PART ONEInvestigate Boise: History, Planning, and Policy

9 AM to 9 PM, June 25 to 29, 2012

Boise State University’s Center on Main1020 W. Main St. (208) 334-2001

Todd Shallat, Ph.D.tshalla@boisestate.edu(208) 761-0485

Investigate Boise, part one, explores political and social problems that vex municipal government. Topics include streets and sidewalks, buses and trolleys, housing and homelessness, foothills conservation and neighborhood preservation, the food economy, and urban renewal downtown.

Course requirements. For three credits, the university requires no less than 45 “contact hours” in the classroom and 90 hours of reading and writing outside the classroom. To pass, students must complete all the assignments and all five days of the class. Grading is based on class participation (10 percent), the field book (40 percent), and the research assignment (50 percent).

The field book. Comment on the tours, lectures, and readings in the exam book we provide on the first day of class. Each field book entry should be titled and dated. The assignments are listed in the schedule below. Your first obligation is to show a close understanding of the readings. Good entries relate the reading to ideas presented in class.

The research assignment. Undergraduates will complete a research questionnaire concerning the political economy of food in the Boise Valley. Topics are listed below. The assignment is due on Friday, July 13. Students in both summer classes need to finish the first assignment before beginning the second class. Graduate students will have an expanded assignment.

Send the research assignment as a Word email attachment to tshalla@boisestate.edu. Please notice it is tshalla without the last “t” in my name. If you do not receive a response within 48 hours, your paper did not arrive. Call 761-0485.

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Daily Schedule

Monday, June 25

9:00Discussion: pictures from our exhibitionShallat PPT: Why Boise?Eberle PPT: Boise and the urban west

1:00Once and future railroadsEberle at the Boise Depot

6:00 Cities and the arts with Amanda Johnson

Monday’s field book writing assignment: Read L. J. Davis, “Tearing Down Boise” (1974). Explain the redevelopment plan that led to the tearing down of Boise. Who funded the demolition? Did the program accomplish its objective? How did it shape the look and

feel of downtown Boise today? Date and title each entry.

Tuesday, June 26

9:00 Poverty and public assistance in the Boise Valley with Jim Owens

11:00 Red Feather Lounge (free meal, but you can tip) with Kevin Kelp 1:00Boise’s Warehouse District with John Bertain

3:00 Pub Ostling and David Fraser on Boise Valley wine 6:00 New Urbanism PTT, plus Main Street walk8:00 Optional wine tasting at Grape Escape

Tuesday’s field book assignment: Read From Greyfields to Goldfields (2001). How does the Congress for the New Urbanism define “greyfields”? What is the problem? Identify and discus a Boise Valley example of a greyfield shopping mall. Title and date each entry.

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Wednesday, June 27

9:00Foothills conservation, wildlife, and fireBus trip to Foothills Education Center with Julia Grant

1:00Municipal governance with Maryanne Jordan 7:00Hyde Park and Harrison Boulevard tour. Class meets at 13th and Eastman.

Field book assignment: How does Alan Jacobs define “great streets”? What are the elements of a great street? Is there a single street or district in Boise that fits this definition of greatness? What “great street” characteristics does Boise generally lack?

Thursday, June 28

9:00Bus tour with Elaine Clegg

1: 00 Art Walk with Karen Bubb

6:00Barbara Perry Bower: Boise’s Interurban

Field book assignment: Who are “the undesirables” according to author William Whyte? What should cities do about the problem? Does the public really have any say about who is permitted in privately owned plaza and parks?

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Friday, June 29

9:00 Anthony Lyons on urban renewal

1:00Chris Blanchard on Salt Lake and Boise

6:00Guy Hand food research roundableFinal thoughts

Field book assignment. Read James H. Kunstler, “City of the Future in the Long Emergency.” What is the “long emergency”? How might climate change and the shortage of oil transform American cities? What technologies might help people cope? The field book is due at the end of class on Friday, June 25.

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Great thoughts Pick three quotations that might shed light on Boise and the study of urban affairs. Be prepared to discuss one in class.

Placing surface parking lots in your downtowns is like placing a toilet in your living room - Unknown

When you have too much of something, you tax it. When you have too little of something, you subsidize it. - Unknown

More than any other time in history, mankind faces a crossroads. One path leads to despair and utter hopelessness. The other, to total extinction. Let us pray we have the wisdom to choose correctly. - Woody Allen

Suburbia is a collection of private benefits and public nuisances. – Anonymous

Automobiles need quantity and pedestrians need quality. - Dan Burden

Bicyclists should expect and demand safe accommodation on every public road, just as do all other users. Nothing more is expected. Nothing less is acceptable. - Chainguard.com

Convivial towns can offer solace in disaster, solidarity in protest, and a quiet everyday delight in urban life...Creating and revitalizing places that foster conviviality is essential to the good life. - Mark C. Childs

When we build our landscape around places to go, we lose places to be. -Rick Cole

Parking is a narcotic and ought to be a controlled substance. It is addictive, and one can never have enough. - Victor Dover

The loss of a forest or a farm is justified only if it is replaced by a village. To replace them with a subdivision or a shopping center is not an even trade. - Andres Duany

If you plan cities for cars and traffic, you get cars and traffic. If you plan for people and places, you get people and places. - Fred Kent

Whatever a traffic engineer tells you to do, do the opposite and you'll improve your community. - Fred Kent

The 20th Century was about getting around. The 21st Century will be about staying in a place worth staying in. - Jim Kunstler

When you're making a housing decision, you're also making a decision on transportation. - Barbara Lipman

Any town that doesn't have sidewalks doesn't love its children. - Margaret Mead

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The research assignment

Local, Simple, Fresh: Slow Food in the Boise Valley

Nationwide, people are turning to local foods as a way of seeding employment and growing community pride. Local foods reformers, called “locavores”, also tout the environmental benefits of better nutrition, more farmland, cleaner air, and less packaging waste. Critics point to the costs of small-scale inefficient farming. Your task is complete a research questionnaire that relates the national debate to a local producer or consumer. The report is due as a emailed Word attachment on the second Friday after the last day of class.

