Utah Stories Development Blog

Did The Daily Show Flood Salt Lake With Homeless?

2017-11-20T14:33:00.001-08:00

Salt Lake City declared a victory over chronic homelessness in 2015. The main-stream media loved the story and flooded the airwaves and papers with stories informing everyone that Salt Lake was a stellar example. Later in 2015 the homeless population began surging. And business owners witnessed the homeless population becoming more aggressive and violent. Is the Daily Show and Lloyd Pendleton's touring the country give talks to blame? Utah Stories attempts to find out.

how to read western indian rock art

2016-03-27T19:46:00.001-07:00

Helper, Utah: Meet the Clampers

2012-06-08T19:27:00.000-07:00

Helper, Utah was once home to 20,000 miners, 33 bars and 19 whore houses. Now it's by in large a ghost town with less than 2,000 residents. However, in the past twenty years Helper has began seeing some new life. Two years ago Utah Stories covered how Helper has attracted some of Utah's best painters and artists to relocate to the picturesque town surrounded by limestone mountains. But yesterday I found another very interesting side to Helper.

La Salle Hotel in Helper, Utah

Walking down Helper's Main Street I was peaking into buildings furnished with antiques and relics. Most appeared abandoned or scarcely occupied. But then I came across a bar with two men inside who were smoking cigarettes and drinking cocktails. I walked in and I met Bob Cook and Roger Metzger.

At first they were a bit sheepish with my presence. We were all a bit uncomfortable, a sign read on the door "Clamper Members Only!" but after I said that I wanted to write something about Helper's history for Utah Stories, very quickly the spirit of the interchange grew lively and comfortable. We discussed the history of the brothels in Helper, Utah and some if the famous former patrons, guests and Mayors. John Wayne, J. Bracken Lee, Tennessee Ernie Ford, Ricky Nielson, many famous country western stars visited Helper to hunt at Mini Maud's private ranch, and patronize Helper's hotels and brothels as I learned this place was indeed a wild west hang out for close to 80 years.

I soon discovered that Bob and Roger were not simply drinking whiskey and Mountain Dew in their own company but they were preparing for a very official meeting, in their official meeting house. They are just two members of the Tom Warner chapter of the Clampers (or E Clampus Vitus).

Bob Cook [left] Roger Metzger [right]

Bob Cook informed me that the Clampers in Helper are diligently working to preserve the railroad and mining history of Carbon County, they are a fraternal organization with 42 chapters across the Western U.S. They were founded as an off-shoot from the Masons and Odd Fellows, founded under the belief that fraternal organizations need not be so serious as their counterparts. As I witnessed, they enjoy stiff drinks and laughter but they are still dedicated to philanthropic causes such as Sub for Santa and historic preservation, by erecting dozens of plaques around the city of Helper as well as greater Carbon County.

Their current project is renovation of the Carbon Hotel, which they purchased in 1987. They have recently completely renovated one room of the former brothel (see photo below). Roger Metzer, Bob Cook, John Magnusen as well as other members spent weekends gutting the former hotel, replacing all of the plaster with drywall. Inside of the former brothel the men have discovered many interesting relics, cards, bottles and artifacts that reveal the story of the old brothel.

"This place was run by a big black woman, with long black hair called Babe," Roger tells me. "She ran a tight operation and she once threw a man down the stairs for attempting to do business while drunk."

Found in the Carbon Hotel, calling cards for the whores who once worked in the
brothels in Helper

At one point I go back to my notes and ask, "Who is Tenessee Ernie Ford?" The men were dumbfounded by my ignorance--it would have been no different if I would have inquired into the person of Jesus Christ.

"You don't know you Tenessee Ernie Ford is?"

"What does he sing?" I ask.

"16 tonnes"

"How does it go?"

Immediately they all began singing the lyrics:

You load sixteen tons, what do you get
Another day older and deeper in debt
Saint Peter don't you call me 'cause I can't go
I owe my soul to the company store

I was born one mornin' when the sun didn't shine
I picked up my shovel and I walked to the mine
I loaded sixteen tons of number nine coal
And the straw boss said "Well, a-bless my soul"

You load sixteen tons, what do you get
Another day older and deeper in debt
Saint Peter don't you call me 'cause I can't go
I owe my soul to the company store

see the rest here

I've indeed heard the song before, but I enjoyed it most hearing the Clampers sing it. They were a great group of men, who I'll certainly visit again.

left: Bob Cook right: Roger Metzger and John Magnuson -- Clampers preparing for their
meeting on their upcoming philanthropic and historic projects for Helper, Utah.

Roger Metzger showing a completely renovated brothel room. There are 13 total rooms in the renovated Carbon Hotel. The Clampers plan to renovate each room. The gold-leaf wallpaper for this room matches the style of the era. It was specially made for this renovation and cost over $700.

Why Mike Wallace Will be Missed

2012-05-20T16:36:00.003-07:00

So many reporters fail to ask tough questions, so many would rather take the easy way and stick to fluffy journalism; the journalism that would rather sensationalize everything rather than bother to critique or find truth. But journalists can do a great good for democracy if they seek out those with power and influence who choose to use their public trust for their own personal gain rather than for doing what is fair and right-- which happens to be most politicians.

