Latest news with #ChrisWharton
Yahoo
07-05-2025
- Politics
- Yahoo
Salt Lake City issues new Pride flag to get around Utah ban
The Salt Lake City Council has adopted three new Pride flags to circumvent Utah's ban on flying such flags at public schools, universities and government buildings. Council members approved the measure via ordinance during a formal meeting on Tuesday. The three new city flags include: The Sego Celebration Flag, representing Juneteenth, the Sego Belonging Flag, representing LGBT+ residents and the Sego Visibility Flag, representing transgender rights. The sego lily, the city's most recognized emblem, is in the upper corner of the designs. The flags were chosen because versions of them had already been displayed at City Hall. They'll fly alongside the Utah and American flags. 'Our City flags are powerful symbols representing Salt Lake City's values,' said Salt Lake City Mayor Erin Mendenhall, a Democrat. 'I want all Salt Lakers to look up at these flags and be reminded that we value diversity, equity and inclusion—leaving no doubt that we are united as a city and people, moving forward together.' The Utah State Capitol in Salt Lake City. Lawmakers had passed legislation narrowing the types of flags that can be displayed on government property (Copyright 2023 The Associated Press. All rights reserved) Earlier this year, Utah state lawmakers passed House Bill 77, legislation that narrowed the types of flags that can be displayed on government property, leading the council members to adopt the proposal. 'Like other civic symbols, these flags reflect our shared humanity and the values that help everyone feel they belong—no matter their background, orientation or beliefs,' said Salt Lake City Council Chair Chris Wharton. 'While the state has restricted which flags public buildings can fly, I'm glad we can still uphold our community's values within the law.' In a statement on House Bill 77's passage, the American Civil Liberties Union said in opposition: 'This isn't about flags but about othering and erasing LGBTQ+ people from public life... Today, it's Pride flags. Tomorrow, it very well could be broader restrictions on speech, education, or expression for even more Utahns.' The state law was expected to go into effect Wednesday. If violated, officials can impose a $500 fine per day on state or local government buildings that fly unauthorized banners. Authorized flags include the state flag and military flag. There is a short list of exceptions.
The Independent
07-05-2025
- Politics
- The Independent
Salt Lake City issues new Pride flag to get around Utah ban
The Salt Lake City Council has adopted three new Pride flags to circumvent Utah 's ban on flying such flags at public schools, universities and government buildings. Council members approved the measure via ordinance during a formal meeting on Tuesday. The three new city flags include: The Sego Celebration Flag, representing Juneteenth, the Sego Belonging Flag, representing LGBT+ residents and the Sego Visibility Flag, representing transgender rights. The sego lily, the city's most recognized emblem, is in the upper corner of the designs. The flags were chosen because versions of them had already been displayed at City Hall. They'll fly alongside the Utah and American flags. 'Our City flags are powerful symbols representing Salt Lake City's values,' said Salt Lake City Mayor Erin Mendenhall, a Democrat. 'I want all Salt Lakers to look up at these flags and be reminded that we value diversity, equity and inclusion—leaving no doubt that we are united as a city and people, moving forward together.' Earlier this year, Utah state lawmakers passed House Bill 77, legislation that narrowed the types of flags that can be displayed on government property, leading the council members to adopt the proposal. 'Like other civic symbols, these flags reflect our shared humanity and the values that help everyone feel they belong—no matter their background, orientation or beliefs,' said Salt Lake City Council Chair Chris Wharton. 'While the state has restricted which flags public buildings can fly, I'm glad we can still uphold our community's values within the law.' In a statement on House Bill 77's passage, the American Civil Liberties Union said in opposition: 'This isn't about flags but about othering and erasing LGBTQ+ people from public life... Today, it's Pride flags. Tomorrow, it very well could be broader restrictions on speech, education, or expression for even more Utahns.' The state law was expected to go into effect Wednesday. If violated, officials can impose a $500 fine per day on state or local government buildings that fly unauthorized banners. Authorized flags include the state flag and military flag. There is a short list of exceptions.
