Economy
GUARDIAN Reservations About New Hotels
Boise’s Auditorium District is awaiting a judicial ruling about financing a new ballroom and other convention facilities–all without voter approval. The case was heard last week in Fourth District Court. Meanwhile at least two new hoteliers have announced plans to build major facilities along Capitol Blvd. based on anticipated approval of the GBAD financing. The […]
Pentagon Releases Boise Photos
After nearly a week, the GUARDIAN has obtained official USAF photos which prove Madame Secretary Deborah Lee James visited Boise. It literally took Pentagon clearance to get the pictures. We jokingly called into question whether or not the USAF Secretary actually came to Boise when all legacy media were banned from photographing her or any […]
Horseless Racing Headed For Finish Line?
It looks like the thinly disguised slot machines touted as “historic racing” are headed for the finish line after a legislative panel voted 8 to 1 Wednesday to send to the floor a bill repealing the law allowing “instant racing.” Complaints from Idaho Indian Tribes which host casino gambling prompted the legislature to look into […]
Good News, Bad News
Mostly to allow for some intelligent comments, we offer the following items which transpired in the past day or two. —HORSELESS RACING appears to be reaching the finish line as legislators and legacy media point out the deceptions used to get a 2013 bill passed which allowed slot machines disguised as “instant racing machines.” The […]
Some Needed New Year’s Resolutions
Here are some New Year’s resolutions we think are needed for 2015. Feel free to add your own. –Legislature should pass a law to ban discrimination toward ALL groups, race, gender, religion, age, etc. –Gov. Butch Otter stop spending our tax dollars to fight gay marriage. If you want to defend the Idaho Constitution, join […]
ESPN, CBS Rule Statesman Newspaper, Bronco Football
In an apologetic column in the Saturday STATESMAN, editor Vicki Gowler explained why the newspapers have been delivered hours late for two weekends in a row: It’s all the fault of ESPN! Not only does the commercial sports TV network set the starting time of BSU football times, that also determines when the DAILY PAPER […]
Mass Transit Needs Masses, Too Expensive
Ron Harriman is a guy who tends to use science and math to make his points. Here is his take on recent calls for a TRANSIT SYSTEM in the Treasure Valley. By Ron Harriman My research has led me to conclude that in a basically rural area, transit fares will only cover 8% of the […]
X-Country Drive Observations
We have been on the road delivering the 12-year-old family car to a relative in Florida. The drive prompted a bunch of observations worth sharing from the 3,000 drive. –Speed limits have increased to the point there is little risk of a ticket. The old 55 mph has been replaced with 70 m.p.h. on state […]
New Hawks Owners Try For Double Play
Its the same old story. New Owners come to town, love the place, love the fans, love the weather, love baseball, and love to have the community build them a new stadium. Such is the case with the new owners of the Boise Hawks Baseball team. No longer with the Chicago Cubs, the Hawks will […]
Eagle-Boise Fire Coverage Is Hot Topic
For the most part the fire departments in Ada County get along pretty well, especially when it comes to assisting each other responding to emergencies. That relationship is being strained as a result of the recent Boise City annexation of about 600 Eagle Fire District patrons into the city of Boise. The move will cost […]
Balukoff Wants Tight State Rules, But Don’t Impede Local Leaders Wishes On Tax Breaks
Last week we posted a piece after having a coffee chat with A.J. Balukoff, the Boise businessman who is running as a Dem for the office of Governor. We talked about various tax breaks, including the practice of the Idaho Land Board owning businesses and leasing tax exempt state-owned buildings to commercial businesses. Balukoff suggested […]
SkyWest Will Lease City-Financed Structure Tax-Free
The GUARDIAN confirmed Tuesday that SkyWest Airline will lease a planned $23 million maintenance facility tax-free from the city of Boise. This means Boise Schools, City of Boise, Ada County, and ACHD will forego an estimated $380,000 in taxes on the city financed project EVERY YEAR! Thanks to a constitutional amendment passed three years ago, […]
New GUARDIAN Banner Photo
After years of sticking with the same picture for the banner, the GUARDIAN has caved to reader suggestions and updated the image above. While the old photo was what we liked about Boise–a clean view of the foothills over the downtown–the new one is much more compact, thanks to the intent of local politicos and […]
Airport Retail Contractor Offers “Extras” With Bid
Boise City Councilors Tuesday approved without discussion an agreement with an airport retail concession vendor which includes making annual “donations” to a private non-profit group and Boise Parks. Buried in the proposal is a kick back offer to the city. George Prentice of the BOISE WEEKLY waded through the 1300-plus-page agenda and found this gem: […]
Boise Coppers “Absorb” BSU Costs
Boise coppers will be seeking additional funds from Boise State University as part of a contract renewal to provide police at BSU. The new deal will see the Boise Police Department continue to provide “customary and usual duties,” including investigation and enforcement, traffic control and accident investigations. But the contract would bump up the hourly […]
Gardner Courts BSU For Tax-Exempt Space
UPDATE 6/19/14 STATE BOARD OKed THE DEAL OUTLINED BELOW. Meeting in Idaho Falls, members of the State Board of Education approved the proposal. Looks like the Gardner Company has found a pot of gold in the form of government funding for downtown Boise projects. Latest move to get public funding for a pair of proposed […]
BOI Could Build $30M SkyWest Facility
We would eagerly welcome a $30,000,000 investment by regional airline SkyWest to build a maintenance facility in Boise as announced by Mayor Dave Bieter Friday. Taxes on a $30 million structure could amount to more than $500,000 a year for Boise Schools, ACHD, Ada County, and Boise City. But it is unlikely it will happen. […]
Government Give Aways–Impossible Dream
However well intended, we have a serious problem with fee deferrals, job training credits, landing fee waivers, and all other forms of “corporate welfare.” With promises of “stimulate the economy” along with “job creation” businesses are scamming local, state, and federal government agencies. The GUARDIAN recently filed a public records request with the airport to […]
ACHD Joins Boise In Gardner Fee Defferal
One thing Boise and Ada County Highway District officials seem to be able to agree upon is special treatment for the Gardner Development Company. Boise fees of about $500,000, and ACHD impact fees of between $1.2 million and $1.4 million are due before Gardner is allowed to occupy its a two-building, office/retail/parking/convention project, atop an […]
Give Away $.5Mill To Developer, But Pay Your Parking Tickets
Boise is ripe to be #1 on the “EASY PICKING” list compiled by developers. The BOISE WEEKLY’S George Prentice reports city officials have cut a deal to defer $500,000 in fees owed by Gardner Development, the outfit which has been anointed to build the latest version of the “Transit Center” which is planned beneath one […]
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