Open letter to Gov. Spencer Cox:
I am an undergraduate at Utah Valley University studying public relations and communications and I am an aspiring environmental activist. I am a concerned citizen with questions regarding your “Stand for the Land” lawsuit against the federal government. It was not until after my environmental class discussed the lawsuit that I noticed all the billboards and other advertisements enticing people to join the cause. But vital information is lacking. The project states that if the lawsuit is successful there will be a greater analysis of managing the lands where the money would be allocated. However, this is misleading to the public, and we deserve to know what the potential impacts this lawsuit will entail before the land is awarded to the state of Utah.
Utah has discussed the economic injuries from the federal government’s control of 70% of its land, including missed revenue from mineral development, grazing fees, timber sales, and oil drilling missing out on even more money than the $225 million in royalties that will be awarded Utah from these developments. The public deserves to know what the priorities are when it comes to acquiring this land. It is stated that the state would continue to conserve, preserve and protect the land. But what are the long-term goals of acquiring this property 5 years from now, 10, or even 20 years from now? How will you prevent future lawmakers from making it easy to buy and develop the land all while considering Utah’s resources and infrastructure problems that already exist? What will benefit the residents of Utah besides being able to continue to use it recreationally? If the state of Utah will have more money coming into the state, how will those funds be used to develop already growing cities with limited resources like road infrastructures in Utah County?
The lawsuit says to stand with Utah for our lands, but will it be “our land,” or will this be a ruse to continue to make the rich richer at the expense of the working class here in Utah? There has been a great deal of money already used with advertisements and the lawsuit, but I can’t help but look at all of the potential loopholes in acquiring this land: Is it really for the people or for some other financial gain like being in control of hundreds of drilling and mining sites that are located on unappropriated BLM land?
Until we have concrete answers and promises on managing the land, I do not think it is a good plan to acquire the land for the state’s purposes.
Staci Gonzalez, Eagle Mountain
