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In voicing her opposition to Initiative One a couple of weeks ago, Governor Olene Walker said she wasn’t “telling anyone how to vote, but I am,” she said, “asking them to study it.”
In one sense, KSL agrees with the Governor: voters ought to study the Initiative. And as they do, we’re convinced they’ll see the value of establishing a $150 million fund to preserve open space, improve air and water quality, and encourage quality growth throughout Utah.
If such a significant preservation effort isn’t undertaken now, when will it be? And with another million citizens expected by 2020, with their many development demands, what will be left to protect?
Of course, the preservation of vital open space, technically, could be put off with the wistful hope state lawmakers will adequately fund conservation efforts such as the already established LeRay McAllister Fund. However, they proved their unwillingness to do that during last winter’s legislative session. Hence, Initiative One! Now, lawmakers are being bypassed and the people, directly, will have a say.
In KSL’s view, it is a timely, well-structured measure that will benefit the citizens of Utah for generations to come. So study it, as Governor Walker suggests, then cast your vote to approve Initiative One: the Utah Clean Water, Quality Growth and Open Space Initiative.
