City Government
Depot Mostly For Private Uee
July 6, 2008 
Despite years of advocacy by the GUARDIAN and broad public support, Boise’s Depot remains closed to the public most of the time.
Even a recent report from the “VISION FOR THE DEPOT COMMITTEE” seems to ignore any suggestion the Boise Depot be opened to the public.
Team Dave spent several hundred thousand dollars moving the antique steam engine, “Big Mike,” from Julia Davis Park to the Depot within the past year. Still, there isn’t even a request from the Parks Department for funds to keep the building open to tourists and citizens during the summer months.
The best they can offer is Sunday and Monday during the summer. The Capitol is closed for at least another year for renovation and the Depot is closed most of the time–not a very welcoming atmosphere to a Capitol City.
Maybe we can get on the AAA list of “Top 10 Cities With Closed Landmarks.”
Without question, at least three city administrations since 1996 have continued the practice of locking the public out of the Spanish Mission style landmark in favor of renting it to affluent folks for parties, weddings, and graduations.
Sadly, the Depot Vision Committee will probably get funds for some displays that no one will get to see unless they are invited to an event which rents the Depot.
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Comments & Discussion
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Jul 7, 2008, 7:27 am
“There are Three kinds of lies in this world. Lies. Damned lies. And Statistics” -Mark Twain
“Mayor Beiter Reelected by 67.4%” (or something like that) is one such lie.
The truth of the matter is that Mr. Beiter was reelected by about 8.9% of those ELIGIBLE to vote.
And at last count there were 25 comments on Dog Poop and 6 on the CCDC.
The sad, sad reality is that the powers-that-be could care less what the citizenry think because the citizenry have proven themselves time and again to be Sheep.
We have exactly the government we deserve!
————————–
77.67% of all statistics are made up on the spot.
; )
Jul 7, 2008, 7:47 am
I think you are mistaken, Guardian. The headline in the paper today emphatically states “Boise Depot Opens to Public.” (sarcasm)
Jul 7, 2008, 8:38 am
I’ll bet the fly on the wall during the initial meeting of this “esteemed committee” went something like
“Good morning all. As mayor, I would like to thank you for being a member of the committee to study the public’s access to the Boise Depot. The outline I have supplied each of you with will show what results from your efforts I will accept.
1- No more public access than 2 days a week
2- Something about a museum. Which I will tell the citizens we don’t have the money for.
3- Continue to rent the venue for private parties.
Any questions?”
An aside to Jade as they leave.
“Now, when do we meet with the whitewater people to give them their million dollars for that wading pool?”
Jul 7, 2008, 1:44 pm
The “committee” “found” just what the mayor and council wanted – try to make it look like they cover all the bases.
Fact is that the city wants the Depot to be nothing more than a BUS STOP transit station! How can you possibly haveit be a BUS STOP AND rent it out for a wedding!!!!
The city plans to keep giving this double talk until they simply close the depot and tell us that trains that will increase our taxes by $2 BILLION dollars will be stopping there and unloading people to get on buses to go somewhere.
The VAST MAJORITY of Boise want the Depot open and NOT a BUS STATION for a train to nowhere.
Jul 8, 2008, 11:53 pm
I think a lot of people who do business in Portland or Salt Lake City and places in between would love to have a choice of transportion besides airplanes or personal car. When my brother went to college in Portland he always took the train. It would also be good for the system to connect with the rest of the interstate rail traffic. For non-business types the extra time expended is more than balanced with the non-stress travel. Leave the airlines for people in a hurry.
Anyone who has traveled in Europe can see that these systems can and do work great. Having every person in a one person per car situation is just wasteful and expensive.
Rail travel has been proved over and over to be cheaper than airlines or cars.
I hope we will change our system in time for me to be able to visit my grandchildren in the eastern U.S.
Jul 9, 2008, 8:59 am
Appointed committes serve one purpose..to simply confirm a rite of passage on the mayor’s agenda. The deck is stacked with people that are going to go with the “program”. Consultants serve the same purpose. It all boils down to “what would you like us to tell you”.
All of this smoke and mirrors removes the burden of direct criticism. It is, after all, the committe or consultant that have made the decisions. The mayor (etal) are merely the tools of implimentation.