This is an archived article that was published on sltrib.com in 2017, and information in the article may be outdated. It is provided only for personal research purposes and may not be reprinted.
As a proud Utah environmentalist I like to think of outcomes. The outdoor equipment trade show leaving will hurt, not help, the acceptance of Bears Ears National Monument. The trade show has been a powerful force moving Utah closer to a respect for the environment and open spaces. As the show cuts and runs, it will leave Utah swinging back to even more ultraconservative land policies. It is sad because most of this fracas is over a place with little mining, cattle or other exploitable resources. Now Utah's environmental community will go it alone and the monument is really threatened. Traditional Utah will lose a nice dose of tourism.
Ted Wilson
Salt Lake City