Salt Lake:Official development news thread - Part 2

[urbanboy]

Utah Legislative Leaders Tell UTC Members Technology Will Help Utah Recover from Recession

SALT LAKE CITY - (Business Wire) House Speaker David Clark and Senate President Michael G. Waddoups recently told Utah Technology Council (UTC) (http://utahtechcouncil.org/) members that Utah’s economy is in a unique position to recover from the recession quickly compared to other states due to its high-tech businesses, innovative entrepreneurial culture and business-friendly environment.
These comments were made at the UTC’s annual Legislative Leadership breakfast held at the Little America hotel in downtown Salt Lake City, Utah.

“We are doing everything we can to keep the wheels on the engine of this state’s economy,” said Speaker Clark. “In many states the wheels have come completely off the economic vehicle. This is not the case in Utah. As soon as the economy has fully recovered we will be ready to roll and that is in large part due to our state’s strong technology community.”

The legislators also emphasized the important role education and technology play in the state’s development and recruitment of new companies.

“We know technology and education are two of the key pillars of this state’s economy,” said President Waddoups. “In this legislative session, we are doing all we can to pass legislation that will keep high-tech companies here and attract more of these types of businesses to our tech-savvy state.”

The UTC Legislative event highlighted the myriad of economic and budget issues facing Utah’s legislature in 2010. UTC members received insight into what lawmakers are facing this year and also received assurances that technology companies have a voice in Utah through the UTC.

“Our legislators understand the important role technology plays in Utah’s economy and its future,” said Richard R. Nelson, President and CEO of the UTC. “It is important that technology executives throughout the state know they are able to get the Legislature’s ear and that their voice will actually be heard. These leaders get it, and the fact that they have taken the time to address us during a hectic legislative session speaks volumes to their commitment to the technology sector.”

For more information on the UTC including future events, visit www.utahtechcouncil.org.



Read more: http://www.earthtimes.org/articles/show/...ers-tell-utc,1184253.shtml#ixzz0gx7vcShN

This is great! But why aren't they funding education instead of using millions to fund a law suit against the Federal Government? The State of Utah spends the least amount of money on education. Why is that? Didn't Waddoups say that education is a "key pillar of this state's economy?" Perhaps the reason they spend little money on education is because the majority of the Utah State Legislators don't want us to be too educated, or else we might loose sight of "God."

[NYC Rick]

Originally Posted by Future Mayor

Gee really, there needs to be a demand before we can build it? I didn't know that, I thought all the tall buildings around the world were simply there just to make pretty skylines.

OF COURSE I KNOW THERE HAS TO BE DEMAND, I'm not an idiot, but apparently I come across as one. It's called discussion throwing ideas out and having others comment and elaborate on them.

Come on NYC Rick give us here local yocals out west some of that there credit, fer havin some of them there brains.

I have never considered anyone on here as a "local yocal"! As a matter of fact I am extremely impressed with cogent and well thought out posts.

I spent more than half of my life...well almost...in SLC. I always knew and hoped that it would become a metropolitan and cosmopolitan area with the goal of being a central business mecca that effected well beyond the area. It is definitely moving in that direction!

I just looked at your two buildings and wondering just how many great things would have to happen to make 2 buildings of that size to be even viable.

It always amazes me that Denver has the skyline that it has. Someone made a distinct and definite plan to attract business and they had to start doing it early on.

NYC evolved their amazing skyline by spacial confines. There is no place to expand but up.

SLC is in a position to start making DT viability moves. The evolution of the past few years is impressive.

I think that when the economy rebounds we will see more of the same thing.

Oh yeah, I commented. You took it personally.

I cannot help that.

[urbanboy]

New rendering of The Leonardo from downtownrising.com:

[TonyAnderson]

Originally Posted by urbanboy

Utah Legislative Leaders Tell UTC Members Technology Will Help Utah Recover from Recession

This is great! But why aren't they funding education instead of using millions to fund a law suit against the Federal Government? The State of Utah spends the least amount of money on education. Why is that? Didn't Waddoups say that education is a "key pillar of this state's economy?" Perhaps the reason they spend little money on education is because the majority of the Utah State Legislators don't want us to be too educated, or else we might loose sight of "God."

Yet Utah has good test scores and some of the highest graduation rates. Perhaps other states are spending too much? It's an easy thing to say 'Spend more on education!', but a harder, yet more efficient thing to actually evaluate and act on what is needed. To me it's more about parents when it comes to education and learning. You're going to get out of school as much as you want to get out. No dollar amount will change that.

[Stenar]

Originally Posted by urbanboy

From downtownrising.com:
Six Gateway




"The Six Gateway is the sixth office building at The Gateway and is comprised of approximately 105,000 square feet of Class A office space found at the end of Rio Grande Street. This project will cap off the northern portion of The Gateway, bringing the office space total to approximately 760,000 square feet, which is roughly the equivalent amount of space as the combined square footage of two of downtown's largest office towers. Six Gateway will be positioned adjacent to the newly built 128-room Hyatt Place hotel and amidst restaurants, cultural, entertainment and shopping. Each floor plate will be approximately 22,000 square feet and the Six Gateway's building finishes will be top-notch."

I like the red brick in the older rendering better.

This looks crappy compared to the original rendering, but then all of Gateway looks yucky compared to their original renderings.

