Uh, you been to a state run liquor dispensary lately?

Nice work Dave. It begs for answers. It strikes me that all the land board commissioners are running for re-election right now. I would like to know more.

Connecting an unknown and un-researched action by the Idaho State Land Board with Boise City, Communist China, Vietnam, Cuba and Mideast sheikdoms does not support your positioning as a responsible journalist — it damages the purity of your efforts.

Also how do you substantiate the statement that the transfer to the Land Board will cost the state $16,000 in income taxes? Have you had access to the previous owner’s tax returns or profit and loss statements?

You might have a story here but comments from both the assessor and State Land Board would have been more professional.

EDITOR NOTE–Thanks for your journalistic critique. We do indeed have it nailed with multiple sources, documents, etc. There is no way for us to offer lengthy quotes, etc. Part of the success of the GUARDIAN is not quoting people who will get spanked for talking to the media. Many a good TV story never airs for want of someone to go “on camera.” This story has legs and there will be many more versions from legacy media outlets. The heavy lifting has been done, now it is detail work.

The GUARDIAN probably doesn’t qualify as “professional” because we do it all for free.

BRR, make excuses and try to offer a smokescreen on this until the cows come home! Bottom line here is that the Guardian has them by the “short ones” and the pain will prove to be significant!!!

About government “going into business” – I immediately thought of Nevada taking over the Mustang Ranch and not being able to turn a profit selling whiskey and, uh, well, since this is a “G” rated site, I had best leave it at that.

And speaking of whiskey – Sisyphus, whether or not you think the state should be in the business of selling liquor, at least they aren’t competing unfairly with private business there – they have a monopoly.

This makes me want to declare my home as a “church” and get it exempt from property taxes. THE CHURCH OF DIVINE EXEMPTION sounds good for lack of a better name.

I promise anyone who attends will get free coffee and perhaps a few cookies after my sermons on the evils of taxation without representation.

I thought Idaho had a law or executive order on the books that prohibited government from offering services or products which compete with the private sector.

Can not find it but an Example from North Carolina:

“The Act specifically prohibits North Carolina government agencies from:

* Directly or indirectly selling goods in competition with NC citizens;
* Rendering services to the public that are ordinarily provided by private businesses;
* Leasing space in a state owned or operated building for purposes of selling goods or rendering services in competition with private business; or
* Contracting with anyone to sell goods or render services in competition with private business.

However, there are specific exceptions….”

Wait, does the Board of Land Commissioners not own an office building and rent office space to others downtown? Maybe not, but I thought they did. Wouldn’t this be the same thing?

EDITOR NOTE–They do indeed own office buildings and bare ground downtown and in other locations. Previously they have not operated retail businesses under assumed names.
Even if the state owned the self store outfit and leased it to a private operator, Boise, Ada County, Schools and ACHD would not suffer as much tax loss.

Geeezus. Who knew about this that is running for office? I need to know that prior to voting please, so do about 300 of my friends.

EDITOR NOTE–the entire land board of statewide elected officers.

There wasn’t any mention of just how “Affordable” the storage is. If they’re charging the going rate that private businesses do, it’s all good, eh? The extra income from “no taxes” would go to the state and reduce everyone else’s taxes. In theory.

EDITOR NOTE–State people agree the benefit of “no taxes” increases the profit to the state, but since the money is destined for the educational endowment trust fund, it will not reduce anyone’s taxes. State would argue the profit would offset need for taxes. HOWEVER, Boise, Ada County, ACHD, and Boise Schools would all lose the tax revenues.

Is this the same Land Board that leases shoreline land on Payette Lake to their wealthy friends at less than fair market rates?

The purchase of Affordable Self Storage only happened last month. Until the begining of September 2010 it was not owned by the state. Prices have not changed. The prices there were always lower than most and in fact should have probably been brought up closer to competition a while ago. The state DID NOT lower any prices to undercut competition. As for police being able to sit there, they have been there for years before the state owned it. I lived in the subdivision north of the storage, and as there is no middle lane it is dangerous and difficult to pull out of driveways and business lots onto Maple Grove. I am thankful to have speed controled there. There have been people flying off that hill if it is know as a “speed trap” maybe people will slow down.

Dave,
You were absolutely right: the story does have legs and has been fleshed out with damning details.

And the connection with China, Vietnam, Cuba, and mideast sheikdoms still smells.

BRR