Utah Senators Ignoring Letter Campaign
January 13th, 2008
Senators Hatch and Bennett ignoring letters by Utah residents to save popular bar from federal emminent domain.
by Richard Markosian
A federal judge has ordered Port O'Call yesterday to vacate their building by March 15, 2009.
The GSA (Government Services Administration) is expanding the Federal courthouse over arguably Utah's most popular bar in one of Downtown Salt Lake City's last historic standing buildings: The Shubrick Building.
There is an empty parking lot across the street, as well as many other sites that would not affect the local economy in such a harmful manner. So why not build across the street on a site that was supposed to be developed shortly after the Hotel New House was demolished in 1982?
Utah Stories has received the opinions of several long-time residents and they agree that it is likely because the property is owned by Earl Holding: who donates a significant amount to both Hatch and Bennett's campaigns. Despite many letters written to the Senators, neither has publicly spoken about the decision which will put over 100 Port O'Call employees out of work during a economic recession.
Matthew Hernandez said after writing the both Senators, "I was completely ignored by Hatch and sent a generic form letter by Bennett's office." Citizen activists have rallied support for their cause and have sent many letters to both Senator's offices. But neither Senator has spoken publicly about the issue nor have any replies been made by either Senator.
