Caldwell Council Support Essay From Guardian Reader

The following was received by a Guardian reader who wishes to remain anonymous, (THE GUARDIAN does not endorse candidates but does provide a forum for discussion).

     "I believe it is time to open the windows in the Caldwell City Council Chambers and let some fresh air in.


     Over the past few elections we have had an interesting list of candidates show up for various reasons.  This year we have two incumbents and one open seat with at least two people running for each seat.  The good news this year is that we have three candidates, one running for each of the seats up for election that come highly qualified.  While they are not running together as a group (each one is running his own campaign independently).  Erik Makrush, David Clark and Rem Fox all represent successful backgrounds in their personal lives.  All three are in their early 40's and represent new generation of involvement ready and willing to step up to the plate.


     We need to be gracious and thankful for the efforts of all current incumbents who have served on the Caldwell City Council,  they have given us their best efforts.  However, I think we need to get behind our Mayor and bring some new younger people with fresh ideas and energy to the table in our city council. 


THE GUARDIAN  does not endorse candidates but does invite your comments to this post.

Netflix Thinks It Pays To Thumb Nose At Customers

Netflix stock was around $300 per share in July of this year, today it is  $127.14 per share.  How did they work this magic?  Reed Hastings has figured out the fine art of annoying his customers on a grand scale.  We received our latest copy of the ECONOMIST and there is a very good article on the fine mess Mr. Hastings has created for what was once an excellent company a nightmare for himself, stockholders and customers alike.

Here is the Economist version in a nutshell.  DVDs may be old technology but they have all manner of legal protections.  Generally, movies are released on DVDs about four months after the original feature opens in your local theater which means Netflix can start renting it via the mail without interference from the original owners. However, if Netflix wants to stream the same item via the internet they must strike a deal with studio or outfit owing the item in question. Netflix has become too big and too scary for a lot of the owners and they have therefore made negotiations difficult for Netflix to get streaming rights and some simply won't even discuss the matter with Netflix.  They have to wait 8-9 years to stream various movies and TV programs.

The combination of DVDs by mail and the option of streaming all the older stuff gave customers a level of instant gratification they can not get today unless they opt for 60% more in monthly charges.  Add to this customers will get billed two separate charges on their credit cards.  QWIKSTER ( formerly Netflix DVD mail service), is the latest oxymoron example right up there with jumbo shrimp.

To date about 4% or 1 million customers have left Netflix.  The shorthand math is this is about $100 million in loses unless the unrepentant Mr. Hastings does a mea culpa  and lures customers back to Netflix.

    

Nampa Budget Items You Might Find Interesting

Most taxpayers recognize there is a level of taxation that is needed to keep a city viable.  That means more than water flowing and toilets flushing but some of the numbers below are troubling others informational.

Items noted in the GENERAL FUND,
1.  Budget transfer to Civic Center   $361,000
2.  Budget transfer to Idaho Center  $766,000
3.  Mayor and City Council   $489,000

Items in ENTERPRISE & SPECIAL REVENUE FUNDS,  (additional taxes extracted from everyone as a use tax fund not related to property tax),
1.  911 Telephone and cell phone fees you pay  $1,538,299
2.  Electric franchise fees (Idaho Power bill add on) $251,800
3.  Storm-water Utility (the new one everyone hates)  $1,830,000
4.  Idaho Center revenue  $4,371,000
5.  Civic Center revenue  $$1,215,000

Public Safety Costs,
1.  Police $18,335,000
2.  Fire  $11,568,000

We picked these costs off page D-4 in the Legal Advertisements in today's Idaho Press Tribune and thought the numbers might be of interest to Guardian readers.  Numbers have been rounded to the nearest thousand dollars up or down.

Legislators Have No Business In Turkey

POLITICS

Legislators Have No Business In Turkey

 September 22, 2011 ⋅ by David R. Frazier

Whenever states enter into the international arena of business and diplomacy you can figure there is something wrong with the plan.

The local news outlets played it pretty straight yesterday when news was received that a delegation of Idaho legislators and their spouses was safe following a terrorist blast in Ankara, Turkey. This was nothing more than a junket payed for by the Turkish government. It could be only a tourist promotion, but the Turks have been hustling public officials for several years. WHY?

Over the past 40 years the BOISE GUARDIAN has witnessed visits from officials in Taiwan to the legislature at a time when the island nation was struggling to remain independent–the USA does not recognize Taiwan today as a country, but various states have trade offices in Taipei.

