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› Tasis American School
TOP SWISS BOARDING AND DAY SCHOOL - TASIS AMERICAN SCHOOL
International coeducational secondary school near Lake Lugano - TASIS
Independent co-educational boarding and day school near Montagnola with well-rounded curriculum, Italian section, multicultural atmosphere, and diverse extra-curricular activities.
Founded back in 1956, The American School in Switzerland is the oldest American boarding school in Europe and is endorsed by the New England Association of Schools & Colleges (NEASC) and the European Council of International Schools (ECIS).
Its large 9-acre campus ideally sits over Lake Lugano and is home to historic 17th century buildings as well as modern high-tech facilities like the Campo Science Center.
The school currently enrolls 700 international students from pre-kindergarten to postgraduate – of which 260 between the ages of 12 and 19 are boarders – and prides itself on welcoming more than 65 nationalities into its classrooms.
In fact, its academic programs is a statement to the school's support for diversity and multiculturalism. In Elementary School, students follow the Core Knowledge curriculum, and in both Elementary and Middle School they can choose to enroll in the Italian Section and earn a bilingual education. In High School, they can follow individual Advanced Placement towards the American High School Diploma or the International Baccalaureate (IB) Diploma, both of which grant access to higher education in the USA and abroad.
The Extensive Fine Arts program is particularly noteworthy for students with a keen interest in Drama, Music, and Visual Arts. And the Academic Travel Program offers students the opportunity to widen their horizons not just outside the classroom but outside Switzerland and Europe, giving them the opportunity to make a difference in other communities and helping them become tolerant, global citizens with a deep understanding of the world.
During the summer, the school offers intensive language courses, as well as Visual & Performing Arts camps, and adventure camps.
Institut auf dem Rosenberg // St.Gallen
Ranked among the best boarding schools in Switzerland and the world, Institut auf dem...


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The Science Behind: 'Synthergine – Liver Protectant'
December 27, 2019 by Synthetek comments (0)
This article will examine the potential contributions to health and well being of each of the ingredients that make up Synthergine™:
Lysine Hydrochloride
Methionine Hydrochloride
Sodium Glucuronate
Di-isopropylamine Dichloroacetate
Three ingredients are amino acids. It is appropriate to ask why one would need to administer specific amino acids when they are present in protein therefore this article will spend time addressing the failure of protein to engage some of the pharmacological properties of amino acids. In fact increasing the dietary protein intake to a high level will lead to a reduction in the availability of some amino acids.
The article will spend time discussing the ability of a combination of Arginine and Lysine to reduce whole body stress and cortisol levels. The ability of this combination to reduce stress induced cortisol may be far more significant then any of their specifically defined detoxification properties.
The fourth ingredient Sodium Glucuronate aids the elimination of various compounds by making them more easily eliminated through urination. Among those eliminated compounds are hormones.
While many people are of the belief that they are careful with the types of medications and chemicals they ingest few understand that they may be engaged in an activity that reduces the liver's ability to metabolize hormones. That activity is specifically related to the "in plasma" profile of exogenously administered growth hormone. The non-pulsatile elevation of growth hormone or even the less pulsatile pattern that comes as we age has the effect of creating a feminized secretory pattern which will dramatically alter the ability of the liver to metabolize drugs and hormones.
Although this may seem a bit out of place I believe it is very much worth our while to examine before looking at the specific actions of Sodium Glucuronate.
The final ingredient in the list is Di-isopropylamine Dichloroacetate. This article is compelled to examine the toxicity and safety of this compound because early studies failed in their methodology and wrongfully arrived at a conclusion that this compound is potentially mutagenic. Like a great many things in the age of Google the wrongful conclusion is probably more oft repeated then the conclusions that neither pure Diisopropylamine nor pure Dichloroacetate is mutagenic. In untainted forms they were deemed safe.
This allows us to proceed to examine the actions of Di-isopropylamine Dichloroacetate in reducing specific liver damage.
