City Government
Tuesday Hearing On Library Vote
Boise politicos have scheduled a public hearing Tuesday at 6 p.m. on the issue of adopting an ordinance to place the libray question on the November ballot. Much has been written–and said–about a proposed ultra exotic structure on Capital Blvd. A citizens group, Boise Working Together, gathered enough signatures to require a vote, Team Dave […]
A Different View Of Latest Library Scheme
Team Dave and its leader, Mayor Dave Bieter are trying to sell the idea of “saving interest fees” by simply inserting $50 million cash for the proposed mega-library project. This after several years of economic schemes, projections, and sales pitches. If Boise has $50,000,000 stashed away in a slush fund, we the people have been […]
Property Values Sky Rocket In Ada
Rather than go into a lengthy discussion of the tax system, we will offer a simple formula for property tax estimates and provide a forum to share your recent assessment notices. Property taxes are determined by local government budgets which are limited to 3% increase plus the value of new construction (growth). A levy as […]
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 […]
Insider Nominated Over 230,000 Citizens
That old trope of “independent body corporate and politic” is becoming ludicrous when it comes to Boise’s urban renewal agency, CCDC. Tuesday’s city council agenda includes the proposed appointment of the CCDC chairman, Dana Zuckerman, to the city design review committee. The committee reviews major building projects as part of the approval process on new […]
McLean Challenges Bieter For Mayor Post, Needs Name Recognition
Boise City Council President Loren McLean filed her candidacy to challenge Mayor Dave Bieter, but she may need to do a better job when it comes to name recognition. When she walked up to the window at the City Clerk’s office with her candidacy documents, she was asked for her Idaho driver’s license as identification. […]
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 […]
Brent Coles Tells P&Z Not To Rezone Library
Don Day at BOISEDEV reports that former Boise Mayor Brent Coles testified before the Planning and Zoning Commission Monday against a rezone of the area near the library and the Log Cabin Literary Center. Coles and about 10 others opposed the rezone. Commissioners agreed and turned down the application to rezone the area which included […]
CCDC Pulls Out Of Library Project
Thanks to the Idaho Legislature and perhaps the Working Together group, financial support for the proposed $85 to $120 million Boise library project is waning. Monday the Capital City Development Corp. (CCDC) board voted unanimously to withdraw $2.6 million earmarked for the project. The legislature passed a law requiring a citizen vote for major projects […]
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 […]
Library Petition Drive Appears To Succeed
The following is an open letter from David Klinger, one of the organizers of the petition drive to allow citizens a vote on the proposed library and sports stadium projects. Dear Concerned Neighbor, Petitions for ballot initiatives have to be signed on paper, and attested to, in person, before a notary public. Online signing isn’t […]
“Do As We Say, Not As We Do”
Boise Fire officials have warned citizens to stay out of the Boise River With high snow melt causing the river flow at seasonal high levels. For the past week the airwaves and news columns have been full of danger warnings. Tuesday afternoon three guys wrapped an expensive jet boat around one of the Broadway Bridge […]
Library Petition Drive Deadline Nears
Volunteers for Boise Working Together are in the final days to collect signatures on Library and Stadium initiatives before an April 30th filing deadline. The proposed main library and civic center campus would cost an estimated $85 million and the potential sports park $50 million, much of which would come from public monies. Boise Working […]
Library Architect Fined By State
Timing is everything. The architectural firm awarded the $11 million contract to build the Boise Library was not licensed in Idaho at the time they solicited the job. A partner in the architectural firm Safdie and Associates has paid a $500 civil fine and $600 in legal fees to the Idaho Bureau of Occupational Licenses […]
More Than Money Needed For Buses
By Jimmy D. Bus Guardian Transportation Correspondent On Tuesday night the Boise City Council heard testimony from citizens about the crappy Valley wide bus system as the Council considers adding even more funds to the ever declining system. Crappy. That adjective was used at a recent Valley Regional Transit (VRT) Board meeting by none other […]
“Independent Body Corporate And Politic”
Urban renewal agencies were originally created to insulate federal finances from municipal finances. It was mandated by the Feds so cities didn’t commingle funds intended to fight blight with tax revenues intended to cover expenses like libraries, fire stations, and other municipal structures. Under Idaho law urban renewal agency membership prohibits the city council from […]
City Sells Booze To Minor, Gets Busted
When it comes to the business side of Boise City’s Ice World, it has been far from a slick venue. The most recent slip on the ice came when the City-owned booze license was suspended for selling drinks to a minor. Parks director Doug Holloway confirmed the incident to the GUARDIAN when asked about it. […]
No Need For Urban Renewal On Vista
With the increasing push to expand the reach of Boise’s Capital City Development Corp. (CCDC) to include the “Vista corridor,” we took a closer look at the commercial properties which are targeted for urban renewal designation. One of the deciding factors to include an area into the urban renewal fold is BLIGHT. It appears to […]
GUARDIAN Takes A Victory Lap
A HUMBLE MESSAGE FROM DAVE FRAZIER Now that Gov. Brad Little has signed HB 217 into law, urban renewal abuse SHOULD be restrained. Projects that use urban renewal funds in Idaho would require a vote of the public if more than 51% of the total dollars come from public funds of any type – except […]
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