The headline "As pressure mounts, Diehl Quits UTA Board" (Tribune, May 26) should have read: Utah — Politics as usual!

Utah Transit Authority Board member Terry Diehl, a land developer, admits that he is interested in developing land around transit stops, admits to buying land in Draper around a commuter-rail station that is considered "inside information."

Big surprise — a board member using insider information to buy up land in order to make big money at taxpayer expense. In Utah this is considered business as usual, since he is rewarded by the UTA Board Chairman Greg Hughes, who is also a Utah state legislator, by exempting him from the normal restrictions that ban former board members from doing business with the agency for at least a year.

Forget being prosecuted for illegal activities, how about even a good scolding? No, Hughes, a seasoned Utah politician says, "We feel he needs to move on."

As for the rest of the UTA Board: "several tearful board members came and offered hugs and thanks to Diehl."

It reminds me of a tearful goodbye to a Utah political leader who resigned after his hot-tubbing escapade with an underage girl was revealed.

Robert Hoff

West Jordan