Honoring Evans
James Evans and Stuart Adams bonded in 2003 over their mutual anger with Salt Lake City Mayor Rocky Anderson.
Three years later, the affection remains. On Monday, Adams, a Republican representative from Layton, sponsored an amendment that gives Evans credit for a bill that could eventually mean the elimination of freight trains off of 900 South in Salt Lake City.
HB372 allows Salt Lake County to divert up to $3.5 million in transit taxes toward re-aligning Union Pacific railroad's so-called Grant Tower -- a curve near The Gateway. That fix, in turn, would lead UP to abandon its line on 900 South.
Adams' amendment calls the money set aside the "Evans Allocation," in honor of the former state senator, and now Salt Lake County Republican Party chairman who may again run for his old seat.
Sen. Fred Fife, a Democrat who now represents the neighborhoods plagued by train whistles and may be challenged by Evans, attended a Monday committee hearing on the legislation. Afterward he said recognizing Evans is warranted, but "others deserve credit as well."
The so-called "Evans Allocation" accounts for 7 percent of the $50 million Grant Tower price tag. Bigger spenders include Union Pacific and Utah Transit Authority ($15 million each) Salt Lake City ($11 million) and the feds ($5 million).
--Heather May
Three years later, the affection remains. On Monday, Adams, a Republican representative from Layton, sponsored an amendment that gives Evans credit for a bill that could eventually mean the elimination of freight trains off of 900 South in Salt Lake City.
HB372 allows Salt Lake County to divert up to $3.5 million in transit taxes toward re-aligning Union Pacific railroad's so-called Grant Tower -- a curve near The Gateway. That fix, in turn, would lead UP to abandon its line on 900 South.
Adams' amendment calls the money set aside the "Evans Allocation," in honor of the former state senator, and now Salt Lake County Republican Party chairman who may again run for his old seat.
Sen. Fred Fife, a Democrat who now represents the neighborhoods plagued by train whistles and may be challenged by Evans, attended a Monday committee hearing on the legislation. Afterward he said recognizing Evans is warranted, but "others deserve credit as well."
The so-called "Evans Allocation" accounts for 7 percent of the $50 million Grant Tower price tag. Bigger spenders include Union Pacific and Utah Transit Authority ($15 million each) Salt Lake City ($11 million) and the feds ($5 million).
--Heather May
8 Comments:
How sad and disgusting, even several Republican legislators were holding their noses when they voted in support of the bill. No one wanted to kill the whole bill due to the self-serving of one person who insisted in having his name unjustifiably attached.
Oh, well... a reflection of the arrogant power of a veto-proof majority,it allows you to reshape the truth.
How sad and disgusting, even several Republican legislators were holding their noses when they voted in support of the bill. No one wanted to kill the whole bill due to the self-serving of one person who insisted in having his name unjustifiably attached.
Oh, well... a reflection of the arrogant power of a veto-proof majority,it allows you to reshape the truth.
12:56 AM
That's fuuny that Fred thinks others deserve credit. What 'others' can get the Govenor and the leadership of the Senate and the House to bring healing to west Salt Lake City? As I recall, last year, Fred Fife tried to introduce a resolution on this same issue and the committe adjourned without even considering the item. So, Senator Fife deserves credit for making a resolution that couldn't even be heard by the Transporation Committee. Senator Evans deserves credit for getting a bill through committe, to the house floor and passed over to the Senate. It is kind of sad that the guy that lost the election has more pull than the guy that is in office. What does that say for west-side voters?
What it says, beyond the layers, is that the "moral" majority will do good not for goods sake, but only for their own self interest, or when they can't avoid it and sufficient real community support thrusts the good upon them.
Senator Fred Fife, along with many others, worked so long on this and whether the majority wants to acknowledge it or not, they ALL deserve credit and recognition.
Also, if I recall, Evans is on record during a press conference in SL city hall saying funding for this was a bad idea and wasn't going to happen. Funny how he got in front of the parade when it seemed to be moving forward.
Just give all the people their just credits, not just one self-serving grand stander!
CAn we agree that at different points different voices make a difference?
Evans made a differance and for that I thank him.
West-side voters elected the person whom they felt would best represent their interests in the legislature.
That person has no need or desire to toot his own horn or to inordinately credit himself publicly. He has worked steadily on this train issue and does not like to play political games.
With Sen. Fred Fife, what you see is what you get, and I believe that his genuine concern for the community is what got him elected. West-side voters are not stupid!
James Evans does deserve credit for this piece of the solution, moving us one step closer to the removal of the trains from the 900 South rail line.
I'm sure glad he finally jumped on board!
--Charlotte Fife-Jepperson (concerned West Side resident and Fred's daughter)
This post has been removed by the author.
Ahnold needs to tell the truth! Senator Evans never stated that funding for this project was a bad idea and wasn't going to happen. A review of the Deseret News and Salt Lake Tribune articles from that time frame clearly state that Senator Evans disagreed that Mayor Anderson was going to get 90% of the 40 million from the federal government. We now know that Senator Evans was correct. Only 5 Million came from the federal government and according to Governor Huntman and others - Senator Evans was the one that convinced the other entities to bring thier share to the table. So how can one get in front of the parade -when he is the parade? How can one jump on board when he is the ride?
Those of us living on 900 S. owe Senator Evans our sanity and happiness. While it must be embarrissing for Ms. Fife that her daddy is powerless to fix this problem - attacking Senator Evans will do little in taking trains off of 900 S. Let's step back and applaude Senator Evans not belittle him.
By the way -where is Rocky in all this? It is so unlike him to be so speechless. Especially on a subject that supposidly he had so much to do with. Something to think about.
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