As for the F-35 jets, it seems that Boise is obsessed with loud noises. Does anyone know if any city ordinances exist for those loud car exhaust modification devices?

A new study conducted by neuroscientist Tara Swift and the London Press Club determined that “the highest functions of journalists brains were operating at a lower level than the average population, due to dehydration, self-medicating, and fueling their brains with caffeine and high-sugar foods”

EDITOR NOTE–And like most other “visions” it is all dependent upon the Ada County Highway District. THAT is why Bieter wants control of the streets. ACHD is not likely to go for a trolley at this time.

Plus the fact it was broke down most of the time. I started taking a taxi. My guess is that if Boise gets one it will be broke down most of the time also.

We must remember that we the people own the radio spectrum. We give broadcasters a protected slice of that spectrum. Wasn’t it in the 50s or so the gov’t said in return for a protected frequency you must supply an hour a day of “news” as a public service.

The problem is congress, and we the people have dropped the ball on overseeing the broadcast networks. The “news” is barely anything of the sort. Nearly every story is some kind of advertisement or agenda piece from corporate hq. We should be able to file a FOIA at any time to get the networks to divulge if a story, presented as news, is paid for, and who paid for it. In fact there should be a mandatory disclosure at the beginning of every broadcast like the warning label on cigarettes.

For example: “Production of this story compensated by $Facebork” or “Warning: Viewing this broadcast may cause brain damage”

I read a really good essay on this not too long ago but sadly didn’t bookmark it.

Back on topic:

I have a hard time with the expense of a trolley. I have a really hard time with how they blocked off Grove at 8th which was the obvious route for a downtown trolley.

However, have you people been downtown lately? The traffic has grown immensely and grid lock is rapidly becoming ever more common. This will only get worse, trolley or no trolley. I don’t have the answers.

Can any of you suggest a better solution?

EDITOR NOTE–One solution would be to do as many of the European cities do. Preserve their historic centers and build the high rise offices on the periphery. It is absurd to attract people to the center of a city to park a car and then ask them to ride a trolley once they get there. Much as we hate to admit it, it makes sense to build offices at places like I-84 and Ten Mile, State and Highway 55, Gowen and I-84, etc.

I propose military units be dissolved and the pieces scattered about every few years to prevent the kind of thing we see here in Boise today. We have ANG officers who have decided to try to push the population around. We’ve given them power, big guns, and most of our money. So now they speak against a large faction of the population — be damned what the population wants — be damned the population has credible concerns — the population is not as important as the ANG so to speak. It’s called epaulet syndrome — Think Napoleon Bonaparte. Nothing worse than a military officer without proper respect for the civilian population. So rip the unit to bits and put it back together in a different form in a different place. Move a completely different unit here from elsewhere. Most everyone will still have a job doing something at Gowen and the top officers will have other things to worry about in the service of the population.

I am angry and disgusted. It’s not the same military I took pride in. It’s become self-serving like the military of so many failed nations before us. I respect and assist our vets, but not the senior leaders. So disband, rotate out, and retire senior leaders. It’s called breaking up the gang.

What if instead of airplanes Gowen became a new military/VA medical facility. There is disgusting shortcomings in the military’s ability to care for wounded and retired vets. The need is very real and lasting. Big money for Boise with no noise. A regional medical facility would offer huge synergies for local doctors and universities. Wages would be way higher than guys who fix airplanes and such. Probably attract lots of people who would ride on a trolley too. More electric cars – fewer stinky diesel pickups. What more could a liberal mayor want?

I don’t understand Bieter’s rail in a small downtown area that is touted nationwide for its walkability. Link has history of trolleys in Boise, and actual purpose for them. We’d be better served duplicating/expanding the “Boise Valley Loop” via bus or other regular circulator, and capitalizing on cross-county visitors (both directions) rather than overspending on an unneeded legacy/ego project. This strange need to win/earn matching government money? My Dad always said: it is not savings nor a deal unless you were prepared and able to pay full price for it. (this adage holds true for stadium, too)