We will conclude the article by returning to an amino acid, methionine. We will examine its role in limiting liver injury brought about by an increase of a liver enzyme and its protective role in preventing fibrosis and liver cell death.
All of these topics will underscore the need for balance.
Amino Acids – inducing pharmacological responses
Amino acids have specific pharmacological properties that are often lost or diluted when they are ingested together with other amino acids. To obtain the pharmacological levels necessary to achieve a benefit high levels of protein would need to be ingested. Unfortunately high levels of protein are inadequate to the task not because they fail in the attempted provision of the quantity needed but rather because high protein intake fails in the delivery.
Whole foods or whole-protein powder or tablets of free amino acids may present the desired quantity of amino acids to the liver but there it is processed by the liver over a period of time. This means that more of the amino acids will be catabolized to urea rather then reach systemic circulation. Bypassing the initial pass through the liver in favor of sublingual intake and absorption through the gastric and intestinal mucosa will increase the concentration of amino acid that makes it into the systemic circulation as will all administrations that bypass the liver.
However the problem does not end once the amino acids make their way into circulation. Amino acids compete for transport into cells with the limited availability of the amino acid transport system that shuttle amino acids across the cellular membrane into cells. While there are several types of transporters for different classes of amino acids they can become saturated when presented with a large quantity of amino acids.
None of this is specifically limiting to normal physiological functioning but can be if the pharmacological property of an amino acid or two is desired at a specific point in time.
Changes in protein intake lead to metabolic responses that induce amino acid balance. Increasing dietary protein level above a threshold leads to a reduction of amino acid availability. The body increases amino acid catabolism following high-protein feeding as a method of preventing the accumulation of some amino acids, primarily the aromatic amino acids. Aromatic amino acids are phenylalanine, histidine, tryptophan, and tyrosine.
These are amino acids that are indispensable to the brain. It takes the steps necessary to maintain physiological concentrations which means controlling the level of amino acids through the liver.
The "down regulation" is not instantaneous. During the first days on a high protein diet amino acid catabolism is not fully engaged and intake of large amounts of protein results in an imbalanced amino acid pattern that signals the brain to among other things depress appetite.
Briefly the aromatic amino acids phenylalanine and tyrosine are involved in the synthesis of two important neurotransmitters; dopamine and norepinephrine. However large amounts of phenylalanine in particular may affect blood pressure and bring on headaches.
Histidine is involved in neurotransmission activity in the central nervous systems as well as increasing the production of red and white blood cells. However large amounts can cause zinc deficiency.
Tryptophan is the precursor to Serotonin, a neurotransmitter in the brain.
From this brief description you can see that the brain has an interest in maintaining fairly stable levels of these amino acids.
Some of the regulatory mechanism involved also has an effect on the other amino acids. It has been demonstrated that during periods of prolonged high protein intake, liver concentrations of some amino acids are very much depressed even though via feeding their supply was plentiful. Catabolism and limitations in transport appear to be responsible. More specifically the amino acids threonine, serine and glycine which share the same metabolic pathway are depressed on high protein diets.
Glutamine may become limited however because of its endogenous synthesis bounces back quickly when a high protein diet is stopped. It appears that the decrease in lysine and histidine concentrations in muscle brought about by high protein diets are also quickly reversed.
But the liver metabolic pathway shared by threonine, serine and glycine is slow to respond. As a result levels of these amino acids may still be depressed more then seven days after a high protein diet is suspended.
I think it is worth noting the functions of threonine. Threonine aids in the synthesis of glycine and serine which in turn are beneficial in the production of collagen, elastin, and muscle tissue.Threonine directly helps build strong bones and tooth enamel and plays a role in wound healing by boosting the immune system.
It has been found to be beneficial in treating Lou Gherig's Disease (ALS). Some research shows that symptoms of degraded nerve & muscle from Multiple Sclerosis (MS) may be alleviated with threonine treatment. As an immunostimulant it promotes the growth of the thymus gland.
