Economy
Is No News Good News?
Dear GUARDIAN readers, I want to personally apologize for not posting anything lately, but we are aware of only the Orange Man’s cries of “foul” on the election counts, and daily updates on mask vs no mask debates at all levels of government. We will offer some additional topics, but remember, it is only for […]
GBAD To Hold Onto Cash, Ahlquist Asks City To Make “The Sky The Limit”
The Greater Boise Auditorium District held a special board meeting Tuesday in which they decided to hang onto their cash reserves until the COVID-19 and slow hotel and convention business did a “pivot.” This came in the wake of an attempt by Tommy Ahlquist and his Ball Ventures Ahlquist development firm to recruit GBAD to […]
GUARDIAN’s State Of The Union
After things opened up in Idaho a couple weeks ago the GUARDIAN decided it was time to make a road trip to Michigan. Idaho had about 80 reported COVID deaths and restaurants were opening on a limited basis. WELL! It was nearly impossible to find a sit down food place anywhere in the upper West […]
Time For Manifesto Logic, Leadership
The GUARDIAN will be the first to admit there were some good points included in the Transition team report entitled “A MORE EQUITABLE CITY FOR EVERYONE.” The report was requested by Mayor Lauren McLean of 18 citizens and staff she appointed. When we posted the report and highlighted some of the more inflammatory items, the […]
There Is More News Than COVID-19
Time for a reality check. The GUARDIAN like most everyone else has hunkered down during the house arrest phase of the virus event. We have to admit to a certain degree of “feeling down,” but short of any serious depression. Today we were able to realize it isn’t just the COVID show, but the cover […]
Quarantine me!
By BILL von TAGEN Don’t get me wrong, I am not infected with Covid 19. I am also very careful even though I have not altered my lifestyle very much. However, when the country emerges from this pandemic, I want there to be a society and a community to go back to. Civilization and social […]
Enough To Wipe Out An Entire City
The Clearwater Paper mill at Lewiston is a major asset for Idaho during the COVID-19 pandemic. The mill isn’t in the gold mining business, but its Lewiston mill manufactures a product as valuable as gold–toilet paper. The plant is listed as an “essential service” by Gov. Brad Little. When shown this photo, one reader commented, […]
Slow Times At GUARDIAN World Hq.
Every day is like a “snow day” or a long weekend as we sit at home looking at each other and the dog. Most of the time we can’t remember the day of the week and the passing of the blue trash truck is an event. Mrs. GUARDIAN proffered up a nice salad last night. […]
Covid 19 Means Cultural Change
Without regard to any party politics, the GUARDIAN predicts a major cultural change in the USA and perhaps the world which will last for generations in the wake of the COVID 19 crises. The following scenario is not a prediction, but a reality currently in place. Day care businesses will diminish as parents stay home […]
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 […]
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 […]
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, […]
Developers Should Pay For Prisons
For the past five years Growthophobes have been fed a steady diet of proud proclamations that Idaho is the fastest growing state in the country, #1 place to retire, most bike friendly, etc. Looks like we are also in the top ten when it comes to spending to put away criminals. But rather than tax […]
Government Sponsored Growth Fans Tax Hikes
Just in time for Thanksgiving, Ada County’s property tax notices have come out. Any way you care to spin it, growthophobes who have lived here for any length of time are funding the growth to benefit the mortgage lenders, developers, contractors, planners, consultants, etc. Growth is costly and does NOT pay for itself. There are […]
More Sneaky Boise Lease Details
Under the terms of a proposed amendment to a City lease deal with a Salt Lake City developer, taxpayers will be forced to pay for infrastructure costs traditionally borne by developers. The area in question is 159 acres of industrial park land owned by the citizens of Boise. Bieter has signed a lease deal with […]
Boise Councilors Oversight Failure
If a development near the airport with as many as 22 industrial buildings is allowed to proceed, Boise citizens will be deprived of property taxes and forced to pay for the infrastructure to benefit the private project, thanks to a contract signed by Mayor Dave Bieter. Here’s how it works. Boise City retains ownership of […]
The Enemy Among Us Is Growth
Ada County Commishes are set to spend an extra $5.563 MILLION in “foregone tax” levy authority to accommodate the rapid growth. A public hearing is scheduled for Tuesday July 9 at 6 p.m. at the courthouse. Here is how they plan to use the tax hike on one-time expenses: 1) Design cost associated with a […]
Survey Shows “Growing Too Fast”
For years the Boise State University Public Policy Institute survey results served as the justification for Boise’s Team Dave to push for public safety, transportation, and parks to accommodate the growth. The standard response to critics of growth was, “You can’t stop growth. People just want to come here.” Now, more than 70% of those […]
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 […]
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