I DID have the misfortune of spending 3+ Years in Los Angeles – just in time for the Rodney King Riots and Northridge Quake!

“What’s the difference between Los Angeles and Yogurt? Yogurt has live, active culture!” Though there is something to be said for all the “Silicone Sistas” on the beach ; )

The “Picayune” name (meaning: Trivial, or of Little Interest, and an archaic Spanish Coin) was inspired by the 80s comic “Bloom County” and its fictitious daily, the “Bloom Picayune”.

In parting, I refuse to blame ANY elected officials, because we put them there. Either through our votes – or as is more often the case – lack of voting.

Like Ronald Reagan used to say: “We the people… We ARE America!”

We get exactly what we vote – or don’t vote – for.

You make an awesome point! Someone has actually posted a site with everyone’s earnings and it can be viewed here:

ouridaho.com

I find it odd that the fire chief himself makes more than the mayor by more than $8 an hour. Your tax dollars at work.

OK Maybe its just me but I think John Boros was the best Chief…RIP Uncle John. the Bugle Still Plays.

We need a local citizenry who gives a s–t!

Mayor Beiter’s “Landslide” Election Victory of 8.9% – constantly misrepresented as 67.9% – tells the whole story.

Gentrification creates a transient, commodity atmosphere wherein people treat a community as something to be bought, sold and traded. As soon as the-powers-that-be drop the ball (i.e. Boise and its Shadow Government), they move on to another community that has it’s s–t truly together, and not just full of slogans and paid for awards.

All well and good, except they (we) are left with poorly constructed and decaying McMansions, Subdivisions, Strip Malls, etc…

It never ceases to amaze me how most folks ’round these parts have swallowed the developers B.S. hook, line and sinker, and think we are somehow immune to the pitfalls that have befallen similar communities.

“Those ignorant of history [blissfully or otherwise] are doomed to repeat it!”

You are creative in the arguments you make, but leave so much out. I am sorry that you feel left out of the discussion but Dir. Hagen and Chief Doan have been having for the last year.

Lisa, the proposal for enhanced ALS services by the fire department started way before 1992. Then Boise Fire Chief Renn Ross delivered a proposal to City Council for ALS Engines and was met by the same mis-direction and mis-information.

Adding ALS services to the Fire Department has been part of the Boise City Strategic Plan for over 10 years. There have been Paramedics working for the fire department for over 5 years. I think the argument again is that the system has lacked the leadership to make significant change.

Putting a Boise Fire Paramedic on a Ada County ambulance is not a serious proposal. The Fire Department already offers Ada County EMS stations to house ambulances around the city at no cost (collaboration?). Should we provide manpower to Ada County EMS as well?

You actually represent the minority. Nice try. If you and yours support all the wierd agendas of city hall then I suggest you go to city hall and personally write a check to the mayor – an invite all your friends to do the same. We do not indent to pay for these self serving agendas.

The majority of us want an open, honest government….something that this site has proven we do not have.

Mark hit it on the head. ACP and even more importantly, the BOCC has expressed time and time again a willingness to discuss county wide consolidation.

Let me say it again…..COUNTY WIDE consolidation. Not fragmenting the current EMS system peice by peice into 7 different fire departments.

But that would mean you wouldnt be the “City of Boise FD” anymore…Your chief wouldnt be THE chief, neither would MFD’s chief, nor KUNA’s chief, nor EAGLEs chief, etc etc etc…..

Spongebob….

Interesting concept. Seems to me to be a FIX to a problem that doesnt exist in the north end.

it also requires require more honesty and transparency by the FD, but interesting concept none the less. The only thing it doesnt do is put (to use BFDs own comments) medics that need experiance on the ambulance with a more experianced ACP medic, like the current proposal does. That would be “better’ because that would be better patient care…

What it does do is generate funding for BFD it doesnt have currently….hmmmmmm.

That said, if BFD can come to the table honestly, with transparency, and with out trying to make a power grab, without trying to dictate terms and set them selves up as surpreme commander in the city of Boise….I amn sure that there would be some kind of new model worked out. One that would morelikely looklike the one already proposed..but one that would be mutualy agreable.

But so far this time, transparency and honesty and fairness havent been hallmarks of BFDs dealings with ACP, the city council or the taxpayers.

Let me counterpose a question… Why is it you BFD’ers are so opposed to working with ACP Paramedics on the same car? Where is the logic there?

BG ,

YOU ARE SO RIGHT, we do need a PUBLIC SAFETY OMBUDSMAN. I am sure ACP would work with him…but would BFD???