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Off the Agenda: Jenny Wilson puts Salt Lake City mayoral campaign into high gear
This is an archived article that was published on sltrib.com in 2007, and information in the article may be outdated. It is provided only for personal research purposes and may not be reprinted.

Jenny Wilson is nothing if not visible in her bid for Salt Lake City mayor.

On Sunday, the Democratic county councilwoman plunged into the latest Real Salt Lake controversy. With kids playing soccer in the background, Wilson called on state leaders to refuse the $35 million payment to RSL for a Sandy stadium without the "unconditional" release of $7.5 million for a youth sports complex in northwest Salt Lake City.

"The state gave away the store to Real," Wilson said in a news release. "This process has been rushed, and Real has not operated in good faith."

Wilson suggested the team be given two weeks to honor its $7.5 million pledge.

"If it doesn't happen," she said, "let's walk away from the deal and use the funding for a community purpose."

RSL wants revenue from parking and concessions, control of naming rights and land for a soccer academy at the Rose Park site.

City leaders say the team always has represented the payment as a donation in return for public funding for the $110 million stadium project.

Wilson even released county minutes and documents that show RSL pledged to make a $7.5 million "contribution" toward the youth fields.

Mayoral candidates Nancy Saxton and Ralph Becker also have expressed angst over RSL's "demands."

On Earth Day, Wilson unveiled her environmental agenda, which includes expanding the city's solar, wind and green-building incentive programs. She also hopes to expand recycling for businesses and

further reduce greenhouse-gas emissions.

Right back at you

It may not make NPR or Fox News, but a fledgling Web site hopes to serve Rocky Anderson some of his own medicine.

At www.impeachrocky.com, the Salt Lake City mayor is shown at a podium, crossed out "Ghostbusters" style with a large red line.

"The time has come to stop the embarrassment," the "still-under-construction" site says. For several months, Anderson has made waves by calling for the impeachment of President Bush and of Vice President Dick Cheney.

For the true junkies, or hopelessly bored, the site says a message board is coming soon.

* Have a tip? Contact DEREK P. JENSEN at djensen@sltrib. com, 801-257-8785Â; CATHY MCKITRICK at cmckitrick @sltrib.com, 801-257-8778; ROSEMARY WINTERS at rwinters@sltrib.com, 257-8737; KRISTEN MOULTON at kmoulton@sltrib.com, 831-0467; STEVE GEHRKE at sgehrke@sltrib.com, 257-8717.

Lashes out at troubled pro soccer stadium deal
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