What is wrong with our congressional delegation and our governor? For the most part, Utahns support Bears Ears and Grand Staircase-Escalante as they were first designated, respectively, by Obama and Clinton.
1) Trump claimed at the signing of his executive order that “you can’t go hunting, can’t go fishing, you can’t do anything. You can virtually not even walk on it,” and Deputy Secretary of Interior Kate McGregor said, “That’s exactly right, sir.” That’s just patently false. Those activities are allowed and managed by the state.
2) A 2023 Deseret News/Hinkley Institute of Politics poll found that roughly 42% of Utah residents supported keeping Bears Ears its original size, compared to just 26% who opposed.
3) A New Bridge Survey of 500 Utah voters in December indicated that support for the two monuments has increased: 65% say they support keeping existing monuments their current size, with 51% saying they “definitely support” it. And across party lines; 54% of Republicans; 72% of independents; 96% of Democrats.
Why is this nonsense happening?
Therus C. Kolff, Salt Lake City