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Show TheSalt Lake Tribune OPINION AA3 Sunday, September29, 2002 Workman’s Controversial Proposal on Ambulances May Be DOA Salt Lake County Mayor Nancy The Rolly Report Workmannotonly irked some ‘of her County Council members bynot clu our calcula: tions, the county ing them in on her plans to take over ambulance service, she stirred the hackles of conservative, Republican: leaning organizations and individu als, which could come back to haunt herin 2004. Workman recently unleashed her $ = lose morethan $1 million a year. That's a bad deal for everyone. sal Jerman the coun plan to put Salt Lake County in the ambulance business, usurping the based current service provided by privately PAUL ROLLY owned Gold Cross Ambulance. Her Council allysofar in this mat ports, medic who, along with most of his firefighter colleagues, sees the move was sponsored by Rep. Greg Curtis, in-housecounsel on a residents of the county. West Valley “This is a system that isn’t bro- council member Steve Harmsen, who has been mentioned as a possible primary-election opponent of Work: man in 2004. Also in opposition to Workman's ays Mankin. “It doesn't make moneyon the deal, Workman’sbelief ina unified paramedic-ambulance delivery system is personal and deep. Workman's husband, Reed, has a since ke that makes $2,120,229 dif: fere in projectedbillable revenue. The association is joined by other groups in opposing the mayor's plan, based on the philosophical principle City and Murrayareattempting to get into the ambulance business for the samereason. Other council members, while cau held dear by Republicans that govern: ment stay out of the wayof private enterprise as much aspossible. tiously open to debate on the idea, havecriticized the process, complaining that Workman left them out of discussions until she came out with The Utah Chamber of Commerce has opposed the plan, as well. So has the governmentaff: committee of the plan a month ago. the Salt Lake Area Chamber of Com merce. Executive Director Larry Mankinwrotethe mayor thatthe ser- But thecouncil is not her most se- riouspolitical threat. ie Utah Taxpayevs Association, whose views on public spending and taxation issues normally line up with vice shouldbe provided by private ene. He also said chamberrepres have spoken to some lators about running a bill in January to block the countyfrom as: sumingtheservice. Republican candidates, strongly opposes the move. Vice President Mike Jermanclaims the mayorhasreleased erroneous information in order to The Legislature passed a bill two makeher case more palatable to the public. years ago that threw up so manyroad blocksit effectively thwarted the plans of Prove Mayor Lewis Billings to compete with private business in pro- “Not true,” Jerman says of Workman’s assertion her plan could generate $500,000 in profits. “The county doesn’t have their numbers right. By vidingcable television service to the heart condition. Seven years ago, when Workmandrove him tothehos: pital after a heart attack, she stopped 1 countyfire station to make sure aoe knewhowto get to her housein case of another emergency Whentheytoldher she also needed to call Gold Cross because the paramedics and ambulancearrive peveraiey, it left an indelible impressiox West Valley City Fire Chit Van Summers says not only would the government ambulance streamline emergency care service to thepublic, it also would save money. Ifa paramedictravels to the hospital with the Gold Cross ambulance, the county's emergency vehicle mustfollow, tyingit up until the paramedic is finished with his or her responsibilities. With county ambulances, the other vehicles wouldbefree for other emergencies. But West Valley City’s own Cham- ber of Commerce also opposes the move. ORLANDO The movie, which was written, produced and directed by AfricanAmericansandfeatures a cast ofallstar blackentertainers, is a humorous peek inside a barbershop, a cocoon of political incorrectness where men can INEL The comedic moviethathascertain black reverends upset is cause for anything but outrage. In fact, rather than being disrespectful toward black history and black leaders, “Barbershop” is a celebration of blackness that may be the best predictor yet for racial harmony in this country. Why? Because it makes uslaugh at be men and say whattheyreally think. The controversy was sparked by onebrief scene in which a character, Eddie, speaksdisparagingly of someof our nation’s black icons Martin Luther King, Rosa Parks and Jesse Jackson prompting a demand for an apology from the reverends Al Sharpton and Jackson, as well as the King family. Certain historical figures ourselves. Not blacks and/or whites, but us frail and flawed human beings. Whenthe laughterstarts, the healing begins. planis the Sutherland Institute, the conservative think tank normallyin Republican camps. Sutherland recently helped sponsor a successful fund-raiser for House Speaker Marty Stephens, who plans to run forgover: norin 2004 Gold Cross bought a table at Stephens’ fund-raiser, through its representative, Joe