City Government
McLean Supports Bieter And Community Press
Former Boise Mayor Dave Bieter has struck it rich with a development being built by his new employer, the Gardner Co. Under the plan, Gardner will receive CCDC urban renewal loans of $10.2 million for a 110 unit apartment building downtown with a single “affordable rent” apartment. Sounds like the other 109 units are not […]
Bieter Joins Gardner Firm
To the surprise of very few, former Boise Mayor Dave Bieter has found employment with a development firm. According to KTVB NEWSBieter is joining Dave Wali at the Gardner Company, the development firm responsible for major downtown Boise projects like the Zions Bank Building and the underground transportation hub, among others. Bieter was mayor when […]
Doan Resigns Before Scheduled Firing
Dennis Doan resigned from employment at the city of Boise shortly before a Friday special city council meeting was called to consider his firing. The council met, declined to act and adjourned. The GUARDIAN had publicly advised him Wednesday to make the move: We also think Doan could preserve his dignity by immediately resigning “for […]
Boise Council Sets Special Meeting
Boise’s city council has scheduled a “special meeting” for 12:30 p.m. Friday. The meeting will begin with an executive session to discuss a personnel matter. It is an open secret the session will be to discuss the dismissal of Dennis Doan from the fire chief position. The council cannot make any decisions in the secret […]
Mayor vs Fire Chief Battle Heats Up
The flare up over the dismissal, retirement, paid leave, firing of Dennis Doan as Boise fire chief has shifted to the city council. Based on e-mails from the city to Doan, it looks like newly elected mayor Lauren McLean will leave the dirty work to the City Council when it comes to firing Doan. City […]
Doan Retires From Boise FD
In the first major shake up of her new administration, Mayor Lauren McLean has encountered a cumbersome transition with dumping Dennis Doan from the fire chief position. In a nutshell: if she wanted to get rid of Doan, who was a long time supporter of former Mayor Dave Bieter, she should have simply asked for […]
Acting Boise Fire Chief Announced
Following the unexplained departure of former fire chief Dennis Doan, Boise officials have announced deputy chief Romeo Gervais will be acting chief. Gervais has been a deputy chief/fire marshall for several years.
Boise Fire Chief On Admin Leave
Boise Fire Chief Dennis Doan was placed on administrative leave Monday. The move is being called a “personnel matter,” hence no one at Mayor Lauren McLean’s office will say why the chief is out. Doan and other command staff were tagged during the city campaign for mayor for using their official city offices for political […]
Gannon Seeks Taxes From Government Tenants
Boise Dem representative John Gannon has a bill co-sponsored by Repub Mike Moyle to charge taxes to to private entities using public real estate. He wants to amend the Idaho constitution to include: “any property belonging to the state, counties, towns, cities, villages, school districts … or public libraries” that’s leased to a private entity […]
Legislature– Quit Picking On Boise
The Idaho Legislature doesn’t have Dave Bieter to kick aground anymore, so they need to quit picking on us. Former Mayor Dave Bieter was often downright pugnacious with legislators, but he is gone and there is new blood at Boise’s City Hall. The statehouse boys need to give Lauren Mclean an the new council a […]
Too Many People, Too Much Hype
Idaho State PARKS has more happy campers than they can handle, forcing the department to make the wise move to stop advertising for visitors. The GUARDIAN has long held the GROWTHOPHOBE position that state and local governments should do the same thing–stop paying businesses to come to Idaho. It makes no sense to us for […]
Legislator Targets Urban Renewal Boards
A bill that appears to be aimed at former Boise Mayor Dave Bieter and the Capital City Development Corp. (CCDC) has been proposed by a North Idaho Legislator. Sen. Mary Souza of Coeur d’Alene appeared in front of the Senate Local Government and Taxation Committee Thursday. The bill has two parts – including a provision […]
Ludwig Seeks “Tweak” To Stadium Ordinance
The GUARDIAN pressed former City Councilor Scot Ludwig about his efforts to seek an amendment to the ordinance which prohibits use of public funds for any stadium project worth more than $5 million in either private or public funds. Ludwig adamantly denied any connection to a current or future stadium project. “All I want is […]
The Case For “Term Limits”
We just returned from a visit to Hawaii’s “Big Island” where we observed a public notice sign on Alii Drive–the posh oceanfront street packed with hotels and condos. The proposed project included “60 condos and 20 AFFORDABLE HOUSING units!” That prompted us to ponder just exactly what constituted “affordable” on the trendy real estate? Then, […]
There May Be Hope
After reading her statement of purpose and intent on the Boise City website, we have hope for some actual changes at the office of Mayor Lauren McLean as “Clan McLean” takes over the big corner office on the third floor. Here are the main points of her message: Public Online Calendar: My calendar will be […]
Ludwig Steps Down From CCDC
Former Boise City Councilor Scot Ludwig stepped down from the CCDC, Boise’s urban renewal agency in order to give newly elected Mayor Lauren McLean to a chance to appoint someone who shares her vision for downtown. Ludwig suggested in his letter of resignation that McLean appoint a current City Councilor to fill the vacancy he […]
Clan McLean Staff Changes Announced
You may not be able to choose your relatives, but if you are Clan McLean you can choose your clan members. Here are some roster changes in the office of Mayor Lauren McLean, courtesy of Margaret Carmel at the IDAHO PRESS Since Tuesday, four of former Mayor Dave Bieter’s employees left the city’s payrolls, including: […]
“Clan McLean” Arrives At Boise Mayor’s Office
With police bagpipes wailing and drums beating, Lauren Mclean and “Clan McLean” marched into the city council chambers Tuesday night as Boise’s first elected female mayor took office in front of a standing room only crowd. McLean exchanged a very brief arms length handshake from former Mayor Dave Bieter as he strode across the dais […]
Schools Takeover “Be Kind” Scheme
Despite spending $80,000 for ad agency services, the Boise “Be Kind” program is shifting to the Boise School District. KBOI TV NEWS reports the scheme touted by Dave Bieter during his ill-fated run for reelection will be run by the schools in the future. Team Dave awarded Spark ad agency $80,000 for an annual contract […]
Bieter’s Lack Of Understanding Should Serve As Signal To New Crop Of Boise Politicos
We have read two post election interviews with Boise Mayor Dave Bieter and it is obvious to the GUARDIAN that he lost the race because he lost touch with his constituents. In a STATESMAN piece based on a letter to a supporter, Bieter was quoted complaining that it was terrible to allow “a small minority” […]
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