Two moving targets that our editorial writers took a shot at today. Further developments only make our points stronger.

- Digging a hole: Firings smack of ugly payback - Salt Lake Tribune Editorial

To an archaeologist, context is everything.
In order to determine the meaning, use or origin of an ancient artifact, the key is to know where it was found, how far below the surface and in the company of what other tools, religious objects or simple trash. It can be long and laborious work.
Puzzling out the real reason why the state archaeologist and his two assistants were fired Tuesday, supposedly for budget reasons alone, is also a matter of setting the event in context. But it doesn’t take a lot of digging to see that the lamentable action had very little to do with payroll and everything to do with payback. ...
... It is just another in a series of examples — context, again — leading to the conclusion that the desire to pave every square inch of the Wasatch Front as soon as possible has far too much influence in our state government. Other artifacts in this lamentable dig include past decisions to cut funding for the Utah Department of Environmental Quality, even in years when the state was running a budget surplus, and knee-jerk objections to more federally protected wilderness, even when county officials are part of the process.
State officials can deny it all they want. The trail they have left tells the tale.

Related:
- Governor defends firings - Robert Gehrke, The Salt Lake Tribune
Gov. Gary Herbert defended the firing of three state archaeologists Thursday, saying their dismissal was due solely to government downsizing and not controversial projects the archaeologists had been drawn into. ...

- Why not Sam?: Granto an obvious choice at DABC - Salt Lake Tribune Editorial

Mormon. Small businessman with long experience in the food industry. Current chairman of the Utah Alcoholic Beverage Control Commission.
If you were writing a resume for a candidate to be executive director of the Department of Alcoholic Beverage Control, this one would look pretty good. It happens to belong to Sam Granato, and it sums up in a few words why he would be a good fit for the job.
The current director, Dennis Kellen, is expected to announce his retirement soon. When he does, Granato should be high on Gov. Gary Herbert’s list of prospects.
If he’s not, it will be because of politics. ...
... Granato has been a vigorous opponent of the Legislature’s ill-conceived cuts to the DABC budget. He particularly objected to the prospect of closing profitable state liquor stores, which are cash cows for state and local government budgets, and laying off a hundred or so employees during an economic recession.
Granato made the simple but obvious case that closing profitable stores was bad business. It could reduce state revenues by inconveniencing customers, and putting people out of work would contribute to local unemployment. His arguments made prohibitionist legislators look silly. ...

Related:
- Liquor's dance card is full - Dawn House, The Salt Lake Tribune

Two years after Utah did away with the state’s one-of-a-kind private club memberships, the severe shortage of liquor licenses has in effect created a moratorium of up to two years on adding bars that serve hard liquor.
On Thursday, liquor-control commissioners turned away 15 applicants from Salt Lake, Summit, Weber, Carbon, Unitah, and Grand counties because the state has run out of club licenses.
“Our hands are tied,” said commission Chairman Sam Granato, whose four-year term ended Thursday. “What gets to me is the lost opportunity to hire more people and see our economy thrive.” ...