Skybridge Saves LDS Faithful From Perils of Modern Culture updated April 20th, 2008
Skybridge passes City Council 6-1, saving Mormons from undue harm from outside economic interests and potential hazards of street life.
Members of the L.D.S Church, (who wish for the wonderful protection, the Church can provide for their souls) can now breath a sigh of relief with the passage of the downtown Salt Lake City skybridge. The City Creek Center skybridge has passed the Salt Lake City Council by a margin of 6 to 1. The skybridge will connect the two ends of the City Creek Center development, which is being financed by the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints.
Had the skybridge not been passed, Main Street (which is the one public street in the development, the other two reopened streets, Richard's Street and Regence Street, will remain private) could have experienced a rejuvenation and revitalization unlike what downtown Salt Lake City has seen since the 1950s. This could have made the Main Street and downtown Salt Lake City very dangerous by offering pedestrians too many options and too much street life.
Main Street could have once again become alive with activity, offering a little something for everyone, including non-Mormons. The L.D.S leadership, however, have protected all citizens of Salt Lake City by controlling and directing traffic by means of a bridge, which will make it very clear that all shoppers should remain in the church-owned property and not venture out into uncontrolled possibly dangerous or seedy territory of Main Street. This prospect could have potentially inflicted irreversible damage to the shoppers who might venture into a restaurant or shop that isn't paying the church to be a tenant. The prospect of complete openness, could have also offered many non-Mormon owned businesses a much greater economic opportunity reminisant of the days of the great Silver Rush Salt Lake City saw in the late 1800s when the L.D.S Church last lost control over Salt Lake City's economy.
Theocratic Socialist Protection Against Alcho Pops
The Utah State Legislature has also been working hard to protect all of the unwilling victims of the date rape drug commonly known as "alcho pops." For far too long alco pops have been sold in grocery stores under unassuming lables such as "Mike's Hard Lemonade" or "Smirnoff Ice Twisted Wild Grape". However, the L.D.S Church members of the Utah State Legislature were not fooled by the fun labeling and packaging. They are all too aware that young deviant men use the "twisted" beverages to trick innocent women into gulping down the sweet flavors, only to invoke inebriation and passionate premarital sex.
Word to the Legislature--thanks for watching out for all of us by socializing yet another harmful public product. While Mormons are indeed mostly conservative free-market Republicans, they are more than willing to use the state to protect the moral values of populus. We look forward to the day when the Utah State Legislature socializes the sale of Ice Breaker gum and Pop Rocks as well; because we all are well aware of the harm these products inflict on the innocence of children. While some might be critical and call the church's involvement in public policy "overbaring" or "overprotective" or even a violation of the separation of church and state. These critics are unaware that before the Silver Rush, Salt Lake City was in face ruled under a theocracy, the pendulum is merely swinging back where it belongs.
Regarding the skybridge, Utah Stories has covered the story from the very beginning. We began by asking the downtown retailers what they thought of a bridge over Main Street. Surprisingly, they were not fond of the idea. We then interviewed then Mayor Rocky Anderson. Anderson's point being, that "Main Street should be open and available to everyone, not just those who are in the mall.".Sure, maybe in non-religious communities but not in SLC. Another ludicrous point by Anderson, that "the air-rights above a public street should not be sold to any private entity." We all know its better if the church owns not just the air rights above a public street but also the air we breath, if they wish for it! Happily, Anderson's "loony ideas" were easily defeated. A comment on our YouTube video demonstrates how ecstatic so many of the public are, that Anderson's view's were defeated:
"City council ok'd the sky bridge! Suck it Rocky Anderson!"see Youtube comments
As the skybridge voting process was moving forward, passing the Salt Lake City Planning Commission, we had difficulties in attempting to get an interview with any church leader on the issue. During numerous open-houses that CCRI and Taubman Company offered, CCRI (the profit arm of the church formed to build the City Creek Center) would always defer to Taubman to speak about the bridge. In our one short interview with Bishop H. David Burton, (presiding Bishop for the L.D.S Church) we asked Burton why, when the rest of the country is taring down their downtown skybridges, Salt Lake City is now building a downtown skybridge. Burton explains very clearly why the bridge was so "critical to the success of the overall project." Burton says that because of the "elevation problem of 40 feet, the bridge is critical." (see Burton's Interview here) We are still a little unsure why an elevation change merits a bridge, but we trust that the Church knows best.
See Other UtahStories Skybridge Stories
Why Exsisting Downtown Merchants Oppose the Skybridge
Skybridge to " short-change " Salt Lake City Residents
How the Skybridge Neglects the history of Downtown Salt Lake City
We would like to hear from you, leave your comments on the skybridge here
Or privately e-mail us your suggestions and comments to: Richard@utahstories.com
