Growth
GUARDIAN Solves Bus Woes
Using the KISS (keep it simple, Stupid) philosophy, the GUARDIAN offers up the immediate solution to our transit woes…IF we can find buses that don’t burst into flames. This one has potential. The plan offered by our chief transportation planner is simplicity it self… a “surface subway” using existing resources–buses. We feel public transit needs […]
Taxes Fund Chamber Business Programs
The GUARDIAN has discovered Boise and Ada County are SPENDING at least $150,000 of YOUR TAX MONEY to CREATE GROWTH. Then they turn around and PAY $300 a head to attend a seminar in Sun Valley to figure out how to handle the massive growth problems they paid to create! This year’s retreat at Sun […]
GUARDIAN Overwhelmed, Seeking Help
The GUARDIAN has been overwhelmed with information on stories the local media has either missed or refuses to research and publish or air. We have actual e-mail texts below or summaries. I simply cannot do the research and writing on these with no staff and continue to make a living with my photo business. If […]
CCDC Jumps On Arid Club Issue
Boise’s Urban Renewal agency board, the CCDC (Capitol City Development Corp.) made a code-3 response after the GUARDIAN sounded the alarm, revealing they have been approving use of public funds to pay for membership in a private club. Within 18 hours of the GUARDIAN posting, the board had unanimously decided to stop paying for Director […]
Bieter Wants Control of ACHD
Team Dave’s coach, Mayor Bieter, declared on a Thursday KTVB-7 newscast that cities–not Ada County Highway District Commishes–should be in charge of roads. We don’t know exactly what Team Dave wants–control of ACHD or responsibility to fix roads. Legislators ignored a proposed bill to give control of the district to city officials. It sounded like […]
Anyone FOR Cyanide In Boise River?
Following the Tuesday “anti-poison”vote of four Boise city councilors, a coalition of greenies sent out a press release praising Mayor Dave Bieter for his actions, even though he is not allowed to vote on council resolutions. There were three references to “Mayor Dave Bieter” and “city council members–not a single councilor was named. Two were […]
Develop At All Costs Everywhere
The GUARDIAN admits a lack of knowledge about the funding details of the Idaho Housing and Finance Association, but we know when things don’t smell right and a bill to expand bond authority for IHFA has an aroma. We know IHFA is created by Idaho law, but it isn’t a state agency. People who work […]
Housing Dip Puts Bump In Road
We’ve said it before but Ada County is becoming not only victim of growth, but driven by GROWTH. Under current financing schemes, growth is costly, but without the growth government comes up short on cash to pay for the growth. A recent press release from the Ada County Highway District really puts it in perspective. […]
Monkeys In Urban Jungle
Southwest Ada residents against annexation are conducting their annual legislative battle with cities who want to capture them–and their taxes–against their will. We thought it was time to roll out this early GUARDIAN post. In the realm of Southwest Idaho Cities, Boise stands head and shoulders above the rest as the “800 pound gorilla” with […]
Did Developer Fold and Run?
Seems it isn’t just government that has problems with the truth. A reader recently told us of a real estate industry spokesman claiming a developer left $1,000,000 on the table as earnest money rather than pump $75,000 per acre into a huge parcel of land west of Boise. This info was reportedly dispersed at a […]
Luxury Living At Our Expense
The Daily Paper tells us there are no fewer than 11 condo projects currently in the works for downtown Boise. It looks like all but one has already been approved by the City. If you are into growth, more people living in “a vibrant core area that creates economic vitality,” lots of cars, and dirty […]
Boise Fire Responds To Growth
Boise Fire Department finds itself in a bit of a dilemma over a new station. To accommodate new growth in the northwest part of the city they are aiming to build a new station somewhere along Hill Road. Seems there is a fair amount of resistance–some folks don’t want to hear sirens screaming all the […]
Rio Inspires Thoughts of Boise
The GUARDIAN’s recent fact finding trip to Brazil gave us plenty of inspiration for ways to improve life in Boise. After visiting the favelas of Rio we can clearly see the benefits of “in fill” development advocated by some members of Boise’s city council. You can certainly create a demand for mass transit and eliminate […]
Inside Ada County Spin Machine
In case there is any doubt about Ada County’s position on the Cliffs development near Lucky Peak, we share an e-mail which is purportedly written by the County spinmeister Rich Wright. If true, this exchange is disturbing in that it portrays opponents of the development as as the enemy. In part because of this e-mail, […]
Legislature Could Rein In CCDC
Thanks to some fed up folks up north, we may have a shot at reforming the CCDC and all the subsidy to developers at the expense of us common folk. There is a pair bills in the legislature up for hearing Friday that could force ELECTION of urban renewal boards. These guys take our tax […]
What Is The Status Of That?
We got a letter from a reader in Washington, D.C. asking whatever happened with Mark Johnson’s DUI case. That brought to mind some other “pending” stories. Here are some others that we would like to know about as well. –What is the status of the gas fired power plant the city council approved on public […]
GUARDIAN New Year Message
Happy New Year to one and all! We have been reflecting on the past year along with the new year and would like to share some thoughts about the GUARDIAN and what we feel and believe. I am sober (don’t drink) on this New Year’s eve and after a week in the Tampa Bay area […]
Boise Legal Loses Yet Again
Boise’s legal department continued its losing record Friday when Judge Thomas Neville ruled the City once again overstepped its bounds in an attempt to stop the widening of Ustick Road. Last July the City amended its comprehensive plan in an attempt to exercise veto power over the Ada County Highway District project. In his ruling […]
ITD Demands Halt On Avimor
COPYRIGHT BOISEGUARDIAN.COM In a strongly worded letter to Ada County’s Development Services department, the Idaho Transportation Department has requested NO BUILDING PERMITS be issued at the Avimor planned community on Highway 55 north of Eagle. The ITD is particularly serious about stopping further development until access issues are resolved, despite moves on the part of […]
Short Of Breath, But Feeling Secure
ANATOMY OF “MANUFACTURED NEWS” The Daily Paper had a great story on page one Wednesday detailing all the evils of weather inversion and related health risks. They had charts, graphs, and quotes from officials who predict more bad air alerts. Below the inversion story was a teaser for a made up story from Farmers Insurance […]
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