Mike Wallace asked some great questions to people who abused their power. He wasn't afraid to stick it to them and confront people with their own demons. I have a feeling after we die, we will need to confront our demons, that we will be held accountable to a higher truth. Maybe it's for this reason I have always loved a good interview, when a great reporter asks a tough question that catches the subject off guard.

Mike was into the glamour of the job and his image, which is the reason he suffered from depression. But I appreciate his work, and I'll miss him on 60 Minutes.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CZmiQqS2kSg

Steve Jobs Talks About The Future of the Media

2012-05-13T21:38:00.001-07:00

Jobs understood why good journalism matters, skip to 39:00. Jobs' mentions "any democracy depends on a free, healthy press...The news gathering...I don't want to see us descend into a nation of bloggers...I think we need editorial more than ever right now."

Jobs understands there must be a clear distinction between great editorial content as opposed to the often bias, ranting and pontificating that occurs in blogs and most free publications. It's my hope that consumers recognize this difference and support the hard work that is required to produce good editorial content that doesn't serve an agenda other than finding truth.

We need to start get people paying for this hard earned content. And so this provides a potential opportunity to provide more value than just a webpage so they can start charging for that...I think that people are willing to pay for content."

Utah Stories' current model is to be a free publication always striving to provide excellent local journalism. It's a tough model, but we have have been consistently growing. We are still the fastest growing free magazine in Utah. But I would like to accelerate because there are so many great stories we would like to cover but we simply don't have the resources to be everywhere, and do everything we would like to be doing.

I've been racking my brain for years now trying to find novel methods for monetizing great local content. Whether it be short documentaries or great local feature stories that ask good questions to the right people.
Perhaps the answer has to do with what Jobs hints indicates as the breakthroughs in the iPad, selling publications for a small fee through the iTunes store.

Unemployment Benefits Stagnate the Economy

2012-04-11T03:20:00.005-07:00

It seems a paradox that in the conditions of high unemployment that it would be so difficult to find people to do the most basic jobs, even when a very good wage is offered. Due to the constant extension of unemployment benefits by the Obama administration I keep finding people who are not bad people, but people simply doing what is in their best interests, which is to protect their unemployment benefits by either not taking on too much work, or showing extreme dissatisfaction or surprise when I tell them I expect them to fill out a W9 form so that I can report their income to IRS-- my legal obligation.

Very often the legislation to help the disadvantaged, in fact pay people to stay disadvantaged; penalize them to the extent that they make an effort to rise from disadvantage.

Thomas Sowell

The job that has been extremely difficult for me to fill, actually pays the highest hourly wage--the job of a delivery driver. My recent posting for this position received no applicants. Its a very part-time job but it pays $15-$20 per hour. I pay very well for this position because its critical that the job be done conscientiously. Our magazines need to be delivered in the correct locations, and its critical they be properly distributed so our advertisers can receive the most value for their dollars and we aren't wasting our money printing 24,000 copies every month.

Considering the problem of finding good delivery drivers, I've come across the ideas from some great minds in economics. I found an excellent video in which Thomas Sowell eloquently explains the problems with social welfare and the unintended consequences. In this video Mr. Stowell explains the negative consequences that welfare benefits causes to recipients. I have found first-hand the unintended negative consequences it has on the labor market and employers, which I find very little mention of, but must have a considerable impact. Certainly my sample is very small, there are only 12 people in my business. But multiply this effect by thousands and I argue that the continuous extension of unemployment benefits must have a considerable negative impact on the economy as a whole and the reduction of unemployment.

If suddenly unemployment benefits were gone, I would have no problem finding good delivery drivers. I would have no trouble finding people very willing to work very hard a few days per month for a very good wage. But since welfare needs to be protected by its recipients it turns otherwise hard working people into stay-at-home lazy people, who receive rewards for their laziness. I found that often these are not "lazy people" at all but simply people who are making decisions to serve the best interests of themselves and their families.

What welfare system is doing is paying people to fail, in so far as if they fail they receive the money; in so far as they succeed even to a moderate extent the money is taken away.

Thomas Sowell

Living dependent on the government, should always be a temporary solution, and the government should reward those who make it more temporary, not punish those who are eager and willing to work hard for an honest wage.

Utah Stories Magazine Needs Our Reader's Help

2012-01-31T19:13:00.000-08:00

It has been about two years since I blogged here (Richard Markosian). I was doing enough writing for Utah Stories magazine that I lost the energy and time to keep up on the development of my experiment. Especially when my passion and experiment became my full-time job.

So if you are new, and 99% likely you are, I better provide a little introduction: Utah Stories, I still like to refer to as "my experiment" began in 2004 to see if local and in-depth were something readers might care about. If we were to assume from the trends of the main-stream media the only local news worth covering is superficial and mostly tragic. The more tragic and the more bloody-- the better. Certainly the main-stream provides a nod to political stories that fit within their one-day turn around or into a 30-second sound byte, but these stories provide almost no aid in checking special interest powers in the government, which I believe is the essential roll of the media in our society, especially today.

