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Show ever lead to conflict with some of your conservative constituents? PB: I've never heard a complaint. I did it because it's the right stand for Utahns and for . Springdale. Our quality of life depends on these lands and our economy depends on the protection of these lands. I did this with my eyes open. The folks who come to Springdale want to see this land preserved. I think it's the right decision for the wildlife and the people and the land. It doesn't hurt that it's also the right position economically. As an elected official, I can speak of the main street perspective. I testified against Hatch's bill in the Senate. After Hatch spoke I shook his hand and told him I was there to testify against his bill. He looked a little surprised. I tried to convey to opponents that a large number of Utahns support protection of those lands. We know that it's deeply ingrained into the local culture to dislike the federal administration of lands. But Springdale supported the designation of the Grand Staircase-Escalante National Monument. The mayor of Rockdale is supportive of wilderness. too. I'd like to think there'll be another [local pro-wilderness elected official] before long. Z: Right now, there's a lot of discussion about the loss of traditional values in small towns all around the West. Ironically, one of the things that's sparking this rapid socioeconomic change is the infusion of tourism dollars. Any thoughts on the phenomenon? PB: The idea that a community might be making itself so attractive that it might be planting the seeds of its own demise is something I've considered quite a lot. But there are other factors to consider. First of all, things are going to change. Right now, we've got a lot of people in their 70s and 80s who were born here and either moved away and came back or have lived here all their lives. When they die, somebody will buy their property; somebody new will inevitably move in. Springdale does not have chains. We were able to stand off Subway a few years ago. There are other ways in which you can keep those places away. One is sign ordinances, another is forbidding drive-up windows. Right now, we only have the Best Western. They had to conform to our codes. We negotiated with them and settled on something we could both live with. Springdale does not have chains... There are other ways in which to keep those places away. One is sign ordinances, another is forbidding drive-up windows. Most of the businesses in our town are family-owned. That's important. It's not just power, but responsibility. If you want to change things, get involved. Write a letter, vote. Hear the other side and take responsibly. Take responsibility for listening and make a decision. I try to get people to speak to each other and not just expect the leaders to do that. The people have to get engaged. Z: You've obviously had some success with that endeavor in Springdale. Will you seek a third term? PB: The next election is in November of 2001. I think I always assumed during my first term I would run for a second term if I felt good about it. I wanted to institutionalize whatever momentum we'd gained. Within the last half year, I've surprised myself by beginning to entertain the notion, but I have the luxury of time to decide. I want to see what the needs of the town are, whether there's somebody else I can support. There's also a very annoying part about it: having these distractions come up. I'll just see personally what's going on in my own life. I've been able to compose, but sometimes I wonder would I be able to do more with my musical career ifI wasn't a little handicapped. Z: Define your personal philosophy in a sentence or two. PB: As you can tell, I'm not good at brevity [laughs]. But here goes: I wish people would think of politics as dialogue and applied philosophy rather than back-room deals. But it's where you take all your ideas and ideals about life and human society and put them into play. You'll never have everybody agree—you always want diversity. Things are more healthy when things are diverse—like soil. I think the same thing in the body politic. Get involved, that's where the juice of life is. Barry Scholl is editor of Utah Outdoors Magazine and a regular contributor to The Zephyr. He lives in Salt Lake City. CANYONLANDS REALTY 131 N. Main St. P.O. Box 400 Moab, UT 84532 Office: (435) 259-7870 Fax: 259-7294 { 4 www.canyonlands.net Lenore Beeson: 259-9419 Dave Bierschied: 259-8217 Most of the businesses in our town are family-owned. That's important. Any town will be more attractive to visitors if they maintain their unique quality. Over time, I'm not sure we can maintain that. I am cautious about something I think is a danger in the long run—having businesses owned by people who don't live in town. [On the other hand] the Best Western is owned by people in Salt Lake and the manager lives in another town, but they're very good citizens. I support entirely the business community and the need to make money. But I wouldn't want to see this town's soul given over to the dollar. I'm sure there are very anti-commercial people who say it's happened already. We do get 2.5 million visitors per year and of course they require services. As long as there's a balance things can coexist. We are trying to preserve agricultural land in town. One of the ironies is some of the folks who are trying to convert agricultural lands to something that is more commercially viable. We're trying to preserve some agricultural lands here, particularly green and open space. Z: Are Americans really as turned off by politics as opinion surveys suggest? PB: I'm not a politician, butI guess I am as long as I'm mayor [laughs]. Politics is ultimately a good calling. It's where we discuss the philosophy of what human rights are, what the social contract is. It's potentially a very interesting play. I think everyone should be turned on by it. I don't understand why only 50% of people vote. We're preserving the character of our community and also the characters of our community. People are coming together who love the place. If you took a community where people were fighting, you might find one thing they all agreed upon passionately. That's how you identify common ground. In LET US GIVE YOU THE BUSINESS! BIG OR SMALL WE DO IT ALL. Agape Floral MLS #3222 $26,500 Desert MLS #3314 $29,000 Dogs Honest Ozzie's Cafe MLS #3263 $395,000 The Rio Restaurant & Bar MLS #3122 $625,000 JR's 10 Unit Motel MLS #8198 — $750,000 Commercial Bldg. Moab MLS #3052 $199,000 Commercial Bldg. Green River MLS #3242 $350,000 Commercial Land Moab MLS #2423 663,390 CALL DAVE, LENORE. SANDY OR MARY AT 435-259-7870 OR 800-350-860]. YOU CAN ALSO VISIT US ON THE NET AT WWW.CANYONLANDS.NET. his new book The Good City and the Good Life, Kemmis gets into the idea that it's the responsibility of the people to get involved. There's too much expectation that the government is going to do things for you. With federal lands,I always try to point out that they belong to us. This anti-government thing is full of shit. Government is us. Very few people are in favor of anarchy. The key is not about how our leaders need to do this. It's not a top-down thing. It's a bottom-up thing. Citizens need to realize the power of listening and speaking to people who have different views. The power to make things happen by forming partnerships. With his-""deep trademark voice that sounds as if he swallowed a distant thunderstorm," (Boulder Weekly),Greg Brown "is a master storyteller, [who] has a way of making an audience feel like they're sitting around in his kitchen waiting for a big pot of chili to boil while swapping stories and songs." He writes powerful, intimate songs, "full of unforgettable images and well-lit snapshots of the human condition"'(Stereo Review). In his live shows he takes the humor, warmth and insights of his recordings and multiplies them exponentially, as he improvises on his lyrics, music and stories like a jazzman improvises on a melody. Two of his fourteen CDs have won indie awards. His latest disc, Slant 6 Mind -- a transcendental hillbilly beatnik jive tent-meeting -- has earned Greg another collection of rave reviews. Gree Brown ...with Steve Forbert Thursday, October 5th, 7:30 PM At the Avalon Theatre, 645 Main St in Grand Jct $20.00 Reserved For more information: 970.243.TIXS (8497) www.sandstoneconcerts.com |