The Legislature is going into overtime this week as budget issues from the session trickle into a special DABC meeting Thursday to discuss liquor-store closures. The Legislature itself will be reconvening Friday to debate the repeal of House Bill 477, the controversial bill aimed at gutting Utah’s open-government-records law. After that, get ready for a season of summer gardening in the city by attending a lecture from renowned urban farming author and advocate Novella Carpenter.
Department of Alcoholic Beverage Control Commission Meeting
Thursday, March 24
Only in Utah’s state-controlled Boozopoly would a business that brings in $100 million annually to state and local coffers be required to close down profitable stores and sack as many as 150 employees. Come to this week’s DABC commission meeting to hear discussion of the final number of stores to be closed (likely between nine and 13) and how service hours might be changed at existing stores.
Utah Department of Alcoholic Beverage Control, 1625 S. 900 West, 801-977-6800, March 24, 9 a.m., ABC.Utah.gov
Special Session of 2011 Legislature
Friday, March 25
With enough torches, pitchforks, angry screeds and folk songs, Utah’s leaders finally got the message that rushing a bill to close open-government-records law needs more public input. Thus, Gov. Gary Herbert has called a special session of the Legislature to do just that. Senate leadership is squaring off for a fight and planning to block the repeal, however, arguing the bill should not be repealed until a replacement is ready. It’s a grudge-match over GRAMA this Friday! Friday! Friday!
Utah Capitol, 350 N. State, March 25, noon, Le.Utah.gov
Urban Farming: One Woman’s Story
Monday, March 28
Novella Carpenter, the journalist who chronicled her adventures in urban farming in downtown Oakland, Calif., will be signing copies of her book and lecturing on the lessons and importance of making green acres in urban settings at this free event.
Vieve Gore Concert Hall, Westminster College, 1840 S. 1300 East, March 28, 7:30 p.m., 801-832-2685, WestminsterCollege.edu/CampusEvents