Utah Stories began as a website offering series of documentary films I produced for KJZZ, which is Utah's only independently owned television station. We covered the drug problem in Pioneer Park, the History of Main Street and the impact of the City Creek Center from the perspective of long-time local business owners. We covered the Sugar House Granite Block, Taco Carts, The Depression Epidemic in Utah, Gun laws, Education. If it was something that impacted everyday life and required investigation, we were interested. (By we I mean myself and my team of mommy bloggers, and like-minded part-time journalists).

Two years into the experiment, I decided we had indeed found a niche. So in July 2008 I attempted to take on Utah Stories as my means of making a living. With the primary idea that we would provide the coverage the local business community in Utah that was lacking in the main-stream. Unfortunately, the investigations documentaries had to go on the sidelines. But our primary interest was to examine areas where special interests were creeping into government, affecting local business owner's ability to operate on a level playing field. And cover hyper-local: artists, characters, development projects, small towns and stuff that matters.

We have written hundreds of stories since I took it on full-time and its been very encouraging to watch Utah Stories grow from a very small idea to a magazine that has been in print halfway into our third year, now circulating 24,000 copies monthly.

We are very proud of our advertisers, who include: Utah's oldest flower shop, Utah's oldest bookseller, Utah's oldest chocolate shop and Utah's oldest bakery in our February issue alone. Every advertiser we personally endorse, and every advertiser in Utah Stories is a local gem. We have had great progress moving forward, our best month ever was in December.

Utah Stories Today

On a more personal level, I write this because Utah Stories is in transition.

Readers might already be aware, my wife and my dogs now live in the UK, and I miss them dearly. I need to be with them. But I also need to run my business, and I learned from spending nine weeks there from November to January, its very difficult to do both. Unless I receive some excellent help, I fear that we will need to go to every other month or quarterly. This would not be wise from a business perspective, because when a magazine has momentum naturally we would like to build on that momentum. But they are my life, Utah Stories is my passion.

I've realized in the past few weeks how much strength they provide me. My wife Golda has always been my biggest supporter. She has always believed in me, even when I was unsure of myself. And I plan to join her and my dogs again in about two short weeks.

Utah Stories Needs Your Help

This is where readers come in. I am seeking someone who identifies with the great concept of Utah Stories who can handle managing and maintaining our incredible accounts. We have many of the best businesses in Utah advertising with us and unless I can find the right person to help us manage them and treat them right, we will need to cut down the frequency of the magazine.

If you or someone you know is great with people, loves the spirit of locally-owned independently operated businesses and would enjoy working with them for at least 20 hours per week in Salt Lake City, please e-mail me at richard (at) utahstories (dot com), send me a resume and cover letter. We can provide more details regarding the position, also by e-mail.

We are always also looking for enthusiastic good writers, who want to cover the local beat. So also if you or someone you know would be interested in helping with writing or layout I want to strengthen our great team before I depart again.

I've always been amazed by the intelligence and insight I've gained from our readers and friends and so I send this message to you to see if we can find the right person to continue the tradition of local, independent, in-dept, news Utah Stories has started.

Back From Europe - Jet Lag

2011-06-14T16:00:00.001-07:00

I'm back from three weeks in Europe and suffering from some serious jet lag. I woke up at 3 AM this morning, full of energy; and while it was very nice to watch the sun rise and have so much time in the morning, its terrible to be so tired at 5:00 PM.

What is the best way to get over jet lag? I've heard Red Bull was invented for this very reason. I just don't like Red Bull or the feeling I get when I'm amped up on caffeine. I've found the best method for recovering from jet lag is to stay awake with all your energy though exercise. When you bike or run or play tennis -- natural endorphins keep you awake. They run through your system and they have a powerful effect. After the ride is over watch an action movie like The Expendables.

Depression Cure Through Natural Remedies Definatly Not Always The Best Choice

2010-02-27T14:18:00.000-08:00

My Grandma called me last week to told me she had read our current issue of Utah Stories. She enjoyed the cover story on how big pharma has Utah on a leash. But she believed that I discredited the value of anti-depressants. She believes anti-depressants save lives.

I agree that in some cases anti-depressant medications are necessary. My mother certainly needs her anti-depressants and I know several other people who are certainly better off for taking them. But, as we pointed out: anti-depressants are way over-prescribed in Utah. They are treated like candy, and about as easy to obtain. This is wrong. Doctors and consumers need to seek other methods besides pills for staying happy.

I don't believe that most doctors are doing their jobs when it comes to warning patients of the harmful side effects of anti-depressants; and what patients may have to endure should they decide to take the pills for a long period then attempt to get off: suicidal thoughts, akasia, sexual dysfunction, panic attacks etc. But this isn't a blanket statement that anti-depressants should never be prescribed.

