State Government
State DMV Fails At Computer Upgrade
The GUARDIAN has it on good authority the Idaho Transportation Department has spent about $2 million in a failed attempt to modernize its computer system. A bill passed by the Idaho Senate Friday will allow for “user fees” to fund an upgrade to the motor vehicle licensing system. The GUARDIAN was told “holes in the […]
GUARDIANS Discover $300,000 Missing Funds
GUARDIAN TEAM REPORT By Paul Alldredge, Caldwell GUARDIAN and David R. Frazier, Boise GUARDIAN While the legislature and governor are locked in a funding battle over transportation, the GUARDIANS have learned of $300,000 that seems to have slipped through the cyber cracks of the state computer– thanks to a seven year long Canyon County alleged […]
COMPASS Action Politically Linked To Otter
THE GUARDIAN HAS OBTAINED THE FOLLOWING PUBLIC DOCUMENTS WHICH DEPICT A SAD BIT OF PARTISAN POLITICKING ON THE PART OF AN AGENCY SUPPOSEDLY DEVOTED TO PLANNING. If you are the veto-wielding governor of Idaho, you take friends wherever you can find them. Such was the case Wednesday when the Community Planning Association of southwest Idaho […]
Republican Activist Convicted Of Trespassing
In what can only be described as a legal atrocity, an official of the Republican Party was convicted Tuesday in Fourth District Court of trespass–in a public building. The conviction of Christopher Pentico came because a State copper told him to leave the Capitol Annex last March after making some legislators “uncomfortable.” The State copper […]
Government Workers Should Share Wage Cuts
A GUARDIAN GUEST OPINION By STEVE EDGAR Lots of recent talk from politicos about public employee compensation. I appreciate their concern and efforts to preserve this group’s compensation but a historical context is worthy of examination. In recent years elected leaders have worked to ensure “compensation parity” with the private sector for public servants. This […]
Seal The Deals For Hot Meals On Wheels
When Central District Health Department officials announced last week they were getting out of the “meals on wheels” program to provide a hot meal a day to needy folks, we didn’t respond because it was a sure bet good Boise people would step up. We won the bet when Life’s Kitchen, a do gooder outift […]
Risky Business In Local Government
Wild projections of economic boom, be they for convention centers, a trolly, retailers in a court house, airport users, condo buyers, or golfers have a tendency to fall short. The weekend Wall Street Journal has a great example in story about funding woes for a golf course in CARLSBAD, CA. Substitute “GOLF” for parking, airport, […]
Pocatello Election Provides Valuable Lesson
A GUARDIAN reader in Pocatello provided a good illustration of why it’s important for citizens to preserve their right to vote on long term debt after reading the post on a proposed constitutional amendment. It is not a stretch to be concerned that local officials wishing to spend city tax money on the state-owned Holt […]
Proposed Amendment To Limit Voting Rights
In a shameful act of disdain for the constitutional rights of citizens, The Idaho legislature is trying to strip voters of authority currently guaranteed by the Idaho Constitution. At issue is Article VIII, sec 3 of the the constitution which gives citizens authority to approve long term debt by any “subdivision of state government”–generally cities, […]
Big Birds To Fly The Coop At Gowen Field
The skies over Boise will be a little quieter and less crowded after Tuesday when an Air National Guard Unit goes out of business. The 189th Airlift Squadron, which began tactical airlift operations with the C-130 in 1996, will fly its final mission – a routine training mission taking off and landing at Boise’s Gowen […]
More Bad News For Urban Renewal
Urban renewal districts statewide are coming under fire from many quarters as they work to subvert the will of the citizens and go around the election process mandated in the Idaho Constitution when it comes to long term debt. In Coeur d’Alene a group is pushing for legislation to enforce a 10% limitation on the […]
Growthophobes Fear Well Water Loss
Thirsty land speculators have caused GROWTHOPHOBES in NW Ada County to organize and protest water rights applications due to be heard later this month. Owners of wells near Eagle are concerned about developers getting water rights and causing existing wells to dry up or lower the water table. Of prime concern to those with wells […]
If Voters Say NO, Go To The Feds!
Those sneaky fellas at G-BAD (Greater Boise Auditorium District) got turned down twice by voters for a convention center. Now they are stepping up to the welfare line in Washington, D.C. Every deal they have tried has failed and now one of our vigilant GUARDIAN readers offers up this little tidbit. “I found this tidbit […]
GUARDIAN Primer On Local Governments
A recent reader comment requested that we post some sort of organizational chart explaining local government. We will give it a go, but space will limit detailed explanations. We will be glad to made additions based on reader comments from those in the know. Click on MORE for the complete summary.
Jail Dopers For Criminal Acts–Not Drug Use
GUARDIAN GUEST OPINION By Dr. Richard Jay At a time when Idaho’s state budget crisis threatens to cut essential state services and corral prisoners in warehouses, perhaps it is time to reconsider a long-recommended plan that would be all pluses for the state. It’s simple to explain: Repeal the law making “drug” use a penal […]
Taxpayers Fund COMPASS Legislative Party
The GUARDIAN has obtained more information about the taxpayer funded party set for Thursday evening to curry favor with legislators to advance their “agenda” in the Idaho Legislature. While the invitation sent to COMPASS members said “We will have heavy hors d’oeuvres and a hosted bar,” we have learned from COMPASS executive director Matt Stoll […]
COMPASS To Provide “Hosted Bar” to Legislators
COMPASS, the Community Planning Association funded by local city and county governments throughout Ada and Canyon Counties has scheduled a 2009 Legislative Reception Thursday to include free booze. Each city and county pays dues to COMPASS which supposedly acts as a regional planning agency for things like Transit. Just in case anyone in the unwashed […]
Streetcar Desire At CCDC Prompts Notice
A short little legal notice in the Daily Paper Friday includes an invitation to engineering firms to submit a “Statement of Qualifications for conceptual design consultant services” for a downtown streetcar project. No budget is mentioned for the six month contract, but it looks like local officials are forging ahead with their “street car named […]
Idaho Power, PUC Join Growthophobes?
In what can only be termed a good move toward the common sense line of thought espoused by GROWTHOPHOBES, Idaho Power and the Public Utilities Commission are aiming to have growth “pay for itself” with a modification of rules and increases to developers. Surprise to no one, Building and Contractors Association of Southwestern Idaho, the […]
Arabs, Jews Have Message For Team Dave
When the Wall Street Journal ran a story over the weekend reporting that both Arabs and Jews in Jerusalem were united in their opposition to a light rail tram in that mideast city, we were instantly notified by a local reader. The JOURNAL STORY says both sides call the project a “dumb idea.” Sounds like […]
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