Comments on: Trolley PR Transparency Not So Clear

By: kr7

kr7 — Tue, 01 Dec 2009 23:04:42 +0000

I must be upfront—I do not trust tj Young. I am sure The Bieter Bunch has their eyes on the 60 million dollars from Obama and needs city residents to pony up the 20 million dollars to get it. I am bracing for my property taxes to go up—like I can afford it.

By: cyclops

cyclops — Sun, 22 Nov 2009 07:28:36 +0000

Please correct me but aren’t we looking at a $9,000,000.00 deficit in the city already? And we want to add to that?
It is kind of like when Oprah gave away all those cars. If you can’t afford to pay the taxes or registration fees, what good are the cars??

By: Kappa TA

Kappa TA — Sun, 22 Nov 2009 05:36:24 +0000

Sisyphus:

How is a streetcar a good planning tool and beneficial to Boise?

Here’s a good transportation plan that benefits the populace:

Today, Albertsons donated $50,000 to the Idaho Food Bank to buy fuel for trucks to pick up donations of food for the hungry. The IFB estimates a 30 percent climb in the number of people needing food assistance this winter. The city of Boise could easily pony up with a $90,000 donation to the IFB, as long as it has money to burn. This could be an annual rivalry to top the Broncos-Vandals match up, and it would a win-win scenario.

Oh, by the way, I would like a baby blue Mercedes sports car and a black puppy dog for Christmas. Aint gonna happen this year. As for those who would push pet projects at this time, I say, “Let them eat cake, or crow” in 2010-2012!

By: Sisyphus

Sisyphus — Sat, 21 Nov 2009 19:26:59 +0000

Oh now Dave lets not get personal. Cronin doesn’t have a one man operation. And a vocal few does not a majority make. In the grander scheme of things I’m waiting to see if the money salutes. If it doesn’t then its a tough sell and will probably spell the end of the inquiry. But if it comes through, then the hard work begins. Didn’t I see somewhere that the Orchard overpass was going to cost $169 million. We’ll not realize even a small amount of revenue from that project yet the expense certainly gives some perspective in what the mayor is asking. I acknowledge the streetcar is a boondoggle for developers, just look at the task force, but its also a good planning tool and overall beneficial to Boise. It ain’t no parking garage? 😉

By: Kappa TA

Kappa TA — Sat, 21 Nov 2009 17:27:37 +0000

The underlying question is: does Boise really need a trolley? Federal bucks still come out of our pockets. Unemployment continues to rise, property values continue to plunge. Why don’t we work on solutions to those problems, not on frivolities that can wait. I stand by my criticisms, although I respect your opinions as well. Are there any ordinary citizens on any of these panels that make decisions for voters? All I saw in today’s Daily article are BIG NAME executives and flacks clueless of what the populace at large is facing. Should Brian have applied? In my opinon, no, because he has a definite conflict of interest. Dump the trolley, period. Dump
officials who force unwise, expensive projects on the rest of us. Otherwise, Happy Thanksgiving!

By: Sisyphus

Sisyphus — Sat, 21 Nov 2009 00:11:28 +0000

“If Team Dave stays the course on this trolley folly, they are likely to get unseated by irate voters”–methinks thou doth protest too much. It didn’t work so well in the last election when this was the only issue. But hope springs eternal, eh?

I think the city would be foolish to let the opportunity pass them by to get the feds to pay for it. A little seed money to get $40 million with a potential of billions in revenue for Boise is just what the mayor should be doing. In fact he should be voted out if he does let the opportunity pass him by.

I feel sorry for Brian Cronin. He didn’t ask for any of this negative publicity. He was asked to help and he did. I see Cynthia making lots of smoke but I don’t see any fire yet. What was supposed to happen here? Was Cronin automatically precluded from bidding on a competitive bid project because his team sat down with CCDC for a couple hours? Are the three other bidders making valid claims they were cheated in this process? I just don’t see the issue.

EDITOR NOTE–I don’t think Team Dave or the council see it either! The GUARDIAN sees weekly anti-trolley comments to the mayor hotline, street talk against it, and pretty negative press from the Daily Paper as well as others. It is Team Dave that is making it a one issue race at this time. You will recall the GUARDIAN thought the council race was “like watching paint dry.” All it will take is a viable candidate and I freely admit there is none in sight yet. I would hate to see a one issue guy or gal win just as a protest.

“Was Cronin automatically precluded from bidding on a competitive bid project because his team sat down with CCDC for a couple hours?”—isn’t $2K pretty high for a couple hour sit down? Even liberal lawyers don’t make that much!

By: untamedshrew

untamedshrew — Fri, 20 Nov 2009 22:55:48 +0000

Gee, thanks for defining that Cyclops. I had no idea what it meant.

By: cyclops

cyclops — Fri, 20 Nov 2009 03:34:38 +0000

Let’s see… Shrew. Webster’s New world, (a nagging, mean woman). Wow! Just where in City Hall are you employed??

By: untamedshrew

untamedshrew — Thu, 19 Nov 2009 23:22:30 +0000

Oh, right. Politicians … yes, the public sure seems to have a lot of trust and confidence in elected officials these days. The Statesman’s recent coverage of the streetcar issue … sure is putting Mayor Bieter up on a pedestal.

Not.

By: Kappa TA

Kappa TA — Thu, 19 Nov 2009 16:37:41 +0000

Marg,

Sadly, I agree with you. However, if taxpayers, the media and political parties(whether the officials claim to be non-partisan or not) started holding them accountable, maybe things could change. The public and press have a propensity to put elected officials on pedestals; in some cases because they’ve been in office a long time or have done “good deeds” along the way. It is incumbent upon the media, especially, to steer clear of glorification of those who serve the electorate.