Garden City's Council is ridiculous

Garden City's Council is ridiculous
Submitted by motowrencher on Wed, 03/26/2008 - 4:34pm.
If the Garden City City Council was really in the business of governing in the best interest of the People of Garden City, why would they be dodging this issue so effectively?
If they were interested in making Garden City a valued member of the greater community, instead of a joke, why would they thumb their nose at the other cities who have gone out of their way to make the Greenbelt vision a reality?
If the Residents of Riverside Village really wanted to protect the wildlife habitat along the river (an admirable goal actually), why would they teach their members how to eradicate the wildlife they are protecting from evil bicycles?
If the Idaho COG is wrong and their documents are a fraud, why wouldn't the City Council show their cards and give real evidence of their case for banning bicycles? This should be a no brainer for them... Unless they owe someone (pronounced Riverside Village) a favor?
Let's demand a clear and rational explanation of a muddy and irrational argument. Otherwise the Mayor and Council should just admit their personal stake and agree to submit to the will of the People and quietly retire with their pension. Recall elections and Ballot initiatives are real and effective ways to discipline our naughty employees (Mayor and Council) and dragging their dirty laundry into the light and shaking out the stink is another. I guess it's up to them which way to go.

Stay Tuned!!

Keep an eye out here and at www.idahocog.org for our next event.  For those of you who thought the last event was lame, you will not be disappointed by this one.  I may ask you to leave the kids at home for this one though.  More to come in the next week or so.

audio proof?

Is there a secret door in the mayor's office that leads to a secret office, that secret deals are made?  This is an audio recording of a City Council meeting that has, in their own voices, the Garden City Council, acknowledging the requirement of bicycle access on the Greenbelt on the NORTH side of the river, West of Glenwood.

http://media.idahostatesman.com/smedia/2008/03/11/19/0312_garden_city.source.prod_affiliate.36.mp3

Gretta Says

Gretta (from Riverside Village?) left me this message on their blog.  I thought you should all see my response and be inspired to random acts of kindness.

Motowrencher ~ why do you care so much about the Riverside HOA? Perhaps you need a life??
--Greta

2008-03-27 00:28:54 GMT

Author:Anonymous

Hi Gretta,

I care about everything that goes on in my city. I especially care when it seems that one small group of people has so much control over the destiny of the entire community. Riverside is a small part of my concerns here. The bigger issue is corruption and segregation. I believe that everyone has the right and the responsibility to insist that their leadership not only represent the interests of all the People but to the larger community as well. 
My focus on you is to demonstrate the absurd and mysterious contradictions of our Garden City leadership, in relation to their public statements regarding your (RV HOA) versus the desires of the larger community (Garden City, Treasure Valley). According to all accounts, it has been your HOA that has been the primary obstacle in realizing a 40 year old dream for the Treasure Valley. I find your (RV HOA) attitude peculiar because you could stand to gain the most from the increased attention you would gain as the ones who closed the gap and responded to the community with open arms, rather than hateful signs and rampant elitism.
Greta, let's cool it with the personal stuff. I have a great life, I work hard (at a job that I guarantee, without condition, you could not live without, on any level) and I enjoy my wife, children and barky dog. I love riding my bike and, yes, even walking along the greenbelt's north shore (west of Glenwood). I love camping and fishing and reading philosophy and Contemporary American Literature (my favorites are Steinbeck and Koones). I love people (you included) and God. 
I'm certain you are a wonderful person as well and I would love to sit with you sometime. If you are interested, I'll buy you a mocha or a chai at Moxie's and we can get to know each otherr and maybe really understand the bigger issues here. You have my e-mail, get in touch and let's be friends.
--motowrencher

2008-03-27 01:11:29 GMT

I am just throwing this out to see if it flies.  The State of Idaho defines a bicycle as, "...every vehicle propelled excusively by human power upon which any person may ride, having two (2) tandem wheels..."  Does this mean that the "Bicycle dismount" sign doesn't apply to my tricycle?  I wonder also, does this apply to my electric bike since, it  is not exclusively human powered?  I wonder if someone would be able to ride one (or more) of these machines through the "contested zone" and be able to avoid a misdemeanor conviction.

Additionally I would still love some ideas about making the expense of maintaning a "Wildlife Habitat" area part of our fight.

Input, folks, let's put our heads together for the answer.

HAPPY EASTER!! (you to Riverside Village) 

Freedom of Information Request

I am sending this letter to the legal department of Garden City to look into the particulars of a "deal" between the City and Riverside Village.  Apearantly there was some "deal" the Mayor made, in his capacity as Mayor, with the developer(?) of Riverside Village, (Himself), to segregate the citizens of Garden City from enjoying the benefits of Garden City Property.  I hope to discover that I am way off base here but, the only way I could know for sure is to examine the details of this "deal".  Of course I have no idea what to expect, maybe it's all legit but, I suspect differently.

Nature Trail? Wildlife Habitat

Check out the awesome support of Riverside Village's Wildlife Habitat and Nature Trail at www.rvhoa.org.  There #2 concern on the home page is how to get rid of geese!  

