ACHD
What Happened To Our “Boise Way?”
Guest Opinion by RICARDO OCHOA On the road it meant driving with intelligence and realizing the speed limit is not a suggestion. Your turn signals are meant to be used in a timely manner. One of the most basic ways to be respectful is to use your turn signal. We can’t read your mind. So […]
“Respect The Culture!”
Just returned from a week of warm weather in Hawaii and came away with a thought provoking bumper sticker observation. RESPECT THE CULTURE was actually emblazoned on the tailgate of a small truck. It got us to thinking. How many of the thousands of newcomers to Boise and Idaho in general come here to join […]
Bikeboy Peddles 200,000 miles
The following feature by “BIKEBOY” is a bit long, but it took him years of huffing and puffing the streets of Boise to chalk up 200,000 miles. Here is his account of life on the street. BY STEVE HULME In 1986, I was a working-class guy, married with two kids and another on the way. […]
Lament Of A Growthophobe (A Rant)
The GUARDIAN created the word “growthophobe,” welcomed new people and businesses if they wished to pay their fair share of taxes and offer good wages. Otherwise relocate elsewhere. Meanwhile local politico mothers and fathers work overtime to attract more population, cars, trains, planes, and buses through “incentives.” They want those of us who live here […]
Developer Exceeds Campaign Limits
Two Ada County Highway District Candidates and a State legislator are refunding political payments to a local developer after a GUARDIAN reader found the payments exceeded the legal limit. Ada County Clerk Phil McGrane and the Secretary of State’s office have notified ACHD candidates Rebecca Arnold and Kara Veit and Cecil Grow that campaign contributions […]
BSU Seeks To Close Boise Streets
EDITOR NOTE: In a meeting July 1, the ACHD commishes changed directions on last week’s street decision. They voted to reconsider the June 24 action as requested by BSU. An insider tells us that doesn’t mean the vote is likely to change and the matter “starts from scratch.” Seems that Boise State University officials won’t […]
Legislature– Quit Picking On Boise
The Idaho Legislature doesn’t have Dave Bieter to kick aground anymore, so they need to quit picking on us. Former Mayor Dave Bieter was often downright pugnacious with legislators, but he is gone and there is new blood at Boise’s City Hall. The statehouse boys need to give Lauren Mclean an the new council a […]
The Case For “Term Limits”
We just returned from a visit to Hawaii’s “Big Island” where we observed a public notice sign on Alii Drive–the posh oceanfront street packed with hotels and condos. The proposed project included “60 condos and 20 AFFORDABLE HOUSING units!” That prompted us to ponder just exactly what constituted “affordable” on the trendy real estate? Then, […]
Government Sponsored Growth Fans Tax Hikes
Just in time for Thanksgiving, Ada County’s property tax notices have come out. Any way you care to spin it, growthophobes who have lived here for any length of time are funding the growth to benefit the mortgage lenders, developers, contractors, planners, consultants, etc. Growth is costly and does NOT pay for itself. There are […]
Like Phoenix From The Ashes, Brent Coles Arises
Boise’s Nov. 5 mayoral election took on a new candidate Friday who may have injected some interest among voters. After nearly 16 years on the sidelines and some jail time, Brent Coles is seeking his old job as mayor and offered apologies all around for his past actions. Coles has recently made public appearances at […]
Survey Shows “Growing Too Fast”
For years the Boise State University Public Policy Institute survey results served as the justification for Boise’s Team Dave to push for public safety, transportation, and parks to accommodate the growth. The standard response to critics of growth was, “You can’t stop growth. People just want to come here.” Now, more than 70% of those […]
ACHD, Procecutor Disagree Over Website Use
Last fall, the Ada County Highway District used its official website to link to a private website advocating in favor of a ballot measure supporting passage of increased vehicle fees which exempting trucks over 8,000 lbs. Several citizens complained to Ada County Prosecutor Jan Bennets who referred the matter to Grant Loebs, the Twin Falls […]
Growthophobe Movement Growing
THEY CREATE WHAT THEY SEEK TO ESCAPE. As the Ada County Assessor sends out property value notices this week, we note the values in some areas are up 20%. That can be good news and bad news. IF you are selling, its good news. If you are on a fixed income chances are your overall […]
Growthophobes Surface At The Polls
Any way your cut it, GROWTH is is costly and not what the citizens of Southwest Idaho want to see. GROWTHOPHOBES have sent their message. Amid cries from overzealous local politicos that “A two-thirds approval is an impossible bar to pass,” we are seeing voters adamantly reject bonds with a two-thirds DISapproval! Canyon County’s jail […]
ACHD Under Cyber Attack
If you have tried to contact the Ada County Highway District the past couple of days and experienced problems, it is because the agency was victim of a massive cyber attack. Some high level investigative agencies including those of the Federal Government are working to find the source of the “serious attack.” ACHD has been […]
Political Pandemic Plagues Boise
In March we questioned the functionality of local government, noting all levels viewed citizens as an adversary. Turns out the politicos don’t like each other either! Monday saw the political poop hitting the proverbial fan at a record rate. –Reacting to a citizen petition drive and a new law, Boise’s CCDC urban renewal agency pulled […]
Urban Renewal Takes Aim At Vista Neighbors
After Tuesday’s City Council meeting which saw councilors accept the “eligibility report” to form an urban renewal district along Vista Avenue, the GUARDIAN made a startling discovery. Boise City officials are conspiring with the urban renewal agency, the CCDC (Capital City Development Corp.) to map out an assault weapon-shaped attack and commercial property on Vista […]
Truckers Buy Dinner, Get Free Ride In Ada
In case you wondered why legislators failed to even debate a bill to charge fees to trucks over 8,000 lbs. in Ada County, an excerpt from the Trucking Association newsletter gives a hint. “Last week, the Idaho Truck PAC hosted its annual legislative dinner with House and Senate leadership and legislators that serve on the […]
Three Ada Officials “No Longer Work Here”
It took a couple of weeks, but the new Ada Commishes, Kendra Kenyon and Diana Lachiondo, have apparently made some personnel changes. Let’s hope they did a better job of crafting their staff than the previous pair that cost taxpayers about a million and a half dollars as a result of a lawsuit. Chief of […]
ACHD Leaves Vehicle Fee On Lightweights
THIS STORY HAS BEEN UPDATED. SEE NOTES AT END Despite claims that Idaho law prevented Ada County Highway District from charging fees on vehicles in excess of 8,000 lbs., the GUARDIAN learned Monday ACHD has dropped all efforts to seek legislation that would correct the omission of heavyweights. Senate majority leader Chuck Winder told the […]
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