Axios
20-03-2025
- Politics
- Axios
Four ways the Utah Legislature targeted Salt Lake City
State lawmakers took aim at Salt Lake City during this year's legislative session, weighing in on how the city designs its streets and what flags are allowed in government buildings. The big picture: State legislatures across the nation have increasingly proposed bills to exert control over local governments on public safety, education and homelessness. What they're saying: Salt Lake City Council Chair Chris Wharton said the same is true for Utah's capital. "This was definitely the most difficult session that I've been involved with in my time on the council," Wharton, who was elected in 2017, told Axios. He noted voters expect local and state leaders to solve problems and collaborate across the aisle, known as the "Utah way," rather than try to "score political points." "I hope that we don't lose sight of that here in Utah," he said. Here are four bills that could have a substantial impact on Salt Lake City: 🛣️ Street planning: Salt Lake City must obtain state approval for a mobility plan before moving forward with projects that could permanently reduce vehicle capacity on a collector or arterial highway. Why it matters: The bill could hinder Salt Lake City's goals to create more bike- and pedestrian-friendly streets. 🚓 Public safety: By July 1, Salt Lake City must enter into a public agreement with the Utah Department of Public Safety to address crime. The bill would also allow the state to use eminent domain on unincorporated, Salt Lake City-owned property to build a new homeless services facility. 🏳️🌈 Pride flag displays: Pride flags are prohibited from being displayed in classrooms and government buildings. 🧰 Collective bargaining: Labor unions that represent teachers, firefighters, police officers and other public employees will be banned from collective bargaining, after Gov. Spencer Cox signed HB 267 into law in February.
Yahoo
05-02-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
Salt Lake City votes to allow new library union, but will it be held up by proposed law?
Librarians in Salt Lake City have been given the final clearance to unionize, marking a first for the state. Members of the Salt Lake City Council voted unanimously Tuesday night to approve a resolution that creates a collective bargaining structure process for Salt Lake City Library employees. A group of employees who eagerly watched from the gallery applauded after the vote. But city leaders and union officials both agree that a bill addressing unions in the public sector moving through the Utah Legislature could muddle its implementation. 'It's certainly going to complicate things depending on which version of that bill passes,' Salt Lake City Council Chairman Chris Wharton told before the vote. City librarians announced their intent to unionize in April 2023, citing 'long-standing issues' tied to the job, including safety concerns and below-average wages. It was, at the time, the largest branch of city employees not represented by a union. Their request sparked a long process that ended with the Salt Lake City Public Library System Board of Directors voting in December to approve a resolution to allow employees to unionize. The board approved an amended version last week to reflect changes tied to the city government's involvement in the process. While the city's public library system sets its policies and operations separately from the rest of the city government, the City Council approves the system's budget and tax rate requests. It meant that city leaders were required to sign off on the measure, which is what Tuesday's resolution vote accomplished. In a statement before the vote, Jerry Philpott, president of the American Federation of State, County and Municipal Employees Local 1004, called the measure a long time coming. 'We are so excited to finalize the union recognition process and move forward with a respectful and collaborative relationship with management that will benefit everyone in the library system,' he said. However, it will take time for librarians to formally unionize, and a potential new state law could make it difficult to implement. Salt Lake City doesn't expect the library collective bargaining agreement to take effect until the 2027 fiscal year at the earliest, based on an estimate of how long it will take for librarians to certify a unionization vote and other formalities yet to be finalized, according to a memo to the City Council. Meanwhile, state leaders are still considering HB267, a bill that would limit unions within public entities, including a ban on public employers from entering into collective bargaining contracts. The bill cleared the Utah House of Representatives with a 42-32 vote on Jan. 27 before a Senate committee voted to advance it with a narrow 4-3 vote two days later. It was slated to be voted by the full Senate body on Friday, but it was held without a vote as it goes through possible revisions. Utah Senate President Stuart Adams, R-Layton, told reporters Monday that lawmakers were still sorting out potential revisions before it goes to a full Senate vote. If approved, it would go into effect on July 1 — barring any future holdups. It's gained ire from teachers' and first responders' unions, as well as other impacted unions like the American Federation of State, County and Municipal Employees. Philpott added that the organization is still working to prevent the bill from going into law. 'It would be devastating for so much time and effort to be erased with the swipe of a pen,' he said. Salt Lake City Mayor Erin Mendenhall has also called on the Utah Legislature to vote against the bill. She referenced it during her State of the City address last week, saying that it wouldn't 'strip away my commitment to treating our workers fairly, to competitive compensation or to equitable benefits.' Wharton said Tuesday that the City Council is tracking to see how everything plays out, but its members feel the same as the mayor. He pointed out Tuesday that a new law could be put to the test with the city's upcoming contract negotiations with police officers this year, while other departments aren't up for new contracts until future fiscal years. 'We'll follow the law — whatever law the Legislature passes,' he said. 'But we'll also continue to work with our representative employees and our labor unions to try to make sure that we're doing the best we can for working families.'
