Deseret News | Some bumps in Rocky's road

From Deseret News archives:

Some bumps in Rocky's road

Published: Saturday, Oct. 15, 2005 11:55 p.m. MDT

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Sept. 28 — Deseret Morning News reports Anderson ran up a $457.88 tab, including purchases for alcohol, in July while entertaining visiting dignitaries at the Grand America hotel lobby lounge. Anderson used tax dollars to pay the tab, in violation of city policy. Anderson later changed the policy against using tax dollars to pay for alcohol. The mayor maintained the policy was a product of Utah's conservative culture, which is dominated by the teetotaling LDS Church. A Morning News examination revealed that many cities, including Las Vegas, have policies against using tax dollars for alcohol purchases.

Oct. 4 — The Morning News publishes an article about City Council members who were raising concerns over a city-sponsored trip to Torino, Italy. The trip, which ultimately will be funded by private donations, included city employees, Anderson, his girlfriend and other friends of the mayor. Those friends were selected by the mayor with no other input and had their room and meal expenses paid. The chairpersons of both the Salt Lake County Republicans and Democrats have called on District Attorney David Yocom to investigate spending issues related to the trip and Anderson's alcohol purchases.

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Oct. 12 — Real Salt Lake decides it wants to build its new stadium in Sandy instead of in downtown Salt Lake City. Several of the state's top elected officials later attend a press conference praising the decision, and RSL owner Dave Checketts says politics played a part. Some say the move came because legislators had a bad relationship with Anderson, who has often criticized state lawmakers, while the decisionmakers have a good relationship with Sandy Mayor Tom Dolan. Others blamed Anderson and the City Council for being hoodwinked into contributing $8 million into a Salt Palace Convention Center funding deal that may have helped Sandy woo the stadium from downtown. Still others criticize Anderson for backing away from pushing a downtown stadium site and proposing a plan to put the stadium at the Utah State Fairpark, a site RSL leaders never liked.

Oct. 14 — Anderson releases a statement, saying he is paying back the the $457.88 tab from July. He also said he has issued a policy that establishes an Expense Review Committee that will examine all expenses and reimbursements incurred by city employees. In addition, he called on the City Council and the Legislature to create gift bans similar to the one he adopted soon after taking office in 2000.

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