Comments on: Reader Question And History Lesson Worth A Look

By: Tammy Ikonen

Tammy Ikonen — Wed, 19 Dec 2018 08:31:37 +0000

I agree with all the dissenters against the present mayor. When I enjoy reading the newspaper or sit down before dinner and watch the evening news, I’m stunned at what I read and I see.. reporting agencies maintain a arms distance away from the big pink elephant in the room. It’s there, acknowledge it, recognize it. This city is corrupt and Corruption starts at the top.

By: DB

DB — Fri, 07 Dec 2018 14:01:12 +0000

@TF Boy. If they are all so ethical then why doesn’t CCDC disclose their financials on an annual basis, detailing where the UR money is spent, and what percentage is used for projects and administration. Any question of that is met with smoke in mirrors responses, or a flat-out “no we do not give that information out.” How is it that these publicly funded corporations can get away with lack of disclosure. I say that the legislature needs to act on that immediately, among several other muddy practices that are used by the cities and UR agencies.

As far as being ethical, I don’t know how Bieter can wear two hats mayor and CCDC board member without a question of ethical behavior. In fact the point that he the Mayor appoints board members which are confirmed by the city council is ripe with ethical concerns. One has to look no further than to see who sits on CCDC’s board to see what their motivations are: https://ccdcboise.com/the-agency/board-of-commissioners/.

By: Yossarian_22

Yossarian_22 — Sun, 02 Dec 2018 22:04:59 +0000

If you want to see where this all could be headed, read about Agenda 21 and “Smart” and “Strong” cities. Boise is not yet a subscribing member to this craze, but the language of city council and the mayor’s office lead me to believe that they are social engineering, not just trying provide “improvements.”

California mayors and councils are already embracing and publicly endorsing these agendas, and admit they are doing social engineering. They feel that the average person needs convincing that more and more shaping and vision is paramount.

Look how these “improvements” helped Paradise CA. When they choked down the main arteries in and out of town, the evacuation process was impossible and people died in their cars trying to escape. No place to run. There are downsides to all these special projects.

By: Frank

Frank — Sun, 02 Dec 2018 16:38:07 +0000

Just cause something is ethical or legal doesn’t always make it right. Campaigning to make Boise the most livable city in the country while soliciting the F 35 to Gowen Field? Or spending millions for a downtown street car while endorsing GBAD candidate because we have a walk able downtown?
In the fall of 2017 Dave Bieter told Boiseans he wanted to be TRANSPARENT in regards to the snafu with the Foothills bond! Knowing that the Boise Fire Bond was not going to be accomplished with NO INCREASE IN TAXES? Cost went from $17 million to $34 million?
Property owners, in the treasure valley, should not allow elected public servants to blame growth for mismanagement on their part!

The actions of Boise’s elected public servants seem to favor the area of our downtown core NOT THE WHOLE OF THE CITY. Just cause something is legal doesn’t make it right.
I like to compare the BRA/CCDC OF 2018 to the LANDLINE.

By: You Must Spend

You Must Spend — Sat, 01 Dec 2018 20:19:01 +0000

One of the spending lessons that Bieter and other elected officials have learned is that you MUST spend your cash and ALWAYS have a next project to spend more money on. This is where having big money developers in your pocket is helpful too.

This lesson has long been the motto of St Luke’s for example. Mayor “Spend & Spend” Bieter have learned their lessons well. Have you ever wondered why St Luke’s Health System builds all these new buildings? They do this so (spend the cash it has on buildings and infrastructure) so the cash in hand will will not show up on their P&L. If it did and they did not spend it then people would ask serious questions.

If you look at the detailed financial statements from St Luke’s you can see they are ending each year with between $170 and 360 MILLION every year. You cannot let piles of cash like that show up on your financials —– so you spend it on buildings and equipment

Mayor Beiter has more money to spend this year than he has ever had. So learning from St Luke’s he needs massive projects to build and “hide the money”.

By: IdahoTimber

IdahoTimber — Sat, 01 Dec 2018 16:27:39 +0000

I, too, have been shocked at how Boise has become a highly-engaged developer. And I know the history, having lived here 45 years, but this is an enormous expansion of whatever was done years before.

The next big push is at the City-owned 3200 acres and 18 miles of railroad track southeast of Micron, with the first development let for a full manufacturing site.

Who got to decide this is where our tax funds go? Who got to decide we need a whole new economic site, supported with taxpayer funds?

Where will we put people attracted to this for jobs? There is no affordable housing. There is no transit. Where will we even find employees for those jobs? We and almost every other locale in the Country is well within full employment.

By: Pseudosuze

Pseudosuze — Fri, 30 Nov 2018 00:19:21 +0000

Mr. Lawellin you have an interesting place setting for sure!

By: Easterner

Easterner — Thu, 29 Nov 2018 23:53:41 +0000

I agree with TFBoy.
The post is a bit exaggerated as well

Disagree if one wants to be wrong, but the proof is in the pudding as stated in the NOTE: the “vacant downtown core looking [looked] like a “war zone.”

No one could say that today.

Otherwise, the idea of Boise (or any city) holding real estate for speculation or trading, is a totally separate issue of whether Bieter is a moron or a genius.

When one considers the BRA/CCDC is a quasi department of the city, it is easy to go back to 1965 when some of these arrangements started.

For more background on that, something from our friends at BoiseWeekly:
https://www.boiseweekly.com/boise/razed-and-confused-boises-turbulent-history-of-urban-renewal/Content?oid=1713334

By: TFBoy

TFBoy — Thu, 29 Nov 2018 21:37:58 +0000

Rubbish. You may disagree with Bieter’s policies, but he is as ethical as the day is long. The land rush you claim had its beginnings in the foothill preservation initiatives that were voter approved. Urban renewal has been doing what it is suppose to do for years, under the law. You hate urban renewal, so be it. It isn’t shady and the downtown has benefitted greatly through its use. Judicial confirmation, or challenge, is the tool used to check non-voter approved indebtedness and it works. Disagree as you may, but leave the personal aspersions on the shelf.

By: Bill Lawellin

Bill Lawellin — Thu, 29 Nov 2018 18:41:40 +0000

This article should be placemat for every dinner eaten in the Treasure Valley.