In addition taurine an amino acid that appears to have a protective effect in cardiovascular disease has been found to be reduced by as much as 50% in plasma when high protein diets are given.
It would be important for everyone to takes steps not to continually depress these amino acids.
So high protein intakes are not the answer to achieving the amino acid concentrations necessary to bring out their pharmacological properties. The remedy is intake of specific amino acids during times when dietary protein is not elevated, via methods some of which will bypass the liver.
Arginine + Lysine reduces stress and cortisol levels: A Pharmacological Response
L-lysine has been found to reduce anxiety and normalize stress-induced hormonal responses in healthy individuals with high anxiety 1. When it is used together with L-Arginine it has been found to block stress-induced abnormalities and manifestations of disease in laboratory and farm animals2-4.
The explanatory mechanism has been postulated to relate to Lysine's ability to act as both a partial serotonin receptor antagonist 5,6 and simultaneously as a partial benzodiazepine agonist7,8.
This research was recently carried over into healthy humans in a study that tested the combined ability of L-lysine and L-arginine to reduce anxiety, stress and stress hormones in response to laboratory induced trauma9.
In this study carried out by Smriga (2007), they had fifty healthy people who had perceived stress in their lives orally ingest 1.32 grams of L-lysine HCL and 1.32 grams of L-arginine twice a day (a total of 2.64 of each per day) for seven consecutive days. On the seventh day participants where subjected to stress testing to evaluate mental stress. Cortisol and chromogranin-A were measured in saliva. These measurements had been done prior to treatment as well.
Cortisol is a hormonal marker of the hypothalamo-pituitary-adrenal axis. Chromogranin-A is a protein found in adrenergic neurons. This protein directly reflects stress response and "sympathetic tone". The Sympathetic Nervous System is a part of the nervous system that is always active to some degree and becomes more active during times of stress. This state is called the "sympathetic tone".
High base cortisol and increased base "sympathetic tone" lead to psychological disease induction and blunt normal responsiveness of both the hypothalamo-pituitary-adrenal and sympathetic nervous system to stress exposure. Anxiety is a reflection of this state and long term health problems can occur with prolonged exposure to this state.
After these tests were given to establish base levels the participants were exposed to a stress-filled environment for 20 minutes to increase mental stress. They used loud speakers and increasing frequency of beats per minute to induce mental stress and then retested the participants.
They then placed them in a relaxing environment for 20 more minutes and tested them a final time.
They found that the exposure to the stress environment increased anxiety in the placebo subjects by about 10% but this increase was significantly blunted by Lysine/Arginine treatment.
The authors had postulated based on their previous studies that a reduction in base cortisol and chromogranin-A by Lysine/Aginine would lower anxiety and improve the response of the hypothalmo-pituitary-adrenal axis and Sympathetic Nervous system to acute mental stress.
They found that in both men and women Lysine/Argine succeeded in blocking mental stress. While Lysine/Arginine was a significant anti-anxiety agent in both sexes declines in the two biomarkers do not account for the entire calming effect.
In men base values of cortisol and chromogranin-A declined significantly but this did not occur in women. Several factors such as lower salivary values in women, co-influence of menstrual cycle and the probable need to measure a more detailed time response in women likely account for the discrepancy.
In the Lysine/Arginine group of males chromogranin-A reacted to the stress event and returned to base levels within 20 minutes while the placebo males continued to experience high levels both during and after the mental stress events.
Pharmacological effects of Arginine/Lysine
The participants in the study continued their normal dietary lifestyle which included about 5 to 6 grams of each amino acid from whole food protein sources. Yet as evidenced by the placebo group this did not induce the stess lowering effect. The addition of 50% more of each of those amino acids did trigger the positive effects.
In addition to a lowering of cortisol and curbing sympathetic tone, the authors believed that Arg/Lys might also have triggered pharmacological-like effects in the gut and brain through the benzodiazepine, serotonin or amino acid-specific receptors.
