Hope all is well! Just wanted to flag for you that today, in spite of the government just reopening on Monday following the shutdown, the BLM started the 30-day protest period for a March 25-26 lease sale that includes 217,476 acres of public land in Utah . Some of Utah’s most beloved landscapes, including Hovenweep & Canyons of the Ancients National Monuments, are threatened by proposed leases; additionally, nearly 80 percent of the acres to be included in the sale were deferred in December due to a court decision, which affirmed that BLM is legally required to provide the public a meaningful opportunity to provide input on decisions made about how our public lands are used and managed. Because of the government shutdown, BLM only had 6 business days to review, evaluate, and respond to comments from the public, before announcing this protest period. Below, you will find a comment from a local stakeholder on these proposed leases and threats to nearby public lands.
Just today, Colorado College released their annual poll which showed that Utahns overwhelmingly support the protecting the outdoors.
I would be happy to keep you in the loop on this or connect you to folks who can comment on this-- please let me know if you're interested!
Thanks,
Liz
Stakeholder Quote
Recreation outfitters – whose businesses depend on timely permitting from the BLM – were in limbo for weeks on end, while oil and gas operators – also dependent on government-issued permits – were experiencing no delays because their permit managers were on the job.
And even though the shutdown has passed, the BLM continues to prioritize oil and gas leasing over recreation. They are moving full speed ahead with the planned March oil and gas lease sale, with almost no opportunity for comment from local communities. Again the BLM is prioritizing oil companies over communities.
—Ashley Korenblat, CEO Western Spirit Cycling
=======================
EXCLUSIVE: Utah GOP rep. pulverizes prof who called 15-week abortion limit 'barbaric'
Campus Reform encourages outlets to use its original content, provided that the outlets properly cite the information. If you have questions, comments, or concerns about proper attribution, please email contact@campusreform.org.
It’s February, “A Month of Love”... Last newsletter, we teased about a new mural project. Today, we’re giving you the details of a (we think) pretty unique twist you’ll really LOVE... READ MORE
LISTEN HERE:
In Episode 11 of the Nine Rails Arts Podcast, Sara Toliver, CEO & President of Visit Ogden; and Kim Bowsher, Director of Ogden Downtown Alliance, sit down to discuss the events surrounding the May 10, 2019 Transcontinental Railroad Sesquicentennial Golden Spike Celebration.… MORE
ART/CREATIVE CALENDAR
Feb 1: First Friday Art Stroll
Feb 1: Union Station - Yeti Bash
Feb 2: OSBA - Jessica Lange Dance
Feb 8: ECAC - Acrylic Paint Night
with Jean Hampton
Feb 13: Grease Sing-A-Long
Feb 14: OSBA - My Fair Lady
in Concert
Feb 15-17: Peery’s Egyptian -
Banff Centre Mountain Film Fest
The Monarch is teaming up with The Cupcake Shoppe and Bakery for a contest to win a box of delectable #ValentinesDay cupcakes. The contest ends on February 7th, click here for the rules. Good luck!
We're now hosting The Banyan Collective's First Friday van sessions every month inside our building. Join us this Friday at 8pm to hear the Snarlin' Yarns and get a sneak peek inside our lobby space… MORE
O1ARTS INITIATIVES
Ogden First is a non-profit (501c3) corporation established to create and deliver arts programming, in all forms, in the context of adaptive reuse of historic or iconic spaces, organizing venues where artists can create, learn, perform and exhibit, amplified by our city’s architectural legacy.
PLATFORMS
Formerly a vacant lot, now a vibrant, community-oriented performance and exhibition venue
... MORE
PANES
Converting vacant storefronts into temporary galleries, revitalizing pedestrian thoroughfares into vibrant cultural hubs ... MORE
WALLS
Uniting artists and neighborhoods through a collaborative process of creating art that transforms public spaces and lives. ... MORE
XIBIT
Coming June 2019, a 4000+ square foot “flexhibition” space for contemporary visual and performing art... MORE
