Comments on: Ada Commishes Spending Spree

By: Bill

Bill — Fri, 14 Sep 2007 11:55:31 +0000

That building by the mall is huge and mostly office space. In fact it is a horrible layout with a huge amount of open space. There is a reason it’s been for sale for a few years. Second I recall the price on that property was lowered before and in this market I’d expect it would sell for a much lower price to a private buyer. I would think the election board would only need a half dozen offices and 5000 feet of warehouse space not enough space for a hundred workers….

By: Mike Murphy, Bull Moose Tenor

Mike Murphy, Bull Moose Tenor — Mon, 10 Sep 2007 15:17:28 +0000

Though I was pleased with the reception my Mayoral Campaign got (before it was cut short by a death) from some of the local media, I must say that the Fourth Estate does little to encourage “Mr. Smith” to become engaged in the process. The Status Quo is a friggin mess, and while I am the first to recognize that every “suggestion” of my candidacy was not a Golden Nugget, I was disappointed, as a citizen, at the scant attention the media paid to them. Nearly ALL candidates for any office have at least one Golden Nugget that can benefit their community, and I believe that the good men and women of the press can do much more to promote the democratic process that produces them. I say this not as a damnation, but as a Call to Arms. The “People” need your help. Because, until something gives… The CCDC is going to keep creating more “Pits”, sprawl will become the norm, crime and the scourge of methamphetamine will continue to grow exponentially, and the Powers-that-Be will kill The Goose, and complete the Kalifornification Boise.

By: eric

eric — Mon, 10 Sep 2007 12:25:18 +0000

1. Isn’t there cheaper warehouse space available than the building by the mall?

2. Is the County going into the restaurant business. Her article mentions putting in food service. The deli in that spot went belly up. Don’t see why the County should do that.

By: Grumpy ole Guy

Grumpy ole Guy — Mon, 10 Sep 2007 03:30:18 +0000

So, the Ada County Courthouse, which was built to last the needs of the County for decades to come is too small? Or, too filled with rentors? Or, too filled with …… ?

Well, hell, it just doesn’t seem to have an up side, does it.

Grumpy is as grumpy gets done to.

By: sara

sara — Sun, 09 Sep 2007 21:53:23 +0000

Dave, what you reported on was very good. I almost didn’t read beyond the first sentence however.

I have found Cynthia Sewell’s work (and I say that tongue in cheek) to be generally of little importance. This “reporter” seems to print stories by press release. She certainly could not get a job with the Guardian. She does no investigation on her own.

Of course, neither does the Statesman for the most part. They seem to be a good fit.

EDITOR NOTE–In her defense, we would never have known ANY of this without her reporting.

The GUARDIAN fills in for the lack of “investigative reporting,” but we will be first to admit on this one it is a carryover from the original Courthouse fiasco, but the mess is still there. More questions than answers.

We have yet to get an answer to the question of, “Is the county still paying for outside legal defense counsel for the staff prosecuting attorney who crafted these agreements?”

By: WonkVader

WonkVader — Sun, 09 Sep 2007 20:50:11 +0000

I believe eminent domain should only be used for situations where the government has no choice (i.e., widening or extending a road, which must be done in a certain place, or forcing the sale of a chronically dilapidated property in the context of urban renewal).

If the government is simply aquiring space or land that is available elsewhere, they should act as any other purchaser in the open market. ED is a serious power that should only be used in cases where there is no other choice and a compelling public need.

EDITOR NOTE–Wonk, we share your view which only adds to our suspicions. The spaces they are “taking” from Civic Partners have been vacant for about 4 years.