Comments on: Commish Baker Dissed On ACHD Plaque

By: Kappa TA

Kappa TA — Thu, 22 Oct 2009 04:22:26 +0000

Ms. Baker is a sitting ACHD commissioner. She should have been included on the plaque, since the project was completed during her term. Mr. Bivens is a former ACHD commissioner and major contributor to the project; he is rightfully acknowledged. Next time you are in Merrill Park, check out the Eagle Pathway System plaque, circa 2004. I can understand why Ms. Baker is ticked — to omit her was a sign of disrespect. However, “Stalinist tactics” rhetoric and tantrums have no place at public meetings.

By: db

db — Mon, 12 Oct 2009 13:48:24 +0000

One’s exclusion from a bridge plaque does not equal Stalinist Russia. Stalin actually, you know, killed people. That one analogy renders her entire argument as stupid.

Should she have been on the plaque? Probably.

Can I see why she’s not? Absolutely.

By: Timm!

Timm! — Sun, 11 Oct 2009 16:14:20 +0000

For the curious, you can watch Baker bring this up at the commission meeting here http://www.achd.ada.id.us/MeetingsAgendas/CommissionMeetings/Archive/2009/10-07-09.aspx

(click “Watch entire meeting” – it’s only about 5 mins)

Personally, I found her actions at the meeting unprofessional, hostile, accusatory and HIGHLY passive-aggressive. Her blog post follow up struck me as whiny and petulant.

By: Eric T

Eric T — Sat, 10 Oct 2009 04:02:10 +0000

Lucas Bumbach wrote: “What’s the obsession with self-aggrandizement?”

ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha………deep breath…….ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha…..deep breath

By: Sisyphus

Sisyphus — Fri, 09 Oct 2009 15:44:01 +0000

In answer to your question east ender, so long as population growth remains unchecked, and unaggressive planning is allowed to rule, the expansion will never be done.

By: Sisyphus

Sisyphus — Fri, 09 Oct 2009 15:38:41 +0000

Having now witnessed Ms. Baker’s appropriately characterized tantrum I’m going to revise my comments. Pick your battles Sarah. Absolutely there needs to openess and I applaud your efforts to do so but not when the recipient of those efforts is your own personal aggrandizement. The efforts to deflect the focus to the people who elected you won’t carry on this issue which in the grander scheme of things will seem self serving to the typical voter’s thirty second attention span. The unwritten rule to which you cite on your blog makes for a very weak case. Do I think you were shafted? Perhaps. But your comparison to Stalin is vitriolic hyperbole. It may be accurate regarding secrecy but it invokes an evil historical character responsible for killing millions of people that has NO place in this issue and does nothing but add to divisivness in discourse. You may have had a point but its now lost. I’d apologize for these very public missteps, but not for your motive to examine the decision making process, and perhaps pursue the matter internally. But this is clearly the wrong issue to make a stink about. Please give me the shovel.

By: boisecynic

boisecynic — Fri, 09 Oct 2009 13:25:28 +0000

I agree with Lucas, why a plaque at all?

14 comments and you all missed the point, the point was that the 4 commissioners besides Baker authorized the plaque in a private meeting. What other private meetings are going on?

And no, I’m no fan of Baker. I contacted her, before the election, about the 30th St Extension, which is something many in my neighborhood want built. She admitted knowing nothing about it, but she sure knew everything about the Ustick widening.

Maybe it’s just me, but I think a potential ACHD commissioner should have some idea about the top 20 or 30 proposed projects especially when the project has been on the drawing board for 40 years or more.

Sara, if you’re listening, drop the revenge over Ustick shtick, it’s done. It looks a million times better and traffic is a billion times better and honestly, I see only a small number of properties that took it in the shorts.

To Casual Observer:

West Boise has gotten millions in ACHD expenditures in the last ten years. Do I have to list them all? 27th is the busiest residential street in Ada County even busier than WS Avenue prior to the East Parkcenter bridge. 30th Extension has been proposed for 40 years which is about 10 years longer than the East Parkcenter bridge. The next major project should be the 30th Extension.

Traffic count sources from ACHD’s own traffic count web page.

By: Lucas Baumbach

Lucas Baumbach — Fri, 09 Oct 2009 06:23:45 +0000

We should put inspiring quotes and date built on plaques not names of commissioners and lawyers. What’s the obsession with self-aggrandizement?
Public structures like this should remain unattributed to an incidental group or individual, especially not a group of public servants.

By: costaprettypenny

costaprettypenny — Fri, 09 Oct 2009 03:39:30 +0000

Idaho Native is right on! Sara, you had nothing to do with the bridge. How could she possibly even think that your name should be on the plaque. Stop grandstanding, you are the laughing stock of most of District 5. The tough decisions, frustrations and mistakes regarding this bridge were made years before you even considered running for ACHD Commissioner. I agree that Dave Bivens deserves to be listed on the plaque as Commissioner, he was there from the beginning, you weren’t.

By: Easter

Easter — Fri, 09 Oct 2009 02:17:48 +0000

Let’s notice The Statesman has not done anything with this story.

Let’s also notice the ACHD advertisment banner is now back on the Statesman in the last 2 weeks. YOUR tax dollars wasted advertising for ACHD to be a more friendly agency cuz that’s what ULI recommended to them.

Coincidence?