We also saw farmers sucking up to a Libyan delegation claiming to be interested in Idaho wheat–they wanted hard red, but we grow soft white. A complex sale agreement was worked out, but the actual grain was not grown in Idaho. The reason for the Idaho interest turned out to be former Senator Frank Church’s opposition to selling US-made C-130 aircraft to Libya which could be used against Israel. The deal even had an “anti-Zionist” clause.

One politico appeared on Channel 7 saying he had taken the bait last year and had a most pleasant trip, noting the Turks are interested in Idaho beef. The legislature has no beef to sell. Ranchers have beef, but they didn’t get the freebie. We think there is a move to “BUY” political support for Turkey which has a lot of politics and diplomacy on its plate with the European Union, USA, Russia, and Israel at the moment.

We got a call from one local official who said he turned down the offer for a free trip to Turkey–airfare was NOT covered–because it was simply against the law. The local guy told us there was so much value in the gift that it would have clearly violated the Idaho ethics law. He was invited solely based on his official position.

Link to Pacifica Institute  http://pacificainstitute.org/index.php/activities/visits

NETFLIX The NEW COKE Of 2011

NETFLIX has to be one of the more serious marketing disasters of the decade.  Most Netflix customers held Reed Hastings and Netflix in very high regard for his business model of providing DVD's to customers without those ugly late fees charged by brick and mortar competitors.  Most customers saw the future of the business as streaming via the Internet and went along with the first round of price changes that incorporated streaming and DVD rentals for $10 and up depending upon how many DVD's you wanted.


The price increases this past Summer offended a lot of loyal customers of Netflix.  Not that customers had anything against Mr. Hastings making a profit but the magnitude of the increase at 60% was over the top for a lot of Netflix customers.  Mr. Hastings had a great product, great service, and great attention to meeting and exceeding customer expectations when problems came to the fore.  The good will even extended to customers who talked to friends about the great deal and service Netflix provided...grass roots and word of mouth worked for Netflix success and everyone was happy.  


The price increase was a catalyst for over a million customers to drop the mail service but what is really irksome was the choice left.  You can't get recent movies and TV shows via the streaming service, the "suggestions" for customers on the website are unavailable unless you have DVD's by mail.  The streaming service works fine but the selection stinks.  And now customers face two bills posted to their credit cards with QWIKSTER.  Netflix stock is now down to around $130/share from a recent high of over $300/share.  


Reed Hastings has taken his customer base for granted and is now paying the price of arrogance.  Everyone expect businesses to make a profit but all this bungling and the goofy blog posts along with business analysis and articles in the Wall Street Journal critical of Hastings and Netflix makes one wonder what the next marketing blunder will be for Netflix customers.  Too many other choices are out there for customers fed up with the "in your face"  marketing from Mr. Hastings.  Sorry Reed... No warm feelings in our hearts for you...

Jerry Kilbourne Running for Caldwell City Council

Mr. Kilbourne is running for seat 5 in the Caldwell City Council election.

“Tell me and I forget. Teach me and I remember. Involve me and I learn”- Benjamin Franklin-

First of all, I am not a politician.  I do not consider City Council a stepping stone for bigger and better things.  I don’t have a wealth of political knowledge from which to dip my ladle and stand here and tell you, “here is where I stand and this is what I am going to do.”  What I bring to the table is superb communication and mediation skills and a willingness to listen to both sides in order to make a rational judgment. I have no high profile friends which may cloud my judgment yet I, being a long time Caldwell resident, am sensitive to the growth needed to help Caldwell prosper.  I have always been of the school that all government needs fresh ideas from one of the masses; the masses which I belong. 

I am a 17 year resident of Caldwell Idaho and reside with my wife and son.  My wife and I moved to Idaho in November 1994 where I picked up a job with a local agricultural company which I worked until the season ended in late January 1995. I found work with various companies until settling with a High Tech company in 2000.  With the unfortunate turn in the economy I found myself laid off in 2009.  I did not see my lay off as a bad situation; instead I saw it as a new opportunity.  In June 2009 I seized this new opportunity and went back to get my degree in Business Administration.  With degree in hand, I went back to work.

In my free time I enjoy Camping in beautiful Idaho, seeing sites around town, riding my motorcycle and Family time.  I also help out as a Math and Writing tutor and am a member of Toastmasters.

