Business
The GUARDIAN is Baaaack
The GUARDIAN has returned to duty and unfortunately we don’t have a lot of cheery news to report after covering 1300 miles of Idaho, Yellowstone, and vicinity. Great time spent with 14-year-old grandson and a chance to learn the addictive qualities of those “smart” phones. Amazing how fast and readily available information can be obtained. […]
Growing To Death Like Cancer
Growing Like Cancer Idaho is experiencing a growth spurt unequaled since the days of homesteading, free mining claims, free cattle grazing, and water rights. Guess what? The modern version of those government give aways come in all sorts of “economic incentives” which has local citizens PAYING corporations to move businesses to the Treasure Valley and […]
Alto Via Settlement Is Slippery Slope Of Muddy Facts
When the GUARDIAN heard news reports last week that Boise City officials had entered into a settlement with property owners in the Alto Via subdivision regarding costs of demolition of houses deemed uninhabitable and a danger, we took notice. What got our attention was the refusal of city officials to reveal how they were spending […]
Greenstone Properties Operating Illegally?
After a GUARDIAN reader commented about Greenstone Properties, the developer seeking to build the downtown stadium and related housing and commercial complex, we decided to check the law regarding doing business in Idaho. Here is what the Idaho Constitution has to say about “foreign” (out-of-state) corporations: ARTICLE XI, SECTION 10. REGULATION OF FOREIGN CORPORATIONS. No […]
Crowd Jeers Stadium Guy Like An Umpire
Dressed in a dark blue blazer and light blue shirt, Geoff Wardle, local counsel for the developer who wants to build a ball park on Americana looked remarkably like a baseball umpire and the crowd treated him like one. They jeered him and challenged most of his statements, cutting him off in mid sentence when […]
Retired Educator Adresses Mayor, Councilors
Most of the following testimony was presented at last night’s Town Hall meeting, but with just a few seconds left to present, Mr. Neil Parker was cut off by Mayor Dave Bieter at the three minute time limit. The entire presentation is posted here as it seems to be an eloquent statement echoing the thoughts […]
Most Speakers Oppose Growth At Town Hall
In a respectful “town hall” meeting at Boise Fire Station #4 on Ustick Road Wednesday night, speaker after speaker told the Boise Mayor and Council they were tired of the growth or the rapid pace of growth. Describing idyllic scenes of the past being blotted out with high density apartments, about 90% of those speaking […]
For Profit School Uses ISU Foundation For Donations
This is an updated version with new information added 4/9/18 We have hit a veritable stone wall when it comes to shining light on the new Idaho College of Osteopathic Medicine (ICOM) at Meridian. The GUARDIAN has raised questions, but can’t get answers to some serious finance issues. The latest one to cross our desk […]
“Vanishing Boise” Facebook Worth A Look
The folks who organized to stop the CVS drive thru on State have established a Facebook site called VANISHING BOISE. They appear sincere in their efforts to preserve what many think is still the “small town flavor” of Boise. VANISHING BOISE is worth a look as is Don Day’s BOISE DEV. Day tries to be […]
Boise Councilors Rotate, Reader Questions
Boise’s City Council will take on two new members and see a female majority as the new year begins. Maryanne Jordan, without question the most knowledgeable member, has now devoted her political efforts to the Idaho Legislature. While legal, we have always questioned the ethics of holding two elected offices simultaneously. Ben Quintana, who we […]
Will Idaho Utilities Share Fed Tax Break?
It will be interesting to see if the electric, water, telephone, and gas companies in Idaho plan to share the trump income tax break which has been reduced by 14% for corporations. (see COMMENT below for detailed explanation of math that is actually a 40% tax cut) The Idaho Public Utilities Commission which regulates those […]
Pressless Paper Printing Problem
We take no joy in posting an unsubstantiated, but very likely accurate report that our friends at the IDAHO STATESMAN have lost their printer at the IDAHO FREE PRESS. The troubled Daily Paper farmed out the printing chores to the Nampa paper several years ago. Now word among the few print journalists left in the […]
The Foxes Guard The Hen House
UPDATED 1/16/18 KTVB STORYUPDATED 2p.m. 1/5/18 (Law citation) Our friend Don Day at BOISEDEV posted a story that got our attention and caused us to shake our head. Developer Scot Ludwig plans to build a pair of towers, nine and eleven stories tall, in downtown Boise that will require approval of the development services office […]
Looking Ahead At 2018
We will start by grouping the standard resolutions: diet, exercise, lose weight, be tolerant of idiots, reduce road rage, work together for the greater good, etc. That said, here are some GUARDIAN resolutions. POWER TO THE PEOPLE–We would like to see more citizen activists working to preserve our city, county, and state. Victories over the […]
What Was Top GUARDIAN 2017 Story?
This is the traditional time to look back at the past year’s news and vote for the top stories. From this side of the computer, the F-35 story wins hands down. The effort and expense to expose the clandestine efforts of the local politicos to land the noisy fighter jet was massive. Other topics we […]
Citizens Prevail Again, No F-35 In Boise
The United States Air Force chose Madison, Wisconsin and Montgomery, Alabama Thursday as the new home bases for the noisy F-35 fighter jet. Dan Marler and his Citizens for a Livable Boise group can take some major credit for preserving the peace and tranquility of Boise skies. Heck, the GUARDIAN can probably also claim some […]
Talking Points, Take Your Pick
Once again, we have a paucity of topics on which to comment, so here are a few that need your intelligent views. –Despite the efforts of the GUARDIAN and fellow GROWTHOPHOBES, Idaho managed to rank 31 as the fastest growing state in the USA, according to the census bureau. Number one cause in our mind […]
Topic For Legislative Discussion
The issue of tax-exempt status for non-profit organizations has raised its head once again with the J.R. Simplot Foundation challenging a property tax bill on JUMP during the construction phase. The STATESMAN provided a detailed look at the property tax issue. Private hospitals like St. Als and St. Luke’s pay top staffers huge salaries and […]
Growthophobe Movement Gaining Ground
Under the heading of “You saw it first on the GUARDIAN,” we are taking heart at recent success of the North Enders who are fighting the proposed CVS pharmacy at 16th and State. The group of citizens who are looking to preserve the character of Boise were able to convince the Boise Planning and Zoning […]
Boise Has 50,000 Uncollected Parking Tickets
According to Craig Croner, administrative services manager and the man who oversees Boise’s parking systems, Boise currently is holding 50,000 delinquent parking tickets which in theory are worth a hefty $1,500,000 or $30 each ($15 fine and $15 late fee). Officials are talking about raising fees to encourage motorists to use parking garages and otherwise […]
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