To further underscore all of this another study recently found that mental fatigue triggered by a single mental test significantly decreased plasma lysine levels which persisted for at least 24 hours 10.
The safety profiles of these two amino acids are well established and present no evidence of toxicity 11.
A note on suppression of cortisol
Over production of cortisol and prolonged elevations as seen under stressful conditions can lead to health problems. One of the effects of increased cortisol is an inhibition of protein synthesis which means that protein degradation will continue uncountered resulting in net protein breakdown. Elevated levels of cortisol also inhibit the transport and uptake of amino acids into tissue 12.
The accumulated rise in cortisol if unchecked begins to significantly affect muscle tissue after approximately 4 hours 13. Internal and external stress events can raise these levels and suppress the uptake of crucial amino acids for long periods of time which will result in some loss of muscle tissue if steps are not taken to counter the rise in central nervous system activity and pituitary & adrenal cortisol activity.
The co-administration of L-lysine HCl & L-Arginine is able to shutdown that potentiality.
1 – Jezova D, Makatsori A, Smriga M, Morinaga Y and Duncko R , Subchronic treatment with amino acid mixture of L-lysine and L-arginine modifies neuroendocrine activation during psychosocial stress in subjects with high trait anxiety, Nutr Neurosci 8, 155-160 (2005)
2 – Smriga M and Torii K , Prolonged treatment with L-lysine and L-arginine reduces stress-induced anxiety in an elevated plus maze, Nutr Neurosci 6, 125-128 (2003)
3 – Smriga M and Torii K, Metabolic interactions between restraint stress and L-lysine: the effect on urea cycle components, AAmino Acids 24, 435-437 (2003)
4 – Srinongkote S, Smriga M, Nakagawa K and Toride Y, A diet fortified with L-lysine and L-arginine reduces plasma cortisol and blocks anxiogenic response to transportation in pigs, Nutr Neurosci 6, 283-289 (2003)
5 – Hasler WL, Lysine as a serotonin receptor antagonist: using the diet to modulate gut function, Gastroenterology 127, 1004-1006 (2005)
6 – Smriga M and Torii K, L-lysine acts like a partial serotonin receptor 4 antagonist and inhibits serotonin-mediated intestinal pathologies and anxiety in rats, Proc Natl Acad Sci USA 100, 15370-15375 (2003)
7 – Chang YF, Wing Y, Cauley RK and Gao XM, Chronic L-lysine develops anti-pentylenetetrazol tolerance and reduces synaptic GABAergic sensitivity, Eur J Pharmacol 233, 209-217 (1993)
8 – Chang YF and Gao XM , L-lysine is a barbiturate-like anticonvulsant and modulator of the benzodiazepine receptor, Neuroch Res 20, 931-937 (1995)
9 – Smriga M, et al., Oral treatment with L-lysine and L-arginine reduces anxiety and basal cortisol levels in healthy humans Biomedical Research Vol. 28 (2007) , No. 2 April pp.85-90
10 – Mizuno K, Tanaka M, Nozaki S, Yamaguti K, Mizuma H, Sasabe T, Sugino T, Shirai T, Kataoka Y, Kajimoto Y, Kuratsune H, Kajimoto O and Watanabe Y, Mental fatigue induced decrease in levels of several plasma amino acids, Journal of Neural Transmission, Volume 114, Number 5 / May, 2007
11 – Tsubuku S, Mochizuki M, Mawatari K, Smriga M and Kimura T, Thirteen-week oral toxicity study of L-lysine hydrochloride in rats, Int J Toxicol 23, 113-118 (2005)
12 – Kettelhut, IC, Endocrine regulation of protein breakdown in skeletal muscle, Diabetes/Metabolism Rev 4: 751-772 (1988)
13 – McNurlan, MA and Garlick, PJ, Influence of nutrient intake on protein turnover, Diabetes/Metabolism Rev 5: 165-189 (1989)
Exogenously administered Growth Hormone leads to feminized secretory pattern and altered steroid metabolism
Men and women release growth hormone (GH) in patterns unique to their sex. Adult men secrete growth hormone in a pulsatile pattern with well pronounced peaks of plasma growth hormone occurring approximately every 3.5 hours followed by periods without measurable growth hormone (GH off-time) lasting about two hours.