Quick facts:

Name Jerry Kilbourne

Born: January 1966

Residence:  Caldwell Idaho Since 1994

Marital status: Married

Education: College of Western Idaho 2010 -   Business Administration

Favorite quote: “You miss 100% of the shots you don’t take.”

Class Warfare? You Decide

THE GUARDIAN has watched with interest all of the Republican bluster about taxation destroying our economy when by any measure real taxation is at an all time low since WW2.  Most people are for limited government and low taxes but the Republicans in both houses of Congress are trying to tell the Baby Boomers and the elderly that Social Security and Medicare are "entitlements" that will have to be cut.

These are the same people who signed onto an unfunded prescription drug plan without funding it.  The same people who signed the American people up for two wars without funding them (they did borrow the money from China).  The same people who encouraged banks to loan people with low paying jobs and lousy credit money to buy a home.... the "OWNERSHIP SOCIETY" were the words used by then President George W. Bush.

We now have mega billionaire Warren Buffet telling us he pays a lower percentage of taxation than his secretary.  The Republicans in both houses of Congress fail to see a problem with this difference of higher tax rates on the Middle Class while those in the highest income brackets pay a much lower tax rate.  In addition, they manage to get a lot of their pay in the form of stock options and when the stock is sold it falls into the category of capital gains tax with a maximum rate of 15%.  They continue to demand and press their Republican Congressional people for even lower taxes at the expense of the elderly, the middle class and call something most people have paid into for a lifetime "ENTITLEMENTS".   ( I will gladly trade my social security payments for a congressional retirement package, I will even throw in the gold watch.)

We have witnessed nothing less than war on the middle class in this country for the last 30 years to pay homage to globalization.  We have to consider Ross Perot may have had it right with his vehement opposition to NAFTA.  We may not have heard that "sucking sound of jobs leaving this country" he predicted but I think most of us have borne witness to the results and economic pain we are all feeling these days.

THE GUARDIAN is constantly listening to our CONGRESSIONAL POLITICOS and those who call Social Security and Medicare "entitlements" may have stirred up a hornets nest come election time.  The party of Lincoln is doing little to get us out of this economic mess while at the same time stepping up the warfare on the middle class in this country.  When Senator Mitch McConnel of Kentucky says his number one job is to make President Obama a one term president is this showing any concern whatsoever for the millions of Americans who are out of work, losing their homes, can't pay their taxes and trying to keep the bills paid?  I always thought and was taught it is the duty of Congress to conduct the business of the people.  What is currently  going on in Congress is nothing less than shameful in reflects the 82% disapproval ratings of Congress in most of the polls.

Property Tax Cap (the short version)

THE GUARDIAN has been hearing elected officials mentioning and lamenting a thing called "the cap".  And in the same context they mention bumping into "the cap".  This was a new term I didn't have a reasonable feel for what it is and how it is calculated so I went on a quest for knowledge of this mysterious thing called "the cap"

Heretofore, all taxing districts have been in a growth economy and under Idaho Code their levy rates were budget driven.  This meant no matter what you assessed valuation amounted to all the taxing entities could take all the new growth plus a 3% increase in their maximum taxes levied against all real property.  If last year they got $100, this year they could take a 3% increase and take $103 for the sake of simplicity.

The past three years we have a situation where we have falling real property values and to protect property owners the Idaho Legislature wisely placed a "cap" on what all taxing districts can extract (levy) from property owners.  They simply can't continue to raise taxes in a down economy with taxpayers ability to pay imploding with regularity and lockstep with the general condition of the economy.

Idaho Code specifies the maximum amounts of money each taxing entity can take based  upon the average three year total assessed value of all real property.  Here are some examples spelled out by Idaho Code:

TAX ENTITY                                                   ID. CODE SEC.    CAP MULTIPLIER

Airport ..................................................................... 21-404                    .0004
For building and/or maintenance.
Ambulance Service ................................................. 31-3901                   .0002

Appraisal Program .................................................. 63-314                     .0004

Armory Construction............................................... 46-722                     .0002
Must jointly levy w/city. Total levy cannot exceed max levy.

So, here we are in 2011 with declining property values and most taxing entities faced with forced budget reductions v. going merrily forward with a 3% increase each and every year.  The "cap" was something wisely built into Idaho Code to protect taxpayers in a down economy from "PREDATORY TAXATION" regardless of the needs or wants of taxing districts.  Most elected officials do not have an understanding of "the cap" but it is out there and would behoove citizens to find out what it is in areas they have a concern about over-taxation.

