Speakers at Capital City Revitalization Zone public hearings included representatives of several potentially affected organizations: the Convention Center, Utah Symphony, commerce chambers, the Buddhist temple, UMOCA, a former mayor, small businesses, etc.
One group was conspicuous by its absence. The LDS Church is one of the city’s biggest landowners. It owns, has developed (in a similar previous spirit of revitalization), or has implicitly acknowledged considering developing four of seven city blocks forming a “horseshoe” around the proposed revitalization zone. As such, the church should proactively share its stance and answer many natural questions.
Is the church still “pleased” with the direction the plans are taking? What is its position on the proposed tax increase’s impact on the poor, widows and the fatherless, the homeless and other disproportionately affected groups? Does the church, which donated the land for Abravanel Hall, think it should be renovated or rebuilt? What is its view on using public funds to create more bars downtown? What is its position — as a frequent advocate for religious freedom — on how the Salt Lake Buddhist temple and Japanese Church of Christ’s freedoms should be addressed? Why — in contrast with its previous development of City Creek — is the church not taking a more active or visible role now?
The advice of the LDS Church’s legal counsel given the proliferating lawsuits over its use of tithe payer funds to pay for City Creek might explain its silent invisibility. However, “sharing is caring,” and sharing with its Salt Lake City neighbors the church’s stance on the revitalization zone would be an easy way for the church to show its Salt Lake City neighbors that kind of love. Better still would be for the untaxed church to reach into its very deep pockets again to cover its fair share and remove a burden from its tax-paying neighbors.
Scott Johnson, Sandy