News' reporting 'reckless and deceptive'

On Sept. 28, Brady Snyder of the Deseret Morning News wrote this lead: "Mayor Rocky Anderson used Salt Lake City tax dollars to pay a $457.88 bar tab." The ramifications of this recklessly deceptive and inaccurate characterization rapidly created the widespread perception that I bought nothing but liquor and stuck taxpayers with the bill.

The deceptive language of this writer was parroted by other local media outlets, who did not do their own independent inquiry, and repeated by the Associated Press for distribution around the country. News stories about my "bar tab" were then published by USA Today. KHNL TV in Hawaii reported: "Salt Lake City Mayor Rocky Anderson considers a little booze part of the job. He wants the city to pick up his bar tab. . . . Anderson used tax dollars to pay bar tabs last month of about $450 and $135." We have received e-mail messages from citizens who are angry about what they have read or heard — all a product of media misrepresentation.

This is particularly outrageous inasmuch as I am exceptionally frugal with taxpayer money. As any reporter could easily ascertain, my nontravel-related expenses for meals and other expenditures charged to the city since becoming mayor over five years ago average only $90.12 per month. That average is higher than it would otherwise be because of my efforts to provide hospitality to some of our visitors during the Jazz Festival and Sundance Summit (remember, this is all about less than $1,000 for the events in question).

Here are the facts about the two "bar tabs." Following a reception after a symphony hall performance on July 6, I arranged for Keith Lockhart, his parents and several remarkable musicians to grab a late dinner at Squatters brew pub. Some of the diners had a beer with their dinner. I charged part of the dinner bill ($175.86) to the city, which was normal, appropriate hospitality.

On the following Saturday, several mayors from around the country (in town to attend the Sundance Summit) came to Salt Lake City early to enjoy our International Jazz Festival. After the concert, I invited them to meet at the Grand America, where Barbara Morrison was performing in the lobby restaurant. I got the mayors and some other people together so they could become acquainted and feel welcome.

Providing what was good hospitality under unique circumstances, I charged to the city a part of the bill ($457.88) for cover charges, dinner, other food and beverages (including some alcoholic beverages).