My Grandma also pointed out that I need to make a clear distinction between family practitioners and licensed and trained Psychiatrists — both of which have the ability to prescribe anti-depressants. Psychiatrists are much better educated about how psychotropic pills work in the body; and I agreed with my Grandma that they are probably a lot less likely to prescribe anti-depressants when they are not required. But I would be wary of either type of doctor telling you you need to take these pills. Use them as a last resort.

Also, when treating depression through diet and exercise (as I recommend)-- know-thyself. While taking foods that encourage health and happiness: chocolate, small quantities of high quality ice cream; fine pastries with coffee -- and of course all the nutritious stuff your doctor will tell you to eat -- examine your mood swings and behavior. If you are eating this way and also exercising regularly; getting plenty of sunshine -- and still feel depressed or suicidal; don't do the most selfish thing you can possibly do and attempt suicide. Like the brothers from Manti did. Instead, visit a trained professional and seek help. These boys have left behind parents who will spend the rest of their lives suffering misery and shame. Any parent who is doing their best to raise their children deserves better.

They have dishonored their parents and deserve to burn in hell. Sorry but I have no sympathy for suicidal idiots. If you want to die and are suffering from extreme depression, seek help from well trained professionals (not your family doctor).

Dogs and Spirituality

2010-01-27T21:13:00.000-08:00

My dogs are my spiritual gurus. They teach me a lot about life and enjoying what I have.

Everyone wants to train their dog to do exactly as they say. But I've found I need to obey my dogs once in a while.

My dogs have whined and complained all week because I've been too busy to take them on their daily morning walk. This morning they didn't complain they just looked at me sadly, like "this poor guy, he is caught up in the rat race."

Sometimes I get the sensation like I need to spend my entire day running around to get anything done. Usually I only get this when I haven't gone with my dogs into nature in a while. There is never any need to run around. There should never be a time when stress and anxiety rule my day. My dogs have taught me this. Instead of going on sales calls (like I always do a week before Utah Stories goes to press). Instead of doing payroll and collections-- I forgot everything and obeyed my dogs and took them for a run.

When I let my dogs off leash they are the most beautiful creatures. They enjoy everything: the dirt, the water, the unique aromas of everything. They take in with complete acceptance all that the world has to offer. They don't worry or stress.

Before my dogs were a big part of my life I had high blood pressure. Now I have very low blood pressure. Today was a great day because Louie and Keeks showed me that just being alive is the greatest gift I have.

Alisa Miller of PRI bashes main stream media

2009-04-24T09:46:00.000-07:00

I usually love people who report about how the main stream media is missing the boat. How the news media has lost touch with what people want to watch. Alisa Miller did this recently in a 5 minute TED talk.

Overall I can appreciate Miller's sentiment but I take issue with two points that that Alisa Miller speaks about:

1) Miller criticizes the fact that most people watch local news rather then national or international news. Miller comments on this natural trend for people to care about their local community most as a bad thing. People naturally pay more attention to what hits closest to home. Local news is important because it's this news that impacts the daily lives of most people. If local news coverage were less about accidents and about more issues that address daily life, community and the impact of government and or corporate abuse, then there would be no better news for people to pay attention to than local news.

2)Miller espouses that global warming coverage should be more widely reported: I believe we receive enough news on global warming. Also, Miss Miller attributes the lack of foreign news bureaus is due to the coverage of Brittany Spears and Anna Nicole Smith.

Journalists graduating from college are now much more likely to find a job coverage global warming over foreign news. Global warming or green news is now a huge chunk of NBC's (which is owned by GE) coverage. Much of this coverage is targeted at attacking those who don't accept cap and trade and other hindering Co2 limiting measures that restrict our freedom.

Miller makes a good point about how the American news media always is attracted to the most sensational stories. The Anna Nicole and Brittany stories are incredibly over covered. But the public main stream news media is also in the entertainment business. And since viewers want to be entertained while they watch their news, it's unlikely that this will change.

It's true that more people should know more about the world, but the Internet allows people follow any news they wish and the Internet is slowly but surely killing the main stream news.

Miller works for Public Radio International. It's very easy for people whose income doesn't rely on ratings and viewership to criticize those who must provide programs that draw viewers or go out of business. Miller shouldn't be criticizing the media but the viewers who support and watch glued to the mindless celebrity programming.

Utah Stories To Hire a Sales Person

2009-04-22T18:12:00.001-07:00

To hire a sales person is a huge step in the building of Utah Stories. I've personally maintained all of the sales myself. I met all the great small business owners who sponsor Utah Stories and I've had a great time hitting the road with my stories and meeting people telling them about Utah Stories mission: to protect, promote and preserve local Utah.

I've studied how small businesses start up. I've seen start-ups flush with cash, big offices that offer big salaries. I worked for one for about a month and it was lacking in character. The people who came in to work every day, were there for the carrot on a stick, with the hope of future stock dividends.

Then I've talked to a lot of people who either had micro-loans or almost no start-up cash who have boot-strapped their way into success. This has been the case for nearly every business that sponsors Utah Stories: Rico Brand, Squatters, Bohemian Brewery, Studio Soiree and all the rest.

