New Voice Sounding Like A GROWTHOPHOBE

Here is a nicely written piece BY JEAN McNEIL, a Boise Freelancer, which also appeared in the Daily Paper. It is published with her permission.

When I moved to Boise 30 years ago, I called it a 10-minute town - you could get from almost anywhere to almost anywhere else in 10 minutes or less. [...]

City Job In Future For Ada Commish?

A couple of cynical GUARDIAN readers sent us a message today noting the City of Boise is advertising in the Sunday Daily Paper for an Environmental Director at the Public Works Department with a salary starting at $72,000 on the low range.
They predict TEAM DAVE has created the position to take care of Ada [...]

Detox Deal Done, Despite Dollar Drain

There is no doubt about the need for a detox center in Boise so the coppers can take people someplace besides the Emergency Room or the slammer to sober up.
There was a lot of fanfare about an agreement and possible 2010 opening for a joint city, county, state facility known as “Substance Abuse and Mental [...]

End Of Year GUARDIAN Review

Believe it or not the GUARDIAN has been on line going on four years.
As the year winds down we want to offer a refresher course in the “theme” we use to offer that different SLANT on the news.
–We take credit for creating the words “GROWTHOPHOBE” and GROWTHOPHILE.” No better confirmation for our [...]

The Real Dirt On Clean Air

For growthophobes there may be a silver lining in that yellow cloud of pollution hanging over the Treasure Valley.
Without reductions in current levels of existing pollution, new businesses won’t be able to locate here and dump their vile concoctions into the air. During a recent speech, the Idaho DEQ air quality czar said if [...]

Idaho Near Top In Lack Of Gov’t Integrity

Idaho made it on another National List recently, placing near the top of the “Lack of Integrity In Government” survey. Probably won’t see any press releases from Team Dave, the Commishes, or Guv. Butch’s spinmeisters on that one.
THE SURVEY by the Chicago-based Better Government Association examined open records laws, open meeting laws, whistle-blower laws, [...]

Politicos Stop Competition For Motive Power

Boise choo choo train maker Motive Power will have the bid for locomotives in Boston all to itself thanks to a ruling by the Federal Transit Authority Friday.
Apparently the agency bowed to political pressure from Idaho politicos if a press release is accurate. The FTA has agreed to reject the Massachusetts Bay Transit Authority [...]

Obama Prompts Idaho Free Speech Movement

The election of Barack Obama has prompted a free speech movement among the Red State residents of Idaho.
Elementary school children on a school bus in Madison County caused a stir among some parents when they chanted “Assassinate Obama! assinate Obama!” School officials, alerted by at least one concerned parent, sent memos to teachers advising [...]

Trucks Ride Free On ACHD Roads

After receiving several comments about the ballot language on the Ada County Highway District fee hike for auto registrations, we revisited the issue and learned some disturbing, but not surprising facts.
About 16,500 trucks weighing over 8,000 pounds get a FREE RIDE on county roads. Meanwhile owners of 279, 454 passenger car owners have to [...]

Were Ada County Races An Anomoly?

A couple of Ada County races frankly surprised the GUARDIAN.
It would be fair to say the old Republican machine is still running despite the national landslide for the Obama presidency.
Sharon Ullman upset Commish Paul Woods with a solid 52% to 48% of the vote. Woods even had the support of former commish and [...]