Business
Reader’s Open Letter To Legislators
The following is a self-proclaimed rant by Dave Kangas about the state of the Idaho legislature and legislators. GUEST OPINION By Dave Kangas There have been few times in my life, when I have been as outraged by actions or proposals of or by government officials as I am now. The current bills limiting local […]
Sky Is The Limit For “Ludwig Tower”
We don’t have a TRUMP TOWER in Boise, but if things go right for a former City Councilor we could have a “LUDWIG TOWER”. Scot Ludwig, the former city councilor and CCDC member, is proposing to build a tall building in Idaho at 5th and Broad Streets. If approved, it could be 19 stories tall […]
Is No News Good News?
Dear GUARDIAN readers, I want to personally apologize for not posting anything lately, but we are aware of only the Orange Man’s cries of “foul” on the election counts, and daily updates on mask vs no mask debates at all levels of government. We will offer some additional topics, but remember, it is only for […]
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 […]
GBAD To Hold Onto Cash, Ahlquist Asks City To Make “The Sky The Limit”
The Greater Boise Auditorium District held a special board meeting Tuesday in which they decided to hang onto their cash reserves until the COVID-19 and slow hotel and convention business did a “pivot.” This came in the wake of an attempt by Tommy Ahlquist and his Ball Ventures Ahlquist development firm to recruit GBAD to […]
COVID Positive Test Among Homeless At Red Lion Downtowner
The GUARDIAN has confirmed that Boise City is funding sanitizing services and renting rooms for members of the homeless community at the Red Lion Downtowner. An unofficial source told us the entire second floor and about 46 rooms were occupied by homeless residents. That source also inquired at the registration desk about the situation, but […]
There Is More News Than COVID-19
Time for a reality check. The GUARDIAN like most everyone else has hunkered down during the house arrest phase of the virus event. We have to admit to a certain degree of “feeling down,” but short of any serious depression. Today we were able to realize it isn’t just the COVID show, but the cover […]
Quarantine me!
By BILL von TAGEN Don’t get me wrong, I am not infected with Covid 19. I am also very careful even though I have not altered my lifestyle very much. However, when the country emerges from this pandemic, I want there to be a society and a community to go back to. Civilization and social […]
Enough To Wipe Out An Entire City
The Clearwater Paper mill at Lewiston is a major asset for Idaho during the COVID-19 pandemic. The mill isn’t in the gold mining business, but its Lewiston mill manufactures a product as valuable as gold–toilet paper. The plant is listed as an “essential service” by Gov. Brad Little. When shown this photo, one reader commented, […]
Coronavirus Cannot Be Ignored
We don’t really know what to think of the pandemic due to the coronavirus. At first it was in far off China, then it became a political thing, and now it seems to be a full-blown worldwide health crisis. When President Trump called Washington Gov. Insley “a snake,” we were saddened to see something as […]
Gannon Seeks Taxes From Government Tenants
Boise Dem representative John Gannon has a bill co-sponsored by Repub Mike Moyle to charge taxes to to private entities using public real estate. He wants to amend the Idaho constitution to include: “any property belonging to the state, counties, towns, cities, villages, school districts … or public libraries” that’s leased to a private entity […]
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, […]
Developers Should Pay For Prisons
For the past five years Growthophobes have been fed a steady diet of proud proclamations that Idaho is the fastest growing state in the country, #1 place to retire, most bike friendly, etc. Looks like we are also in the top ten when it comes to spending to put away criminals. But rather than tax […]
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 […]
More Sneaky Boise Lease Details
Under the terms of a proposed amendment to a City lease deal with a Salt Lake City developer, taxpayers will be forced to pay for infrastructure costs traditionally borne by developers. The area in question is 159 acres of industrial park land owned by the citizens of Boise. Bieter has signed a lease deal with […]
Despite Threats, No Fireworks Tickets
The GUARDIAN sympathizes with local police and fire officials in Boise when it comes to the dangers of illegal fireworks, but even after promises to crack down on violators, it seems no tickets were issued despite more than 300 reports of illegal fireworks over the July 4 weekend. Idaho law is without any teeth on […]
The Enemy Among Us Is Growth
Ada County Commishes are set to spend an extra $5.563 MILLION in “foregone tax” levy authority to accommodate the rapid growth. A public hearing is scheduled for Tuesday July 9 at 6 p.m. at the courthouse. Here is how they plan to use the tax hike on one-time expenses: 1) Design cost associated with a […]
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 […]
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 […]
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