Gerrymander? Us? Grrrr.

You're partially right, Strawbud. But the vote on the initiative was really close. 

This is from November of 2018. --- Proposition 4, the ballot initiative creating an independent redistricting commission as a stopgap against what's known as gerrymandering by lawmakers, won voter approval by less than 1 percentage point.

The proposition called Better Boundaries had 512,146 "For" votes compared to 505,144 against when counties reported their final canvasses Tuesday afternoon. The 7,002 vote-difference is a represents a 0.68 percentage point victory.

From the church-owned paper on Saturday. https://www.deseret.com/2021/11/6/22766845/utah-lawmakers-released-their...

Utahns late Friday night got their first glimpse of a set of proposed maps that the Utah Legislature is slated to vote on next week in a special session to determine the boundaries of Utah’s political districts for the next decade.

The Republican-controlled Legislative Redistricting Committee released the maps around 10 p.m. Friday night, giving the public roughly three days — mostly over a weekend — to study the maps before the Utah Legislature convenes in a special session on Tuesday. A public hearing is set for Monday.

Legislators’ proposal for the most high-profile congressional map includes a new split down the east side of the Democratic stronghold of Utah’s capital, Salt Lake City. If lawmakers approve the proposed map, Salt Lake County will be split into four congressional districts.

The proposed congressional map would also split the Salt Lake County areas of Sugar House, Millcreek, Murray and Holladay into four different congressional districts. Burgeoning democratic areas including Sandy and Draper would be grouped into the same congressional district as conservative strongholds including Provo and Orem.

The legislative map proposals do not mirror the maps proposed by a separate body, the Utah Independent Redistricting Commission, which presented its recommendations Monday after spending hundreds of hours traveling the state to take Utahns’ input and live streaming their map drawing on YouTube.

While presenting its maps to legislators, members of the independent commission sought to show lawmakers how their maps were drawn in a fair, data-based process that was insulated from political bias.

But Sen. Scott Sandall, R-Tremonton, one of the Legislative Redistricting Committee’s chairmen, earlier this week questioned whether the commission was actually unbiased when it drew its maps. He asserted “no one is immune” to political bias whenever “we put a line on a map.”

“After listening to Utahns and touring the state, Rep. (Paul) Ray and I created maps that we believe incorporate the interests of all Utahns,” Sandall said in a prepared statement issued late Friday along with the maps. “The congressional map we propose has all four delegates representing both urban and rural parts of the state. Rural Utah is the reason there is food, water and energy in urban areas of the state. We are one Utah, and believe both urban and rural interests should be represented in Washington, D.C. by the entire federal delegation.”

Ray, R-Clearfield, the committee’s House chairman, said in a prepared statement the Legislature “has the constitutional responsibility to divide the state into electoral districts.”

“Sen. Sandall and I have worked tirelessly to come up with boundaries that best represent the diverse interests of the people we were elected to represent,” Ray said. “I am grateful for the feedback we received directly from the local communities and look forward to discussing our maps with the committee and full Legislature.”

Thinking about this on a poster with the words "He is watching." 

I was quite civil in my comments e-mailed to the commission through Better Boundaries Utah last night. 

"When things like this happen, by people (legislators) who pass themselves off as patriotic Americans, yet blatantly violate the oath they swore to uphold, I go back to the thousands of souls who valiantly fought on the beaches of Normandy, and think about the sacrifice they made to preserve our democracy and protect our country. I wonder how these souls, who sacrificed THEIR LIVES, would feel after seeing this perverted display of undemocratic principles. I could not be more disgusted, or ashamed, of the people elected to represent our state. Governor Cox, grow a pair, and veto this when it comes to your desk. Listen to the voices of the PEOPLE. Please."

Quite the hearing. We got 90 seconds to speak. Utah business leaders came out against the map https://www.ksl.com/article/50279002/utah-business-community-leaders-cal... the map's online comment capability went down Monday afternoon. Full room, 2 overflow rooms and tons of folks listening in online. The energy was great, 99% against, but probably falling on deaf ears. 

I've really hesitated posting this, but I think it's pretty f'in funny that I may be the first person to testify to the schmuck legislators at the Utah State Capitol with a "Stealie" on their face. It's a "Make America Grateful Again" mask someone sent me for Christmas. We are everywhere mo-fos.  

BTW, the shit's still hitting the fan on the maps. They've been approved, and screwed Salt Lake over, but here comes the calvary with lawsuits and other efforts.  

Thanks friends. Protest tonight at 6 outside the Capitol. 52 degrees now at 4 PM. Hmmm. Could be a slim crowd, so I better go. 

Here's a couple of links for those still interested. An interesting point -  https://twitter.com/tyrellaagard

Great article by Andy Larsen. Hopefully the link works for non-subscribers. https://www.sltrib.com/opinion/2021/11/10/andy-larsen-utahs/

This is so egregious, even by Utah standards. Hopefully it riles up the demos. 

In depth story in the alternative weekly just released today. https://www.cityweekly.net/utah/dividing-lines/Content?oid=17536241

Mellow 45 minute rally last night in front of the Capitol. Hastily called, about 200 people there in the dark, and chilly air. Speakers quoting mormon scripture and hymns at Gov. Cox to "Do right and let the consequences follow."  Tried to call his office on this holiday to leave a comment and his message machine isn't even on. Speakers suggesting registering as Republicans so we can vote in their closed primaries. Did that 5 years ago. 

Here's where the 4 statewide districts converge, a 10-12 block area of Salt Lake County (900 east to about 2100 East on 3900 South for those who know SLC). Should be easy to pull together a protest march, or a "Four District Fun Run" to benefit the food bank or something.   

For perspective, here's a bird's eye view of the state final map. They moved San Juan County (Bears Ears area) to District 3. The room erupted in laughter when the chair said some people wanted Chris Stewart as their rep. "Well, maybe not you people."  Little dots are locations of people who had commented on the state's site at the time. 

Thanks for your comments and interest folks. This is done, and demos in Utah are screwed again. The mormon taliban has it's way. 

Cue Todd Snider....https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=F5hlil50vi4

Now you folks in southern California get to deal with the clowns. https://www.ksl.com/article/50281763/power-play-pits-rural-utah-concerns...