Since geese are a huge annoyance to many Riverside Village residents here is a website that offers suggestions on how to help control the goose population. 
http://www.wildgoosechasers.com/tips.php
You will note that tip #1 is DO NOT FEED THE GEESE! Be sure to read tip #6

I wish I could just post the entire set of "tips", they range from destroying favorable habitat to destroying nests and eggs!  I sure am glad that Riverside Village is so concerned with wildlife.

My recommendation is to take your kids to walk along the path over there and remember to bring a big fat bag of Grandma Z's wild goose chow or some other tid-bit that will help the persecuted goose population in this refuge.

News of the day

Hello and welcome to all.  Todays news is...I heard from Mayor Evans today.  If you remember I invited Mr. Evans to join us Saturday to defend his position, hear our petition and discuss a reasonable and LEGAL resolution.  I was declined... You were declined.  Mr. Evans did however mention that he would be happy to meet, in his office, with any members of our group who wish to see his presentation.  Since everyone who supports our cause is a member of our group, I would encourage you all to call Mayor Evans and let him know if you are planning to meet with him.  I have remained undecided at this point because, I plan on being very busy Saturday morning.  I don't know if I'll be able to accept his invitation or not.  Tommorow, I am calling on everyone to make a final surge, to raise awareness and invite everyone you can to join us.  Keep an eye out, around town, for fliers advertising the event.  

Until Saturday friends, I remain,

motowrencher

Rain...So what! A little rain is just what we need.

More than a few people have contacted me regarding the plans for Saturday, if it is raining. I will be there on Saturday. I think that a little inclimate weather and a lot of people will show that we really want this trail open for everyone. If we allow a little moisture to thwart us, I fear that the minisculew group of people who oppose this action will only use it against us. They will say we aren't serious or that we are just abunch of malcontents who want to start a fight. If we don't show up Saturday and fight for the right to use the greenbelt, we will likely lose this entire thing. We have commited to showing the City Council that we are bigger than their conotributers and that we are serious, a rain day demonstration will only solidify our position.

Thanks and see you all Saturday!

Background and Proof click here

http://idahocog.org

These are the folks who have been fighting the fight in the dark chambers of the King...I mean the City Council Chamber.   Seriously, they are a great group of hard working, dedicated men and women who have gathered so much evidence that it's insane for the City Council to ignore the reality.  Check them out and read through some of these documents, it'll make your head spin.

News of the day!

Hello everyone.  When I got home today, I got a great e-mail from Jacki at the Idaho COG.  Check out the coverage and passion for our cause on Ch. 2 today.  I also spoke for quite some time, to our wonderful reporter from the Idaho Statesman Bethann Stewart.  What a great person.  She was so interested in our Saturday event and really seemed to care about reporting accurately.  I was overjoyed to have talked with her.

Additionally, I sent an e-mail message to Mayor John Evans of Garden City, inviting him to come and speak at the event and to accompany us on our tour of the disputed path.  As of 5:00 today I have not heard back but, I'm sure he'll be happy to talk to us.  I can't imagine why he wouldn't.

So many people have really picked up the torch and ran with it since Sunday.  I love the support and solidarity.  We have our detractors though so I feel it is important to include them.  I am extending an invitation to anyone who is on "the other side" to show up and walk with us and talk with us.  This seems like something that everyone should be together on.  If you are experiencing any negative feedback from your friends or neighbors, invite them to come along and see just how great the Greenbelt can be when everyone is allowed to enjoy it.  This is such a great community and we should all get together and be great with it.

Keep up the great work and don't let the momentum die.  Get everyone in the Valley to Glenwood and Marigold Saturday morning (march 15) at 10:00 am and show your support for a great cause and let the Garden City Council know that many more people want this path open for everyone than want to segregate it for a few!

Thanks and I'll keep you informed.

response posted on idahocog.org

D. Lee Reddler,

I don't think you cyclists understand 'why' this section of the greenbelt is closed to you idiots...

check out the entire posting at the idaho cog web site.  Let's you know what we are up against.

Garden City Greenbelt access

I have called for a protest ride / walk in Garden City, ID. on March 15, 2008 at 10:00 am.  Meet at the dirt parking lot at Glenwood and Marigold (across the street from the Garden City Hall).  We will ride / walk (your choice) along a recently disputed section of the Boise River Greenbelt to protest the exclusion, by a few, of bicycles from a trail section specifically set aside by the State for that purpose.  For the general public in this community, this action by an arrogant and self important city council, is a slap in the face.  Repeated intelligent and rational arguments have been ignored and ridiculed by this City Council.  The involvement of the Mayor in the development of the subdivision, from which this contrivance arose, is questionable and some have speculated that perhaps there is a conflict of interest (although I have no specific knowledge of or evidence either way).  Enough of this problem stinks bad enough that I believe it is time for the citizens of Garden City and the surrounding communities to stand in defiance of what appears to be an unjust action which isn't supported in fact or morality by real argument.  If you can invite your friends and families to ride / walk in solidarity with us, we can affect a change!  If you know someone who can speak to our group, at the event, invite them.  There is no official leadership or control for this event, it is an effort of the community, not one small group!  Anyone is welcome but it should be said that best behavior and respect for the community should be the norm.  We are trying to change an unjust law not start a riot or sour an already narrow support of bicyclists.  Remember...Saturday March 15, 2008:  10:00 am MST, Glenwood and Marigold (across from Garden City, City Hall.