Business
Ratings Plummet For BSU TV Production
By DAVE FRAZIER, editor Blue turf and a dog chasing the kick-off tee only go so far when it comes to Boise State football. The GUARDIAN freely admits to a certain degree of apathy when it comes to being a citizen of the so-called “Bronco Nation.” It is nice when they win and the country […]
Meridian Gives Public Money To Developer
Growthophobes often ask, “why is there such rapid and massive growth in Meridian?” The answer: the city uses citizen money to pay developers to locate there. When an out of state entrepreneur came to town with plans to make money off a for-profit osteopathic med school, the city mothers and fathers at Meridian fell all […]
P.U. C. Prompts Gas Rate “Math Story Problem”
Idaho’s Public Utilities Commission sent out a press release today explaining that the average homeowner would see a rate INCREASE of 37 cents per month from Intermountain Gas. The GUARDIAN world Headquarters got a gas bill today as well of $5.67 for not using any gas. We also got a bill insert explaining that Intermountain […]
P.U.C. Should Hang Up On Landline Subsidy
With the dwindling number of people using traditional “landline” telephones, the Idaho Public Utilities Commission has doubled a nearly 30 year old surcharge on phone lines to subsidize the Idaho Universal Service Fund (IUSF). The fund was created in 1988 to tax what used to be “The Phone Company.” Back in the day, the company […]
Conservative Speaker Draws Cheers And Jeers
A story of national import surrounding an August 26 conservative banquet speaker’s penchant for stirring emotions and a local hotel’s desire to stay out of the political fray is unfolding in Boise. In a nutshell, the Idaho Freedom Foundation has invited Charles Murray to speak at the conservative group’s annual banquet. Apparently based on Murray’s […]
Boise Council Qualifier 101
The November city election will see some changes in the council regardless of who wins. At the risk of feeding the conspiracy theorists, it appears only one of the three seats will be up for grabs. August 28 is first day to declare candidacy. September 8 is final day to file. To date, the following […]
Boise Officials Set Secret Meeting In SLC
Half a dozen Boise officials are set to visit Salt Lake City August 7 for some sort of secret economic development meeting which they legally do not have to make public. The delegation includes city councilors, the mayor, an attorney and a couple of marketing/development staffers. While in Salt Lake the mayor and a couple […]
Root, Root For The Home Team !
As soon as citizens had an election lined up to vote on funding a minor league baseball stadium outside Washington, D.C. in Virginia, the minor league team owner forfeited his attempt at getting public financing. He was apparently out hit, out fielded, and out of money. That no hitter game sounds strikingly similar to the […]
Good Noisy, Bad Noisy, Boise
Gotta hand it to the Boise City Council. They are consistent when it comes decisions about economic benefits. Noisy jets at Gowen mean $155 million good. Noisy cars and cycles mean loss of diners downtown. Numerous readers called our attention to the new ordinance featured on KTVB.COM. All the messages pointed out the hypocrisy of […]
Boise Dev Analyzes F-35 Petition
Even though he got stonewalled by some of the players, Don Day at his BOISEDEV site was able to get some comments from the politicos about the petition sent to officials regarding the F-35. Day did a good job reporting on the petition and the comments. Worth a look.
“Gowen Strong” Is Private Non-Profit Using City Staff In Violation Of “Public Purpose Doctrine,” Ethics Conflict Waived
UPDATE 5/9/17 A GUARDIAN reader sought more information from the Boise City Ethics Commission. To our surprise they had already considered the facts and here is a summary: QUESTION: May the Airport director form a non-profit and sit on its Board of Directors? OPINION: The Airport director may form the non-profit and sit on its […]
Trump And Bieter Admins Offer Similarities
President Donald Trump’s attempt to distance himself from business endeavors while claiming no conflicts of interest sound familiar when one looks at Boise City. The “swamp” is bigger than Washington, D.C. Derick O’Neill has been running Team Dave’s development services department for about five years. We had some concerns about the city buying land from […]
F-35 Thoughts From Within The Service
The following narrative came in as a comment on another post. It is so well reasoned (dare we say “sound reasoning”) we thought it worth a stand alone post. He summarizes the thoughts of many in Boise. For fear of retribution, I am commenting anonymously. I am a military member, Combat Veteran, and very patriotic. […]
Anti F-35 Noise Group Launches Website
In a subtle maneuver that would have any fighter pilot pulling extra G’s, a group organized to fight the noisy F-35 jet has co-opted Mayor Dave Bieter’s favorite line about making Boise the “Most livable city in America.” “CITIZENS FOR A LIVABLE BOISE” now has a central “meeting place” on-line. They even qualified for the […]
Guess What? Another Boise Survey!
Seems that City Hall in Boise is awash in cash the past few weeks. First it was stainless steel “cottonwood trees,” in the plaza redo, then hefty raises for the mayor and council, a request to spend $100,000 for a “consultant” to attract the F-35, a clean up of lead at the ill-conceived police shooting […]
Opponents Organize To Fight F-35
A standing-room-only crowd of about 80 citizens met Thursday night at Whitney School for a “discussion” about the proposed basing of the noisy F-35 fighter jet at Boise’s Gowen Field. With representatives from at least four neighborhood associations and a state legislator in attendance, the attendees voiced their concerns over the noise of the jets […]
Council Defers $100K For F-35 PR Deal
Boise’s City Council deferred action on funding a PR campaign toy get the F-35 fighter jet based in Boise. Prior to the 6 p.m. Tuesday meeting the GUARDIAN learned the proposed resolution to spend up to $100,000 with a Washington, D.C. firm to attract the F-35 fighter to Boise had been put off until April […]
Boise City Ignores Citizens, Seeks $100,000 For F-35 Media Campaign
Ignoring the purchasing rules, Boise’s Team Dave has proposed an immediate approval of a $100,000 expenditure for a Washington, D.C. Public Relations firm to manipulate public sentiment in favor of the F-35 being based in Boise. The resolution, to be voted upon at Tuesday’s council meeting, says in part: “Section 2. That the Purchasing Regulations […]
Ada Taxpayers Could Take Hit In HP Deal
While it makes sense to consolidate State of Idaho offices in a single campus, Ada and Boise taxpayers will take a hit of at least $1.5 million per year in lost tax revenue currently paid by Hewlett Packard. HP built the 92-acre HP campus at 11311 W. Chinden Boulevard beginning in 1980. Current state code […]
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 […]
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