Letters to the editor: ICCU project, voting, Trump, guns
ICCU project
The enormous 16-story mixed-use project proposed by Ball Ventures Ahlquist and the Idaho Central Credit Union in Boise’s east end is vastly out of scale with the surrounding neighborhood! Although the developer has added token housing units, the project is mainly medical offices, a bank, an urgent care and a 460-car above-ground parking garage. This is more than twice the amount of parking required by the city — increased income for the developers to the detriment of the neighborhood! Nearby condominium buildings all have underground parking and minimally impact the community flavor.
Boise needs housing more than offices! If this proposal were for condominiums or apartments built within the current zoning height limits, there would be little opposition. St. Luke’s is currently constructing buildings to meet medical office needs and parking demands. Will the BVA project be necessary or even viable when the hospital’s projects are complete? The urgent care facility would be directly competing with St. Luke’s ER and Primary Health’s urgent care on 3rd and Myrtle, each within a few blocks.
This project, as has been pointed out, clearly belongs in the downtown central core or between the two connectors, not in a neighborhood of one- and two-story buildings.
Bron Roberts, Boise
Voting
Are you looking forward to casting your votes in the General Election? Nov. 3 will be here before we know it. Make sure you have options for voting in a safe and secure environment this fall. Request an absentee ballot now at IdahoVotes.gov.
Yes, many of us feel strongly about showing up at the polls to perform this almost sacred duty but did you know you can still vote in person on Nov. 3 even if you received a ballot in the mail? The poll worker will just check the electronic poll books to make sure the absentee ballot has not been cast and then ‘spoil’ it and issue you a new one.
Take action today so you can make the best choice for yourself on Election Day, both with your votes and how you choose to vote.
Kayla Dodson, Boise
Suckers and losers
I submitted this to Sens. Risch and Crapo, and Congressman Simpson:
The current issue of The Atlantic includes an article claiming that President Trump called people who served in the military as “dumb” and who lost their life in service to their country were “suckers and losers.” The accuracy of these claims has been confirmed by multiple media outlets, including Fox News, the Washington Post, the AP and CNN. I note that you have not offered any comment on these statements. By not expressing your disagreement with these sentiments, you provide tacit approval.
My father served in World War II; do you agree with Mr. Trump that he was “dumb”? I lost good friends in Vietnam; do you agree with the president that they were “suckers and losers”?
I’ve written to you in the past; on each occasion, you replied with carefully worded letters which avoided taking a clear stand in support of or disagreement with the issue I wrote about. If you do not plan to provide a clear statement in support or opposition to the president’s disgraceful opinions, please don’t bother to reply. The Idahoans who answered our country’s call, many of whom died in service, deserve better.
Rick Simon, Boise
Silence on Trump
The Atlantic Magazine article Trump: Americans Who Died in War are ‘Losers’ and ‘Suckers’ by Jeffrey Goldberg caused me to write to Sen. Risch asking him how much dishonor the Commander in Chief will bring to the presidency before he would cease his disgraceful blind support to this man. Sen. Risch and I took the same oath to the Constitution, not an individual. His disdain for the military, current and past, is despicable. He has military constituents, active, disabled and retired the he should be standing up for. Will his silence be deafening?
Harold R. Brizee, Boise
Guns, NRA
For more than 40 years Republicans have claimed, “The Democrats are going to take your guns.” Well, the job should be finished by now. No one wants my .22 rifle, BB pistol or slingshot, but it seems odd to me that the Legislature and university kids should be at the mercy of wackos with guns. What’s good for the courthouse is good for the Capitol and schools — no guns allowed on the premises.
The NRA has blinded us to the sick and dangerous communities that should have ALL weapons banned, guns and knives. The south side of Chicago comes to mind. Perhaps the dues-skimming crooks at the NRA think the street gangs are a “well regulated militia,” because all they really care about is getting rich on the backs of gun owners.
Joe Bejsovec, Boise