Jail bond missed by only a few votes. We advise sheriff and county officials to renew efforts to force the state of Idaho to take the daily 100 inmates that belong in the prison, but the state refuses to pick them up. The issue is NOT the super majority, it is the people of Ada County subsidizing the state.

KTVB-7 had the best coverage by far. Their crawler at the bottom of the TV screen kept folks informed of election results and reporters at key venues contributed to the evening’s information. They also did a nice job tracking results throughout their coverage area all the way to SE Idaho.

BOISEDEV had big boy coverage with a television-style anchor desk commenting and covering the races.

Secretary of State Phil McGrane made guest appearances with the media folks, including KTVB and BOISEDEV. Keep your eye on this guy he is looking like a valuable public asset for all Idaho.

Of major concern is the description of the dead man carrying “an edged” object and “multiple weapons. He also reportedly had “dialogue” with officers. These statements are simply intended to muddy the water.

Not only do the coppers refuse to show the body cam video–if there are any–but the refuse to tell citizens if the dead man had a knife, sword, or putty knife. Failure to tell us assumes a cover up.

Winegar on camera said the dead man had items which “could be used as weapons. Things just don’t add up when coppers refuse to give straight info.

Media reports said the dead man had called the coppers himself and had engaged in dialogue before returning to his second floor apartment. Video appeared to show a building under construction. Sounded like a construction worker, but it will probably be many months before a laundered report is ever made public.

The BOISE DEV piece is worth a look as it goes into detail about the matter.

The GUARDIAN confirmed the law firm burned through $500,000 in taxpayer funds investigating the potential possibility of racial issues after a retired captain was noted to be posting racially based messages on social media. The outside investigation is on hold at present and further funding will likely be discussed in May by the City Council.

To our knowledge, the investigation is not the result of a single complaint alleging police misconduct or racially motivated police action.

The EVENT.

The GUARDIAN has discussed the event with our trusted liberal and gay friends. We also talked to some middle of the roaders and conservatives. At first they all doubted the event was actually scheduled. When it was finally sorted out, the consensus was as follows:

–Sponsors probably were unaware that young boys would be on stage as part of a gay pride event.
–It is inappropriate to use kids on stage for such an event.
–Boys, girls, and non-gender folks of any age should be allowed to dress as they please.
–Organizers are fanning the flames of discontent with the “in your face” act.
–The news media and the GUARDIAN wouldn’t publish images of juvenile suspects involved in criminal cases and the same rule would logically apply for child drag queens (princesses?).

Finally, based on the plethora of images on the internet, an appearance as a drag performer at a young age could stay with someone for their lifetime and would easily pop up during a Supreme Court nomination hearing or at a future criminal trial.

3pm 9/7/22UPDATE–Zions bank has withdrawn sponsorship based on the child event.

THE ALLEGED INCIDENT
Most of the reports from either confidential or anonymous sources
say Chief Lee attended a department shift “briefing” in the patrol division. Supposedly Lee demonstrated a “hands on” physical restraint on a Sergeant which resulted in some sort of neck injury.

POST INCIDENT EVENTS
This is were the actions of those involved get a bit murky and frankly don’t serve to lend confidence and trust in our city mothers and fathers who pledge to be transparent and manage our tax dollars and public servants.

Someone in authority, the police, city attorney, mayor’s office, or the sergeant decided the Idaho State Police needed to investigate. They would be an “outside agency,” but logically would investigate only a reported crime–in this case potentially battery.

When other media outlets queried ISP they were denied any information on an “ongoing investigation.” This served to confirm ISP was in fact involved in an investigation.

When KTVB sought information from the office of Mayor Lauren McLean they were told it was a “personnel matter” and no info was released other than a statement endorsing Chief Lee as serving with dignity and honor, adding no action from the Mayor was anticipated.

LEGAL ISSUES
The chief has lawyered up with Charles Peterson as legal counsel. A source told the GUARDIAN that Lee will pay for the legal fees. The sergeant has filed a workers compensation claim for an alleged neck or spinal injury. At issue will be whether the officer “volunteered” or not to be the subject of Lee’s tactical demonstration.

CONCLUSION AND ADVICE
The GUARDIAN questions the involvement of ISP in a “personnel matter” and it would appear from what we have heard for more than a month the incident has grown out of control, but there was no crime. If the sergeant was injured, he deserves to be compensated and treated for any injury. We have been told by reliable sources that he has been working normal shifts. Finally, commanders/supervisors should refrain from physical contact with subordinates, be they male or female.