These people had vision, whether it was simple: to offer better beans, as in the case of Rico. Or complex: to offer great internet hosting and private e-mail accounts, as in the case of XMission. Vision is key, and sticking to that original vision and seeing it come to fruition though hard work provides a business with deep roots in the local community in which it flourishes.

So now Utah Stories is to the point where we are seeing a whole lot of new visitors and loyalty to the great stories we are providing, but we aren't seeing a whole lot of new revenue, because it's hard for me to both be sales guy and editor at the same time.

So I'm considering hiring a sales person. Someone who can understand the vision I have in place. Someone who can work well with small business owners and offer great customer service. So if you know the right person for this important job see our craigslist ad

Why The Wall Street Journal Stays On Top

2009-04-13T09:29:00.000-07:00

readers seek insight into tomorrow even more than an account of yesterday.

read complete article

The Wall Street Journal has always been an ideal model of what a newspaper should be: not just informative but insightful. Helping readers navigate and understand how the news of today affects the world of tomorrow is the most essential function of providing news. Many local news providers have forgotten this. Gossip, bleeding news about car crashes and murders offer nothing but clutter in our daily lives.

Utah Stories: Born At The Right Time

2009-04-13T09:10:00.000-07:00

From the New York Times today:

‘Hyperlocal’ Web Sites Deliver News Without Newspapers

"The sites, like EveryBlock, Outside.in, Placeblogger and Patch, collect links to articles and blogs and often supplement them with data from local governments and other sources. They might let a visitor know about an arrest a block away, the sale of a home down the street and reviews of nearby restaurants. "

This New York Times article mentions how difficult it is for "hyper-local" websites to get produce quality work. This is because none of the sites featured in this article pay contributors for their work. The man featured in this story doesn't get this.

At Utah Stories we pay our writers and contributors generously and that's why we have been successful. The missing link in most hyper-local news is offering enough incentive to attract smart people and good writers to produce quality journalism.

This is just another example of how it's great to be born at the right time. Utah Stories is attracting such great local sponsors because we know there is a big difference between a blog (often containing half-truths, unverifiable opinions and rants) and quality local news and stories that offer true insight into important topics.

Save Me XMission-- Web Site Source Sucks!!

2009-04-09T08:25:00.000-07:00

Today I'm a victim of terrible web hosting.

For the second time in two weeks UtahStories.com has been down for over three hours. I've threatened to quit with website source but I've always had things higher on my list of priorities, so I've put it off.

Today I'm certain we (Utah Stories) would have had a huge day. We have a great new story coming out on Mormon blogs. Yesterday was a good day. Utah Stories has been increasing traffic by around 20 percent a month for the past three months. We get between 400-500 visitors a day and I couldn't be more pleased with how people are responding to our great local coverage of local Utah events, politics, blogs, food, culture and more.

Today we are turning our loyal readers away; essentially telling them we can't get our act together to provide them the great stories they now crave and check in every day to read.

So today I'm focusing all my attention towards saying "bye bye" to Website Source and switching to a fine local Utah business that offers much better hosting: XMission. (who also happens to be a proud sponsor of Utah Stories)

Moab Done Right

2009-02-24T13:26:00.001-08:00

I've developed an opinion regarding the National Parks Control over our state's gems--It sucks.

I'm fed up with folks in green shirts with brown hats telling me I need to pay $25 to get into their park. Sure it's good that our national treasures be maintained and that places like Arches and Canyonlands are protected wilderness. But they could protect these areas with much less money and annoyance.

What benefit do the park rangers provide by paving the trails in asphalt. Do the wild jackrabbits and antelope prefer asphalt to dirt trails now? Do the additional signs telling me to stay on the trail and more info on the geology add to my appreciation? Not one bit. They block the view.

This past trip to Moab we didn't visit a single National Park and we had one of the best trips we have ever had. No entry fee, no excessive signs, no asphalt trails, just unregulated red-rock fun.

We hiked the Poison Spider trail off Potash road and there were mountain bikers, off-road trucks and runners all sharing the wide gorgeous trail having a great time. The folks in the brown shirt and green pants and big hats remind me of fascist dictators. I'm sure they are nice enough people, but they creep me out. I would prefer all of the National Parks in Utah to just go out of business. I'm sure we could do just fine maintaining the wilderness. Probably after 20 years their asphalt roads would begin to crumble and maybe the wildlife would return.

Deseret News Story on Inmates getting College Degrees

2008-12-14T08:55:00.000-08:00

The Deseret News reports Sunday December 14th, "Clinton Ellis used to cook meth," to paraphrase, now he has learned to cook gourmet chicken in prison. The article goes into depth about the wonderful programs the inmates of the Utah State Prison are receiving via the Salt Lake Community College. Deseret News writer, Ben Windslow interviewed the prison warden who said after these inmates get out,"They can instantly get a job." The article didn't go into much depth, it basically was a feel-good piece on how inmates are getting a second chance at life through prison programs.

