Transportation
Everything Old Is New Again
Using the same old tactics of surveys, studies, and lots of manipulation of public opinion, Boise Mayor Dave Bieter’s “Trolley Folly or Desire named Street Car” has risen from the ashes of bad ideas like a Phoenix. IDAHO STATESMAN‘s Sven Berg has the latest edition of the rails-in-the-street plan posted today with an even bigger […]
ANG, BOI, City Refuse Vets Neighborhood Meet
Despite invitations from the Veteran’s Park Neighborhood Association to appear on a panel discussion of the F-35, All three of the major proponents refused to appear. The VPNA extended the invite to the usual players, including the Mayor’s office, Boise Airport, and the Idaho Air National Guard. They also invited reps from the Vista Neighborhood […]
“Gowen Strong” Is Private Non-Profit Using City Staff In Violation Of “Public Purpose Doctrine,” Ethics Conflict Waived
UPDATE 5/9/17 A GUARDIAN reader sought more information from the Boise City Ethics Commission. To our surprise they had already considered the facts and here is a summary: QUESTION: May the Airport director form a non-profit and sit on its Board of Directors? OPINION: The Airport director may form the non-profit and sit on its […]
F-35 Thoughts From Within The Service
The following narrative came in as a comment on another post. It is so well reasoned (dare we say “sound reasoning”) we thought it worth a stand alone post. He summarizes the thoughts of many in Boise. For fear of retribution, I am commenting anonymously. I am a military member, Combat Veteran, and very patriotic. […]
Air Guard AWOL At Vista Neighbor Meet
Despite a prior acceptance to attend a panel discussion about the F-35, both the Idaho Air NAtional Guard and a rep from the Boise Airport failed to attend a Vista Neighborhood meeting Thursday evening. Seems both the Guard and Airport folks are able to attend one sided support group meetings of Realtors, Micron, Chamber of […]
What About the F-35 Noise And Schools?
A reader sent the following question to the GUARDIAN today and Boise School District Super Dr. Don Coberly had a response within minutes. Reader question: Q–as a resident of the Vista Neighborhood I truly appreciate the dedication your publication has in providing all of the important information in Boise’s bid to get F35s. I’m wondering […]
Guard and BOI Snub Vista Neighborhood
When it comes to doing battle in the Mideast, Idaho’s Air National Guard is ready to serve, but when meeting with Vista Neighbors, both the ANG and Boise’s airport officials avoid confrontation, refusing to join a panel discussion on the F-35. The Vista Neighborhood Association will hold a meeting 7 p.m. Thursday April 27 at […]
Depot To Host Steam Engine Sunday
Historic Union Pacific steam engine 844 will visit Boise Saturday night and Sunday. The GUARDIAN joined some old-time steam engine buffs to make these photos near Glens Ferry Saturday. It was built in 1944, before diesel replaced steam power. The locomotive never officially retired and has been part of the Union Pacific inventory for 73 […]
Artistic License Approaches To F-35
Gotta hand it to the creative folks who have used their talents to protest the F-35 noise in Boise. Here are three artistic items not likely to be approved by the Arts and History dept., Each is from a different source, sent to the GUARDIAN today.
Anti F-35 Noise Group Launches Website
In a subtle maneuver that would have any fighter pilot pulling extra G’s, a group organized to fight the noisy F-35 jet has co-opted Mayor Dave Bieter’s favorite line about making Boise the “Most livable city in America.” “CITIZENS FOR A LIVABLE BOISE” now has a central “meeting place” on-line. They even qualified for the […]
Boise Trains Not Tracking Well In Boston
Back in 2008 Boise’s Mayor Dave Bieter and U.S. Senator Mike Crapo were “allll aboard” using their political clout to force the Massachusetts Bay Transportation Authority (MBTA) to purchase commuter locomotives from Motive Power. Turns out it is difficult to get the trains to leave the station with the faulty Boise-built engines. Here in-part is […]
Citizen Meet For F-35 Discussion Set
Henry Wiebe has once again called for a citizen meeting to discuss the F-35 noise issue. Thursday, Mar 30, 7:00 PM Whitney School 1609 S Owyhee St, Boise, ID 83705 (Owyhee and Nez Perce south of Overland) In case you don’t remember, Wiebe is the guy who brought a battery-powered drill to his last call […]
Boise City Ignores Citizens, Seeks $100,000 For F-35 Media Campaign
Ignoring the purchasing rules, Boise’s Team Dave has proposed an immediate approval of a $100,000 expenditure for a Washington, D.C. Public Relations firm to manipulate public sentiment in favor of the F-35 being based in Boise. The resolution, to be voted upon at Tuesday’s council meeting, says in part: “Section 2. That the Purchasing Regulations […]
City Railroads Trolley Plans
It’s like trying to stop a speeding train. Here is a letter from a Boise City engineer that went out to numerous local officials. Seems like after thousands of $$$ in surveys, promotional campaigns, and meetings the selected players ran out of objections to the “Trolley Folly” also known as “Desire Named Street Car.” Dear […]
If You Record At Bus Terminal, Valley Ride Staff Will Hassle You, Standing Room Only
COMMUNITY JOURNALISM Mike Murphy is a stocky guy with a New York accent and attitude who doesn’t like to take any crap. He is a former taxi driver, mayor candidate, and a champion of civil rights–like freedom of speech. In short he knows his way around, but he can be a little rough around the […]
F-35 Noise Issues Fall On Deaf ears
Gov. Butch Otter, with Boise Mayor Dave Bieter standing alongside, signed a bill Tuesday that will authorize expenditure of $100,000 in taxpayer funds to lobby on behalf of basing the admittedly noisy F-35 fighter in Boise. Stars & Stripes, the military newspaper in Japan, recently reported a Japanese court has awarded residents near Kadena AF […]
New Try At Community Journalism
We started the BOISE GUARDIAN as a news blog back in May of 2005. One of the motivating factors was the decline of newspapers nationwide and the drastic increase in government flaks, spokespersons, spin doctors, or other titled “information specialists.” We wanted to give readers a forum to air their opinions and provide “the other […]
FAA Weed In Tower Issue Status
While the FAA has apparently favored the IDAHO STATESMAN with responses to Freedom of Information requests filed by all the local media, including the GUARDIAN, it appears they waited four days to test air traffic controllers suspected of illegal drug use. The FAA staffers supposedly passed their urine tests, according to spokesman Ian Gregor who […]
Should Boise Take Street Duties From ACHD?
Boise City Councilor Scott Ludwig has been floating the idea of dissolving the Ada County Highway District in favor of shifting the duties–and tax revenues over to Boise City. We see this as a bad plan on several fronts. First, it would force the county and the rest of the cities within the county to […]
Opponents Of F-35 Denied Space Inside Open House
With armed police standing by, opponents of the F-35 and other noisy fighter jets being based at Gowen Field were denied space during an “open house” meeting Wednesday night at the airport, another chapter in the controversy. Airport spokesman Sean Briggs told the GUARDIAN the opponents were allowed to display protest signs and a petition […]
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