In contrast, adult females have a more frequent growth hormone release which results in near-continuous presence of GH in plasma.
These adult patterns of GH release are set during the first month of life by exposure to gonadal steroids, which program the hypothalamus and its regulation of pituitary GH secretion to behave in sexually distinct ways at the onset of puberty and during adulthood 1.
This difference in pattern has significant consequence primarily determined by the "off time" or period when no detectable GH is present in males or is elevated in females. This "off time", a period when there is no (or very low) growth hormone present is required for the expression of male-specific liver enzymes, such as cytochrome P450 (CYP) 2C11 2. Without this off time those liver enzymes needed to metabolize male hormones do not get expressed to a significant degree. The reason for this failure appears to primarily result from the fact that the intracellular pathway STAT5b responsible for the synthesis of these enzymes needs time off. If it doesn't get time off it fails to reset.
The following image will serve to give a quick understanding. Growth Hormone is a molecule that may be visualized as a peg which lands on a receptor where it flips a switch and sets things in motion. One of the things it sets in motion is an intracellular pathway known as signal transducer and activator of transcription 5b (STAT5b). This protein once activated moves to the cell nucleus and initiates the transcription of end product proteins such as liver enzymes. It then is deactivated returns to the receptor and is reactivated to again mediate transcription.
When a pulse of growth hormone activates growth hormone receptors it does so with a strong enough punch that STAT5b undergoes multiple rounds of activity during this single pulse. When a non-pulsatile more feminine continuous growth hormone "bleed" activates growth hormone receptors STAT5b activity is not as vigorous and this activity or mediating cycle is terminated more quickly.
When exogenous growth hormone is administered in a way that causes prolonged elevation of plasma growth hormone the GH pulse induced expression of male specific liver genes is reduced and if long enough completely abolished while the expression of female specific genes is significantly induced 3. This can primarily be attributed to the failure to give STAT5b an "off time" which reduces its activation and partially desensitizes it to growth hormone 4.
The time period required to reset the STAT5b pathway after a GH pulse is two to three hours 5,6.
What does a reduction in STAT5b imply?
In male mice STAT5b deficiency leads to loss of the male-specific liver enzymes and loss of both puberty and adult male body growth pattern. In fact loss of STAT5b resulted in a substantial decrease in the expression of about 90% of male-specific liver genes 7,8. In females STAT5b gene disruption has only a modest effect on body growth rate and liver gene expression.
STAT5b disruption is associated with lower circulating IGF-I levels, elevated plasma GH, increased expression of prolactin receptor 9-11 and lower body growth rates 12.
Treatment with exogenous GH given in pulsatile fashion restores the expression of sex-dependent liver enzymes that are normally present in normal males. Exogenous GH pulses also stimulate body weight gain in males 7, 13. All of this underscores the requirement of STAT5b for both liver gene expression and body growth.
Which liver enzymes are effected and how does this contribute to "toxicity" ?
There is an entire class of liver enzymes known as Cytochrome P450. Within this general class are male and female specific forms. These enzymes metabolize steroids, fatty acids, lipophilic drugs (i.e. dissolve in fats), environmental chemicals and pollutants.
The creation of these enzymes is induced by various factors including growth hormone. Growth hormone regulates the expression of these Cytochrome genes in a sex-dependent manner. Pulsation of growth hormone secretion (a masculine pattern) results in creation of the male Cytochrome P450 isoforms while continuous growth hormone secretion (a feminine pattern) results in creation of the female Cytochrome P450 isoforms.