Hansen,son ofRepublican Congressman Jim Hansen Gold Cross owner Gene Moffitt is a generous donor to Republican candi. lal tributors to Gov. MikeLeavitt. Agroup ofRepublicans in Salt Lake Countyvoting precinct 2628 recently sent aletter to Workman decrying the if the county taking over theserS$ successful private business. Theyalso residein the same LDS ward as Moffitt, who recently left on a Mor‘an Party members ofthis precinct supported your candidacy and have appt ited your efforts to make the tough decisions to reduce the county budget to meet available resources,” said the letter written by delegates Jeff Morrow and Larry Wright. “Weexpect that you will continue to withstand the temptation to create a larger government and sup- port the private sector wheneverit is eral, state and local governments from entering into competition with the heletter’s signers included powerful lobbyist and Republican insider supports tion and regulations that prohibit fed- should never be the punchlines in jokes, according to Jackson. “You would not make Golda Meir the butt of a joke it's sacred territory,” said Jackson. Is it wrong to poke fun at people who also happen to have somehistorical significance to our country? Is it wrong to de-mythologize our heroes? Comedy’s history is all about challengingthegods. Eddie also says some unflattering things about King and uses profanity possible.” people all too aware of their own hu manness. Why isn't it funnyto others? Because some people have bought their own myths and take themselves far too seriously. Mary Mitchell, an African. American columnist for the Chicago Sun-Times, got it right when she wrote: “The beauty of ‘Barbershop’is it peels back the curtain andlets the world eavesdrop on the conversation that black folks can have when white people aren’t around. . . What remained wasthe good feeling you have when you know that despite the struggles black folks have gone to comment on Jackson. Whyisthis through, we can still laugh at ourselves and each other.” funny to some? Because humanizing mythologized icons provides relief to The other barbershop characters, by the way, call down Eddie the Heating Service. we're the Rheem Team". Good work and fair prices. We'll arrive on time, in uniform, wearing a photo I.D. and we clean up before leaving. Call us for the best in customercare. Doug Foxley. Morrowsaid another supporter of the letter is Bud Scruggs, chief of staff to former Republican Gov. Norm Bangerter and a close con fidante of Leavitt. Scruggs was out of town whentheletter was circulated. Salt Lake County Republican Chairman John Solomon says Work man’s stand on the ambulance issue, while offensive to some Republica groups who hold private enterprise protection dear, should notaffect her re-election bid in twoyears. “If she wereup for re-election this year, it might have an impact,” he said. “But she has been so good [on conservatives’ issues] on everything else. This will havedied down by 2004 and Republicans will support her.” a and is amongthe top five con legisla- “ChamberWest ‘Barbershop’ Irreverent, Not Offensive BY KATHLEEN PARKER EO Alan Anderson. He made the 8 for governmentto stepintothis particular arena. It appears to be more about moneythan anythingelse.” Deputy Mayor Alan Dayton, speaking on Workman's behalf, transports in 2001 wasless than 7,500, as enhancing the safety and welfare of ae sector,” wrote president and comments in a letter to Republican plan is counters thatevenif the countyloses cainol 10,246 total trans. ambulance companies generate revenuethrough fees chargedfor theride. But, he says, the actual number of ter is Republican Mike Jensen, a Salt Lake County firefighter and para city’s residents. Ironically, that bill could Where Are They Now? Former Utah Attorney General Jan Grahamhasformeda new lawfirm in Park City with Joe Tesch, oneof the top officers in Graham's first admin istration in the early 1990s and who served with Grahamin formerAttor ney General Paul Van Dam's admin: istration. The partners may start a Salt Lake City officein the future. ham, will concentrate onlitig: behalfof victims and consumers. She says the firm may also coordinate ca with some former attorney gen eral colleagues from otherstates with whomshe formed an advocacy group. “We're alreadylooking at federal and state laws that needto be modified on behalf of victims of consumer fraud andabuse.” Trickster, otherwise understoodto be Eddiethe Fool. Sothat while audience members are invited to laugh at the Trickster’s frankly ignorant barbs, they are also reminded that King re ally was a hero who was martyredto the cause ofcivil rights. Andthat Rosa Parks, in fact, did muchmore thansit down. Sherefused to stand up and surrenderher seat at the front of the bus to a white man, as was required by law at the time. In Montgomery, Ala., in 1955, Parks’ de fiance was an act of sheer unadulter ated courage. Brava, Rosa Parks. And bravo the creators and actors of “Barbershop.” Tribune Media Services IS THIS WHERE YOU SPEND YOUR VACATION? 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