[urbanboy]

Originally Posted by TonyAnderson

Yet Utah has good test scores and some of the highest graduation rates. Perhaps other states are spending too much? It's an easy thing to say 'Spend more on education!', but a harder, yet more efficient thing to actually evaluate and act on what is needed. To me it's more about parents when it comes to education and learning. You're going to get out of school as much as you want to get out. No dollar amount will change that.

You do realize teachers are underpaid don't you? If we want good teachers in our schools, we need give them higher wages so the job is more appealing and the competition is greater.

[T-Mac]

I am all for paying teachers more. In fact, many of my close friends are teachers and most have agreed with me when we have talked about how much money they make and how many hours they work a year. When you take the annual salary figure and divide it by the amount of hours worked in a year, they make a decent amount of money on average. It's not as bad as the media makes it out to be all the time. Plus when you figure in health care coverage and pension benefits, it's much better than a lot of other occupations. Just my 2 cents worth.

[urbanboy]

Then we overpay doctors and lawyers, just my 2 cents.

[wrendog]

Teachers get paid more than you think, UB. My friend, who has been an elementary school teacher for 7 years or so, is pulling in at least 65k for 9 months of work. That ain't bad.

[Stenar]

Originally Posted by wrendog

Teachers get paid more than you think, UB. My friend, who has been an elementary school teacher for 7 years or so, is pulling in at least 65k for 9 months of work. That ain't bad.

I think you must be confused and/or your friend is not a teacher in Utah, because I find it extremely difficult to believe that any school teachers in Utah are making $65k. Most college professors in Utah don't even make that much money.

[arkhitektor]

Originally Posted by Stenar

I think you must be confused and/or your friend is not a teacher in Utah, because I find it extremely difficult to believe that any school teachers in Utah are making $65k. Most college professors in Utah don't even make that much money.

I'm not saying that Utah teachers shouldn't be paid more, but there are thousands of teachers currently making more than 65k in Utah's public schools:

http://www.utahsright.com/salaries.php?q...n=TEACHER&order=annual&oType=DESC&page=1

[Stenar]

Originally Posted by arkhitektor

I'm not saying that Utah teachers shouldn't be paid more, but there are thousands of teachers currently making more than 65k in Utah's public schools:

http://www.utahsright.com/salaries.php?q...n=TEACHER&order=annual&oType=DESC&page=1

That figure includes all gross costs of employing them: health insurance, social security taxes, pension contributions, any other miscellaneous benefits. The gross salary that these teachers see on their paychecks is probably less than 2/3 of the amount listed on that website.

[Future Mayor]

Originally Posted by Stenar

That figure includes all gross costs of employing them: health insurance, social security taxes, pension contributions, any other miscellaneous benefits. The gross salary that these teachers see on their paychecks is probably less than 2/3 of the amount listed on that website.

Are you sure about this, because looking at some of the other salaries, in cities and other agencies, they are strictly salary and don't include the other items mentioned.

Alpine Schools last updated on 5-28-2009. Records based on gross compensation for the 2008 calendar year. Next update scheduled for 5-28-2010

That does not include insurance, retirement etc.

[arkhitektor]

The site specifically states:

Most databases reflect actual employee earnings/wages subject to Medicare taxes for the most recent tax year, as provided by each governmental agency.

[urbanboy]

I think that 65k should be the low end of the wage spectrum for teachers. In order to make the field more competitive, I'd like to see teachers make around 65 - 90k of yearly wages.

[shakman]

I think grade school teachers should be paid in the range of lawyers and doctors. Who are the people who made these doctors and lawyers in the first place? Starting from the basics... ...grade school.

[wrendog]

Originally Posted by urbanboy

I think that 65k should be the low end of the wage spectrum for teachers. In order to make the field more competitive, I'd like to see teachers make around 65 - 90k of yearly wages.

But they are. the 65k I quoted was for 9 months! 9 MONTHS of the 12! Check out this article:

http://abcnews.go.com/2020/Stossel/story?id=1955153

Teaching jobs are highly competitive and pay is more than the average job. Teachers are NOT underpaid.

[Stenar]

http://www.utahsright.com/profile.php?id=931712

I've helped this person with their taxes and her gross salary on her W2 is only $45k, so they're obviously including things besides gross salary. I'm not even saying teachers are underpaid. I was originally going to chime in and say that $45k for 9 months of work isn't bad. Since I only make $55k for 12 months work.

But she also spends thousands of her own money on school supplies that the district won't buy and spends several hours in the evenings preparing lessons and various projects for the kids.

[wrendog]

Originally Posted by Stenar

http://www.utahsright.com/profile.php?id=931712

I've helped this person with their taxes and her gross salary on her W2 is only $45k, so they're obviously including things besides gross salary. I'm not even saying teachers are underpaid. I was originally going to chime in and say that $45k for 9 months of work isn't bad. Since I only make $55k for 12 months work.

But she also spends thousands of her own money on school supplies that the district won't buy and spends several hours in the evenings preparing lessons and various projects for the kids.

No doubt, teachers do a lot of work, but they get compensated very well for their time. Especially considering the summer break. Even if a teacher pulls in 36k, that is really the equivalent of 48k a year. Not to shabby.

[Your Boy Blue]

I am not agreeing or disagreeing with anyone about this, but the few people I know personally on that website have their actual salaries showing (no benefits included). I am not even sure how accurate the website is though.