But lets imagine meth cooker, Clinton Ellis, had a neighbor named Barney. Rather than cooking meth, when the job market became tough, Barney kept working for $6 per hour at McDonalds. Barney scoffed at Clinton as he saw his meth operation and knew eventually he would be caught and sent to prison. Finally, the day arrives and Clinton is busted and Barney feels relief in the fact that he never resorted to criminal activity to pay his bills like Clinton. Barney continues flipping burgers at McDonalds, with the hope that one day he can save up enough money to attend culinary school at the Community College, so he can earn double what McDonalds is paying, by finding a position as a chef.

What message will be sent to Barney after Clinton gets out Prison with his culinary degree and finds a great job? Barney stays on the straight and narrow path, Clinton didn't; but Clinton is rewarded with a degree. Clinton had to pay for this degree while he was in prison. But Clinton is likely earning money while he is in jail. He is also getting free health care, free board and probably some very good free food.

Barney is a fictional character. But there must be quite a few like Barney out there. what does this offer to all of the folks who live at the poverty level who are doing everything they can to get by within the law?

Was Ayn Rand wrong?

2008-11-05T12:16:00.000-08:00

Thoughts about Alan Greenspan's recent comments in believing that deregulation and Libertarian ideas don't work in a modern day economy.

Alan Greenspan recently bent down upon his sword, taking blame for the recent credit crisis which was caused by deregulation and lack of government oversight in the mortgage industry. Like other Libertarians, Greenspan believes in lasse-fair economic policy—allowing the free-market to flourish with as little government intrusion or oversight possible.

The powers that lasse-fair economic policy allow are simple Darwinism: allowing the fittest to survive and the weak to die. Its the basic belief that the same principles that apply to nature will also work in capitalism. So why didn't lasse-fair work in the mortgage industry? Why were so many mortgages handed out to people who could not afford them and should not have received them?

The blame should not be placed on the Government not being more involved. The disaster that the mortgage crisis has produced was caused by the government attempting to over-stimulate the economy in tandem with liberal policy makers eager to get more people financed for the dream of home ownership.

As the United States policy makers were working diligently to suppress a recession after 9-11 their answers were to lower interest rates and provide economic relief by making money much cheaper to borrow. At the same time liberals in the congress were working for their affordable housing policies by stopping legislation that could have put a tighter grip on outflow of mortgages. The result was the surge in home price values. With nearly everyone with a drivers license and a pulse now able to afford the dream of home ownership, the demand became much greater than the supply. Some ridiculous examples I witnessed were a $390 thousand home with a sign written "Ask how you can get this home for just $535.00 per month." This image stuck in my mind. If I were a renter paying $600 a month for a small apartment, I would jump on this.

The result was a huge increase in homes being built, bought and traded. In Salt Lake City's 84105 zip code, our property values increased by nearly 10% in 2006. Homes near Salt Lake City became unaffordable for middle-class wage earners, so places like Herriman, Woodscross and West Jordan began being developed at a massive pace.

As a landlord I found it nearly impossible to find decent renters for my renal house at $950 per month for a three bedroom, two bath, totally remodeled home. But we were riding the wave of prosperity. The housing market was booming thanks in large part to the great economists in Congress.

Ayn Rand had a revolutionary idea concerning economic policy: to separate the economy from the state just as church is now separated from the state. She did not believe that politicians should be in the business of setting government economic policy, because politicians by nature practice populism— often working towards producing a stronger welfare state and less of a true laissez-fair economy. Rand believed that if the government did not get out of the business of the economy we would eventually find ourselves living in an ever-more socialistic society. With much of the banking and mortgage industry now nationalized; with the big 3 US automakers now needing a government bail-out; with the promise of nationalized health care by a newly elected president, certainly Rand's prediction is coming true.

The basis of Rand's beliefs was that by allowing every man to work in his own selfish interests everyone would naturally benefit. Conversely, by telling every successful man that he has to work in the interests of his fellow man, very few are willing to strive for achievement. Punishing success and rewarding failure are the fundamental anti-Darwin tenants of a welfare state. The next four years should be a great example of what happens to an economy when reason is defied.

Who Do You Trust When the Stock Market Is Crashing? Nobody

2008-10-10T15:09:00.001-07:00

Politicians are the last people you want to trust when the stock market is crashing, because they actually believe that they can do something about it. One week ago Governor Huntsman appeared on KJZZ Cafe repeating something I read in the morning newspaper. Huntsman repeated somtehing said by the CEO of Utah Wells Fargo: "We lost over $1 trillion yesterday in the stock market. The economic bailout plan is only for $700 billion. Had we done the bail-out the losses would have but much less."

This immediately struck me as illogical because of something I learned a long time ago: The market is always right. The market has since crashed another $1 trillion, despite the bailout of $700 billion. So America lost close to $2.7 trillion due to failing to follow the simple wisdom that every economist should have tattooed on their arm: The market is always right.

