Growth
Simplot Housing Not Welcomed By All
We got a message from some folks in Eagle who complained about the low cost houses being “Touted in the Daily Paper.” They said the landscaping was nice, but claimed the units on tiny lots didn’t meet city design standards. A check with Eagle’s planning department indicates the concerns of locals may be well founded. […]
G-BAD Losing Streak Intact
The G-Bad Boys at the Greater Boise Auditorium District got hold of a new reporter at the Daily Paper and were able to lull him into publishing “disinformation,” about the need for a new convention center. District Manager Pat Rice was quoted saying there is a great demand for an expanded convention center. He claimed […]
Ada Satellite Office Is No Space Station
Ada Assessor Bob McQuade has found a way to make it easier to get into the pockets of Star residents and he got Mayor Nate to put up half the wages for a clerk and offer free rent in the deal. McQuade is opening a branch office in Star staffed with two clerks to offer […]
Taking Stock Of Ourselves And Economy
Rather than pontificate on a specific issue, the GUARDIAN offers here some observations that range from profound to inflammatory, but they should serve to stimulate lively discussion of issues facing the city, state, and nation. With the likes of Micron laying off 1,500, MPC a couple hundred, the demise of nearly a dozen Boise Restaurants, […]
It’s All In HOW You Say It
After looking at the ballot explanation on the issue of raising the Ada County Highway District registration fees, we tend to agree with a reader who told us the language is overly optimistic. In the explanation of a “yes” vote, the ballot says it will “replace the current fees…” TRUTH IS: a “yes” vote will […]
Lingering Land Deal Questions
Boise City needs a shooting range for the coppers and the city owns bare ground in a blighted area–which they created–that needs to be developed. Obvious solution is to sell the bare ground and buy the shooting range. Not in this River City. Boise officials are scrambling to clean up the swap with some docs […]
Ada Commishes Vote Population Increase
All three Ada County Commishes voted late Wednesday to approve a giant subdivision of 3,113 homes covering nearly 2 square miles in the desert south of Kuna Mora Road at S. Cole. Their ill conceived actions stand to increase the population by at least 9,000 people. Consider the area is near a prison crammed full […]
ACHD Candidate Critical Of Budget
We are probably opening the proverbial Pandora’s box, but the GUARDIAN will offer reasonable space to candidates for local offices between now and election day. The comments will be posted as they come in with minimal editing. We are imposing a “reasonable length” guideline. By Sara Baker, Dist. 5 ACHD Candidate Citizens should be disheartened […]
Growthophobe: Development Requests Absurd
Local governments are faced with deciding the fate of more than a dozen applications to build large developments in SW Idaho in the near future. We think it is time to act responsibly on behalf of the public and JUST SAY NO! The Daily Paper did a nice round up of the PROPOSED DEVELOPMENTS in […]
Caldwell To Start Building Without Agreement
By PAUL ALLDREDGE CALDWELL GUARDIAN THE GUARDIAN received a beautiful invitation to the groundbreaking ceremony for TVCC in Sky Ranch next week. We did a public records request for the financial arrangements with the developer, City of Caldwell, TVCC and the Caldwell Urban Renewal District only to get a response from city attorney, Mark Hilty […]
Greenbelt Bikers Seek State Help
Gary Segers, the hard pedaling proponent of opening the Garden City stretch of Greenbelt to bikers, is taking his case to the top elected officials in Idaho–the Land Board. He will make a presentation to the Idaho State Board of Lands Commissioners on Tuesday, August 19. The GUARDIAN is not certain if the board has […]
Caldwell Forgets Ada Courthouse Fiasco
BY THE CALDWELL GUARDIAN Paul Alldredge THE CALDWELL GUARDIAN attended the Chamber of Commerce Lunch at the College of Idaho yesterday and learned about plans for a Treasure Valley Community College (of Ontario, Oregon) campus to be built in Caldwell…before the voter-approved College of Western Idaho has even opened its doors. The plan to get […]
Good Money Chases Bad At Tamarack
Bankrupt developers, property liens, misrepresented sales, a $250,000,000 loan default, and multiple lawsuits are all elements in a proposed bailout of Tamarack Resort in Valley County. A bankrupt Mexican and Frenchman are seeking a bailout with assistance from the U.S. Department of Commerce and the Idaho Housing and Finance Association (IHFA) in the form of […]
Plans For (Mark) Rivers City
We listened to BoDo developer Mark Rivers enthusiastic gushings about some vague plans for a “Library Blocks”–six to be exact–development at the Monday City Club of Boise luncheon. With numerous references to “instant gratification, A.D.D., three shot espresso, and strategizing,” it was hard to decide if the guy is “smooth” or “slick.” Regardless, he is […]
Power To The People Not Easy
Politics and economics are the key factors driving the energy policy of the USA. Al Gore of course is the current poster child for the latest buzz phrase “carbon footprint.” Controversy and lobbying over electricity goes back to the days of Edison and Tesla as they vied for acceptance of “their” methods of generation and […]
GUARDIAN Summer Musings Take 2.
During the recent easterly drive the GUARDIAN visited Victor, Idaho in Teton County. Talk about a poster child for GROWTHOPHOBIA! That once tiny little ranching and potato farming community is now ground zero for developers making “Stepford Wives” subdivisions around golf courses–there are three courses in Victor. All are the basis for housing developments. The […]
Idaho Top On Failing Resort List
After years of hype and financial scams, Tamarack Resort in Valley County–like many developments looks doomed for the immediate future. The Wall Street Journal has featured the Idaho resort in TODAY’S ISSUE. In yet another case of contagious GROWTHOPHILES wreaking havoc on a community leading to GROWTHOPHOBIA, Tamarack has hit the bankruptcy courts and doubled […]
Kuna Sized Project On Hwy 55?
Two big players in local development decisions are showing signs of GROWTHOPHOBIA which could be good news for opponents of Dry Creek Ranch and Cartwright Ranch. Dry Creek Ranch is a massive “planned community” (subdivision) of 4,300 homes and townhouses. This development, which expects a population about the size of Kuna, is slated for prime […]
Boise Ranked Yet Again
The latest “ain’t Boise neat”rankings from a national group is a CARBON FOOTPRINT study which places us at #5 for emissions from home energy use and transportation–Portland and Los Angles are supposedly better. Our ranking comes mostly from the use of hydro electric power generation rather than any greenie good things. While we have almost […]
Bikers Take Avimor Funds
Leave it to the GUARDIAN to take something as mundane as “Bike Week” and turn it against the likes of foothills developer Avimor. We got a plea from the bike advocates as follows: Dear Mr. Guardian: I am hoping you can make your reader base aware (just in case they’re not) that today is the […]
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