City Government
Tent Camping at Christmas?
We all want to help those less fortunate–especially at Christmas. Just like we all wanted to help the hurricane victims in the Gulf Coast. Many of Idaho’s efforts to help were not needed then and they may not be needed at home. The “Fear Factor” is alive and well in Boise. A “crises” for the […]
Lame Duck Quacks
The lame duck quacked Tuesday when the Boise City Council considered the mess with the skinny houses being moved onto lots on Euclid St. and the rest of the flock followed his call. Councilor Jerome Mapp weighed in and cut to the heart of the entire debate–which ran into the waning minutes of the day. […]
Park Land Could Prove Costly
Marianne and Larry Williams have donated 70 acres of Boise river front land in the Harris Ranch subdivision to the city of Boise to be used as a park. On the face of it the deal looks good. It will extend the greenbelt, it is a nice gesture, it will preserve a mile of river […]
Houses Find Homes
Those three skinny houses that got parking tickets at Federal Way and Protest may be back in the news soon. GUARDIAN readers report that one has somehow rolled down the hill and ended up at Lincoln and Beacon…not far from where it originally sprouted up. A quick check with the Boise Building Department shows a […]
Low Pay, Politics, Haunt City Workers
Another one of those dandy “we are doing it right” surveys from Boise City. Results vary depending on how you view them. GUARDIAN sees : –57% of workers say politics strongly factors into everyday decision making process –61% feel they are underpaid for their level of responsibility –65% are unsatisfied with their raises –77% say […]
Historic Commission Fails Again
Vacancies on the Boise Historic Preservation Commission and more history than they can handle led to approval of five construction projects without public input in Boise’s North End. Despite repeated assurances last June to the GUARDIAN from Mayor Dave Bieter’s office, one vacancy was not filled until November 1. The Commission simply failed to do […]
Contractor Law Pressures Cities
An unintended effect of the new contractor registration law which goes into effect January 1, 2006 places cities throughout Idaho in the position of encouraging contractors to be dishonest or forget about building permits. While there are no provisions (or funding) for cities and counties to enforce the new law, these local governments issue building […]
Wayward Homes Get Ticketed
The “Mother of All Parking Tickets” have been issued by the Boise Code Enforcement Division and city officials are now looking for a tow truck big enough to handle the impound. Storage fees could amount to windfall profits for whomever gets the call. The parking violation is for three HOUSES that got dumped at the […]
Mayor Inappropriate On Inquest
The GUARDIAN finds it disturbing that Boise Mayor Dave Bieter has been communicating with the Coroner behind the scenes over a case involving one of Bieter’s cops. We agree the on-again-off-again-on-again inquest and surrounding publicity in the midst of a city election is a bungling effort at best. However, the mayor is out of line […]
He Said, She Said, They Said
New motions filed in court over the Ada County Commishes alleged illegal meeting are going to end up with a legal conclusion that somebody isn’t telling the truth. The latest filing includes an affidavit of Boise City Councilor Vern Bisterfeldt who flatly says, “There was no discussion of pending litigation…Additionally…I was not aware of pending […]
Payoffs and Funny Money
Here is a fun look at the political payoffs in the Boise City Council election based on the finance reports filed with the City Clerk. Seems apparent the developers and fire department union are paying the most and will probably stand the best chance of a good return on their investment. The pro-lifers who paid […]
Boise Wrong on Ustick Issue
The ongoing feud between the Boise City Council and Ada County Highway District over Ustick Road is a direct result of rampant developments along the once rural country road. After years of approving thousands of housing units, office parks, retail outlets and their own library-recreation center along Ustick, Boise has created the demand to widen […]
Poop Farm Crime?
The GUARDIAN had a surrogate ask Boise City for the audit report that has been completed into the financial “irregularities” at the Poop Farm. Our agent got a nice letter back–but no audit results. Seems there is more to come according to the letter which said the audit couldn’t be released because it is part […]
Popkey Caves to Swindell
Perhaps taking a hint from previous Statesmen writers who fueled the fires of the religious right, columnist Dan Popkey offered an apology to city council candidate Brandi Swindell for perviously printed remarks she labeled as sexist. In his Sunday column, Popkey acknowledged that he knew better and shouldn’t have said things about Brandi’s good looks. […]
Give Me More, Give Me Bigger!!
Like the odor from the sugar factory and feedlots, we have become inured (for you non-library types that’s “accustomed to something unpleasant”) to the effects of growth in Idaho. Easy to sound like an old fart that wants to return to the “good old days” on this issue, but folks we are assaulted daily with […]
Campaign Trivia
While plenty of ink and airtime is being consumed over City Council candidate Brandi Swindell’s web site pictures (are they glamour shots?) we have noticed that Councilor Jerome Mapp is decked out in what may qualify as “sartorial splendor.” The gravel voiced incumbent appears to be wearing square framed designer glasses, flashy ties, and loose […]
Kudos on Library Vote
Updated Post 5 pm 10/19/05 Boise City Councilors deserve kudos for allowing the public a vote on a proposed $38 million library bond. This move by the council–just three weeks prior to an election–marks a departure from past policies that went around voters and did not allow them a voice in major building projects. The […]
Poop Farm–The Fan Comes Closer
The resignation of Boise’s Poop Farm manager Tuesday brings the proverbial fan a little closer to what it is destined to hit. The “BioSolid Waste Recycling Facility” is located on desert farm land near Kuna. No word if the resignation stems from investigations and a major audit surrounding finance and management practices within the Boise […]
Brandi Gets Boost?
If past storms are any indication, the Idaho Statesman’s lightning rod reporter, Dan Popkey, will attract some high voltage strikes from the Christians after endorsing Maryanne Jordan for Boise City Council. In the Sunday edition Popkey fired some less than friendly sniper shots at challenger Brandi Swindell, calling her “an extremist who opposes condom use […]
Infill Out…Sort Of
Southeast neighbors led by Fred Fritchman took a 2×4 to the Boise City Council mule Friday and apparently “got their attention.” Once they got whacked between the eyes with complaints of three duplex homes sneaked into a tiny space in the middle of the night on Hale St., they called an emergency council meeting and […]
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