Show : fl -- 1 i ' I r V V 'vav -- £- 1 i: - S vy':r s- : s?L mjiiiwwo - ' r VVV1 : v'r ' The Hefald Journal - & 4 - v" V ' fif-AA ' -- ' f - s V"' Our view Church to rescue? remarkable — this one building produced two LDS Church presidents (keep in mind there have only been C Valley has so many things to be proud of — take a look at the university the temple with its mountain backdrop or thevalley’s Its heritage is a legacy and testimony to the pioneec spirit which settled this unforgiving wilderness A nigged land a rugged people Two other general traits can be ascribed to many of the people of Cache Valley: a heritage of preservfruing heritage and a gality However these two positive characteristics which are so deeply entrenched in the valley have met each other head-o- n in Preston With every tick of the clock the Onieda ' Stake Academy moves one second closer to demolition: All the history memories and nostalgia cannot stop the wrecking ball from swinging A group trying to save the building needs money and fast If the building is saved future generations will be able to see walk in and touch one of the last artifacts of the pioneer life If the building is destroyed the walls that nurtured two future LDS presidents and countless other Franklin County residents will be lost forever How Behind the New Urbanism cult I Your view Simple indeed Ms Lehenbaur To die editor Having learned to “beware zealotry in all its forms” I initially dismissed Ruth Lehenbauer’s column on April 8 as the latest right-win- g lockstep tirade Witness the ability to blame the commies Bill Clinton the UN the unions and academia for our problems — all in one brief column! Mr Box should feel exalted for being included with such company But where does all this vitriol labeled a$ “logic” come from? Then Calvin Petersen's outstand- ing piece on Manichaeism in Section C put things in perspective for me The reduction of complex situations to shallow “reasoning” is dangerous and infectious Ms Lehenbauer’s “simple” choice to invade Iraq is but one example in her rambling piece It would seem the “virus” has claimed her as yet another victim Kudos to The Herald Journal for publishing such timely debate — and may debate and dissent continue to be perhaps our greatest freedoms John Barrett Millville urban Nation: Derrqll M Andersen Providence The Rise of Sprawl and the Decline of the American Dream It seeks to recre- - Mayor should apologize anew aiethe'tradK Totheeditor - Wolves! recall not exactly gentle To the editor: Over the last few months I have read articles watched TV and listened to conversation about wolves As these opinions come forth I wonder where these people found the wolves they describe The wolves that roamed the western areas of Wyoming when I was a small boy were not the gentle loving animals that are described by Ms Tracy Swenson in the April 1 Herald Journal and I was expecting to read “April fool” at the end Ms Swenson wrote: “Healthy wolves don’t attack humans” I have a friend in Grover Wyo who will gladly give documentation to anyone who desires to know of human kills and by wolves Call me at 755-99I will get you in toych with him Just a friendly suggestion to those of them) It seemslike a people who are so faithful totheir heritage and history would want to save this important structure almost at any cost History is important but it is not solely the province of history books After all” doesn't the spirit which gave birth to such a proud people deserve to be preserved? Demolition is forever The Oneida Stake Academy has only days While we commend the LDS Church for donating land in a park to the cause we would like to respectfully suggest that the church be at the center of saving a building like this Though it may not want the burden of upkeep or restoration we would suggest that it should at least care enough to move it out of the path of tire wrecking ball The plans for saving the building and turning it into a historical center ' and gathering place seem like an idea whose time has come for Franklin County Besides by establishing it as By Bill Roberts a multipurpose building it not only would become a vital part of Preston's past but an integral part of its hard to tell whether New future Urbanism best fits the definition of a cult or a conspiracy It has elements of both Either way my advice is not to drink the Kool-Ai- d Embracing a correct excuse for growth politically who agree with Ms Swenson: Be is suicide for the West’s small towns careful about petting or turning your New Urbanism is the name given back on a wolf Your life could be to a collection of ideas about land-us- e very short if you do Life in the planning and architectural design 1930s is proof of that as exemplified by a book called Sub- people hard-worki- ' 15 -- When I read the letter from the Mayor in this paper I was at first edified that he had apologized to the city for his outrageous behavior I also agree with him that if you do not have a valid business license you should not operate a business in the city But he could not just apologize and leave it alone he had to try to justify himself In doing so he is telling all the property owners who employ boot companies that their actions are “repugnant” What would he have property owners do? How would he like it if we all decided to park in his front yard then get indignant if he booted or towed us away? The city of Logan employs a company to police puking bn city streets and yes they do boot cars Why does Logan city engage in such a repugnant activity? What I feel is repugnant and immoral is people like the mayor who think that they can go where ever they please and do whatever they want without regard for anyone else’s property or rights The reason boot companies exist is ' because of this repugnant disregard for others’ property If everyone obeyed parking rules and respected " property owners there would be no booters Even if he didn’t know about the controversy in foe Century Square parking area (how could he not?) ignorance is no'excuse! That lot is very well posted Mayor I suggest that you try to apologize again and this time leaye it at that You Were in the wrong and no matter how little you think of ' ' these outstanding business people berating them for protecting their property does