When Dave Bieter says that Jim Tibbs “just doesn’t understand the operation of the city” he is absolutely right!

Tibbs wouldn’t, in a million years, think to declare city property surplus and announce the proceeds will pay for libraries that the citizens voted down,and then lease it to someone longterm at below market value. And then purposely keep that information from at least two members of the city council! When will Boise wake up and realize that Bieter is not only not the sharpest knife in the drawer, but he seems to be rapidly approaching the line of total dishonesty.
Isn’t Bieter the guy that has always talked about city government being “transparent??”

EDITOR NOTE–Cyclops has previously disclosed he is a “Tibbs guy.”

Sara, you have now thrown down the “gauntlet”! Yes, I am a Tibbs man, everyone knows that. You,however,are hiding behind your little moniker casting doubt on honorable people.

Tibbs and Bisterfeldt were specifically kept out of the loop on the Winco thing so “Davey” could use it in the campaign. Tibbs hasn’t “blown off” any dinners or executive sessions! He has been systematically and purposely excluded by the council leadership because he beat their buddy Jerome. I am really getting quite tired of the “elitist, snobby” attitude displayed by the council.

Now as to why I am a Tibbs man. Yes, I respect him and consider him afriend, but most importantly, I believe that Dave Bieter is a complete joke as a mayor. If we don’t do something about him, we will all be walking and going to the bathroom in outhouses. Jim Tibbs is the best bet for cleaning up and re-directing this city and he will make a great mayor.

Any statements that I may make here are my own and in no way reflect the official views of the Tibbs campaign. You see Sara, I am also a citizen in this community and I am really tired of Bieter “screwing it up!!”

I am continually amazed by the comments that are made (hyped by the Bieter camp) that the only reason Tibbs is running is because Bieter didn’t make him chief. I have been included in EVERY strategy and campaign meeting with regard to Tibbs’ council and mayoral campaigns and that subject has NEVER, NEVER been brought up and discussed as a reason, or strategy by any memeber of the team.

Whether or not the Winco deal is a good one remains to be seen. But do you, or anyone else, honestly believe that they decided to put a distribution center here because of Dave Bieter and all the work he has done. If so, my friend, you really should share whatever coupons they offer! They decided to open a center here because it was a SOUND BUSINESS DECISION!! period!

The WinCo deal is yet another example of how Bieter has turned things around and put Boise back on the right track. After years of scandal in City Hall, he’s turned things around. He’s restored faith in Boise’s government and made Boise a great place to live and raise a family.

He’s balanced the budget while expanding city services. He’s building new libraries and recreational centers. He doubled the neighborhood grant program. He went door-to-door for the Community College effort. He’s made the city greener and more environmentally-friendly. He’s added more than 100 acres of parks. He’s protected open space and stood up to sprawl. Crime is down. Downtown is thriving. His efforts led to Ada County to give more planning authority to cities and to ACHD bringing in ULI and working toward a higher standard when it comes to traffic.

Bieter has earned another four years.

Guardian seems to be a tad ruffled by the news of the WinCo distribution center opening in Boise saying that it will only add to unwanted growth in the area. I’m happy to hear about the WinCo deal.

Just because it will be new to Boise, with 200 “new jobs” does not in and of itself equate to additional population growth. What Guardian overlooks is that Micron just laid off around 1,200 people, who will most likely not see their jobs at Micron return any time soon, if ever. What are they supposed to do? What happens to the other businesses in the area that rely on the money these former Micron employees spend in our local economy? I think it is quite reasonable to figure that a large number of people already residing in Boise will take those jobs. I also think it is reasonable to suppose that others in Boise making less than necessary to support their families will look to WinCo for a better opportunity to provide a sound living for themselves and their families.

This in turn will help to assure that secondary economic impacts do not take other businesses down with Micron’s fall. If you look at it in the economic sense, we are still at a net loss for jobs and the vitality they bring to our economy.

Now lets look at it from the environmental standpoint. Yes, more cheat grass will fall to the wayside for a distribution center near Micron. Yes, I know there is more there than cheat grass, but let me assure you there are no endangered species in that area (if there were, I’d be one of the first to say “no way”). Secondly, warehouses generally don’t use huge amounts of water like other forms of industry. Studies conducted by the Idaho Department of Water Resources, with the help of the Bureau of Reclamation, have shown that while we in Boise do live in an arid climate, there is enough water in the Upper Treasure Valley area for the foreseeable future. Thirdly, undoubtedly any business will add to traffic, but if this warehouse is able to make use of a rail access point, it will not put as severe a strain on vehicular traffic in the area as a warehouse without rail access. Lastly, in terms of dealing with the issue “in secret,” why would an entity in the market to buy anything, car, house, land, stock, whatever, want to publicize it? That would only start a bidding war, drive up the price and send them elsewhere. Goodness knows the last time I bought a car, the last thing I wanted the dealer to know was his car was the one I wanted, or my bargaining power would have expired on the spot.

In terms of the fact that some of this land is going to lease rather than surplus-to-sell, in the big picture, it is a Very Small amount. That is what the budget workshop said last June. By far, the majority of surplus land is in the pipeline to the auction block. In our form of government, the City Council sets policy. The Mayor is more like a CEO that caries out the policies set forth by the Council. If a business were to approach the City Council with an offer to lease a piece of land, the City Council would vote on the issue and if passed, the property would be removed from auction and a least contract written.

This is not merely a means to circumvent the voter and act as speculators. While it may not be drawing property tax, it is drawing revenue monthly in the form of rent that is used for ongoing expenditures.

Lastly, I’ve attended different community functions, and as far as I could tell, the various Council members, Vern, Maryanne, Elaine, David, Alan and the Mayor, despite the obvious differences, still get along. At Council meetings, they are able to discuss issues they may not agree on, but are polite, ask questions and respond respectfully.

Maybe Jim should speak up a bit more, ask more questions if he isn’t sure what the issues or implications are, get clarification and voice his concerns rather than simply saying no one will let him participate. Jim Tibbs wasn’t the only new member to join the Council the night he was elected, but somehow he feels he was the odd man out from day one. I think in his case, it has become a self-fulfilling prophecy.

Colleen:
I wish my kids would behave as well as you do and not question my authority! You sound like a very nice girl.

Actually Colleen, Tibbs was the only newcomer on the Council when he was elected. Bisterfeldt and Maryanne Jordan were re-elected.

You know Sara,
I thought about that right after I hit “send.” I had forgotten that Jordan had run in ’03 after she was appointed and that the last election wasn’t her first. I blame it on fatigue and allergy medicine. I thought Guardian would have entered an editorial note on that one. Let me offer my mea culpa.

As to the jobs WinCo is bringing in, they won’t match the salaries of the engineers, but Micron also let folks go that worked the line.