Comments on: Mayor Hotline July 3 to 9

By: Diane Sower

Diane Sower — Wed, 21 Jul 2010 18:44:26 +0000

Concerning the few words of the F-35’s. I attended the last meeting with the city’s Gloria Mabbott, who told the Statesman that they have gotten little feedback. Bull. There is alot more about the F-35’s that most don’t know, even though I’m of the thought that they won’t come here. In Marriett Georgia, after they arrived, 180 homes near the site were said to be un-inhabitable, and went into foreclosure since they couldn’t sell them. The air force has the authority to kick out residents they think are in harms way, and there are many more than just those near Gowen Field that will be harmed by these fighters. Many many more. I wish more people would educate themselves about this.

By: cyclops

cyclops — Wed, 21 Jul 2010 05:33:06 +0000

Very true. I understand that city/ county employees pay taxes. It is sad though that the average citizen doesn’t have the level of health care, nor the retirement program, that city/county employees enjoy. I know for certain that they are very valuably “perks” of working for government. How many times have you heard a city/ county employee say “if it weren’t for the retirement package, I would have blown off this crappy job years ago” (I have heard it many, many times).
As a result, I stand by my earlier post when I said that the city/county employees have not shared in the doldrums of the current employment situation.

By: Steve

Steve — Tue, 20 Jul 2010 03:17:32 +0000

Think about it cyclops, a lot of the Boise City employees help pay their own salaries by paying taxes!!!!! Yes, thats right, government types help pay their own salaries, think about it!!

By: trexmaniac

trexmaniac — Mon, 19 Jul 2010 22:50:11 +0000

Cyclops,
To clarify, I was just responding to Fred up in the hotline complaining that the employees were getting raises. I really don’t care, they dont have room to complain, because they still have jobs unlike some.
Second, you were close, I have a brother who is employed with the City. You make good points about citizens sacrificing more than the City employees, seeing how there are more Citizens. They can’t afford to pay their bills let alone go out and purchase things, which creates income from sales tax that helps go to the City. When people don’t spend their money, the City doesn’t recieve their portion of it. I personally don’t mind paying the extra taxes if the services are improved. I know, I know, they won’t….

By: cyclops

cyclops — Mon, 19 Jul 2010 04:28:08 +0000

Trexmaniac, spoken like a true city employee,(or married to one) “If they don’t take it now, they will never be able to make it up” ARE YOU FRIGGING KIDDING ME??
What does it take to make you realize that IT AIN’T YOUR MONEY! It is OUR money and we think we are giving you more than you deserve, or need!! If you haven’t noticed, your “sacrifice” in this economy ain’t near what a huge portion of your “money providers” have suffered! When Team dave announces that 10% of ALL city employees have been laid off, we can talk! Until then if you are looking for a sympathetic ear, sorry, not from me!

By: trexmaniac

trexmaniac — Fri, 16 Jul 2010 22:31:26 +0000

If the statesman would do a better job of informing the public, the City Employees will actually be taking roughly a 3% pay cut. Come October 1st, they will receive a base increase of 1.5% to 2% based on goal achievement. They will be loosing 3% that was a one-time non-base raise they recieved begining of FY10 that was approved in FY09. They will also see increase in the amount they have to contribute to PERSI of 1%. The city is lowering the amount they are paying for the employee’s health care, so the employees are going to have to make up that difference, which is roughtly about 1% or so depending on the selections they make.
While I can’t say I agree with increasing the 3% on property taxes, if they don’t take it now, they will never be able to make it up.

By: Brielle

Brielle — Fri, 16 Jul 2010 22:14:03 +0000

@Sherry Kandle on the lack of SSL on a website…

Just because a site doesn’t use SSL doesn’t mean that your CC will end up being sniffed.

There’s three likely possibilities here:

1) Her computer has a virus or trojan. SSL will _not_ protect your CC at all, since the nasty will just read the keystrokes as you type them. Her fault for using Windows and not having working antivirus.

2) The rec department’s webserver was hacked. SSL wouldn’t help in this case again either, since the attacker could just yank the CC number as it passes through the web server’s memory or once it hits the disk.

3) The rec department’s website didn’t leak the CC at all – rather she put it in on phishing site or another business site leaked it. Either way, that has nothing to do with SSL.

Yes, the lack of a secure website is a bad thing these days, but I’m guessing either option 1 or option 3 is what actually happened.

By: Kate

Kate — Fri, 16 Jul 2010 15:58:27 +0000

Re; Budget- Fred’s comment
Fred’s comment is right on ! People in our neighborhood are out of work and struggling! What kind of out of touch is the Boise City council ? They need to cut all unnecessary expenditures -not be planning new obligations, like streetcars etc.!

By: erico49

erico49 — Thu, 15 Jul 2010 14:21:24 +0000

It amazes me that people are so stupid that they would call the Boise mayor’s office to complain about Canyon County roads. Or Boise roads, for that matter.

EDITOR NOTE–there are have been some from Boston as well. Must be something to do with an internet listing.

By: boisecynic

boisecynic — Thu, 15 Jul 2010 14:05:06 +0000

Why is the white water park the perpetual poster child for the budget fear-mongerers?

A little math lesson here: $750,000, a one time expense only, is less than 1% of Boise’s annual budget. There is probably no other Boise neighborhood that has had less tax money spent on it over a longer period of time than the west side of downtown.