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Bieter Not So Subtle In Run For Gov.

The past few days of news in the Daily Paper citing Boise’s mayor and his wisdom on jobs, highway impact fees, Guv Butch Otter, attracting business, all lead us to conclude he is running for governor.

According to an ACHD press release, the mayor spouts anecdotes like Ronald Reagan–worth a laugh, but shy on facts. The highway district brass claim to be “mystified” over an unsubstantiated Bieter claim over unfair impact fees for a restaurant which was not built.

If the Dems want a shot at the gov’s chair they better come up with a candidae who isn’t in the business of making enemies out of would-be friends. Bieter led the campaign to disenfranchise voters when it comes to approving debt for airports, but now claims to favor a $50 million bond for everything from fire stations to parks.

Team Dave apparently can’t live within its means despite increased budgets and no tax cuts during the recent economic hard times which saw every other unit of government cutting back.

He won’t talk with the GUARDIAN, but mainstream media needs to query him on efforts to increase city revenue through higher appraised values which increases taxes even if levies remain constant.

Famed Equal Rights Lawyer Allen Derr Dies

The GUARDIAN has received word Allen Derr has died within the hour, following a prolonged illness. His wife, Judy Peavey-Derr was at his side in their Boise residence.

The local attorney who made a name for himself and changed the way American courts consider women’s rights had a long history of championing fairness causes. His famous victory in REED vs REED in the U.S. Supreme Court overturned Idaho law which gave fathers priority in legal matters when children die.

Outside the fly fishing shop on Vista, just south of Overland there is a stone monument proclaiming “SALLY REED lived here”–the woman whom Allen Derr represented resided at a house which once stood on that spot.

As a consulting member of the Idaho Press Club he helped journalists with issues from open meetings in government to public record access.
As details become available we will update this report.

Iron Man Good For Some Businesses, Traffic Nightmare

Several tales of “you can’t get there from here” over road closures due to the Iron Man event Saturday have reached the GUARDIAN.

We would like to hear your take on it. Anything from delayed trips to the market, increased business at your restaurant or hotel, to cost for coppers.

Who benefits, who suffers? Are the trade offs worth it?

Up In The Air Over Political Spending

Recent news accounts from Boise and Mountain Home make us pause over the reasons public money is being spent for political reasons–all ultimately aimed at “helping business” by keeping airplanes flying.

Our friends at the Mountain Home News report local politicos are worried about yet another round of potential Base Realignment and Closures (BRAC). The Feds are deeply in debt and congress wants to cut down on wasteful spending–in “any congressional district except mine.”

The City of Mountain Home and Chamber of Commerce send a delegation to the Air Force at Langley Va. each year to lobby the generals to keep Mt. Home Air Force Base open. They note Mississippi recently budgeted $2 million for that state’s military lobbying effort. It’s scary to think the generals would make military decisions based on data from Elmore County and Mississippi politicos. Multiply that influence peddling by the number of other delegations from cities and states and it boggles the mind how much cash goes to airfare and hotels for politicos. Boise ponied up many thousands of dollars to lobby for the F-35 despite pretty fair opposition from residents. The efforts failed to sway the Department of Defense. The F-35 will not be based in Boise.

Speaking of airfare, how about BOI plans to offer up to $100,000 in landing fee concessions to airlines? The idea is to entice airlines to offer more flights to the Boise market and give business reason to locate in the city of trees.

The GUARDIAN growthophobe philosophy says, “We welcome all business as long as they pay their fair share of taxes (and landing fees) and living wages. If they can’t make it on their own, they should go to a location willing to make corporate welfare payments. Same logic holds true for airlines. If they can’t afford to serve BOI without subsidy, we probably don’t need them.

Meanwhile, with airlines pulling out or cutting flights and the number of passenger seats, they are building a new parking garage. Must make sense to someone. Fewer passengers, more parking spaces equals more business.

One good move at the airport is new hangars for Western Aircraft and Jackson Jet Center are being funded by the respective companies. While the tax exempt airport land is owned by the city, the structures will be taxed like any other property.” Both operations are expanding their business facilities and could increase their work forces. Nicely done apparently without government help.

Boise spent public money two years ago to influence a constitutional amendment vote which allows the airport to finance structures on the airport and then rent or lease the facilities. If financed using this method, city, county, ACHD, and schools all lose because government-owned property is tax exempt. The airport would collect lease payments to repay debt, but we all would suffer from the loss of tax revenues.

Reader: Motorcyclists Should Pay $40, Forget The Ride

GUARDIAN reader Erico49 sent us a self-described rant today after a weekend of hearing Rolling Thunder along Interstate 84. He also sent a copy to the Idaho Transportation Department.

“I question whether it’s a good idea to slow down traffic on the Interstate for 50 miles twice in one day with a caravan of motorcycles–regardless of the cause they are riding for. It’s an inconvenience for the traveling public.. and likely dangerous. Many rode side by side, a practice prohbited by the Idaho Motorcycle Manual. Further, ISP certainly either incurred extra costs or diverted troopers from other duties. Also, Idaho code 49-638 (3) mandates that traffic be allowed to merge into caravans, something that was not done yesterday. I understand that they had a good cause, although I will point out that they could have raised the same amount of money by just donating $40 each. Such rides have become more common each summer, and I think they should follow the law and not be given special privileges.”

We have to admit a lack of comprehension regarding the link between motorcycles and tribute to the dead. We aren’t critical, just don’t understand it. Often hundreds of coppers on choppers are in funeral processions when an officer dies in the line of duty–like the Washington State trooper last week. Would anyone participate if these honor processions were comprised of silent electric cars?