How do you comment on an issue that the mass media Talking heads describe with their logo ” everythings wonderful” and their brothers in raping the taxpayer, the politicians, refuse to confront.” Uncontrolled growth ” is the problem and as long as the developers contribute enough money to keep their favorite politicians in office it will get more and more out of control.

The average citizen is so overwhelmed with their financial problems that very few of them have the time to understand what their dealing with. Big Business and it’s unlimited money run our local, county and State politico’s and bureaucrats. Big business wants to grow bigger and charge John Q. Public for their uncontrolled growth. Downtown Boise resembles a moving parking lot with a lot of brand new developments that are close to 100% vacant.

Look at the apt. complex next to the Multi-million dollar County courthouse-all vacant. Look at the average retail store in Bo-Do-usually very few customers. Look at the ” Hole In The Ground” at 8’th and Main. It’s been there how many years? There is only one solution -and you have to work to make it succeed.

Get involved in local and state politics.. vote… know who your so-called representatives are… let them know how you feel about an issue such as the above… form political action groups with neighbors to protect your beautiful City from unscrupulous developers and politicians. The City you save might be Boise, “The City of trees,” not new retail,office and housing construction nightmares.

Gee, so glad Joe F. and his gang had Brent Coles run out of town on a rail.

How ironic. Brent was the conservative mayor – with the progressive agenda. More money for art, smart measured growth – an aggressive anti-drug campaign, a thriving downtown, neighborhood investment, parks, foothills preservation… the list goes on.

Then there’s the supposedly liberal Dave Bieter who is beholden to business and special interests. He’s done jack sh– to build a legacy, and I can’t seem to find anything positive he’s done for the CoT.

Brent had bad people around him – it’s sad. But at least he had a positive vision for this city; one that managed growth, instead of getting streamrolled.

Over the last few months, it seems the recurring theme in this blog is “anti-growth”. It has been said, to me as a matter of fact, that “living here for 33 years does not a native make”. Being a native of ANYTHING is purely a coincidence of birth. In choosing to move here to take advantage of the lifestyle, the climate, the people, and the tremendous atmosphere for raising a family, simply put, makes those who have chosen more of a “visionary” than a bunch of Johnny-come-lately’s”.

In my opinion, there isn’t a nickle’s worth of difference between Republicans and Democrats. Neither group should be looked upon as “saviors”. As the population grows in major urban areas, there is a natural desire to find a better climate to live out your life. That is what makes Idaho so attractive. So why don’t we push hard to get managed, logical growth efforts rather than trying to build a great big fence around us.

The Guardian is right on with the comment about the Chamber’s efforts. To continue to promote growth here at this time is really dumb! That is the place where we should put our efforts to control an “out of control” situation.

EDITOR NOTE–Cyclops, thanks for your comments. We have often said we would welcome ANYONE who chooses to live here with open arms as long as they play by the rules, pay their way like the rest of us, and come to be PART OF THE COMMUNITY and not just buy up land on speculation and ruin the place before they head for the next green pasture to pave. We absolutely DO NOT need to attract people with advertising and promises of “good business climate.”

OK, we know uncontrolled development is a huge problem. But as Stephen asked, what are our ideas for changing the situation? Most of the comments here do not offer any suggestions, other than Joe rightly recommending more involvement in local politics. But then as others point out, there are financial and political obstacles in the path of full civic participation.

So, here are some suggestions that address the process by which we elect our representatives and make decisions. This isn’t directly about development, but how we get people elected that are not beholden to business and development over existing neighborhoods and community needs.

First there must be radical campaign finance reform. The budgets for federal races are skyrocketing and dragging state and local races into the stratosphere as well. Under the current system, ideas and vision come second to fundraising. Large donations from PACS and corporations dwarf and dilute the contributions and influence of individual citizens. Publicly financed campaigns have been successful in several states and is at least one way to move away from the candidate with the most money almost always winning.

Second, instant run-off voting would help eliminate the chances for divisive elections with more than two candidates where the victor ends up with less than a majority of support. I think this would encourage more folks to run, perhaps form coalitions, and avoids the more costly approach of a runoff after the fact. Voters would rank their choices, and the candidate with the most overall support would win. Republicans in particular ought to be thinking about this after Bill Sali became the party candidate with only 26% in the primary.

As long as the current system is in place, it will be very difficult to overcome the entrenched pro-development folks in our State and local government. (We’d better be keeping a close eye on the Land Board, now all Republican and very pro-development, along with “Auction It Off Otter” in the Statehouse and and “Resort Development Dirk” as Sec. of Interior). Short of that we must all, as Joe said, vote. But that is not enough. Citizens have to be involved at every level, attend hearing, lobby, testify, and be prepared to support decent candidates with our time, and our money. If we as “ordinary” people choose not to participate financially, then candidates are forced into a position where they become beholden to other monied interests. We must take ownership of the system, and that requires a commitment of both time and money.

