City Government
The Real Dirt On Clean Air
For growthophobes there may be a silver lining in that yellow cloud of pollution hanging over the Treasure Valley. Without reductions in current levels of existing pollution, new businesses won’t be able to locate here and dump their vile concoctions into the air. During a recent speech, the Idaho DEQ air quality czar said if […]
City & CCDC Seek Trolley Pitchman
At a time when the economy is tanking and wasteful spending needs to be curbed, Team Dave at the office of Mayor Dave Bieter and the folks at the urban renewal agency are ready to spend $25,000 in public money for a Street Car Pitchman! Like Prof. Harold Hill in the “Music Man” it looks […]
Mayor Hotline November 22 to 28
11/22/08 Anonymous Female Neighborhood Associations: Could someone please call John Gannon, Depot Bench Neighborhood Association at 343-1608 and explain to him that he needs to train his volunteers. It is against the law to place flyers in mail boxes. I know for a fact he knows this; I know for a fact he’s been told […]
Mayor Hotline November 15 to 21
11/14/08 Barbara Safari Inn Parking: We have the American Legion food convoy staying in the downtown area tonight to present food at the Veterans’ Home and they obviously need parking for trailers, trucks, and such because they’re bringing in food. I called the city if there was any way of giving […]
Friday Parking Holiday Downtown
Team Dave is doing its part to provide an economic stimulus without using a taxpayer bailout. Mayor Dave Bieter has declared Friday to be a parking holiday with no enforcement of parking meters to help out both consumers and merchants in the downtown area. Motorists are being advised to obey safety areas such as crosswalks […]
Politicos Continue Puppet Act For Chamber
In the spirit of Christmas, local politcos continue to act as puppets of the Chamber of Commerce–often at the expense of commoners unable to buy the access to power the Chamber controls. For a mere $40 you can drink and munch with politicians who don’t even understand they are being used like Willy Nelson at […]
North Enders Get Special Treatment
Boise’s North End continues to get a disproportionate benefit from public agencies as the Ada County Highway District collects leaves from the tree lined streets. Thanks to the original town plat, the North End has sidewalks and right of way (between curb and sidewalk) with majestic old growth elm and maple trees, creating demands on […]
City & Schools Team Up For Rec Centers
Boise City and Boise Schools are teaming up with some after school programs and according to a recent letter from Team Dave’s Mayor Dave Bieter, he has visited the centers and plans repeat visits. The city ponied up $71,000 for “tenant improvements” after the schools built recreation centers within Grace Jordan and Morley Nelson elementary […]
Copper Rides Likely To Change
Boise Coppers are likely to have a slightly European flare with their ride matching their duties as Chief Mike Masterson and topper copper command staff look for ways to save taxpayer dollars in these tough times. Throughout Europe and South America, police use compact size vehicles which are used mostly for transportation rather than high […]
Mayor Hotline November 8 to 14
LEAVES AND DOGS 11/14/08 Joanne Springer 650 San Jose Way Boise, ID 342-1587 Leaf Recycling: I’m trying to connect to the recycling number in the phone book, which is 384-3901 to report that my leaves were not picked up even though my neighbor’s were. I keep getting this circular – hit #, then this repeated, […]
Idaho Near Top In Lack Of Gov’t Integrity
Idaho made it on another National List recently, placing near the top of the “Lack of Integrity In Government” survey. Probably won’t see any press releases from Team Dave, the Commishes, or Guv. Butch’s spinmeisters on that one. THE SURVEY by the Chicago-based Better Government Association examined open records laws, open meeting laws, whistle-blower laws, […]
Politicos Stop Competition For Motive Power
Boise choo choo train maker Motive Power will have the bid for locomotives in Boston all to itself thanks to a ruling by the Federal Transit Authority Friday. Apparently the agency bowed to political pressure from Idaho politicos if a press release is accurate. The FTA has agreed to reject the Massachusetts Bay Transit Authority […]
Note The Kiosks With Notices
The Veterans had trouble getting publicity for the November 11 parade without getting crosswise of an ordinance that prohibits posting flyers in the downtown area. Not only is it illegal to post on signal boxes and lamp posts, merchants were reluctant to place the signs in their windows. Doug Foote, a retired Idaho Air National […]
Audits Should Be Routine In Government
At least three issues involving audits–or lack of audits–in Idaho governments have hit the GUARDIAN in the past few days. Readers have asked for comment. The State of Idaho caught a couple of crooked employees embezzling funds at an obscure agency of the Agriculture Department, but there seems to be a difference of opinion among […]
Boise Seeks Trash Fee Increase
The legal notices in the Daily Paper Monday were full of information tidbits including an across the board increase in fees for Boise trash pick up. Boise City Council is off Tuesday for Veteran’s Day, but there is a public hearing set for November 18 since the proposed increases exceed 5%. In fact, the proposed […]
Hockey Mom vs Joe Six-pack At Ice World
The Hockey Mom who called the Mayor’s Hotline complaining about drinking and empty beer cans in the locker room of the City-owned Ice World might sound overly protective of her little boy, but two nights in a row should prompt some “surprise inspections” by management. If the bike coppers are writing tickets in the park […]
Mayor Hotline October 25 to 31
HOCKEY MOM AGAINST “JOE SIX PACKS,” HOWLING ABOUT DOG LEASH MEET, FEDERAL CASE, MORE CALIFORNIA NUT 10/28/08 Anonymous Ice World: I’m a concerned parent. I wish that you guys would do something about the drinking that goes on in Idaho Ice World in the locker rooms with the adult leagues. I was under the assumption […]
Simplot Housing Not Welcomed By All
We got a message from some folks in Eagle who complained about the low cost houses being “Touted in the Daily Paper.” They said the landscaping was nice, but claimed the units on tiny lots didn’t meet city design standards. A check with Eagle’s planning department indicates the concerns of locals may be well founded. […]
Mayor Hotline October 18 to 24
BAD HOMELESS, GOOD ALBERTSON, BAD BUS, BAD GOLF COURSE, GOOD CHURCH, ROUGH PARK, CALIFORNIA WACKO NOTED AND IGNORED 10/20/08 Michele Homeless: I don’t really need a call-back or anything; I just wanted to leave a message for the Mayor and tell him that it’s not fair that he’s giving all this money to the homeless […]
Mayor Hotline October 4 to 10
“NO” to offshore utility billing, Do it yourself pothole fix, Try angle parking, Copper bus drivers. This is one of the best hotline summaries we have seen–now if those city officials will just LISTEN! 10/5/08 Steve Dunlap 2342 Independence Dr. Boise, ID 83706 921-2578 Utility Billing Survey: I’m calling about a survey I received from […]
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