Dave Frazier
Boise Preys On Auditorium Cash Reserves
The Greater Boise Auditorium District (GBAD) is awash in cash from the local hotel room tax and Boise City’s Team Dave is trying to get their hands on it. The City Council will discuss a scheme at Tuesday’s meeting that would allow them to sell the Grove Plaza and fountain for $8 to 10 million […]
“Rock Star” Contract Costly To Boise Taxpayers
Great research and reporting by Don Day at BOISEDEV on the Rock Star contract Boise citizens have to pay the proposed library architect for upscale travel. Following up on the GUARDIAN story about Boise Mayor Dave Bieter’s “Team Dave” agreeing to make first class payments for architect Moshe Safdie to travel and stay in Boise, […]
ACHD Commish Seeks Cash For His Attorney
Just when it seemed to be finished, the dust up over Ada County Highway District Commish Jim Hansen’s transgression over an open meeting violation has popped up again. Now he is seeking charity. Hansen, an attorney, hired a lawyer for some reason–even though the Attorney General declined to prosecute him for sending e-mails to fellow […]
Free GUARDIAN Election Guidance
We have tried hard over the years to offer information while not endorsing candidates. We will stand by that policy, but several ballot measures need to to be addressed. PROP 1 knows as the “instant (or historical) racing vote is nothing more than an attempt to garner public approval of slot machines. Slots are outlawed […]
Boise Schools To Launch Marketing Campaign
Boise Schools has taken a page directly out of the Team Dave play book by seeking an advertising agency to create a demand for their services. The district will dedicate $175,000 for an advertising campaign in 2018-19, with an ongoing commitment for at least three years, according to documents obtained by IDAHO EDUCATION NEWS. Advertising […]
AG Again Declines To Prosecute ACHD Commish
The criminal division of the Idaho Attorney General’s office has again declined to prosecute ACHD Commish Jim Hansen over a series of e-mails that constituted a “serial meeting.” The commission voted 2-1 to send a letter (see previous post) asking for action following the original exchange in July. The IDAHO PRESS has a full report.
ACHD Commish Meeting Turns Ugly
Today’s noon meeting of the Ada County Highway District became somewhat raucous after Commishes Kent Goldthorpe and Jim Hansen were recused since they were principals in an open meeting law dispute stemming from e-mails authored by Hansen a month ago. No public testimony was allowed, but citizens shouted out during the discussion about sending a […]
ACHD Commish Tossed Under The Bus
The Ada County Highway District commission may not be in the transit business, but the commission chairman at least had no problem tossing a member under the bus. In a Monday letter signed by ACHD Commission president Sara Baker to the Chief Criminal lawyer at the Idaho Attorney General’s office, the commission appears to have […]
Library Hidden Costs Leave Bad Taste
We have had several readers contact the GUARDIAN expressing concern about the library proposal. Chief concern is the funding plan which is as “loosey-goosey” as the the fire department bond which was approved by voters, but failed to live up to its promise. Here is an excerpt from the preliminary contract with the “world class […]
Boise Copper On Wrong Side Of Bars
A 16-year veteran detective of the Boise police department found himself on the wrong side of the bars in Canyon County August 23rd when he was arrested and charged with DUI (driving under the influence) in Wilder. It looks like Jim Adams, 47, was involved in some sort of incident that prompted a “call for […]
Idaho Crime Report Ready To Read
After a delay caused by a new computer system, the 2017 CRIME REPORT is ready for viewing at the Idaho State Police site linked here. Drug cases and simple larceny (theft) were by far the major reported crimes in Idaho. No doubt there is a cause/effect relationship between those two. Many of the categories comparing […]
Boise Fire Dept. Inept On Finance Plans
Long time GUARDIAN readers will recall “we told you so!” when it comes to recent revelations about Boise Fire Dept. financial ineptitude disclosed by the Idaho STATESMAN. In his Statesman Thursday piece, reporter Sven Berg said Boise officials spent twice as much as they promised four years ago in a bond proposal. The bon d […]
Bikers Jockey For Current Span Near Les Bois
By Steve “Bikeboy” Hulme GUEST OPINION (plea) If you lived in the area during the winter of 2016/17, you will surely recall the unusually “snowmageddon,” and the ensuing flooding. The torrents of water forced authorities to remove a bridge behind Les Bois Park when it was in danger of collapsing, due to erosion of the […]
Treat The Cause, Not The Disease
We note Mike Wetherell’s Statesman OPINION regarding planning for mass transit failed to get to the core cause of our “transportation woes”–GROWTH. Rather than create more cancer treatments and simply concede “cancer will always be around,” let’s eliminate some of the causes. Wetherell’s admonitions to clear freeway medians and expand rights-of-way along State Street sound […]
Posted Press Releases Portray “Different Story”
In June the GUARDIAN posted a rant about GOVERNMENT being the local media these days. Today’s “official versions” of local events really need to be compared to ALL the facts. Here is a sample of Tuesday’s events. First off we got a PRESS RELEASE from the Community Planning Association (COMPASS) declaring the multi-county board of […]
Horse Race Ads Run On Muddy Track
Advertisements airing on Idaho media outlets would have you believe that a vote in favor of proposition 1 on the November 6 election ballot would return horse racing to Idaho. That may not be a very good bet. Betsy Russell over at the IDAHO PRESS has posted an analysis of the ads which are deceiving […]
BSU To Use A “Forced Out” For Baseball Field
Even with the home team advantage, Boise State University has been unable to get to first base with several property owners over attempts to build a baseball field. Owners of properties at the following locations have loaded the bases during negotiations: A)–1104-1108 South Grant Avenue, the current location of an eight-unit apartment complex, owned by […]
Idaho Growth Defies Logic
By DAVE FRAZIER, editor I have lived in Boise for 50 years. All but two of those years in the same house. I am the oldest guy on the block and number two for length of residency behind a neighbor who was born here. I have pretty much lived my entire adult life in Boise […]
GUARDIAN Editorial–ACHD Fee Hike Wrong!
Passion about a particular cause can be an admirable trait, but use of elected office to manipulate public opinion on a ballot issue demonstrates a lack of respect for voters and a questionable use of financial authority on the part of Ada County Highway District commishes. WHAT’S THE PROBLEM? The commishes took a lesson directly […]
ACHD Commishes, Director Push Fee Hike On Advocacy Website
Highway District Commishes in Ada County are sponsoring a WEBSITE advocating passage of a fee hike on private cars. Ada County Highway District Commishes are openly campaigning to impose a 75% vehicle fee hike on Ada County car owners, but not on vehicles over 8,000 lbs. Rather than campaign to use some of their heavy […]
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