This is an archived article that was published on sltrib.com in 2015, and information in the article may be outdated. It is provided only for personal research purposes and may not be reprinted.
Mayor Ralph Becker's son works for the privately held GREENbike rideshare program that is heavily subsidized by Salt Lake City. But the arrangement does not amount to a conflict of interest, the mayor's office said.
City Council Chairman Luke Garrott, who is seeking to oust Becker as mayor, says he's unsure whether it's a clear-cut conflict, but adds some may see it that way.
A spokesman for the mayor said Becker has taken action to ensure his separation from the rideshare program.
"Since Will [Becker] has been an employee of GREENbike, Mayor [Ralph] Becker has pointedly removed himself from the decision-making process involving any funding for the program," said Art Raymond in a prepared statement. "Mayor Becker is very sensitive to issues of real or perceived conflict of interest ..."
Originally, Becker's annual budget proposal directly appropriated money to GREENbike, but the mayor changed that after his son was hired so that any allocations would come from the city Redevelopment Agency, which he does not control.
However, in a December budget amendment, the Salt Lake City Council allocated $75,000 to GREENbike. Such amendments must be signed by the mayor.
The RDA also allocated $75,000 late in 2014. The RDA's board is made up of the City Council and its budget is not subject to the mayor's approval.
David Everitt, Becker's chief of staff, underscored that the mayor's proposed budget contained no funding for GREENbike, but "he wouldn't fight the council" on allocating funding to the rideshare.
The program was launched in 2013, with a news conference prominently featuring the mayor. To date, the popular GREENbike operation has received about $650,000 from Salt Lake City, including construction prior to its debut.
Jason Mathis, the executive director of the Downtown Alliance, said the conflict-of-interest allegations originally reported in Salt Lake City Weekly are off-target because funding from Salt Lake City goes to construction of bike stations that are owned by Salt Lake City.
GREENbike operations and salaries are paid from other revenue streams, such as corporate underwriting and user fees.
Will Becker joined GREENbike 11 months ago at a salary of $42,000, Mathis said. His title is program director. He was selected from about 50 applicants, Mathis said, and was "hands down" the best applicant. Among other things, Will Becker holds a master's degree in planning.
But Garrott said the employment of Will Becker by GREENbike could pose the appearance of conflict. "I can see some people might see it as a conflict," although technically it might not be one. "I think the details matter. I'll bet the people who were handling it were very careful."
People also may see a pattern of cronyism by the mayor, Garrott said, pointing to Becker's selection of his brother to head up a task force promoting what would become the George S. and Dolores Dore Eccles Theater on Main Street; and the appointment of Becker's former campaign manager, Matt Lyon, to the Salt Lake City Planning Commission. In December, Lyon left his position as Utah Democratic Party executive director and said he would likely work on the mayor's 2015 campaign.
Councilwoman Erin Mendenhall said it's curious the allegations are coming to light now because the council has known of Will Becker's employment all along.
Further, she said, the mayor has taken appropriate steps to ensure there would be no conflict.