Comments on: G-BAD Needs to B-Gone

By: FedUP

FedUP — Mon, 22 May 2006 18:45:00 +0000

I am insulted by Dr. Stephenson Youngerman’s presumption that we were swayed by an effective disinformation campaign. Like none of us are the great leaders that he and his group are and that we can so easily be fooled.

“Thank you Doc for protecting me from myself…I am so in need of your leadership”. And in the next paragraph “…ever mindful of the pressing need…” Where is the proof of this oh great leader.

There is one thing that I am uncertain of, maybe someone could help me here. If the money were not being used for the “expansion” where would it be used (i.e. this money would have been used for something, would it not?)

EDITOR NOTE–If memory serves, legislation was passed many years ago which allowed the G-BAD to transfer funds to the Boise Visitor and Convention Bureau for use promoting tourism. That is why the GUARDIAN made the suggestion of using G-BAD money for decent signs for visitor directions.

By: Shelly

Shelly — Fri, 12 May 2006 04:38:18 +0000

Doesn’t the city or the ccdc own and run all the parking garages? Won’t this garage as a first step compete with them or will GBAD just turn it over to the ccdc guys?

Besides that ONLY ONE LEVEL of parking would never be enough!!! Sounds like a real dumb idea…..sounds like another dumb “hole in the ground” city agenda.

By: Razzbar

Razzbar — Thu, 11 May 2006 23:01:36 +0000

One thing I hear so much that’s so stupid, is the notion that a government should be run like a business.

Governments and businesses both use money, and there might be a few other similarities, but the purpose of a government is NOT to make money for the “owners”.

See the 2nd paragraph of the Declaration of Independance for further clues as to the purpose of government.

By: Robert

Robert — Thu, 11 May 2006 18:59:49 +0000

Ken McDonald where might I ask did you come from?
Here we believe if there was money in it a private invester would build it.

By: Andy Hedden-Nicely

Andy Hedden-Nicely — Thu, 11 May 2006 16:22:52 +0000

The reason this plan was not supported by the people is that we do not want two convention centers blocks away from each other. The open lot between the current convention center and the proposed new convention center makes no sense.

My understanding is that the GAB purchased this land from S-16 (Simplot),who still own the lot between the two convention centers and have plans to plop a big hotel right in the middle. This makes great economic sense for the private propety owners, but not for the city or the convention center.

I hope the Guardian holds their feet to fire on this one. The wacky plan to build as you go is a diaster waiting to happen and you know who will pick up the bill – the taxpayers.

By: boisecynic

boisecynic — Thu, 11 May 2006 13:59:39 +0000

A large convention center is unique. A one off deal. Does anyone know of a city in which a private firm built the local convention center? And what if it’s done here and, god forbid, it’s successful? The company B and C might want one also.

I can hear the complaints now, regarding the city issuing permits for yet another large CC.

Like it or not, we live in a complex urban society. There must be public/private partnerships to get most large scale, one of a kind projects done.

Examples: Lucky Peak Dam, the Flying Wye or just about any paved road, sewer, water, gas, electricity, garbage collection…

Please note, I’m not in favor of more taxes anymore than anyone else. I am in favor of a better Boise. As I said before, much of the gov’t spending problem is one of oversight. And oversight does not mean cutting off public spending completely. That would probably be a disaster.

Here’s some good gossip…Last time this was a topic here, I called one of the GBAD board members and told him about the discussion in this forum. Not one of those board members made any effort to make a point in this forum. Maybe it’s just me, but I think that’s weird.

By: City Insider

City Insider — Thu, 11 May 2006 11:14:38 +0000

These guys only hear one drummer, their own…

By: Rod

Rod — Thu, 11 May 2006 10:35:30 +0000

I agree, GBAD must go. It is a tool of the pro-population-growth crowd, kind of like the Mayor’s Office and the City Council. We need to separate government from business, at all levels of government. That is just as important as separating government from religion.

By: spuds

spuds — Thu, 11 May 2006 04:05:26 +0000

You are right Ken, I would like to build a fence. However, I realize that isn’t going to happen even though I was happy with the $$ I was making in the 70’s. My gripe is when the voters say no, our elected leaders don’t listen. If the voters are wrong let them see for themselves the error in their thinking. But until then NO means NO.

By: Tam

Tam — Thu, 11 May 2006 01:37:15 +0000

Ken,Ken,Ken! What on earth are you thinking? Posting “you have to spend money to make money” on this site. IF YOU HAVE MONEY, then be our guest (no pun intended) and build a conference center. The problem is as the GUARDIAN already stated you don’t HAVE the money. No one, apparently, who DOES have the money is willing to build the conference center. The GBAD boys don’t have the money either. So..if you need money to make money, what happens if you don’t have any? Hmmmmm, eating paper and crapping $50 bills is what I always thought my teenagers expected from us. Perhaps the GBAD boys are more talented than any of us think!