Dave, you just don’t understand, you just don’t live in the right location. Now just git along and quit complaining.

When you owe everything to the North Enders that elect you this kind of behavior must occur.
That is why we have one “economy” that is heavily subsidized downtown and one out west that is not.

One could not ask for a better illustration of democrat cronyism (downtown) versus republican free market west of Cole Road.

I am sure that the North end thanks all those in the city limits who support their way of life downtown via the tax levies that the City Council assesses.

@Newbie – I don’t think anyone minds paying for the services that are equally and fairly distributed for the benefit of everyone, as well as passing rules and ordinances that apply to the masses – I think MOST people mind paying for services or ordinances designed to benefit small groups, special interests or a few who stand to gain…

Really think on this, go back as far you’ve been in Boise, ever seen a fire ladder truck ever been used on rescue or a fire. The ladders stretched at full length and distance of set up might make it 40-50 ft. Heavy rescue vehicles are more practical, don’t cost as much, it’s all about insurance ratings, cost to run one of these vehicles 1,130,000- 1, 600,000 per year

sorry, Boise does NOT start north of the river.

Most of the old buildings of downtown are are very expensive to operate, are not safe in a fire, and are not safe in even a moderate earthquake. I say we doze them for safety reasons. That’s what urban renewal is suppose to look like.

Due to a previously arranged absence that prevented my attendance at the public hearing, I submitted my written comments in opposition to the parking meter changes last week. This is an absolutely awful idea and should be seen as such.

As to the comments about the turf war and disproportionate spending downtown versus the rest of the city, let me give my two cents. First, I too am concerned that the resources aren’t being spread equally. The city is getting awfully close to making this a problem, but it isn’t one yet. That said, the partisan demagoguery spewed by “Lynn” (Luker?) is ridiculous. There are representatives on the Boise City Council from nearly every part of Boise, including west Boise. Plus, if there was such a big problem, people opposed to the current situation would be pushing candidates to announce for one of the three city council positions up for election in November. It is nearly August and no one has announced, less the current incumbents. That tells me that the “concerns” are much ado about nothing.

Another curious thing… I love how many of the same people complaining about spending downtown and claim the unequal use of resources are conspicuously silent when ACHD routinely under spends in the City of Boise relative to the overall tax collection in the city.

Done with down town Boise and the Farmers market. Was 4 min’s late getting back to my auto and a $25 fine was already on my window. What do they just stand there and watch the parking lots?

@Robert: “Done with down town Boise … Was 4 min’s late getting back to my auto and a $25 fine was already on my window.”

So, your meter expired and you’re surprised that you got a ticket for having an expired meter? What a horrible city!

Home values are higher in the North end because of their location, as the houses are smaller, older and otherwise undesirable in another modern modern Boise neighborhood. There is no dispute that the closer a property is to downtown, the more “valuable” it is. Likewise, the closer you are to downtown, the higher your taxes. What is so shocking about investing the most money in areas that return the most money?

EDITOR NOTE–New To Boise, your rhetorical question is the problem. The downtown area RETURNS NOTHING in the way of taxes on improvements, new buildings, or appreciated value. That is the “increment” and it all goes to CCDC. The low value property on the bench (and other areas of course) is used to fund police, fire, etc. If urban renewal fixed up decaying property, razed buildings beyond repair and put newly created structures on the tax rolls, there would be no argument. Problem is the taxes are diverted to CCDC to expand itself.

I grew up on the bench back in the 50’s and always envied the sidewalks of the downtown (Northend) areas. So when I grew up I lived downtown and loved it!
I have returned to the Bench as the Northend started becoming all too … non-Idahoan.
And I have noticed how spit on the Bench is by not just the City but Idaho Power as well.
Parks and swimming pools are harder to find up here (but there are still plenty of citizens here who need them – perhaps even more since the socio-economics are not as high up here…. no YMCA pools here.
Drive from the airport down Vista and Capital Blvd. Not as pretty as it was years ago…. motels made into shelters – not to welcome guests to the city.

North End has the foot hills for their dog park. Have you seen the nasty spot called a dog park on Roosevelt (on the Bench, not downtown)… I would rather drive to Nampa’s dog park!
I could rant on, but it’s endless.

You’re missing the point – the entire city needs a downtown for a successful future, not the other way around.

@Newbie – I find it strange that you would label yourself as a person without personal experience of Boise’s history and then proceed to compare various parts of it to the ways of cities in California. Boise is just a small part of this State and the North and East ends do not represent the State or even the City of Boise, let alone the rest of the Treasure Valley.

This is not California. Idahoans do not want to be, act like or learn much from California except for how to avoid becoming like California. (This isn’t a judgement, as I actually love a lot of Northern California.)
= >

It’s not about redistributing the wealth, it’s about finding the best ways to serve the entire area in a fair and balanced manner. Claiming to pay more in property taxes and therefore deserving more services sounds pretty much like telling the cop writing you a speeding ticket that you pay his salary.

By that same logic, since you’re new to these parts, you and others who have only been here for a few years, really shouldn’t get as much in services compared to those who’ve been here for decades since they’ve been paying for a lot longer and are far more fiscally responsible for the services and developments you now enjoy.

It just doesn’t make sense to justify who should and shouldn’t get more in services – All services afforded by taxes must be distributed properly, equally and for the good of the City as a whole.