Growth
“Independent Body Corporate And Politic”
Urban renewal agencies were originally created to insulate federal finances from municipal finances. It was mandated by the Feds so cities didn’t commingle funds intended to fight blight with tax revenues intended to cover expenses like libraries, fire stations, and other municipal structures. Under Idaho law urban renewal agency membership prohibits the city council from […]
No Need For Urban Renewal On Vista
With the increasing push to expand the reach of Boise’s Capital City Development Corp. (CCDC) to include the “Vista corridor,” we took a closer look at the commercial properties which are targeted for urban renewal designation. One of the deciding factors to include an area into the urban renewal fold is BLIGHT. It appears to […]
GUARDIAN Takes A Victory Lap
A HUMBLE MESSAGE FROM DAVE FRAZIER Now that Gov. Brad Little has signed HB 217 into law, urban renewal abuse SHOULD be restrained. Projects that use urban renewal funds in Idaho would require a vote of the public if more than 51% of the total dollars come from public funds of any type – except […]
Slow News, Some Points To Ponder
Our apologies for not offering up much lately. Old age, lack of motivation, and travel are the reasons. Unlike the city and state politicos, we will offer up some topics your can vote upon and comment. –BSU annual survey which has often been used by Boise and Team Dave to justify trolley spending, cops, fire, […]
Is Our System Of Government Broken?
By DAVID R. FRAZIER, editor Whenever I see or hear comments from citizens saying, “They are going to do whatever they want no matter what we say,” I cringe. Throughout my years in school and while serving in the military the mantra was, “we have a government of the people, for the people, by the […]
Urban Renewal Battle Continues…
Guardian reader “Chicago Sam” offers this news bulletin on the progress of House Bill 217, the measure to force urban renewal agencies to gain citizen permission to go into debt for construction of public buildings. HB 217 just forwarded to House of Representatives with a DO PASS. I believe the vote was 14-2. A packed […]
Trust, But Verify Library Vote
With pressure mounting from the GUARDIAN, former BSU Prez Bob Kustra, Vanishing Boise, and Rep John Gannon, Boise City councilors say they will discuss a possible public vote on the proposed library and stadium. See IDAHO PRESS story for details. There is a petition drive underway to obtain 5,000 signatures that would put the question […]
Boise Schools, CCDC Collusion Over Tax
In a move that can be described only as a “conspiracy,” Capital City Development Corp. (CCDC) has agreed to payoff Boise Schools in exchange for support (non-intervention) in a pair of new urban renewal districts. Hush money? The pay off is couched deep within a resolution: “WHEREAS the District, the Agency and the City desire […]
Boise Faces Urban Renewal Challenge
Boise City and the urbanrenewal agency are facing a lawsuit over the practice of subverting the Idaho Constitution’s requirement to seek citizen approval of debt exceeding a single year revenue. The IDAHO PRESS posted a story with the details. Two new urban renewal districts were created in December which divert taxes on improvements and appreciated […]
Chief Justice, 2C Commishes Have Disparate Views
Caldwell activist and long time jail bond opponent Paul Alldredge noticed two stories in a recent edition of the Idaho Press he thought noteworthy regarding an upcoming bond electing seeking nearly $200,000,000 for a new Canyon County jail. “It was amazing! On one page Chief Justice Roger Burdick is urging legislators to seek more parole […]
More Library Concerns
One of our GUARDIAN researchers combed through the contract for the architecture services on the library and some items raise red flags just as the first class travel expenses did prior to obtaining permission and funding from Boise citizens for the project. Of particular concern to the GUARDIAN is a clause that allows Moshe Safdie […]
Report: Kustra Backs Vote On Library
David Klinger, the vocal advocate of leaving “The Cabin” in place and having citizens vote on the library funding, sent this note to the GUARDIAN: “Dr.Robert Kustra is the former lieutenant governor of the State of Illinois and the recently-retired president of Boise State University. Today he endorsed our efforts to put the proposed Boise […]
2C Commishes Seek To “Educate” Voters
Ysabel Bilbao, former KTVB news reporter and Lt. Gov. Brad Little public relations FLAK has gone into the education business on behalf of Canyon County for $3,500 a month in public funds. Seems the Commishes in 2C feel the voters aren’t very smart and need to get “educated.” While they give tax breaks to about […]
Topics For Discussion, Let’s Talk
Sorry for the lack of content lately. Other priorities and lack of motivation are prime excuses. Here are some topics for discussion and we freely admit they are not all new. –Boise officials and the USAF staged a demonstration of their close air support (CAS) urban warfare training over our fair city at the end […]
Reader Question And History Lesson Worth A Look
QUESTION Editor, could you possibly educate me (and others) a bit about Boise and its real estate swapping? In every other city in which I’ve ever lived, city government tended to focus on the day-to-day, mundane, “unsexy” aspects of municipal government — fixing the street lamps and the potholes, making sure the police department ran […]
Boise Defers To Developer Wishes Yet Again
The politicos at Boise City Hall are at it again, placing their loyalties with the developer community rather than the taxpayer-citizens. They have given the California developer, Local Construct, an extra four years to complete a deal they have so far failed to live up to. After an illegal attempt in 2003 to build a […]
Boise To Accept Library Written Comment
Folks who feel they are being steam rolled into building a “Taj Mahal” library and moving the Literary Cabin tell us there is one final shot at being heard by the City Mothers and Fathers. Written e-mail comments are being accepted at librarycampus@cityofboise.org until November 27. Feel free to comment on the GUARDIAN, but be […]
Business Interests Double Down On Unfair ACHD Fee Hike
Looks like the business community has ponied up more than $180,000 in the move to convince Ada County Highway District voters to pass a 70% vehicle fee hike that exempts the heavyweights over 8,000 lbs. The Idaho STATESMAN’S Sven Berg reports on the latest contributions and it leaves little doubt where the loyalties of the […]
Build It And They Will Come, but Where?
The IDAHO PRESS published a story today revealing there are ongoing talks between developer Chris Shoen and BSU acting president Martin Schimpf over a joint baseball park. GUARDIAN reader Larry Rincover has offered his own thoughts on a baseball stadium and it is pretty much “if it ain’t broke, don’t fix it.” GUEST OPINION By […]
Thoughts From Half A Century Ago
By DAVID R. FRAZIER, editor I wanted to share a personal walk down memory lane which began 50 years ago today, ironically enough at what today is Memory Road–the overpass on I-84 near Micron. It was 50 years ago today in 1968 when I drove from Ypsilanti, Michigan with all of my earthly possessions in […]
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