Politics
Chinese “Takeover” Is Like Japanese Boom Of 1980’s
Conservative American blogs have created a significant buzz over the issue of a “Chinese Takeover” of America and much of the fear mongering is centered in Boise–thanks to statements by politicos seeking the almighty Renminbi. Some of those concerns have a foundation in fact. In reality, the situation so far is much like the Japanese […]
G-BAD Boys Sneaky As Ever
Somehow coming up with a figure of $24,500 which is just under the mandatory bid threshold of $25,000, the new Greater Boise Auditorium Board (G-BAD) restored funding to the Boise Visitor and Convention Bureau. The BVCB is nothing more than a non-profit ad agency that had its funding taken away by the G-BAD boys after […]
State Senator Sits In Slammer
“UNDER PAR” took on a new meaning for Idaho State Senator John McGee, 38, after he left a Boise golf course Saturday night/Sunday morning and ended up in the Ada County slammer charged with DUI and Grand Theft of a 20 foot trailer and SUV. His blood alcohol level was reported at .15 which is […]
Boise Dusts Off Rule To Award Cleaning Bid
Sylvia Hampel and Brenda Tate, owners of Clearview Cleaning, claim they have been contacted by clients expressing concerns about recent news reports about their firm and a contract dispute with Boise City. Hampel reiterated that she has no knowledge of any irregularities involving her staff or the company. Saturday Hampel told the GUARDIAN she had […]
Legislative Staffers Get 42% Of All Bonuses
The IDAHO REPORTER has posted yet another hard hitting story you won’t find in the old legacy media. UPDATE— Saturday DAILY PAPER has the story as well as AP. This time they quote Legislative Services Office Director Jeff Youtz (the people who help draft the bills). “Because of these staff reductions and retirements, I had […]
ACHD Spends Tax Dollars On Lobbyist
Those pesky people at the IDAHO REPORTER have revealed yet another case of public tax money being spent by one government to lobby another government–this time it’s $68,000 of Ada County Highway District cash going to a lobbying firm. This disturbing trend reenforces the notion that citizens have little voice in their government. Even government […]
More Dirt On City Cleaning Contract
The GUARDIAN has confirmed there is an active police investigation which could potentially result in felony charges being filed in the case of the city cleaning contract which was awarded, protested, defended, and rescinded by Boise City during the first few months of the year. The GUARDIAN broke the story of Sylvia Hanpel’s Clearview Cleaning […]
For Politicos It’s All In The Name
Anthony Weiner has dominated national political news with his name recognition so much, we thought it only appropriate to do some mix and match with fellow Dems at the local, state, and federal level who could advise the troubled Congressman. They could even form a consulting group: DINGLE, BIETER, and CHEW…specializing in treating a sick […]
Hot Potatoes Become Political
We have all heard of a political “hot potato,” but now we find that hot potatoes are also political. That news comes from politicians who seek to keep the tuber that made Idaho license plates famous on the dinner plates of healthy Americans–especially school lunch plates. Idaho Reps Labrador and Simpson joined others in a […]
Should Government Spend Tax $$ To Lobby?
A recent story in the IDAHO REPORTER about the Pocatello Auditorium District using $20,000 in taxes to lobby on its own behalf exposes only the tip of the proverbial iceberg when it comes to government influencing government. Perhaps the worst offender in the influence peddling game is the City of Boise. The city is awash […]
Crapo Warns Of Choppy Waters For Lake Lowell Users
Idaho Senior Senator Mike Crapo issued a press release Friday warning users of Lake Lowell within the Deer Flat Wildlife Refuge of potential boating restrictions in the near future. Not wanting to make waves among boaters, fishermen, and wildlife managers, Crapo points to a 100 year record of co-existance among the groups AND the waterfowl […]
Chamber Cheerleader Checks In For Council Contest
You have to be careful what you wish for. The GUARDIAN has been seeking candidates–any candidates–to run in the Boise City November election to fill four council seats and the Mayor post. At this point running unopposed for the council we have Ben Quintana, a public relations guy with the Chamber of Commerce. He is […]
A Different SLANT On Election Results
Now that pundits, critics, and proponents have had a day to digest the results of the Tuesday election, it is time for the GUARDIAN slant. The DAILY PAPER’s Joe Estrella did a piece on the Meridian school levy election claiming voters “torpedoed” the tax hike. Did voters perhaps “decline to grant a request to raise […]
Kloc and Peavey-Derr Win G-BAD Race
If campaign promises mean anything, it looks like the Boise Visitor and Convention Bureau won’t be getting any public tax money from the Greater Boise Auditorium District (G-BAD) in the near future. Hy Kloc and Judy Peavey-Derr were top vote getters for the two seats up for grabs. Kloc had previously told the GUARDIAN, “My […]
Boise Budget Grows 8 Times Faster Than Population
A big shout out to the STATESMAN and reporter Cynthia Sewell for once again doing lots of digging through census, budget, and other records prior to the annual Chamber of Commerce “Live Aid” speech Wednesday by the Mayor Dave Bieter which grosses up to $45,000 for the private special interest lobbying group. We have been […]
CCDC Chief To Get $114,000 Retirement Bonus
CCDC Pays Arid Club Dues March 14, 2007 A recent tip to the GUARDIAN confirms our worst fears about Boise City’s urban renewal agency operating without oversight or accountability to the citizens. The CCDC (Capitol City Development Corp.) is funded by property taxes and income from publicly owned parking facilities in the downtown area […]
Abandoned Bodies, Hookers In Meridian, Naked Man
Without the legislature in town and in the midst of the TV ratings “sweeps week,” the news is just a bit tawdry–but still fun. The DAILY paper reports the arrest of a man in the North End wearing a birthday suit and it wasn’t even his birthday. KIVI exposes hookers in Meridian, KBOI-TV tells us […]
Geezer Group Gropes For Gravitas
UPDATE If reader CLANCY’s links to the House WAYS and MEANS are on target, it looks like AARP itself is topped by only three others when it comes to paying off politicos. The lobbyists at AARP put out a press release Thursday with an analysis of state political payoffs after they came out of the […]
Insider Trading At BCVB For G-BAD Election?
E-mail is such a wonderful thing! Once something hits cyberspace it leaves tracks like an 800 pound gorilla in fresh snow. Such was the case when the following showed up in the GUARDIAN’s “In” box this morning. “Sully – Here are the hotel contacts. Sorry, I forgot to send them to youyesterday. If you click […]
Foothills Lockout Not Popular With Neighbors On Eve Of Levy Celebration
Some neighbors in the eastern foothills area purchased by Boise City at a cost of $4 million last year are joining forces to protest a lockout by Idaho Fish and Game on the public land. No two ways about it, Boise has been less than transparent with the expenditure of public funds and the subsequent […]
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