Growth
The Foxes Guard The Hen House
UPDATED 1/16/18 KTVB STORYUPDATED 2p.m. 1/5/18 (Law citation) Our friend Don Day at BOISEDEV posted a story that got our attention and caused us to shake our head. Developer Scot Ludwig plans to build a pair of towers, nine and eleven stories tall, in downtown Boise that will require approval of the development services office […]
Canyon Jail Math Questioned, Commishes Won’t Take” NO” For An Answer
A group calling itself “Concerned Citizens of Canyon County Committee” has drafted a letter to the Canyon Commishes calling their math into question over a proposed third attempt to secure a yes vote for a nearly $200 million jail. Growth is costly, especially when it comes to criminals. Regional jails sound better all the time, […]
Looking Ahead At 2018
We will start by grouping the standard resolutions: diet, exercise, lose weight, be tolerant of idiots, reduce road rage, work together for the greater good, etc. That said, here are some GUARDIAN resolutions. POWER TO THE PEOPLE–We would like to see more citizen activists working to preserve our city, county, and state. Victories over the […]
What Was Top GUARDIAN 2017 Story?
This is the traditional time to look back at the past year’s news and vote for the top stories. From this side of the computer, the F-35 story wins hands down. The effort and expense to expose the clandestine efforts of the local politicos to land the noisy fighter jet was massive. Other topics we […]
Citizens Prevail Again, No F-35 In Boise
The United States Air Force chose Madison, Wisconsin and Montgomery, Alabama Thursday as the new home bases for the noisy F-35 fighter jet. Dan Marler and his Citizens for a Livable Boise group can take some major credit for preserving the peace and tranquility of Boise skies. Heck, the GUARDIAN can probably also claim some […]
Talking Points, Take Your Pick
Once again, we have a paucity of topics on which to comment, so here are a few that need your intelligent views. –Despite the efforts of the GUARDIAN and fellow GROWTHOPHOBES, Idaho managed to rank 31 as the fastest growing state in the USA, according to the census bureau. Number one cause in our mind […]
Peddle Your E-Bikes Off Greenbelt
GUEST REPORT By Steve “Bike Boy” Hulme In one of those “stealth” moves that our city government is somewhat famous for, people on electric-assist bicycles will soon have full access to our “Crown Jewel” Greenbelt, bike lanes, many foothills trails… and sidewalks to boot! A hearing was held on December 5th. The Parks Department representative […]
Another Growthophobe Victory
It looks like the GROWTHOPHOBE movement is gaining some more traction as citizens work to put the brakes on foothills development. Here is a press release from a group opposed to development in Dry Creek northwest of Boise near Avimor. Interesting to see court rule in favor of citizens. The Dry Creek Valley Coalition, a […]
Cali Fires Spark Idaho Concerns
Fire fighting pros call it the “Urban wilderness interface,” but for us Idaho folk, it boils down to “the foothills or the Boise Front.” In California similar properties are called ASH. Apart from the devastation in Ventura county and the terrible tragedy faced by so many people, there is an object lesson for those of […]
Growthophobe Movement Gaining Ground
Under the heading of “You saw it first on the GUARDIAN,” we are taking heart at recent success of the North Enders who are fighting the proposed CVS pharmacy at 16th and State. The group of citizens who are looking to preserve the character of Boise were able to convince the Boise Planning and Zoning […]
CCDC Pot Of Gold To Stay “Protected.”
“POWER CORRUPTS AND ABSOLUTE POWER IS HANDY WHEN YOU HAVE IT” Here’s a dirty little secret when it comes to gaining access to the CCDC urban renewal pot of gold (bonding authority). Members are appointed by the mayor of the “governing body” (usually a city). Once appointed, the board is “an independent body, corporate and […]
Solution For Downtown Parking Rate Hike
The Capital City Development Corp. voted Monday to raise parking rates 20% to $3 per hour and the monthly rate from $135 to $170. The reason for the hikes is said to reduce demand–and of course make more money from downtown workers and shoppers. For an office worker making a take home pay of $40,000, […]
Corporate Welfare Costly To Idahoans
Corporate monsters gobbling up local businesses like the Pac Man monsters was easy to understand when the K-Mart, Wal Mart, and Home Depots ran the neighborhood hardware and local clothing stores out of business. When the cities and states created “economic development” departments and urban renewal agencies the equation became cloudier, but no less devastating. […]
GUEST OPINION: Oppose CVS At 16th And State
By Stephen C. Fischer It’s a longshot, but a grassroots effort of average citizens in Boise is taking on the big corporation of CVS Pharmacy and their plans to build a 15,000-foot store at State and 16th – with a petition that has garnered more than 300 signatures in its first week. This proposed CVS […]
BSU Takes a Walk on Boise Stadium Deal
Boise State University President Bob Kustra on Thursday declared the school a free agent in the Downtown Stadium Saga with a surprise announcement the school will not participate in the subsidized real estate development plan put forth by Boise City officials, opting instead on creating its own ball park. The announcement from BSU said, “In […]
GBAD To Hear First Comments On Stadium
While Boise Mayor Dave Bieter has been promoting his pet downtown stadium project to any group that will listen, he has factored in a $5 million payment from the Greater Boise Auditorium District, but the District has never discussed it or been presented a formal proposal. Concerned Boise Taxpayers, the group organized to oppose the […]
Motorcycles Are Deadliest Ride In Boise
Here’s a shocker. So far in 2017, FOUR TIMES as many people were killed in motorcycle crashes in Boise than in cars. Concerned with the number of fatal accidents in Boise (four so far in October) the GUARDIAN joined forces with Boise coppers to check the number and type of crashes. There has been a […]
Developers Pay Top $ For Council Seats
With $1,000 payments from Barber Valley Development, Brighton Corp., Conger Development, Hawkins Companies and Republic Services, incumbent Boise Councilor TJ Thomson is the top money maker to date in the Nov. 7 city council race with $25,666. Holli Woodings was in second place in the money game with $18,187. She also accepted $1,000 payments from […]
CANDIDATE FORUM–Paul Fortin Weighs in
THE FOLLOWING IS COUNCIL CANDIDATE FROM PAUL FORTIN: Good Day My Fellow Citizens Of Boise. Two of the main issues the people of Boise are asked for support are the down town sports arena and the F 35 versus the A 10. As I wrote before after a meeting at the Boise Public Library on […]
CANDIDATE FORUM ACCESS
NOTE: The GUARDIAN offers space to all candidates for Boise City Council to share their views with citizens and readers. Press release from Logan Kimball: KIMBALL ADVOCATES INCOME TAX ON DEVELOPER SUBSIDIES Responding to an item published in a WASHINGTON POST op-ed piece Wednesday about stadium funding schemes, Boise Council Candidate Logan Kimball noted, “The […]
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