The appropriate use of fund is not to send them through the inefficiency of “sponsorships.” It is to stick to the intent of their mission: DEVELOP a better downtown.

My gripe, and I suspect that of others, is not with those dedicated INDIVIDUALS, but the actions of the CCDC as an ENTITY. And our elected officials that are supposed to be keeping tabs on things.

Additionally, while I am sorry to hear you have “worked for some of the largest corporations…that are far worse”, how a private corporation (publicly traded or otherwise) chooses to run itself into the ground is of little concern to me (Although the coup at Albertson’s WAS heartbreaking).

How a quasi-governmental agency squanders MY money and that of my friends and neighbors, is.

In Parting… Please (pretty-please-with-sugar-on-top), tell us all who the “Groups that really are corrupt, that truly are wasting tax dollars, and that really don’t give a crap about the citizens”, that you speak of are, we can focus our opinionated ire on them.

I don’t see many “impartial” members of the board. Many have conflicts and recuse themselves, but there is certainly a lack of diversity, i.e. housewives, educators (Cheryl L. is a banker/real estate peddler), business leaders from the bench, lawyers, engineers, technicians, etc.

These people are NOT elected and should not have authority to collect and pay taxes. The Ada treas sends the taxes to CCDC, so they DO collect taxes. LEt’s see what the audit turns up it it isn’t limited by the politicos.

Seems most of you judge CCDC from a far without any real knowledge of what goes on inside or the what they do. How many of you have actually met a person from CCDC ? How many of you have actually gone to their website and read about all of ways they improve downtown Boise? How many of you have a real clue as to what it takes to revitalize an urban area? And how many of you have done half of what they have done to better our city?

They are not “corrupt.” They are not out there to simply “grease the palms of other fat cat members of the ‘Boise good ole boy club.’ ” And despite the accusations, they do care what you and I think.

It’s easy to sit back in your chairs at home and judge these folks. And because you don’t take the time to learn all they do, and who they are as people, you judge them as useless. These folks are working day after day trying to make downtown Boise a better place to live, work and play. Sure, they certainly aren’t perfect, and they could certainly do some things better. And yes, perhaps they have overstepped their main purpose a bit. But if you really learned what they do, and who they are, you’d see they are trying their best for your sake (the citizens).

How many of you are perfect at your job? How many organizations do you know of that aren’t “bungling and inept?” I’ve worked for some of the largest corporations in America, and I can certainly tell you that those companies are far worse.

I challenge any of you naysayers to do more homework, such as going online and reading their annual report, their cultural investments policy or their workforce housing policy. Look at other city’s urban renewal agencies to see what they do. If CCDC has overstepped their boundaries, it is because they take a broad view of the definition of urban renewal. Restoring buildings and setting new codes are not enough to renew an urban area. It takes art, culture, music, fun events, sports, and housing to build a vibrant and economically stable downtown.

Or just get your head out of … the ground… and take a look around and see how much more downtown Boise is thriving than it was 10 years ago. (yes, CCDC had a part in those past problems, but not this current administration).

And for Pete’s sake, can’t you all find an organization that really deserves all this attention? This reminds me of that guy a few years ago who spent his time fighting Ladies’ Night because it was supposedly unfair to men. When I talked with him about it, all I could think was “OK… even if you are right…(which he wasn’t)… aren’t there greater causes to spend your energy on?” If that guy put his energy into a serious issue, he could have really made a difference in our world.

So give it a rest and put your energy towards groups that really are corrupt, that truly are wasting tax dollars, and that really don’t give a crap about the citizens. There are plenty around, and they could use the same level of attention you all have put towards CCDC.

Or if you really are hell-bent on destroying CCDC, then make sure you get to really know your “enemy” first. Learn more about what they do, why they do it, and how they do it. I think you’ll find they are a much better and more worthwhile organization then you give them credit for.

The fiefdom commonly known as the CCDC could care less what you and I think. After all, they’re the experts. The movers and shakers. Insulated (until recently) by their quasi-governmental status and a City Hall that enjoys the insulation and plausible-deniability afforded them by said fiefdom. Traffic downtown? Congestion? Grotesque architecture? Oh, hey, that’s not our fault, that’s the CCDC.

For God’s Sake folks, this ain’t the manned mission to Mars we’re talking about!

What’s it gonna take for the City Council to pull their collective heads out of… the ground, and send an organization that at the absolute very least is bungling and inept, and at worst criminal; packing?

No doubt the Mayor and the massive density crowd on the City Council know about this and think it is just fine.

Now I do understand that there are number of problems within the current agency, but lets focus on real smoking guns because this is a rat hole and nothing else.

EDITOR NOTE–Check out the PDF file and you will see they are “sponsoring” events and organizations that are already formed for a special purpose, i.e. arts commission, downtown association etc.

You are correct about the rat hole. No one wants to pour money down a rat hole.