The metabolism of foreign chemicals by Cytochrome P450 enzymes frequently results in successful detoxification of irritants however; the actions of P450 enzymes can also generate toxic metabolites that contribute to increased risks of cancer, birth defects, and other toxic effects 14.
Furthermore expression of many P450 enzymes is often induced by accumulation of a substrate. For example, liver concentrations of the female liver enzyme may be induced by a specific drug or hormone which must be metabolized. This may lead to a cascade of other liver enzymes expressing themselves in response to this activity 14.
Finally these enzymes often act on various substrates including saturated and unsaturated fatty acids, eicosanoids, sterols and steroids, bile acids, vitamin D3 derivatives, retinoids, and uroporphyrinogens. When they act on these substrates they may effect an oxidative, peroxidative or reductive change into small molecules which results in a new array of chemical structures 14.
The proper understanding of these things is simply the following. It is important to both liver and overall health to take steps to reduce imbalances in this entire class of enzymes and to the extent that imbalances do occur there may be consequences that at the very least require correction.
Specific Examples
The female P450 isoform CYP3A4 can be thought of as having a role in estradiol homeostasis. Specifically it hydroxylates estradiol at the 2, 4 and 16 alpha positions. It also catablyzes 6 beta-hydroxylation of testosterone which it converts to estradiol by the action of aromatase. This activity is welcome for mammary gland development and lactation if you are a female. But if you are a male with a lot of substrate in the form of testosterone you don't want this enzyme to be active 15.
Yet patients suffering from acromegaly and men who are given continuous forms of GH treatment end up with greatly upregulated expression of this female liver enzyme 16,17. This female liver enzyme is suppressed by intermittent pulsatile GH 18.
The female P450 isoform CYP3A4 also metabolizes other steroids such as cortisol as well which is converted more rapidly in women then men 19.
Many of the male P450 isoforms have roles in testosterone metabolism such as CYP2C11 which hydroxylases testosterone and converts testosterone to androstenedione for use in resynthesis. This activity is lost when a female pattern of GH release is instituted.
The female GH release profile stimulates the full expression of testosterone 5 alpha reductase activity 20,21. In men with the substrate testosterone this female GH release profile can lead to a substantial conversion of testosterone to Dihydrotestosterone (DHT).
It is also thought that certain environmental triggers and food additives can trigger autoimmune diseases for those genetically predisposed. Alterations in GH release profile brought about by environmental factors make middle aged women more susceptible then men to such triggers as MSG and Aspartame in invoking auto-immune hepatitis 22.
The full treatment of this topic is beyond the scope of this review. This section was meant to underscore the fact that imbalances are created in ways not often considered. Health and a reduction in toxicity require countermeasures which could include the use of compounds such as the Arginine/Lysine combination to reduce cortisol or Sodium Glucuronate to bind and eliminate the byproducts of P450 enzymal activity. Of course another beneficial method would be to optimize sex specific GH release patterns rather then eliminate them.
