City Government
Boise Top Copper Loses Badge
By DAVID R. FRAZIER, editor Boise Police Chief Ryan Lee was relieved of his duties Friday by Mayor Lauren McLean amid unrest from the police union, investigative news reports from several legacy media agencies, a potential lawsuit from an injured officer, which included a criminal investigation into his personal actions. According to reports, Lee will […]
Kiddie Drag Show Killed
Organizers of this weekend’s Gay Pride Festival have dropped the drag show for 11-18 year-olds from the schedule after seven sponsors, including the Idaho Health and Welfare, dropped their support. Controversy erupted after conservative groups, the Republican Party, and others complained about “the sexualization of children” in the planned kiddie drag show. “While the vast […]
Boise Needs Citywide Ombudsman
The GUARDIAN has come to the conclusion we need to have a single ombudsman for all city departments to act on behalf of citizens when it comes to resolving minor disputes, providing access to knowledgable officials, and generally being a voice for citizens. Over the years we have seen a marked disconnect between citizens and […]
Inflation Is Issue At Barber Park
Officials at Boise and Ada County are at odds over inflation at Barber Park. Not financial or taxes, but air pressure. Several Boise Councilors have had informal meets with Ada Commishes and County Park board members regarding the plug being pulled on free compressors three years ago at Barber Park. Boise contends tubers and rafters […]
Is Bedke Running For Boise Mayor?
If a recent campaign funds solicitation is any indication, it looks like Scott Bedke is running for Boise mayor against Lauren McLean. It isn’t clear just what he will do to stop McLean or what she will do to hurt the office of Lt. Gov. Here is a copy of what he sent to potential […]
Ada Parks: “Boise River Never Safe”
Ada County Parks Director Scott Koberg said in an internal e-mail to the County Commissioners Wednesday, “The Boise River is never ‘safe’,” after the commishes questioned news from the Boise Fire Department claiming 14 rescues–including four “life-saving events” in about five hours. Koberg noted the river float is always a, “float-at-your-own-risk” endeavor. Common sense prompted […]
Arson Kits Go On Sale Thursday
The annual July 4th records falsification and safety advice is now available from Treasure Valley “first responders” regarding use of fire works. Officials sternly tell residents that “aerial fireworks,” including bottle rockets, mortars, and those producing “booms and bangs” are illegal. Meanwhile hundreds of dogs jump fences and run off in terror as both police […]
Which Flag On Harrison For Flag Day?
The Stars and Stripes, Old Glory, or simply the American Flag will be flying proudly Tuesday, June 14 on Flag Day, throughout the USA. In Boise, chances are pretty good we will see rainbow striped Gay Pride flags fly from publicly owned lamp posts along Harrison Blvd., not the red, white, and blue. We find […]
Boise Police Lt. Popped For DUI
Following up on an anonymous tip, the GUARDIAN has confirmed that Boise police Lt. Steve Butler was arrested by Valley County Sheriff’s deputies over the Memorial Day weekend and cited for driving under the influence . He was apparently involved in some sort of crash. Since the misdemeanor was not witnessed by the deputies, he […]
City Workers Coming And Going
This cryptic note came in Monday and got us to thinking. “Please start a thread on Guardian regarding where are the City dept heads. Yes, the Police Chief has problems, but what about Fire Chief? Did he ever move into the city? Earn a bachelor’s degree? These were the posted requirements, but?” We noticed on […]
Is City Council Seat A Conflict With Legislature?
Guest Opinion By DAVID KLINGER Unless you’re a first-time homebuyer in the “New Boise”, trying to scrape together a down payment for that $500,000 “starter home” in “America’s Most Livable City”, the notion of working two jobs to make ends meet probably doesn’t carry very much appeal. That is, however, unless you’re an elected City […]
Election (or not) With No Voters Is Possible
The May 17 election is set to include a ballot measure seeking bonding authority for nearly $ billion to build a development of about 7,000 homes in a development called “Spring Valley” north of Eagle. At last check the GUARDIAN found the Ada County election office could not find any “qualified electors” living within the […]
Bikeboy Peddles 200,000 miles
The following feature by “BIKEBOY” is a bit long, but it took him years of huffing and puffing the streets of Boise to chalk up 200,000 miles. Here is his account of life on the street. BY STEVE HULME In 1986, I was a working-class guy, married with two kids and another on the way. […]
Council Adopts Guardian District Idea
It looks like Boise City Councilors have come to their senses and adopted the GUARDIAN philosophy for the upcoming requirements for members of the commission that will set districts. The action took place at the Tuesday meeting. The GUARDIAN had suggested ( see previous post) the expertise of members was more important than their geographical […]
Council District Commission Important Move
Boise City Councilors will consider an ordinance Tuesday to create a commission to fashion the new districts mandated by the Idaho legislature. It will be a public hearing. While we recognize the need to have ONE MAN-ONE VOTE districts, this first step is only to establish the commission members. These planning units are indeed absurd […]
Council Studies Trailer Park Purchase
Citing a need to preserve low-cost affordable housing, Boise City Councilors discussed the purchase of a trailer park in the Vista neighborhood at Shoshone and Malad at a recent work session. Council President Elaine Clegg said, “This is a great opportunity to secure a revenue source for taxpayers and preserve shelter for our unhoused community […]
Corporate Giveaways, No Workers
We find it perplexing that when we have a “worker shortage” and a shortage of “affordable housing,” the state and local politicos are offering tax breaks to corporate billionaires to move to the Boise area. The recent announcement of a Meta data center moving to Kuna would be great if the predicted 100 workers were […]
Vern Calls It “10-42” After 53 Year Shift
By DAVID R. FRAZIER GUARDIAN EDITOR A dear friend and legend in police circles died Friday following a lengthy battle with assorted health issues. Vern Bisterfeldt was 84 and served the community as a cop, city councilor, and county commissioner over a period of more than 50 years. When I came to Boise in 1968 […]
Open Beds or Free Speech?
The governor has changed, the police chief is new, the state police colonel has changed, the mayor has changed, even most of the media reporters have changed. All that said, there is still the current issue of homeless camping on the state-owned former Ada County Courthouse, just like the OCCUPY BOISE movement did ten years […]
Boise’s Top Copper Investigated
Boise Police Chief Ryan Lee is the subject of an investigation apparently stemming from a physical incident with one of his subordinate officers. The investigation by the Idaho State Police has been reported locally by several media outlets as well as national media. The GUARDIAN along with other media have been “tipped” repeatedly for several […]
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