Dave Frazier
City Railroads Trolley Plans
It’s like trying to stop a speeding train. Here is a letter from a Boise City engineer that went out to numerous local officials. Seems like after thousands of $$$ in surveys, promotional campaigns, and meetings the selected players ran out of objections to the “Trolley Folly” also known as “Desire Named Street Car.” Dear […]
School Bond Opposition Explained
The GUARDIAN takes no position on the upcoming Boise school bond issue. We will gladly offer space to views from either side. This reader/writer has connections with the District so we granted anonymity, but we know the identity. Guest Opinion By ED U. KATE As early voting begins for school bond elections it’s time to […]
If You Record At Bus Terminal, Valley Ride Staff Will Hassle You, Standing Room Only
COMMUNITY JOURNALISM Mike Murphy is a stocky guy with a New York accent and attitude who doesn’t like to take any crap. He is a former taxi driver, mayor candidate, and a champion of civil rights–like freedom of speech. In short he knows his way around, but he can be a little rough around the […]
F-35 Noise Issues Fall On Deaf ears
Gov. Butch Otter, with Boise Mayor Dave Bieter standing alongside, signed a bill Tuesday that will authorize expenditure of $100,000 in taxpayer funds to lobby on behalf of basing the admittedly noisy F-35 fighter in Boise. Stars & Stripes, the military newspaper in Japan, recently reported a Japanese court has awarded residents near Kadena AF […]
New Try At Community Journalism
We started the BOISE GUARDIAN as a news blog back in May of 2005. One of the motivating factors was the decline of newspapers nationwide and the drastic increase in government flaks, spokespersons, spin doctors, or other titled “information specialists.” We wanted to give readers a forum to air their opinions and provide “the other […]
Early Voting Starts Monday For Bond Election
Here is a press release from Ada County Elections regarding upcoming elections for school elections in Boise, West Ada, and Kuna Districts. Early voting for the March 14, 2017 election starts on Monday February 27th in Ada County. Voters from any part of Ada County may vote at any of the early voting locations Ada […]
Schools Suffer, Taxpayers Forced To Subsidize Developers
Recent events in Ada County serve to illustrate the plight of Idaho school districts and taxpayers who are forced to subsidize developers who suck money from the community, thanks to politicos who are blinded by promises of growth and jobs. PROGRESS! West Ada Schools, like all school districts, are prohibited by law from charging “impact […]
“Dope Reporter” Warning During High Water
The long standing tradition of awarding the coveted GUARDIAN “Dope Reporter” status is about to re-emerge during the high water season along area rivers and streams. The rules are simple. Any TV newsy caught needlessly standing in water will get the award. True rescues, wading to get a good camera angle, and other legitimate moves […]
School Bond Would Add $3400 Debt To Median Value Home
DISCLAIMER: The GUARDIAN does not endorse or oppose candidates or ballot measures. We try to stimulate discussion of issues and present facts often ignored by proponents or opponents. The March 14 bond election in the Boise School District is an important event. Entering into $171,000,000 of public debt is not to be taken lightly and […]
City Staff Real Estate Developer
Realizing there are potential pitfalls in reading internet sites, we offer the following info on the guy who claims on a LINKEDIN page to be one of the driving forces behind the recent proposal for a downtown baseball stadium, six hotels, and was recruited to use $500 million in city real estate to achieve city […]
When the Insane Manage The Asylum…
EDITOR NOTE: PLEASE, NO POLITICALLY INCORRECT COMMENTS The office of Senator Mike Crapo sent out a press release today which defies reason. In short, his proposal will make it easier for people to get guns who are so mentally incompetent they need a third party to manage their Social Security affairs. Here is the entirety […]
Developer Seeks Welfare From Boise Citizens
Used to be developers planned their subdivisions around golf courses. These days, thanks to urban renewal, tax increment financing, special taxes like Auditorium Districts, and planning associations the developers have a virtual buffet of taxpayer-funded financing options surrounding sports stadiums. Such is the case with the plans revealed today in the STATESMAN by Sven Berg. […]
Local Schools, Governments Orchestrate Money Grab From Citizens
We feel like a tourist in a Paris subway full of pickpockets as we observe all the politicos in Boise after our cash. The local “community planning association,” (COMPASS) has been running paid commercials on radio claiming there is an annual $150,000,000 shortfall in transportation funding in Southwest Idaho. Probably more than a coincidence the […]
FAA Weed In Tower Issue Status
While the FAA has apparently favored the IDAHO STATESMAN with responses to Freedom of Information requests filed by all the local media, including the GUARDIAN, it appears they waited four days to test air traffic controllers suspected of illegal drug use. The FAA staffers supposedly passed their urine tests, according to spokesman Ian Gregor who […]
So Much For Unbiased City Survey Results
Boise’s Team Dave has used surveys to guide their efforts for everything from trolley cars and baseball parks to City budgeting efforts. Mayor Dave Bieter is fond of using the “survey results” to justify decisions about public safety and transportation. A reader sent us these Facebook screen shots today, questioning just how valid any survey […]
Politicians Gone Mad!!
While the media and national politicos are obsessed with President Trump’s performances and cabinet picks, the local crazies seem to be made of Teflon. No one seems to notice (or care) what they do. Today Trump, at a prayer breakfast, called for prayers on behalf of a fellow TV performer, Arnold Schwarzenegger, because of low […]
Firemen And Coppers Call For Fireworks Ban…FINALLY!
Some twelve years ago the GUARDIAN called for a fireworks ban, dubbing the July 4 incendiaries as “arson kits.” Now after we have suffered the disastrous Table Rock fire in 2016, there is a bill before the legislature to ban fireworks. It was always with a wink and a nod that folks would purchase aerial […]
Idaho F&G Feeding 20,000 Big Game Animals
While ACHD commishes and Boise’s Team Dave are fighting about snow removal, Idaho Fish and Game staffers are in the midst of the largest wild animal feeding effort in more than two decades. Wildlife managers estimate the department is feeding about 10,000 mule deer, nearly 10,000 elk and about 100 pronghorn at various feeding sites […]
Coppers, Bumper Cars, And $$$
After Idaho State troopers had four cars crashed in one day during the nasty snow days, the GUARDIAN thought it might be interesting to find out just how many cop cars got whacked as a result of bad roads–either while parked or being driven. Perhaps more interesting than the numbers was the back story of […]
Should Boise Take Street Duties From ACHD?
Boise City Councilor Scott Ludwig has been floating the idea of dissolving the Ada County Highway District in favor of shifting the duties–and tax revenues over to Boise City. We see this as a bad plan on several fronts. First, it would force the county and the rest of the cities within the county to […]
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