Comments on: Developers Pay Top $ For Council Seats

By: Betty

Betty — Mon, 06 Nov 2017 12:15:32 +0000

30-35K to take a seat you say? What a waste. I’ve received More than four direct mail pieces from Thompson. None at all would have been plenty.

And let’s not forget the money Frank Walker took from Russ Westerberg in a conference room at the airport. I received one too many direct mail pieces from him too.

By: Nicole LeFavour

Nicole LeFavour — Mon, 23 Oct 2017 16:30:14 +0000

I deeply appreciate seeing the discussion on the issue of who is financing city campaigns! Thank you. Caleb Hansen’s finance report was my duty to file but the report I filed was missing 4 dates so may not have been posted. He is running for seat six and had $2500 raised as of Sept. 30 from a range of donors including myself. Caleb’s primary issue is ensuring that the city is affordable. We all know it is getting less and less so and that corporate funding and developer donations do not encourage policy makers to focus on the issue of affordability. They tend to benefit from housing shortages, gentrification and high rents. I’m sure Caleb will comment here himself and say more.

By: Ridahoan

Ridahoan — Sat, 21 Oct 2017 02:03:50 +0000

Thanks for giving us the heads up on who the developers are buying. Seems like they own almost everyone — certainly both the left and the right are susceptible to being bought.

Next time you fly over LA, divide the vast swath of lights into a 6 x 6 grid. One of those 36 squares is about the population of the entire Treasure Valley. There is essentially an unending stream of people that want to move out of there and into places like here. Unfortunately that means these places become like there. We can’t build ourselves out of the housing crisis and maintain any semblance of our quality of life here.

By: katie fite

katie fite — Fri, 20 Oct 2017 20:09:48 +0000

Remember folks there is a candidate forum next week on October 24. It looks like they moved the location to a bigger venue (it had originally been scheduled for the library (if i recall correctly).
HERE Is the info on the meeting. They will be taking some comments submitted by the public – so show up and get the candidates to articulate in public their positions on issues: St John’s Cathedral: Faith Formation Center
St John’s Cathedral: 775 North 8th Street, Boise, ID, United States
Hear from the candidates for Boise City Council before you reach for your ballot! Our moderator, former State Sen. Mike Burkett, will ask questions of importance to Boise neighborhoods. We will also accept questions from the audience, which can be written on index cards provided when you arrive.
Nine neighborhood associations are co-hosting this free event, and all 13 candidates have been invited. We hope you can join us for an informative evening.
The forum will be held at St. John’s Cathedral Parish Hall. From the front of St. John’s on 8th Street, you’ll see a door to the left of the main staircase. This will take you to a hallway that leads to Parish Hall. There is also an entrance directly from Hays Street.
Free parking is available in the fenced parking lot across 8th Street, with an entrance from Hays. There is also plentiful street parking.
Presented by these fine neighborhood associations:
Barber Valley, Boise Heights, Central Foothills, Depot Bench, Downtown Boise, East End, Highlands, North End, Sunset

The 2017 Boise City Council candidates:
Seat 2: Paul Fortin, Logan Kimball, Rachel Misnick, Lisa Sanchez, and Frank Walker
Seat 4: Crispin Gravatt, Naomi Johnson, TJ Thomson (Incumbent), and Nicolas Way
Seat 6: Michelle…

Share this event with your friends and neighbors!

EDITOR NOTE–We don’t see much neighborhood representation from the Bench.

By: Naomi Johnson

Naomi Johnson — Fri, 20 Oct 2017 16:55:05 +0000

Hello – what a good article. I think it is SO important to understand how $$$ plays a role in EVERYTHING political.

I have a lot of thoughts about campaign finance, it is a system that keeps wealthy and privileged individuals and groups on top. I would love to see A LOT of changes made to the current campaign finance system.

That being said, we must work with what we have. Many people in current positions on the council and people I have met with campaign experience told me I would need to raise 30-35k to win this race. am trying something different and more natural to me as an organizer, a grassroots approach. We are not relying on developers to cut us checks, nor would we expect them to. We are relying upon voter education and turnout.

I challenge you all to stand up against our current system and use your vote. If everyone made it a point to show up and vote in this off-election money wouldn’t hold the power.

I am feeling very optimistic. While the values mentioned above are indeed very interesting, it wouldn’t take much digging to realize that in the past money hasn’t always been the best prediction of the race! Remember 1991 – Mrs. Hausrath wasn’t predicted to win. We have the power to defeat the $$$ with our vote.

I have spent a lot of thought and time developing my issues. I am an advocate with an education in systems work and continued experience in community organizing. I am committed to the quality of life of our community members and would like to see more balance on council when it comes to business and the economic gains of development versus advocacy for quality of life.

Stadium – This decision should involve the people of that neighborhood and how they would like to see their taxes handled. If the City sees profit from placing a stadium downtown, find a different way to pay for it less risky to a neighborhood already suffering.

Circulator – Improvements to our current bus system should take priority, we represent ALL of Boise on the council, that needs to be reflective of our choices.

F-35s – We need to show the community how the F-35s actually sound then take quality of life into consideration above ALL else.

Development – We need to move commuters, renters, and our environment to the very forefront of our development decisions. It’s important that we respond to our housing crisis immediately.

By: Death of the Republic

Death of the Republic — Thu, 19 Oct 2017 20:19:02 +0000

The corporations are well represented by the prostitute politicians, the people not so much. Hearing ignorant people say we have a Democracy is just pitiful. We used to have a Representative Republic, but that is not true either. America is now a Totalitarian State, a Corporatocrcy, or an Oligarchy. Freedom for most folks now means a chioice between Ford or Chevy, Crest or Colgate. Time for a Revolution.

By: Brian Vermilion

Brian Vermilion — Thu, 19 Oct 2017 03:53:17 +0000

How can any rational person reach any conclusion other than the candidates are whoring themselves out to the highest bidder or donator. They want favorable decisions for this investment. It’s not any more complicated than that.

By: To the candidates

To the candidates — Thu, 19 Oct 2017 01:42:34 +0000

If you want to win, go win.
You’re someone’s admired person,
although we know not who, or for what:
perhaps a best friend with many best friends, go get it.
Who will vote for you? Those you know.

The old is old.
The gold is old.
Go places, shake hands, think ahead until you have reached out to win:
Democracy and popular opinion is not dead.

Double down on the try.

By: Logan Kimball

Logan Kimball — Thu, 19 Oct 2017 01:40:03 +0000

Just wanted to add a quick follow up note. I think it’s important to mention that I am a fourth generation Idahoan and a Boise native. I grew up in the same house in West Boise, by Cole and Ustick, until going to Boise State. My wife and I are also in the process of buying our first home. It’s really exciting in that it actually is one block over from where my parents still live, by Cole and Ustick. I have deep roots in Boise and I’m excited to once again call West Boise home. I’m also advocating for voting districts to be established for the future Boise City Council. I don’t believe a majority of council members should all reside in one neighborhood, such as the North End. I think it’s important to have accurate representation from our community and I hope to build on that issue if I get elected. Please reach out to me with comments or questions at info@votelogankimball.com, thank you!

By: idaholc

idaholc — Wed, 18 Oct 2017 22:58:48 +0000

Please don’t forget, T.J. Thompson voted to give our Jefferson Street to St. Lukes. There can be no redemption for that.