Business
Commish Raises Funds For Chamber
At $25 a head for 500 heads, Wednesday’s “Live Aid” (State of the County) breakfast speech by Ada Commish Fred Tilman grossed at least $12,000 for the special interest private lobbying group commonly known as Chamber of Commerce. For years the GUARDIAN has suggested the commishes and mayors of the valley are out of line, […]
Develop At All Costs Everywhere
The GUARDIAN admits a lack of knowledge about the funding details of the Idaho Housing and Finance Association, but we know when things don’t smell right and a bill to expand bond authority for IHFA has an aroma. We know IHFA is created by Idaho law, but it isn’t a state agency. People who work […]
Luxury Living At Our Expense
The Daily Paper tells us there are no fewer than 11 condo projects currently in the works for downtown Boise. It looks like all but one has already been approved by the City. If you are into growth, more people living in “a vibrant core area that creates economic vitality,” lots of cars, and dirty […]
Homecoming Is Sweet Sorrow
After two weeks in “unruly” Brazil where everyone from cops to street vendors warned this camera-toting Gringo of potential violent assault and theft, it is good to be home in the number one rated “most secure” place in America. Checking the old news there was a double ax murder, a boy killed his school teacher […]
More Profitable Than Meth
Would you like to turn an $800 investment into as much as $150,000? All you need to do is make a $375 down payment to the State of Idaho and be prepared to pony up another $425 when they issue a state liquor license. Licenses are issued on the basis of population–one license per 1,500 […]
Take These Jobs and Shove Them!
Local politicos and the Chamber of Commerce are first to take credit when a company moves to Boise with JOBS! What about when business LEAVES town? Will they also take the blame now that Supervalu has announced about 400 jobs will be cut in Boise as a result of the Albertson’s take over? Will those […]
Boeing Comes To Idaho
For many years various Idaho firms have been after the big bucks from aviation giant Boeing. There was even a dream of an airport of some sort south of Kuna at one point. Now Idaho finally has something from Boeing–HAZARDOUS WASTE! Boise-based American Ecology Corp. proudly announced Friday in the Daily Paper they have a […]
Supremes Rule For Citizen Rights
In a history making decision Thursday the Idaho Supreme Court ruled against Boise City’s attempt to go around the voters to finance a parking garage at the airport. The crux of the argument was whether or not the proposed expense was “ordinary and necessary.” The court noted that parking at the airport may be an […]
Boise Firms Make Wall Street List
Maybe it is the weather or maybe the GUARDIAN is just getting old and cranky, but there isn’t much for informed realists to take pride in lately around town. In the midst of the indignation over the Albertson’s executive compensation revelations, we were heartened to note that KTVB Channel 7 had the cajones to mention […]
Boise Not Good Enough?
City and County officials from across the Treasure Valley are poised to meet with “Business Leaders” and the Chamber of Commerce for an annual gathering which gives attendees exclusive access to elected officials. This group of cheerleaders strives for economic vitality in the Boise area. They have economic development teams, they push tourism and convention […]
Special Treatment for Tamarack
The foreign business interests controlling TAMARACK Resort in Valley County continue their successful courting of Idaho government officials. Their latest coup came as André Agassi and Steffi Graf along with their Canadian real estate partners got the Idaho House of Reps to pass a bill to give them a special exemption from the Idaho liquor […]
Guardian Heads South
Contrary to popular belief, the GUARDIAN editor has another life–operating a stock photo agency providing images to textbooks, encyclopedias and magazines around the world. That means a strictly business trip to South America during the next couple of weeks recording lifestyles, government, industry, transportation, and the people of ARGENTINA. We have to update these images […]
Tale of Two Cities
Eagle and Boise represent a tale of two cities when it comes to development philosophy. A proposed high end development in Eagle built around a designer golf course along with a designer swimming, tennis, and soccer sports programs is a far cry from Boise’s penchant for “infill.” Boise provides those amenities at taxpayer expense. Both […]
Business Briefs
Business news makes you proud to live in Idaho! MICRON Statesman headline says “Samsung pleads guilty in price-fixing” and a sub head proclaims “Micron says it is cooperating with justice officials.” All true, but Micron gets immunity from prosecution because they turned state’s evidence. The feds claimed Micron conspired to fix prices of its products…same […]
Corporate Welfare Proposal
We thought Rep. Jana Kemp’s silly bill to give Idaho tax breaks to Hollywood was over the top. Now Doc Kustra at Boise State and his richie pals have rivaled the Big Screen Folks. If our legislature has any backbone at all they will reject all new tax breaks during the upcoming session–including this scheme. […]
Contractor Law Pressures Cities
An unintended effect of the new contractor registration law which goes into effect January 1, 2006 places cities throughout Idaho in the position of encouraging contractors to be dishonest or forget about building permits. While there are no provisions (or funding) for cities and counties to enforce the new law, these local governments issue building […]
Contractor Registration Law
Looks like some Idaho building contractors stand a chance of being “hoisted by their own petard,” thanks to a contractor registration law the Associated General Contractors lobbied through the past legislative session. (For non library types: hoist with (or by) one’s own petard means to have one’s plans to cause trouble for others backfire on […]
Yet Another “Unique Mall”
While listening to the KBOI “eye in the sky” warn motorists of multi-mile traffic jams on I-84, the GUARDIAN editor was reading a newspaper story about a wonderful new shopping mall being built in Nampa. We wondered if the mall was a result of “Smart Growth, Blueprint for Growth, or just Greedy Growth.” Hard to […]
Yet Another “Unique Mall”
While listening to the KBOI “eye in the sky” warn motorists of multi-mile traffic jams on I-84, the GUARDIAN editor was reading a newspaper story about a wonderful new shopping mall being built in Nampa. We wondered if the mall was a result of “Smart Growth, Blueprint for Growth, or just Greedy Growth.” Hard to […]
Yet Another “Unique Mall”
While listening to the KBOI “eye in the sky” warn motorists of multi-mile traffic jams on I-84, the GUARDIAN editor was reading a newspaper story about a wonderful new shopping mall being built in Nampa. We wondered if the mall was a result of “Smart Growth, Blueprint for Growth, or just Greedy Growth.” Hard to […]
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