MOUNTAIN LION
Catch the cougarbefore it’s too late
I hope it will not take the death of a child or a lone runner to motivate the Boise Police Department and city leaders to get serious about catching and removing the mountain lion(s) hunting along the Boise Greenbelt.
Where’s the leadership, Mayor Bieter? While I have nothing against the mountain lion as it is simply living out its nature, these are extremely dangerous, stealthy and unpredictable animals capable of killing a large deer or elk, and who have on occasion attacked and killed humans.
With several weeks elapsed since the first sighting, I have a hard time believing that a serious effort is being made. Do you not understand that hundreds of people use this path daily, and that children routinely separate from their parents to explore or just “run ahead?”
My question for the police — what would be done in the event of an attack on a human?
Whatever that answer, I suggest that you do that now. Surely experienced persons and dogs could be bought in to help. Let’s see a full-fledged effort before someone gets killed.
CHRIS BOUNDS, Boise
Take action, then call
Recently there have been several mountain lion sightings. I saw on the news about a lion mauling a dog that was in her backyard. this time it was a dog. What if it would have been a child? What to do? They say if you see a mountain lion, call the police or the Fish and Game. Well, that’s OK, but by the time they get there, the lion has killed a pet or God forbid, a child. Think long-term or short-term. If you can handle the problem yourself, in a safe way, I say that’s what to do. Then call the Fish and Game to come and pick it up.
KENNETH D. WRIGHT, Emmett
BIKERS GPS
More speed will lead to more injuries
There is a pervasive form of technology infiltrating the Foothills that should be used with caution.
Strava is a GPS-based application that tracks and times of activities via smartphones or GPS units. It is marketed toward runners and cyclists who are able to compare each other’s times on various courses or terrain.
Those with the fastest times are often crowned “king of the hill." Herein lays the problem. In regard to the Boise Foothills, these times for mountain bikers are both up- and downhill.
Log on to Strava and note the 272 riders who have descended Lower Hulls Gulch over 1,000 times, presumably trying to make the fastest time.
Whoa Nelly! Don’t we already have enough conflict out there with walkers, runners, horsemen and cyclists?
Do we really need more mountain bikers trying to best one another on popular multi-use trails? This behavior could easily result in injury to both the rider and other trail users, and has done so. I believe this technology has a place and can be enjoyable, but let’s keep the speed-driven descents to places that are less used by all who take advantage of what the Foothills have to offer.
SCOTT ELDER, Boise
BIKE SHARING
City leaders come upwith another bad idea
I thought I’d heard or read it all and then comes this ridiculous article about a bike-sharing program. First they want $650,000 of the city’s tax dollars just to start the program, but then they want “hundreds of thousands of dollars every year to operate.”
They mention that the feds denied funding — like they need another boondoggle. Rightfully so. I realize there are elements within the city that would like to make Boise San Francisco-light, but this moronic waste of tax dollars would be a fiscal disaster. Although maybe it’s just what we need to finally get the people of this town to vote out the dullards running City Hall. Not holding my breath, just daydreaming.
It’s bad enough you’ve made drastic cuts to schools and programs for the mentally ill while throwing money at our overbloated police department and trying to build a trolley to nowhere (thanks for that brainstorm, Mr. Mayor). But even you need to draw the line somewhere, and I say the somewhere has come to our doorstep. They mentioned also the possibility of getting private funding. I say knock yourself out, if you can, then by all means do.
ROD WALLACE, Boise
DYNAMIS
Ada should have morecounty commissioners
Citizens of Districts 1, 2 and 3 of Ada County, the “Mission Statement” of our Board of County Commissioners states: To be partners in our communities, to provide leadership and promote values that sustain our quality of life.
Two of our county commissioners are often “holding hands,” in this case pushing for this waste-to-energy Dynamis project when so many questions go unanswered.
They are not our partners when they continue to endorse businesses that do not sustain our quality of life. Mr. Yzaguirre and Ms. Ullman! Just step down. District 3’s above-board Dave Case, bravo for listening and acting.
And I pose a question to everyone. Isn’t change needed? We have only three Ada County commissioners for a population of 400,845. Let’s change this!
LYNN MCDONALD, Boise
HALLOWEEN
Give teens the candy
Regarding the article on “Boise’s Halloween sweet spot,” Shelley Eichmann stated that she would not be handing out candy to older teenagers and kids in college. Why not? I’d rather see teenagers out trick-or-treating for candy than out vandalizing people’s houses or getting into some other kind of trouble. There is not much to do in Boise for teens anyway. To give them candy one time a year is not going to hurt anyone’s pocketbook. Let them have candy and retain their innocence in their youth for as long as possible!
SHEILA RENEE ALLSUP, Meridian
REPUBLICANS
Ruling party lacksbasic understanding
A recent Statesman editorial suggested that the Ada County Republican Party should have “gotten in writing” its agreement for a BSU facility. The ruling party in Idaho has no clue what a contract is or why it is important. A contract protects both parties to an agreement. It requires that each party is granted rights and obligations as equals. Since no one is their equal, R’s get what they want because they will it. Teachers and state employees have no right to free speech (regarding our employment); no right to a living wage; and minimal efforts to encourage human rights. The firing of faculty who challenge administrators or the State Board of Education; denial of due process for public employees; and the use of the courts to solve personnel issues — reveal how clueless these “leaders” remain. In order to improve education, create a living wage or support human rights, R’s must recognize the rest of us as equals, negotiate decent contracts and join the 21st century. The one percent are so powerful in this state that we pay for their shrine (J.R.’s mansion) while it sits empty, mocking our inability to challenge their arrogance.
ROBERT MCCARL, Boise
CROSSWALK
Use the walk, workers
Can someone please tell us why there was a new crosswalk put in on 3rd Street for the Ada County Courthouse? The Ada County workers can’t seem to walk a few feet to use it. Every day we have to stop in between two crosswalks to wait for them while they jaywalk to their cars. Have you ever had a jaywalking ticket? Well, cross here and you don’t have to worry about it.
NICK JAMES, Boise
RED LIGHTS
Police should crackdown on bad drivers
At exactly what point did a red light become little more than a suggestion for drivers to consider? As someone who walks and cycles on a daily basis around the city, I’ve become increasingly disgusted with the lack of courtesy and consideration for pedestrians, not to mention basic traffic laws! I am not exaggerating when I say that I am nearly hit by a vehicle on a weekly basis, and even more commonly completely ignored by people in vehicles when I’m standing at a crosswalk. Sadly, it’s rare for people to stop for pedestrians anymore.
What’s becoming of Boise? And where the heck are the police? How many innocent people have to be killed or maimed by cars and trucks in this city before the Boise Police Department cracks down on the ever-growing number of drivers out there who on a daily basis completely disregard traffic laws, and lack any shred of human decency?
Are you people really in such a rush that you would risk killing someone and spending the rest of your miserable existence in a jail cell? Good grief.
MIRANDA ADAMS, Boise
