Rocky asks church to back liquor-law waiver
Change would let school stay open downtown
Anderson met with The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints Presiding Bishop H. David Burton and requested that the church consent to legislation that would allow for a waiver of a state law that forbids bars and private clubs from opening within 600 feet of a school.
If the church didn't oppose the measure "it would pass in a heart beat," Anderson said.
Bishop Burton was unaware of the issue and said he would look into it, Anderson said.
Sen. Karen Hale, D-Salt Lake, was trying to help the Salt Lake Arts Academy find a permanent home downtown when she put together a proposed bill that would have allowed charter schools to open near establishments that serve alcohol.
After circulating her proposal which was never formally introduced this session Hale said she decided to abandon it.
Hale said she did not hear directly from representatives of the LDS Church but "I had heard that the church had some concerns. Also MADD had met with me. They had some concerns. Other legislators had some concerns about it," she said.
She said she was also advised by some of her colleagues that getting liquor-related legislation approved was tough.
"I talked to legislators who had experience in that area, and they had made it clear that there would be no bill passed that dealt with liquor laws," Hale said. Also, she said, a number of "legitimate concerns" were raised.
Hale currently has no plans to run the legislation, and she's hoping to find a solution to the school's problem outside the legislative process. "The city has been very open to working with the arts academy, too," she said. "They see the benefits of having a school down there."
The academy is currently housed in the city's old main library but will have to move when the building is renovated for The Leonardo at Library Square. Part of the academy's mission is to be in an urban setting, Hale said.
City leaders, however, don't want the academy to move into another area of downtown because that may stifle economic development by forbidding new private clubs from opening within 600 feet of the school.
Anderson wants Hale's legislation to pass because it would allow a waiver of the 600-foot rule if the school, the City Council and the Department of Alcoholic Beverage Control signed off.
"We ought to allow an exception to the general rule if it's recommended by the City Council and the DABC," he said.
"It ought to at least see the light of day at the Legislature instead of getting deep-sixed."
E-mail: lisa@desnews.com; bsnyder@desnews.com
Comments
- Dems: tax the rich for health care 3:24 p.m.
- HBO defends U. logo use in 'Love' 3:06 p.m.
- Hill Cumorah Pageant 3:04 p.m.
- 2 Tooele police officers fired 2:52 p.m.
- Baseball teams fear 'haunted' hotel 2:51 p.m.
- Stocks falter 2:50 p.m.
- LDS seminary principal arrested 2:50 p.m.
- Blazers draft pick Mills breaks foot 2:47 p.m.
- Sentencing for con man moved 2:33 p.m.
- Obama and pope hold first meeting 2:33 p.m.
- Jazz talking Boozer trade?
- LDS seminary principal arrested
- Stadium of Fire flag burning was fake
- Reactions on Boozer speculation
- Jazz in back of line for free agents
- A primer for the 6th Potter film
- Okur signs two-year extension
- Jazz won't meet Lopez on Europe trip
- Restaurant destroyed by fire
- Mall owner seeks to retain zoning
- Bronco collecting a galaxy of recruits
141 - Letters: Palin mistreated
140 - Teachers struggle with district cuts
137 - Jazz talking Boozer trade?
132 - Blazers may offer Millsap a contract
123 - Stadium of Fire flag burning was fake
88 - Moon landing: Let's hear from you
82 - Fairness of BCS debated
81 - LDS seminary principal arrested
74 - Chaffetz eyes challenging Bennett
74
As more and more dads are put out of work in this economy, I've been...
The photographs are mysterious, brooding, dark. They show dimples and...
I find it interesting how our culture has a total disregard for "innocent...
I agree with "where is his family?", someone within his circle of...
The only real chance the GOP has in putting a man in the White House anytime...
Utah's crowded classrooms are breeding grounds for all kinds of diseases. ...
The biggest myth of them all has to be that all native Americans are direct...
In Utah, Seminary teachers go to school and choose it for a career. They are...
Thomas will be a restricted free agent after next year so his contract would...
amen!! there needs to come a time where all this bickering stops.. how long...
When this government will kill a Father for refusing to send his kids to...
Did Bush cut her a deal to?. You know that I voted for Sarah Palin in 2008...



You can be the first to comment on this story.