The bailout makes no sense to me because I can see that the reason for the market correction was the over-inflated market to begin with. The market was inflated because anyone with a driver's license and a pulse could buy a home just a few years ago. This didn't make sense in our free-market economy. It should be very difficult to qualify for a loan to buy a house. Then when the economy slowed the market corrected this problem. Instead of letting the correction take its course— which might indeed be painful but necessary— our leaders are proposing that we decide that the only adage of free-market capitalism should be ignored in this case and we should instead partially nationalize our banking system.

I am ready to suffer a mini-depression. If politicians follow the same logic FDR did 60 years ago, I think we can count on another Great Depression. Obamma is proposing that the American Dream should end at $250,000. Once a person makes this amount, they shouldn't earn more and instead pay the highest tax rates our country has ever seen. I don't make this much money, but I know that many successful small business owners do. If we penalize small business success, not only do we weaken our marketplace but we set limits on the American Dream.

One last point. I'm happy to see corporate America take a nose dive. Its about time. Our city leaders have been in bed with corporate America for too long— Offering incentives, tax breaks, kick-backs etc—believing that filling our valley with corporations is the shortest path to filling their coffers. This was a false dream. Most national corporations have little room for policies that are good for a community. I'm not anti-corporate, but I am opposed to offering unfair advantages to corporations over our local businesses. (Which I find over and over again in my reporting on Utah Stories) I believe in local small businesses in Utah and the strength of our local economy will see us though the coming economic turmoil.

Utah Stories Slant: Protecting Preserving and Promoting Local Utah

2008-08-11T13:52:00.000-07:00

Who doesn't love Costco, Home Depot, Best Buy or Lowes? Big-box stores are wonderful because they offer so much under one roof. I would be a hypocrite if I said I don't personally benefit from corporate America's investment in Utah.

With that being said, I want to make clear what Local First means to Utah Stories coverage statement (dedicated to protecting, promoting and preserving local Utah).

Its clear that places and communities are not defined by corporate America but by the local businesses and unique individuals who carve out their niche in their place. The free market economy is brutal and fierce, causing most new businesses to go under within their first year of operation. However, there are always wonderful success stories of entrepreneurs who have made it overcoming all odds to find success. Its our objective to highlight these stories and promote their well being and their interests over the interests of non-local or non privately owned businesses.

Utah Stories operates out of 300 South, otherwise known as Broadway. After an incredible comeback from being nearly completely devastated in the early 1980s, the Broadway shopping district is again full of local merchants, coffee shops and bars that attract pedestrians and small awning, street-side shops.

This comeback was due to the will of the people to spend their money in places that were owned and operated by folks like them. If you are unfamiliar with what Broadway was like before today, I recommend you read Utah Stories series on How Main Street was Traded for Wall Street. How local culture was traded for corporate mall stores, neglecting the interests of local merchants on Broadway and Exchange Place; , all for the promise of a of mall tax revenue.

By saying that our slant in coverage is in supporting local merchants over the interests of corporate America, what we mean is that we will always examine the practices of favoritism and enticement that our city and state leaders so frequently exhibit when corporations are examining expansion in our cities. Obviously, corporate investment dollars are good for our economy and in no manner do we want to exclude those investments, but anytime those investments overlook the interests of local merchants or brush aside the complaints of the community Utah Stories is committed to highlight this practice.

Historic Preservation infringing on Personal Property Rights?

2008-08-08T09:37:00.000-07:00

The federal government is making a huge investment in Downtown Salt Lake City with their expansion of the Federal Courthouse located to the West of Main Street on 400 South. But this expansion is having some negative repercussions on local merchants in the area. Mainly, Port O'Call bar and restaurant owned by Kent and Janette Knowley. More on this story in the coming days. One of the themes this story boils down to is government infringing on personal property rights, presenting the following question:

Does is historic preservation need to infringe on personal property rights?

This is an ongoing problem that has presented itself in development stories Utah Stories has covered. The most recent example of this problem has presented itself with the expansion of the Federal Courthouse in Downtown Salt Lake City and their ensuing battle against GSA (Government Services Administration). This is a story we have been working on (off-and-on) for nearly one month. It seems that many of the same themes found in this story were also found in the story of the Sugar House Granite Block.

The progression of the problem usually goes something like this:

Building owner invests in blighted area wanting to improve a historic old structure

As a result of property owner investment- local community emerges and area becomes successful and flourishing

State Historic Preservation Offices comes calling wanting to get the building on the historic registry

Owner says thanks but no thanks, because owner sees the obvious conflict in not being able to make improvements and additions to his property as he wishes

Owner invests in his property but then becomes ultimately limited by the government on what they will allow him to do

Owner feels his constitutional personal property rights and infringed upon by the historic mandates and laws the government is shoving down his throat.

In the case of Craig Mecham the developer and owner of the Sugar House Granite Block, he decided to tare down the beloved block and build his own mixed-use retail community. In his case it could be argued that the great local retailers was every bit as responsible for the success of the block as he was. Therefore, I think that the merchants and residents had a right to complain when he decided to tare down his old buildings. Of course the buildings are his, however he had an obligation to his community to demonstrate his commitment to build in a manner fitting to the area.