not make you right 02 Ron and Hollie Liechty Logan ’ Writers on the Range shower stall The caption describes it as one of the “gimmicks that homebuilders include to fill the spiritual void created by foe absence of community" irfSuburbia) New Urbanists believe foeir approach will let us have growth and wildlife development and open space We can make housing affordable and promote economic development in an environmentally friendly socially responsible way that fosters community and encourages civic virtue We'll be healthier because we’ll abandon our SUVs and walk tb ' ork-We’ll tional common in American cities and that are still a feature of many urban areas whose layouts predate the automobile Such neighborhoods typically include a mix of commercial and residential properties have high densities that make for vibrant public spaces and are arranged to favor pedestrians over motorists Think of your favorite parts of San Francisco or the downtowns of many old Western towns What’s not to like about New Urbanism? Plenty starting with the pseudoreligious tenor of true believers New Urbanism does not require donning saffron robes or chasing flying saucers but it does have charismatic apostles sacred texts and the promise of salvation and that lends a messianic quality that is both tiresome and silly (A photo in Suburban Nation shows an ad for a fancy bebetteroff mentally-- because proper architecture will feed our psychic needs It’s an appealing vision All we have to do is live in cities That’s where it starts to sound like a conspiracy New Urbanism rests on an s unholy alliance between the and the greens Developers get to wrap themselves in the mantle of crusaders bravely battling the alienation of the suburbs while protecting - the land from the ravages of sprawl Environmentalists get to envision a society made over according to their automobileagenda with -free cities surrounded by open space and wildlife habitat Identifying sprawl as foe one true evil allows foe greens a strong voice in the planning process and directs discussion away from the one thing developers do not want to talk about: growth What’s left is a false dichotomy —New Urbanism or mindless sprawl Narrowing the focus to sprawl gets everyone chanting the developers' greed-head- high-densi- ty rite cr direct effect question of design It’s like saying that a decision to continue paving Southern California is just an architectural misstep We really can put 10 pounds in a bag if only we stack it just so For all that New Urbanism has a lot to offer It provides an excellent critique of what is wrong with suburbia It affords a series of solid insig ing urban development i redly identifies a numberof factors that piake pome citiesso much more livable than others If the question is how to rebuild the older suburbs of Los Angeles or how to enhance the Leyittowns of the East New Urbanism seems right as rain But what that has to do with small towns is beyond me Lumping Jack- son Wyo Moab Utah or Durango Colo into the same “urban” category as major cities is ridiculous Small towns are not rural but neither are they miniature New Yorks They are a different breed and the folk face is not challenge small-tow- n how best to become big eities but how to preserve what is important and unique about where we live A lot of that has to do with manageable numbers New Urbanism does not speak to that Bill Roberts is a contributor to Writers on the Range a sendee of High Country News in Paonia Colorado (hcnorg) He is editorial page editor of the Durango Herald in Durango Col- orado Why did Bush administration fight Clinton Union-New- s Springfield Mass A federal judge’s decision allowing President Clinton to keep under wraps documents relating to pardons he issued on his final day in office might initially appear to be a victory for the previous administration and its defense of its actions on its way out the door of the White House Such a reading would be a mistake an oversimplification of the much-criticiz-ed matter at hand The case for keeping the Clinton 'secrets was made by the Department of Justice which with Attorney General John Ashcroft at foe helm has favored secrecy over openness at every turn By nearly any measure the Bush administration is among the most secretive in this nation’s history By arguing — and winning — foe case for protecting the pardon papers the current administration can hope to set a precedent that will bolster its Herald Journal : Ths Opinion page Is Intended to acquaint readers with a variety of viewpoints on msllsre of pubic importance and provide members of the community with a fomm for their views Personal columns cartoons and Mere from readers reflect lie opinions ofifislriiwllere end creators Editorials under lie hearting "Our VW represent the views of the Herald Journal ial board Members of ths odlorial board: WCTWOWctlNGr TUe GCPNDNC: DARRELL EHRUCKfctiyadNor' cause? own penchant for secrecy The need to have access to the workings of any administration is not simply an exercise for academicians for those who will be compiling the history of the day Unless the citizenry understand the doings of those at the helm the governors become distant from foe governed imperiling our very democracy The federal judge’s rilling on foe Clinton documents may not be — and should not be — the final word ' HE The Herald Journal weipomas Mere to the editor Potentially ttieious or offensive Ipttere wM not be published however and theedHor reserves the right to edti el Mere to conform to the length and style requirements of the Letters should be: typewritten and double spaced No more than 450 words In length Addressed and include daytime phone number for purposes of veriticstiop Signed by the author IndMduatsarelmNedtoanopuNshedlatter within any period Address Mare to hjMtarOtijnewsxom Guest are also welcome and are run et 30-da- y CINDY YURTWeaturecedHor ' uNSMU-afiaunJltcot- : Other views Non -- mantra: Growth is inevitable Implicit in that is the corollary that any decisions as to when where or at what cost building should proceed are equally out of our hands So with growth off the table and all concerned agreeing to fight sprawl development is nothing more than a U BRUCE SMTTHpuMehar CHARLES McCOLLUMfoanaging editor at al twedtor'sdscratlon i V - ' |