Legal-Courts
Horse Race Slots Face Constitutional Challenge
The bid by a group to “preserve the horse racing industry” may be galloping toward a constitutional challenge that is anything but a sure bet. Despite legislation that says otherwise, there is a valid argument over the definition of what constitutes a SLOT MACHINE or CASINO GAMBLING–both specifically prohibited under the Idaho Constitution. Ada County […]
Eagle Snow Park Faces Meltdown
Nearly a dozen residents of Eagle and the area near the proposed “Winter Terrain Park” off Old Horseshoe Bend Road have filed suit in 4th District Court charging the Eagle City Council with open meeting violations. The group is represented by lawyer Andrew Schoppe–who was active in the Dynamis trash-to-energy opposition last year. In his […]
Boise Lady Copper Big Hit On You Tube
A female Boise PD sergeant is a big hit on YOU TUBE, but the national and international publicity isn’t the type the city wants or needs. In the approximately 15 minute clip the copper, identified as “Sergeant Lori Sperry,” walks right into the typical baiting by the video guy calling himself Gavin Seim. While conducting […]
Commishes Back Flip On Trail Portion Of Eagle Park
Ada Commishes lifted their stop work order Friday over the issue of Eagle City construction of a bike trail on county owned land leased by the city after engineers approved an application to the county. However they tell the GUARDIAN there are two primary issues. First is the winter terrain portion of the land leased […]
Ada To Eagle Mayor: “Cease And Desist” At Park
Ada County Commishes have sent a “cease and desist” letter to Eagle Mayor Jim Reynolds over commercial use of Ada land leased to Eagle City for the purposes of a a public park. The latest wrinkle is excavation being conducted at the site off Old Horseshoe Bend Road for a commercial bike “flow trail” activity […]
Mclean Opposes Panhandling Law, God Bless
Being the a voice for democracy, fair play, and equal rights can be a lonesome role, just ask Boise City Councilor Lauren Mclean. She was the lone vote Tuesday opposing a city “panhandling ordinance” which was passed despite opposition of homeless advocates and the American Civil Liberties Union. Mclean said the law goes too far […]
Idaho Land Dept. Under Fire On Land Swap
A a non-profit, voluntary group calling itself The Tax Accountability committee (“TAC”), will hold a press conference Monday morning at the Statehouse to call attention to a land swap they say cost the education endowment fund $1.3 million due to faulty appraisals. According to TAC, the Idaho Department of Lands traded 14 acres of endowment […]
Bieter Uses Public Resources To Promote Bond
Boise Mayor Dave Bieter is most certainly entitled to a “bully pulpit,” to spread his wish list and opinions, but Idaho courts have ruled it is illegal to use public resources, staff, or other assets to influence a ballot issue. However, that’s exactly what he is doing with the city website. Bieter sent out a […]
No Free Ads For Bronco Boozers
As an indication of how absurd booze laws can be, Boise City Council is considering an ordinance to allow tailgating and drinking within a portion of Julia Davis Park and on certain streets, but only when BSU is playing football. No exceptions for NCAA basketball tournaments, baseball games, or bike racing and with NO LOGOS […]
Unintended Consequences Law Resurfaces, God Bless
Boise’s City mothers and fathers are in another no-win situation as they consider an ordinance at 6 p.m. tonight which is aimed to reduce the number of panhandlers on city streets. We asked it before: “If it is illegal for homeless poor folks (or even those who pose as such) to ask for cash, what […]
You Be The Judge On 8th Street
Tuesday morning the GUARDIAN watched over coffee at 8th Street just south of Bannock as an unsuspecting motorist fell victim to the heartless Boise Parking machine. The guy carefully backed into a parking spot behind a beer truck. He aligned his shiny black car within the lines, exited his vehicle and confronted the meter. A […]
City Provides Parking Revenue Stats
Boise’s parking department has kindly provided the GUARDIAN with statistics we requested about revenues for meters, all parking fines, and overtime parking ticket fines. Here,s the breakdown: ‐‐Most recent year’s revenue for parking meters: FY12 ‐ $630,952 FY13 YTD* ‐ $503,934 ‐‐Most recent year’s fines in total revenue for all parking violations: FY12 ‐ $1,254,972 […]
ACHD Commish Weighs In On Parking
ACHD Commish Rebecca Arnold, stressing her comments are her own opinion and not that of the ACHD board, sent a letter to the Boise City Council to be read at Tuesday’s public hearing. She claims a local developer wants the rate hike to benefit a private parking structure he wants to build. The GUARDIAN offers […]
ACHD “Can’t Get No Respect” From Boise
As the Downtown parking wars escalate, don’t expect approval of installing a hockey puck-shaped sensor device linked to hi-tech parking meters to be a slam-dunk at Wednesday’s Ada County Highway District meeting. Boise’s City Council will hold a public hearing at noon Tuesday to consider a 50% rate hike at meters and Saturday enforcement. Ironically, […]
Council Should Act Responsibly On Drinking Ordinance
Boise officials from the police chief to the Parks Board are on the right track when it comes to backing an ordinance aimed at allowing football fans to wash down their tailgate cuisine with their favorite beverage. The GUARDIAN is concerned about “equal protection” under the law. The proposed ordinance would allow consumption of alcohol […]
City Ponders 50% Parking Rate Hike
Boise’s City Council, and the Department of Finance and Administration are forging ahead with plans to raise the rates 50% for on-street parking and extend the enforcement to include evenings and Saturdays. The avowed reason is to drive street parking motorists back into the parking garages, according to some reports. Boise WEEKLY has a good […]
Meridian Rings Bell On North Star Charter
In a fiscally wise move, the Meridian School Board has rung the bell on the North Star charter school in Eagle which is mired in debt and pulled its charter. While the North Star charter school is a “public school,” it is not part of the Meridian District, but in essence “licensed” by Meridian. Meridian […]
Prisons Need To Be Government Operated
The move by the Idaho Board of Corrections to dump the private contractor running part of the prison system is good, but it only goes half way. Idaho Department of Correction won’t be allowed to submit its own bid or take over operations at the prison south of Boise, because Board of Correction Chairwoman Robin […]
Famed Equal Rights Lawyer Allen Derr Dies
The GUARDIAN has received word Allen Derr has died within the hour, following a prolonged illness. His wife, Judy Peavey-Derr was at his side in their Boise residence. The local attorney who made a name for himself and changed the way American courts consider women’s rights had a long history of championing fairness causes. His […]
Panhandling Ordinance Put On “Hold,” God Bless
When Boise City announced plans to enact a couple of “canned ordinances” approved by a national cities organization in an effort to curb panhandling, the GUARDIAN raised questions about UNINTENDED CONSEQUENCES. For instance, if it is illegal for someone to stand on the curb and hold a sign saying “Anything Helps God Bless,” it would […]
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