryland – about 50 miles west of Baltimore, I would watch with intrigue each Thanksgiving as the local news would air the piece about … Continue reading Bea Gaddy and My Wish

Here we go again: raising taxes on food

We have long written here on the issue of taxes on food by the legislature to fund other areas. This year is no exception to the head rearing of this ugly issue. Bill Tibbitts of Crossroads Urban Center, an organization advocating for the rights of the poor, says: Utah Representative Mike "Nuclear" Noel is proposing … Continue reading Here we go again: raising taxes on food

The Solution to Funding Education: School Bus Ads

Utah is last in the nation in per pupil spending and at the top of the list in class sizes. Yet legislators in Utah continually find ways to under fund and cut spending for the education of our state’s children.Rep. Jim Bird, R-West Jordan, will be introducing a bill (again) to allow advertising on school … Continue reading The Solution to Funding Education: School Bus Ads

National Security over all other securities: Get ready Utah.

Utah legislators have made it clear that they will do whatever it takes to keep the Federal Government from dictating the affairs of the state.That is, except for spying on people.Utah is about to be descended upon by the National Security Administration (NSA).The Army has awarded a $1.2 billion contract to a construction consortium to … Continue reading National Security over all other securities: Get ready Utah.

The Guv’s Fiscal 2012 Budget Recommendations

Governor Herbert’s Fiscal 2012 Budget Recommendations can be viewed in their entirety here: Links to more information, reviews and articles on the Budget Recommendations can be found at this Google Search Engine Page.I will be posting on select budget items throughout the legislative session.(cross-posted to Utah Legislature Watch)

Micro-managing school budgets vs. the real issues

The two fundamental problems in our educational system in Utah are (1) not enough per pupil spending (Utah is last in the nation) and (2) top heavy spending in the school districts (administration, etc.) for what benefits students are actually receiving. #1 is by far the greatest issue. Yet some legislators are choosing what I … Continue reading Micro-managing school budgets vs. the real issues

Not again…..school vouchers

Remember 2007? Here we go again – the School Voucher debate(cross-posted to Utah Legislature Watch)

Punishing the children of illegal immigrants: There’s something wrong with this picture.

(cross-posted to Utah LegislatureWatch)NOTE: There is a lot of discussion occuring at the ULW Facebook page - search for "Utah Legislature Watch". A prospective college student wishes to enroll at the University of Utah but lives in Wyoming. To avoid paying out of state tuition, this student moves to Utah and obtains employment and after residing … Continue reading Punishing the children of illegal immigrants: There’s something wrong with this picture.

Taking a deep breath and starting again.

Sometimes life happens in ways that interrupt everything. I have not been posting much in recent months due to events in my life that brought things to a screeching halt so that I could focus on what needed to be addressed. Now that 2010 is nearly over I am taking a deep breath and gearing up … Continue reading Taking a deep breath and starting again.

Community Coat Exchange

This article appeared in City Weekly's 5 SpotCoat Exchange With Deanna TaylorBy Rachel PiperSix years ago, Deanna Taylor (pictured, center) organized Utah’s first annual Community Coat Exchange. The coat exchange takes place every year on the day after Thanksgiving (also referred to as Black Friday or Buy Nothing Day) at Library Plaza from 10 a.m. … Continue reading Community Coat Exchange