Dave Frazier
Old Canyon Sheriff Vows To Return
A group of Canyon County watchdog voters have been fighting their commishes over a proposed jail and sheriff’s office on land that has been acquired through long term debt with no vote by taxpayers. The group has had a rough time getting any traction (“standing”) in court and a majority of commishes has pretty much […]
City Survey Costs $60 Per Interview
If you get one of those “survey” phone calls like the GUARDIAN did yesterday claiming to be working on behalf of the City of Boise, beware your tax dollars are paying $30,000 for the survey. That’s right. Boise City Councilors authorized $30,000 to be spent for a mere 500 responses to the survey–that comes out […]
Boise Taxes Go to Private Lobbyists
The recent GUARDIAN piece questioning WHO calls the shots regarding the Boise City position on state legislation has prompted increased communication among Boise Councilors. It seems council president Elaine Clegg gave direction to lobbyist Lyn Darrington on how to testify on a bill that would impact Boise’s urban renewal agency, the CCDC. She told the […]
Rio Inspires Thoughts of Boise
The GUARDIAN’s recent fact finding trip to Brazil gave us plenty of inspiration for ways to improve life in Boise. After visiting the favelas of Rio we can clearly see the benefits of “in fill” development advocated by some members of Boise’s city council. You can certainly create a demand for mass transit and eliminate […]
Councilors Clueless On Lobby Effort
The Idaho legislature’s House Revenue and Taxation Committee heard testimony Friday on a proposed urban renewal law that would require members of agencies like Boise’s CCDC to be elected. The bill was held in committee and effectively killed by a 10-8 vote, but the REAL story is WHO testified and WHY. Two non-elected people paid […]
Vote Them Out Of Office
Boise’s urban renewal director and the Chamber of Commerce lobbyist were able to convince legislators to hold an urban renewal reform bill in committee Friday, effectively killing the proposal. From the reports and quotes we have seen–especially the great reporting by Lora Volkert at the Idaho Business News web site–it is another story of government […]
Inside Ada County Spin Machine
In case there is any doubt about Ada County’s position on the Cliffs development near Lucky Peak, we share an e-mail which is purportedly written by the County spinmeister Rich Wright. If true, this exchange is disturbing in that it portrays opponents of the development as as the enemy. In part because of this e-mail, […]
Legislature Could Rein In CCDC
Thanks to some fed up folks up north, we may have a shot at reforming the CCDC and all the subsidy to developers at the expense of us common folk. There is a pair bills in the legislature up for hearing Friday that could force ELECTION of urban renewal boards. These guys take our tax […]
Homecoming Is Sweet Sorrow
After two weeks in “unruly” Brazil where everyone from cops to street vendors warned this camera-toting Gringo of potential violent assault and theft, it is good to be home in the number one rated “most secure” place in America. Checking the old news there was a double ax murder, a boy killed his school teacher […]
GUARDIAN Alive In Brazil Jungle
Dear loyal readers– The Guardian editor is alive and well, but really hot and humid in the jungle of the Brazilian Amazon. We will get back in action in a week or so, but had to make a living shooting pictures throughout Brazil. We have some great shots of IN FILL developments which should cure […]
Commish Spins AT WILL Job Ordinance
Guest commentary by: SHARON ULLMAN, former Ada Commish Ada County Commish Fred Tilman can offer more “spin” than a Yo-Yo when it comes to talking about what he did or didn’t do to county employees’ job status. Recently on NewsRadio 580 KIDO, Tilman talked about the County’s new at-will employment policy: “I think a lot […]
Public Employee Bonus Plan Take Two
We got to thinking about this bonus business for public employees and came up with a plan that should define the compensation system. It is really quite simple. Public employees are EXPECTED to do a good job, be on time and not absent from work. Those who do good things and follow the rules should […]
Bonuses Go To Good AND Bad Workers
Team Dave was a little late for Christmas stockings, but City employees got across the board bonuses in their latest pay envelopes–regardless of performance. KBCI TV-2 reports on Wednesday full-time employees got $200, part-time employees $150, and temporary employees $50. The council previously approved spending a $10 million budget surplus which included the one-time bonuses. […]
What Is The Status Of That?
We got a letter from a reader in Washington, D.C. asking whatever happened with Mark Johnson’s DUI case. That brought to mind some other “pending” stories. Here are some others that we would like to know about as well. –What is the status of the gas fired power plant the city council approved on public […]
Guv Butch Follows Guardian Advice
Guv Butch included the better part of a million bucks for a detox center in Boise in his budget proposal to the legislature Monday. Reaction from Boise’s Team Dave was swift and positive. “I know I speak for all of the members of the Mayor’s Detox Steering Committee when I say how thrilled I am […]
Bungled Bronco Bus Binge
We found some wild BLOG ACCOUNTS of the three bus charter convoy to the Fiesta Bowl which beat any of the sports stories and could rival the game itself for memories. With entries like, “I am so glad bus 1 finally got home. We were on bus 2 and all we did was get in […]
GUARDIAN Talks On KIDO AM- 580
GUARDIAN editor David R. Frazier will be the featured guest on A.M. 580 talk radio on Friday January 5. Tune in at 9:05 am and feel free to call with comments and questions–good or bad.
Officials Fiesta Travel Style Differs
Guv Butch was reduced to hitch-hiking on his first official day in office. Seems he thumbed a ride to the Fiesta Bowl with ex-father-in-law J.R. Simplot on the company plane. J.R. is 98 today and recovering from a fall and bump on the head suffered outside the Fiesta Bowl. We wish him and the family […]
Do Fed Grants Influence Fire Staffing?
A reader tells us one of the possible reasons fire departments are adding paramedics to their staffs could be to qualify for federal money…Something to do with homeland security. One program–we don’t know if any of the locals are going for it or not–has a cutsie name of “Staffing for Adequate Fire and Emergency Response” […]
MAYOR HOTLINE December 25-29
12/26/06 Jeff Erwin 430 Summit Ridge Rd Boise, ID 83702 389-9847 ACHD: Two weeks ago we had a sign show up on our street showing our road was closed. Nobody knew what was going on. We got down to the end of our cul-de-sac and some people were digging up our street and over the […]
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