( A special thanks to Joe Cox and Zach Wagoner who work for the Canyon County Assessor and Auditor/Recorder respectively for their help and explaining "the cap" to me.)

Jeremy Feucht Announcement for Seat 6 Caldwell City Council

We received this announcement from Jeremy Feucht today,  He is running for the seat vacated by Bob Sobba.  Again, THE GUARDIAN will be happy to post candidate info but will not endorse any candidate over another on this blog.

ELECTION DAY IS NOVEMBER 8TH.  You can vote early at the County elections office once the ballots are printed, sometime after the 23rd of September clear up to  November 5th.

Hello to all. I would like to let the community of Caldwell know, that I would like nothing more than to represent you as a member of Caldwell City Council, seat 6. I will be running against David Clark.

I have been in Caldwell now for seven years. I first came to Caldwell, in the Fall of 2004 as a Freshman at the then Albertson College of Idaho. I would end up graduating from their in the spring of 2008. I fell in love with a lifelong Caldwell resident to whom I am now engaged. During this time, I have seen the cities east of Caldwell boom in population while Caldwell's has stayed relatively low. While the lack of population is appealing, the progress the city has made in certain areas, has left me wanting.

There are definitely certain problems the city needs to tackle. First, why are we deficit spending? We have the tax base, and if a person reads the Urban Renewal legislation from the State of Idaho as well as the ordinance that was passed by the City of Caldwell, it can be spent on about anything unfortunately. Second, why are our police and fire departments paid so much less than their counter parts in Nampa and Meridian? I realize that these towns are bigger, but ultimately we have lost members of the police force especially to other areas. Third, why do we not yet have a texting while driving ordinance? This is something we need to follow other cities in the treasure valley on. There are other issues we definitely need to be concerned about, but these are the three I wanted to mention at this time.

I am 25 years old and there will be questions about my age and length of time within the city, of that I am certain. Just know, that I have the energy and the passion to get things done to continue to move the community of Caldwell in the right direction. I have a Facebook page that I hope you all will visit: Jeremy Feucht for Caldwell City Council. If you have any questions or concerns, please do not hesitate to send me a message of email me and I will respond back as soon as I possibly can.

A special thank you to "Caldwell Guardian," for keeping us up to date on the issues that surround our community, and a thank you to all for your time and support.

Jeremy Feucht

David Clark Running for Caldwell City Council

David Clark sent in the below information on his bid for Caldwell City Council.

Hello everyone. I wanted to personally send out this email to let you know I am running for Caldwell City Council, seat 6. Councilman Bob Sobba has decided not to run this time around. I wanted to thank him for his 40 years of service to Caldwell. During a recent lunch meeting with Councilman Sobba, he said he has been blessed to have been able to serve and he is looking forward to more outdoor activities in the future! I also wanted to thank Arlene Yamamoto for agreeing to act as my Treasurer and Lety Juarez-Sisson as my public relations manager.

I have been living in Caldwell for a long time and I love it here. I chose to raise my family here and I hope that opportunities will be created so my kids may raise their kids here as well. One of the issues heavy on my mind is the proper role of government. I believe government should create the environment so business owners can come in and set up shop. Currently, it is quite difficult for businesses to come here due to unnecessary restrictions, antiquated rules, regulations and red tape. In addition, the City should not be choosing between who wins and who loses, i.e, subsidizing businesses. 

I have already been asked by friends why I would be the best choice for this office. I answer them by saying I have operated many successful businesses. I have also failed a few times and that has given me valuable experience. I also say I have fifteen years of marketing and advertising experience. This experience will be helpful promoting the city and attracting new business ventures via the Internet and other media sources. Lastly, I am from Caldwell. I graduated from Caldwell High School, I worked here and I have raised my family here. I am a Ambassador in the Chamber of Commerce. I have served on the Planning and Zoning Commission. I have plenty of community equity. Plainly, I love this town.

I also wanted to ask you to go my facebook page (http://www.facebook.com/DavidforCaldwell?sk=app_190322544333196) and check out my platform to create positive changes in Caldwell. If you like what you see, please pass it on.

I hope that you would feel free to call me or send me an email with any questions you may have. I want to be sure I am representing the Citizens of Caldwell properly. Your opinion is important and necessary. 

Thanks and I will see you at the Indian Creek Festival! (look for our cardboard kayak).