As we reported, the Summit County Council has joined other Council members and mayors in the state to oppose President Trump’s shrinking of two national monuments.
County council member Doug Clyde says it’s because they’re all in “the outdoor business.
The Council members signed two amicus briefs filed in U.S. District Court challenging the President’s decision to reduce the Grand Staircase Escalante and Bears Ears Monuments.
Clyde said that the request to the council came last week from the office of Salt Lake Mayor Jackie Biskupski.
“We’re an outdoor community, we’re a community that relies heavily on tourism.” Clyde explained, “We’re a community where the citizens here want to take great advantage of the outdoor experiences that are available to them. We simply feel that reducing the monuments sends a bad signal to our tourist economy and also of course we’re immensely concerned about the issue of going back in there and changing the land from natural resource extractions. Having coal or uranium come into that land is in our opinion not a very prudent way to manage the land at this point.”
Although the two national monuments are in southern Utah, he said they have an impact on Summit County.
“First of all, many of the people who come here in the summer also are on their way to the national monuments.” Clyde said, “They come to Park City because we have a particular aspect to offer for our summer visitors. Then they’ll make their trip down to the national monuments. This is kind of one of those deals where we’re all in it together. I don’t care whether you’re a skier, a mountain biker, a hiker or an archeologist, who happens to be interested in the archeological sites in that area. We’re in the outdoor business, we’re in the recreation business and we need to affirm that.”
“Also the fact that all five council members are registered Democrats.” KPCW’s Leslie Thatcher added.
“Well that doesn’t hurt certainly.” Clyde replied, “Although I think there are lots of Republicans out there as well who believe and understand the importance of tourism.”