In the case of the Federal Courthouse expansion project: Port O'Call, is being forced out by a government eminent domain case. Both cases are similar in that the owners feel the government's policies are stifling their entrepreneurial spirit and personal property investment.

The question comes down to where do personal property rights end in the case of owning historic buildings? Obviously, property owners should have a conscious to the local community and their wishes to protect history and sense of place. However, should it be the government's job to mandate this conscious? If the government does mandate and legislate an owner to preserve the historic character of their building at what point do their mandates become socialistic and unconstitutional?

This is a very difficult question to answer. In politics this is a very defining issue between liberal Democrats and conservative Republicans. Republicans believing in more rights for owners, Democrats typically believing in more rights for the Government to protect buildings and property that can be labeled as historic. I've always been in favor of historic preservation, however I believe strongly in personal property rights and freedom.

Monday or Tuesday Utah Stories will be releasing our investigation into the Federal Courthouse expansion project. Its a story that has been a fascinating study about how Federal Government Powers have trampled over the property ownership rights of the owners of the Port O'Call, Jannette and Kent Knowley.

Best Local Spots in Salt Lake City: Home Improvement: Plumbing

2008-06-10T14:22:00.000-07:00

When it comes to home improvement there used to be only one place that I would go-- Home Depot. Full of decent deals on everything a landlord could need to repair rental properties. Why go any where else? I never had a reason until I discovered some incredible home improvement shops that blow away Home Depot in customer service and expert advice.

England Do it Yourself Plumbing is a small shop on 33rd South and 970 East. The guys that work there have been there for at least seven years and they are all expert plumbers.

The typical routine with England is you have a leaky faucet or broken part. If you can take it apart, they can tell you how to fix it and equip you with the parts (often even doing the work in the store). If you can't take it apart then you need to provide a simple drawing or diagram. As the landlord of a 90-year-old rental home, with ancient plumbing, I have made good friends with the folks at England. After seven years of questions answered by their England's staff, I now consider my self a half-way decent plumber. England Plumbing has no doubt saved me thousands of dollars on plumbing alone.

A few days ago I discovered another shop similar to England that is in West Salt Lake City: M1 Specialties. 10th West and 1st South. This shop had a line of customers, going out the door and a take-a-number queue. I had a problem that even England couldn't help me with-- a stripped end on rare nickel-plated Pioneer faucet spout. Every place was suggesting that I likely had to buy an entirely new faucet --for close to $300. I new that would be a joke for just a stripped end to my spout. I was redirected to M1 from Standard Plumbing. M1 is a very old building, run down- but full of experts helping people like me. They solved my problem with parts totaling $4.67.

Home Depot and Lowes can't hold a candle to England Plumbing or M1 Specialties customer service and experts.

Sugar House going sour?

2008-05-16T08:13:00.001-07:00

, originally uploaded by regularchickens.

Yesterday I spoke to Craig Mecham about the lack of progress on the Granite Block. He told me a few things that have been neglected in all other stories I've read on the subject. Mainly, that he is attempting to make a wall to allow for a North-South corridor.

I know that sometimes developers will spin their plans to the public masking their true motives. (as the skybridge has been spinned) However, I don't get this notion with Mecham. I believe that his interests are to make something so when people look back on the demolition of the historic block they think, "this has been a nice improvement afterall."

Of course we will never really know until the project is complete, but Mecham is not a Boyer Company (of Gateway fame) or a Taubman Company (national mall developer) He is just a single wealthy land owner whose family has resided in Sugar House since for generations.

BTW, Does anyone know what is spilling out of the vase the man is holding? I could guess it is water but what is the symbolism?

Travis Hess Documentary (Rough Edit)

2008-05-06T16:10:00.000-07:00

I'm working on a commissioned documentary for the Travis Hess foundation. I'm posting the video here for review.

Interesting Comments on Utah Stories Videos

2008-04-24T17:42:00.000-07:00

A recent comment on our Munich travel journal video:

Ich habe sieben jahre in Muenchen gewohnt. Keine Stadt in Amerika ist so schoen wie Muenchen. Mein deutsch ist schlimm geworden, but life in Germany is much better than life in America. The German people were so nice and smart. "Ich liebe Deutschland."

see entire Munich article and documentary here

A recent comment on our Mexican Racism in Salt Lake City video:

no seas un perfecto inbesil...que no estas eskuchando el video.ellos no andan anbulando la ciudad les dio permiso para ponerse ai...o tu kres k un dia se lebantaron idijieron me kiero ir apornes alli i me bale madre lo k diga la jente..oh i el k no gana nada de discutir con tigo soi io wee

see entire article and all Utah Stories taco cart related segments here

I think they are both saying critical things about my videos. I find it great, however, that these Utah Stories have a least began to get some interest within the YouTube commmunity.

The Munich video has only recently recieved a lot of visitors since becoming a part of Deutsche YouTube. Many comments seem to think that I'm criticizing their lifestyle, when the exact opposite is true. My intended audience is Westerners who don't even have a clue what a non-sprawling city looks like. The Munich story was featured on Planetizen, the Taco cart story was feature on KJAZZ Cafe.