INTERNAL STRIFE
Chief Lee comes from Portland and there has been noticeable grumbling from GUARDIAN readers and others on social media who are critical of the way police handled the riots, homeless, and crime there. Lee has told the GUARDIAN he came to Boise because he didn’t want to be a part of that situation in what he calls “that other city.” There is an element within Boise PD which is unhappy with the mayor’s choice of Lee and with Lee himself.

OUTSIDE INFLUENCE
Since his arrival in Boise, Lee has hired several lieutenants from Portland, a captain from Oakland, California and a deputy chief also from the Bay Area.

Turns out the local BPD officers won’t apply for the command positions because they make more money with overtime than lieutenants (who don’t get overtime). They would also lose their union membership and have additional responsibility if they made the switch to “management.” It is not uncommon for officers to earn in excess of $100,000.

We have cut back as you no doubt are aware, mostly because when we started the GUARDIAN we were about the only game in town when it came to on-line opinions and stories. With 53 years of institutional memory under our belt we are possibly the oldest reporter both in age and seniority.

Today, there are plenty of on-line blogs and news sources which means the GUARDIAN weighs in only when we get fired up at the motives and actions of the politicos.

Feel free to toss your spears and rose petals and stimulate some healthy discourse.

A GUARDIAN reader tells us they talked to a retailer who claimed to have a letter notifying them the legacy newspaper would soon cease delivering papers to the store. The reader took that to mean the paper was ceasing to publish. Whether true or not, the end is clearly near.

Both Salt Lake papers–Deseret News and Tribune–have gone digital except for a weekly weekend edition. The Statesman has been struggling for years. First they went through a rapid succession of owners, then abandoned their printing press. The Idaho Press printed it for a while, but then geared up and started covering Boise news. That forced the Statesman to find a printer in Twin Falls. Meanwhile owner McClatchy went bankrupt and the Boise staff has revolted over the firing of the managing editor.

Between having the pages and headlines created in Sacramento and the paper being printed in Twin Falls, the early deadlines precluded timely coverage of city council meetings and BSU sports.

Since the Statesman even sold its office on Curtis Road for a storage facility, we didn’t attempt to make the call to confirm the “folding” rumor. It is just a matter of time for the formerly great news institution to print its final edition. The transition to a digital product is clear to readers and staff alike.

GUARDIAN editor Dave Frazier said, “We need a free and vibrant press in Idaho and America. IF the rumor is true, the passing of the once-great newspaper would be a loss to all Idahoans.”

There just isn’t much we can discuss that hasn’t been covered by the legacy media as they talk to each other via the internet. We get the same press releases from the well paid government and don’t see any reason to duplicate the messages.

Stay safe and get your vaccine as soon as it is available and perhaps we can all join to debate something other than the use of masks and whether or not the presidential election was rigged.

Best wishes for 2021 to all!

“I was doing rewrite on the Statesman night desk and wrote up a short story with a photo from a staff lensman.

“Backlash came the next day when a reader called in to complain that I ruined the Santa story for her kids. Sorry.”

When we posted the report and highlighted some of the more inflammatory items, the conservatives sent it viral. Radio talk show hosts, television stations, and the Idaho Freedom Foundation pounced on it–and rightly so.

When forced to publicly address the manifesto, McLean ignored the opportunity to tell us which points she endorsed and which ones she would ignore. Instead she waffled and said some points were not constitutional and the city had no authority over them. WHICH POINTS?

Clan McLean brought the mess upon themselves through a total lack of leadership. Team Dave, the Bieter Administration used to have oppresive “facilitators” guide the conversation at public meetings (to insure the outcome?). Perhaps in an attempt to be more “liberal” it appears this group was given little or no direction.

They just fired off a list of desires without regard to logic. Well intended, but ill informed. For instance, it is an established fact there are violent juveniles in our community–even killers. To seek closure of juvenile detention in favor of family based treatment sounds great, but we cannot put the dangerous juvenile felons in jail with adults and they are too dangerous to be with a family. Someone should have taken that item off the list.

Minimum wage is a state issue as is abortion. Those items should be addressed by the legislature. When you assert “state of Boise” authority over the legislature and declare independence from the U.S. government, that does little to foster inter governmental relations–regardless of which lobbyist you hire!

To end coordination with the U.S. Immigration agency sounds like the county commishes in Owyhee attempting such a move with the BLM. Not very fair and equitable when our governments are feuding over established law and We The People are taxed by both sides. Boise officials didn’t seem to turn down any of the trillions sent out by the Feds.

In summary, in these tough economic times a good look at the benefits of the Roosevelt administration’s WPA project and similar programs could serve the needy while benefitting society.