Note to Legislator: Scenic Byways help economic development
State legislators make a number of boneheaded statements each week. My nomination for the worst of the week goes to Rep. Christopher Herrod, R-Provo.
In sponsoring a HB272 that would among other things require the all-knowing Legislature to approve the designation of any scenic byway in Utah, Herrod came up with this classic:
“Scenic byways are being used to stop economic development, whether it be mining or other types of issues.”
Since scenic byways are designed to increase tourism by offering visitors looking at maps good ways to get off the interstate and examine less traveled beautiful roads that often lead to small towns which could use more visitation, they do anything but stop economic development. In fact, they enhance it. Some even come with federal dollars for interpretive signs.
But the “brilliant thinkers” in the legislature such as Herrod probably think that it would be fine to put mines, billboards or oil well drills all over a place such as State Highway 12 which ranks among the world's most scenic drives and has been featured in many commercials recently. No matter that these might hurt local tourism and the film industry or ruin some of the most beautiful vistas in the world. Do these people actually ever even visit the more scenic parts of the state?
The cynic in me thinks this bill, which would also allow more billboards, might have something to do with the Reagan Outdoor Advertising company that gave nearly $120,000 in campaign contributions to legislators this year and would certainly have something to gain if lawmakers changed byway rules which prevent the company's ugly signs from being constructed in beautiful places. Sounds like payback.
One more thing: Why does the legislature have to micro-manage everything in Utah government? Don't these people trust the many appointed boards and local governments to make their own decisions? In the crush of everything that happens during a legislative session, do these folks really have time to worry about the designation of a scenic byway?
– Tom Wharton
In sponsoring a HB272 that would among other things require the all-knowing Legislature to approve the designation of any scenic byway in Utah, Herrod came up with this classic:
“Scenic byways are being used to stop economic development, whether it be mining or other types of issues.”
Since scenic byways are designed to increase tourism by offering visitors looking at maps good ways to get off the interstate and examine less traveled beautiful roads that often lead to small towns which could use more visitation, they do anything but stop economic development. In fact, they enhance it. Some even come with federal dollars for interpretive signs.
But the “brilliant thinkers” in the legislature such as Herrod probably think that it would be fine to put mines, billboards or oil well drills all over a place such as State Highway 12 which ranks among the world's most scenic drives and has been featured in many commercials recently. No matter that these might hurt local tourism and the film industry or ruin some of the most beautiful vistas in the world. Do these people actually ever even visit the more scenic parts of the state?
The cynic in me thinks this bill, which would also allow more billboards, might have something to do with the Reagan Outdoor Advertising company that gave nearly $120,000 in campaign contributions to legislators this year and would certainly have something to gain if lawmakers changed byway rules which prevent the company's ugly signs from being constructed in beautiful places. Sounds like payback.
One more thing: Why does the legislature have to micro-manage everything in Utah government? Don't these people trust the many appointed boards and local governments to make their own decisions? In the crush of everything that happens during a legislative session, do these folks really have time to worry about the designation of a scenic byway?
– Tom Wharton
posted by Tom @ 12:02 PM |
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