Also, we need to address the way we make decisions, and move away from an adversarial approach, be less attached to our own positions, and find ways to support public dialogue that is oriented towards problem solving and inclusion, rather than partisan posturing and exclusion.

As I said, this doesn’t directly address issues of growth, but offers opportunities to dilute the influence of big money developers and bring new leadership in to positions of authority.

Lastly, we all need to continue to educate ourselves about the process and the functions of the different entities involved. I want to learn more about the business of the County and City in regards to how development is regulated (or not). Legally, what tools exist for these entities to control growth?

Our radical individualist society has elevated personal desire and wealth accumulation above any sense of community or vision for long term sustainability. We have come to equate and economic system, capitalism, with our political system, representative democracy. Not everything should be run as a business. Unless we actively and aggressively fight back against thoughtless development, we’ll all end up living in a congested, generically corporate, and decidedly unpleasant world.

All right, idagreen — something beyond just a complaint! Until there’s success in moving away from the status quo through logic and an understanding of what it means, we’re not going to see anything change. (Before the election I talked to someone very unhappy with Sali but still intending to vote for him because according to the Idaho thought process “he may be a turd but at least he’s a Republican turd.” Huh? And this leads to good government?

We can all talk about changing the system till the cows(probably from California) come home. It seems to me that the real “controllers” of our collective destiny are the County Commissioners, the Mayor and the City Council.

If there were 100 people that showed up at EVERY meeting and held these folks feet to the fire, those 100 people would own the local governments. Politicians listen to those that threaten them politically, and when 2-3 people show up at the council or county commish meetings, they think they can do what they @#$%$@# well please. If we want to limit the loss of “the good old days in Idaho” then we have to take it back from the local politicos. It is our community. If we want it back, we have to take it back!

Couple of comments –

1. To Clancy – many of the attitudes shared in this blog are the result of dealing with officials (and developers) who simply think they know it all and do not care for public input. The simple fact is that virtually all those who comment here have had personal experiences with city council members, ACHD members and others who simply have no interest in others views and think they know it all.

To say that the blog rubs these officials and developers the wrong way and is not helping the “cause” really doesn’t matter because they don’t care anyway – nothing is going to help other than removing them and shutting them down.

2. Cyclops – even if there are 100 people at every public hearing (and many of us have been to many with well over 100) – they still don’t care. They have their agenda and they justify it in very illogical ways and do what they want anyway – even when 350 people show up – they still don’t care.

3. It is VERY worrisome to see a Chamber of Commerce now in the business of PROMOTING bigger GOVERNMENT and MORE TAXES!!! I thought the chamber was the voice of business and the free market – not the marketing arm of the City Council! I am going to cancel my membership if they keep this up and others should too.

4. Over the last 3-4 years (especially since Team Dave and the Alan, Elaine and Jerome show) individuals and neighborhoods and others have pleaded with the GROWTH ADDICTS to slow down and look at alternatives and solutions. Virtually all have been ignored. It is all about tax revenue, density, massive condos, skinny row houses, overloaded streets, mass urbanization of neighborhoods, and on and on and on….and that is the way they like it. Their actions speak for themselves.

Talking about all this Treasure Valley growth makes me cranky. It’s like talking about cancer. Perhaps we need chemo or radiation therapy for urban growth. Can’t we talk about poop again?

If you want a good example of what growth has done take a close look at Nancy Merril’s “Rodeo Drive” concept in Eagle. As we know, she lives in Island Woods and pressured the ITD to get a stoplight on Hwy 55 (Eagle Road) a state hwy designed to MOVE TRAFFIC.

Then she tried to get access to her development by taking the city attorney down to ITD/ACHD (at taxpayer’s expense mind you). Fortunately the hwy boys finally told her to stop comming down there–they were not going to have access via the bypass.Of course she tried to shroud her motives by saying the Fire Dept needs access—Eagle FD knew when they went in there what the access problem was. I’m sure Merrill will be back again for another try.

More stoplights are planned for Eagle road which has turned into the states greatest traffic mess thanks to the City Council approving all the subs without proper egress and ingress. Take a close look at the downtown area–every available space is infilled with buildings which have no central theme. Now they are starting a commission (Chamber-Commerce) to study what can be done about “tying the downtown together”. Don’t you think it is about 15 years too late??? The only way they can tie it together now is to put a rope around the city…..What a mess. My message for Star and Middleton—if you want to see what NOT to do, study Eagle’s fiasco.