Growth
Risky Business In Local Government
Wild projections of economic boom, be they for convention centers, a trolly, retailers in a court house, airport users, condo buyers, or golfers have a tendency to fall short. The weekend Wall Street Journal has a great example in story about funding woes for a golf course in CARLSBAD, CA. Substitute “GOLF” for parking, airport, […]
Avimor Future Looks Bleak
We haven’t heard any specifics yet about the long suffering saga of Avimor, the “planned community” in northern Ada County along Highway 55, but a report in the Arizona Republic about the parent company doesn’t bode well for the subdivision’s future and lends authority to GROWOTHOPHOBE predictions. The GUARDIAN previously posted a report in January […]
Boise Coppers Get New Headquarters
After 25 years of being “roomers” at the Ada Sheriff’s law enforcement building on Barrister, Boise coppers have a new home on Sailfish off Emerald west of Maple Grove. The entire department is in the process of moving during the next 10 days. Officially known as “City HAll West,” the coppers will have about 80,000 […]
Growthophobes Fear Well Water Loss
Thirsty land speculators have caused GROWTHOPHOBES in NW Ada County to organize and protest water rights applications due to be heard later this month. Owners of wells near Eagle are concerned about developers getting water rights and causing existing wells to dry up or lower the water table. Of prime concern to those with wells […]
If Voters Say NO, Go To The Feds!
Those sneaky fellas at G-BAD (Greater Boise Auditorium District) got turned down twice by voters for a convention center. Now they are stepping up to the welfare line in Washington, D.C. Every deal they have tried has failed and now one of our vigilant GUARDIAN readers offers up this little tidbit. “I found this tidbit […]
GUARDIAN Primer On Local Governments
A recent reader comment requested that we post some sort of organizational chart explaining local government. We will give it a go, but space will limit detailed explanations. We will be glad to made additions based on reader comments from those in the know. Click on MORE for the complete summary.
Bungling Bureaucrats Botch Boise Buses
In a refreshing bit of local journalism, Cynthia Sewell of the Daily Paper detailed a pattern of BUNGLING BUREAUCRATS either unwilling or unable to put together a plan to spend federal funds for a downtown transit center. The fed money was earmarked for Boise in 2005, but Boise City, the Urban Renewal Agency (CCDC), Ada […]
Streetcar Desire At CCDC Prompts Notice
A short little legal notice in the Daily Paper Friday includes an invitation to engineering firms to submit a “Statement of Qualifications for conceptual design consultant services” for a downtown streetcar project. No budget is mentioned for the six month contract, but it looks like local officials are forging ahead with their “street car named […]
Idaho Power, PUC Join Growthophobes?
In what can only be termed a good move toward the common sense line of thought espoused by GROWTHOPHOBES, Idaho Power and the Public Utilities Commission are aiming to have growth “pay for itself” with a modification of rules and increases to developers. Surprise to no one, Building and Contractors Association of Southwestern Idaho, the […]
Daily Paper’s Vision Not 20/20
GUEST OPINION by Sisyphus The Statesman spilled much ink in the Sunday editorial section vaunting its newly promulgated organization which it touts to help provide some leadership on where to take the Treasure Valley in the next century. But look at this list, chucky jam full of Arid Club/IACI members, some of whom took out […]
Idaho Records More Moves OUT than IN
Idaho and Missouri are the only states west of the Mississippi River to have more people moving OUT than moving IN, according to records of the highly credible and scientifically astute Atlas Van Line MIGRATION REPORT. The moving company keeps records of all their moves and came up with the data indicating the GROWTHOPHOBE movement […]
Avimor Sales May Total 6 Units
Avimor has been beaten up in recent comments–especially on the Dry Creek “Planned Community” story. We got the following from an obvious insider and frankly what they apparently see as a positive sign is pretty weak. “Avimor has had residents since October. There are three homes closed, two with families living therein. One home is […]
Ada Commishes Show Growthopbobe Traits
One bright spot on the New Year horizon came Wednesday night at the Ada County Commish meeting when all three members demonstrated at least a small dose of GROWTHOPHOBIA. They seem to think 8.6 dwelling units per acre is about double the appropriate number of homes for the proposed Dry Creek “Planned Community.” The group […]
ACHD Commish “On The (political) Road Again”
Sara Baker, the new ACHD Commish took the oath of office today and set the tone for her agenda during her remarks. She offered an olive branch to local governments saying, “No longer can we have jurisdictional squabbles. We all live and drive in this county.” She has long been a critic of the ACHD […]
New Voice Sounding Like A GROWTHOPHOBE
Here is a nicely written piece BY JEAN McNEIL, a Boise Freelancer, which also appeared in the Daily Paper. It is published with her permission. When I moved to Boise 30 years ago, I called it a 10-minute town – you could get from almost anywhere to almost anywhere else in 10 minutes or less. […]
Fame, Greed Behind Special Winter Olympics
PREFACE I have lived in Boise all my adult life–38 of those 40 years in the first and only home I ever owned. There is no other place on earth I care to live. My roots go deep and I am on a first name basis with most of the movers and shakers, having known […]
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 […]
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 […]
Trucks Ride Free On ACHD Roads
After receiving several comments about the ballot language on the Ada County Highway District fee hike for auto registrations, we revisited the issue and learned some disturbing, but not surprising facts. About 16,500 trucks weighing over 8,000 pounds get a FREE RIDE on county roads. Meanwhile owners of 279, 454 passenger car owners have to […]
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