"There ain't no there, there," Bill Becker, the Salt Lake City mayor's Tony award-winning brother told the City Council recently. "Except for the lobby, there are none of the original elements."
Becker's sober critique came in response to Councilman Luke Garrott, who called it a "shame" not to include the Utah Theater in the $81.5 million Broadway plan.
Becker did say, emphatically, that Salt Lake City is underserved for Broadway options and dismissed arts groups asserting otherwise as "naysayers" with "an ax to grind."
Regarding location, Becker prefers other downtown options over the Utah Theater. Building there, he added, would not even qualify for historic tax credits.
"It may be a re-creation but that's not historic preservation," Becker said. "That extraordinary entrance evokes 1918, but the rest has been stripped to its walls, sadly."
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Paying to play in politics: Christine Meeker sat politely as the Salt Lake City Council prepared to formally appoint her city recorder. A few short questions, and it would be done.
Then, it was freshman Councilman J.T. Martin's turn. "I really questioned your judgment when you accepted my application to run for office," he deadpanned.
Rattled, Meeker managed a nervous laugh. "You paid me money," she explained. "I had no choice."
In other words, Councilman Eric Jergensen said, "in her heart she knew better, but the law required it."
Martin, whose dry wit and clumsy self-deprecation often are on display, then asked how much money Meeker had in petty cash.
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Crater goes green in Sugar House - sort of: The Salt Lake City Planning Commission preached for nearly a year about the importance of making developer Craig Mecham's Sugar House project energy efficient.
Two weeks ago, the commission tentatively called for "silver" status of LEED (Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design) for the mixed-use mega-development at 2100 South and Highland Drive.
But moments before the latest vote approving the project, silver was scaled back to basic LEED certification, without explanation.
Buzzing in the aisle, seconds later, members of Mecham's camp mused over their good fortune.
"If that's the case," Mecham smiled, "that's no problem."
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