First, select a topic of interest from the list below and discuss it with the professor. All topics require prior approval. Second, read the research local food postings on the Blackboard class site. Third, make a personal contact, preferably, face-to-face followed by phone calls or emails. Fourth, complete the questionnaire as completely as possible and email as a Word attachment to tshalla@boisestate.edu If you do not get a response, the document did not arrive. Call 761-0485. For Boise Part 1 the reports are due before 5 PM, Friday, July 13. For Boise Part 2 the reports are due before 5 PM, August 3.

Food research topics. Select a favorite and a second option for prior approval.

Peaceful Valley Farm, Josie Erskine, 343-8003, info@peacefulbelly.com Payette Brewery, Mike Francis, Mike@payettebrewing.com Boise Fry Company, Blake Lingle, 208-891-6700, blake@boisefrycompany.com Fraser Winery, Bill Fraser, 345-9607, cell 867-2255, fraserboise@msn.com Red Feather Lounge, Kevin Kelpe, 830-1956 kevkelpe@bcrfl.com Boise Urban Gardens, Erin Guerricabeitia 891-4769, erin@boiseurbangardenschool.org Idaho Candy Company (Part 2 only), Dave Wagers 342-5505 dave@idahospud.com Meadowlark Farm, Nampa, Janie Burns, 466-4806 meadowlarkfarm@q.com Cornerstone Bistro in Middleton, with Bob Thorpe (for Ms. Shelby) Dawson Taylor Coffee Rosters, Dave Leggart, dave@dawsontaylor.com Boise Fry Company, Blake Lingle, 891-6700 blake@boisefrycompany.com Refugee Gardens generally (for Ms. Emonnet) Saturday Market vendor of choice (if it is local). Local implications of U.S. Senate’s 2012 “Farm Bill” Boise Valley orchard, farm, or dairy of choice Local restaurant of choice (see professor) Local market of choice (see professor).

Research report Questionnaire for Investigate Boise, 2012

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Local, Seasonal, Fresh: Slow Food in the Boise Valley

Part One: class information

1. Name and email:

2. Class prefix (Hist, Pols, Comm, CJ, SoWork, Soc, or SSPA ) and number (297, 497, or 597):

3. Boise Part one (Due July 13) or Boise Part two (Due August 13):

4. What is your pre-approved research topic?

Part Two: the Blackboard research postings

1. How do Farenga and Ness define “locavore.” On average, how far does produce travel to reach Chicago? What is the downside of long-distance food? Can lettuce be consumed by locavores in Boise? In Sacramento?

2. Why do critics call the locavore idea a “myth.”

3. The Crossroads Resource Center presents some interesting data on farming in the Treasure Valley. How is “Treasure Valley” defined in the report? Generally, are the numbers of individual farms on the rise? Generally, are the value of farm products on the rise? Among Idaho counties in the Treasure Valley, who produces the most dairy? What farm product is the leader in Ada County?

4. Review the Urban Lands Institute report on “Sustainable Agriculture.” What is the connection between urban sprawl and sustainable farming? What are some consequences of using prime agricultural lands for subdivisions? What percentage of local food is consumed locally? According to the report, what percentage of local food should be consumed locally by the year 2020?

5. Compare Idaho farming in 1950 and 2007. Cite a couple of ways the demographics of farming has changed.

6. Are local food and the local food movement taking us where we want to go? Summarize Laura DeLind’s argument, stating her main conclusion. How does the study of Lansing support her case? Can the lessons of Lansing be applied to Boise?

Part Three: Local producers and consumers

1. What is your pre-approved research topic? Who is your main contact? Phone and email?

2. Describe your contact. Physical appearance? Age? Native of Boise? Educational or occupational background? How did he or she get interested in local food?

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3. What kind of food is your source mostly concerned with? Is there a problem getting this food to market? What are the approximate steps in the supply chain from farm to table? In the future, would it be possible to reduce the number of steps?

4. Quote something memorable from you interview or correspondence. Quote a couple of sentences at least.

5. Can your source identify political concerns (subsidies, taxes, zoning, regulations) that complicate the local food economy? Politically, is there something your source would like to see amended or changed? Are things getting better or worse?

6. Does your source think historically about the nature of the business? Does he or she use historical examples to explain how things are getting better or worse?

7. Does your source have a short-term business plan? A long term plan? He he or she optimistic?

8. If you had more time on this topic, what would you investigate? In fall 2012, as a three-credit team-research independent study, are you interested in working on our book publication? If so, propose and brief outline of a potential 15-page book chapter. Any concerns?

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