1 – Chowen JA, Frago LM, Argente J, The regulation of GH secretion by sex steroids. Eur J Endocrinol 151(Suppl 3):U95–U100 (2004)
2 – Waxman DJ, Pampori NA, Ram PA, Agrawal AK, Shapiro BH, Interpulse interval in circulating growth hormone patterns regulates sexually dimorphic expression of hepatic cytochrome P450, Proc Natl Acad Sci USA 88:6868–6872 (1991)
3 – Thangavel C, Garcia MC, Shapiro BH, Intrinsic sex differences determine expression of growth hormone-regulated female cytochrome P450s, Mol Cell Endocrinol 220:31–39 (2004)
4 – Waxman DJ, Ram PA, Park SH Choi HK, Intermittent plasma growth hormone triggers tyrosine phosphorylation and nuclear translocation of a liver-expressed, Stat 5-related DNA binding protein, Proposed role as an intracellular regulator of male-specific liver gene transcription, J Biol Chem 270:13262–13270 (1995)
5 – Gebert CA, Park SH, Waxman DJ, Regulation of signal transducer and activator of transcription (STAT) 5b activation by the temporal pattern of growth hormone stimulation, Mol Endocrinol 11:400–414 (1997)
6 – Ji S, Frank SJ, Messina JL, Growth hormone-induced differential desensitization of STAT5, ERK, and Akt phosphorylation, J Biol Chem 277:28384–28393 (2002)
7 – Holloway MG, Laz EV, Waxman DJ Co-dependence of growth hormone-responsive, sexually dimorphic hepatic gene expression on STAT5b and HNF4-alpha, Mol Endocrinol 20:647–660 (2006)
8 – Clodfelter K, Holloway MG, Hodor P, Park S-H, Ray WJ, Waxman DJ, Sex-dependent liver gene expression is extensive and largely dependent upon STAT5b: STAT5b-dependent activation of male genes and repression of female genes revealed by microarray analysis, Mol Endocrinol 20:1333–1351 (2006)
9 – Norstedt G, Palmiter R, Secretory rhythm of growth hormone regulates sexual differentiation of mouse liver, Cell 36:805–812(1984)
10 – Kelly PA, The growth hormone/prolactin receptor family, Recent Prog Horm Res. 48:123–164 1993
11 – Noshiro M, Negishi M, Pretranslational Regulation of Sex-dependent Testosterone Hydroxylases by Growth Hormone in Mouse Liver, J Biol Chem 261:15923–15927 (1986)
12 – Udy GB, Towers RP, Snell RG, Wilkins RJ, Park SH, Ram PA, Waxman DJ, Davey HW, Requirement of STAT5b for sexual dimorphism of body growth rates and liver gene expression, Proc Natl Acad Sci USA 94:7239–7244 (1997)
13 – Davey HW, Park SH, Grattan DR, McLachlan MJ, Waxman DJ, STAT5b-deficient mice are growth hormone pulse-resistant, Role of STAT5b in sex-specific liver p450 expression, J Biol Chem 274:35331–35336 (1999)
14 – Nebert Daniel W, Russell David W, Clinical importance of the cytochromes P450, THE LANCET • Vol 360 • October 12, 2002
15 – Yu AM, Fukamachi K, Krausz KW, Cheung C, Gonzalez FJ, Potential role for human cytochrome P450 3A4 in estradiol homeostasis, Endocrinology 146:2911–2919 (2005)
16 – Watkins PB, Turgeon DK, Jaffe CA, Ho PJ, Barkan AL, Pulsation frequency of growth hormone may mediate gender differences in CYP3A activity in man, Clin Res 41:132 (1993)
17 – Jaffe CA, Turgeon DK, Lown K, Demott-Friberg R, Watkins PB, Growth hormone secretion pattern is an independent regulator of growth hormone actions in humans, Am J Physiol Endocrinol Metab 283:E1008–E1015 (2002)
18 – Dhir RN, Dworakowski W, Tangavel C, Shapiro BH, Sexual dimorphic regulation of hepatic isoforms of human cytochrome P450 by growth hormone, J Pharmacol Exp Ther 316:87–94 (2006)
19 – Inagaki K, Inagaki M, Kataoka T, Sekido I, Gill MA, Nishida M, A wide interindividual variability of urinary 6ß-hydroxycortisol to free cortisol in 487 healthy Japanese subjects in near basal condition, Ther Drug Monit 24:722–727 (2002)
20 – Shapiro BH, Agrawal AK, Pampori NA, Gender differences in drug metabolism regulated by growth hormone, Int J Biochem Cell Biol 1995;27:9–20
21 – Pampon NA, Shapiro BH, Gender differences in the responsiveness of the sex-dependent isoforms of hepatic P450 to the feminine plasma growth hormone profile, Endocrinology 1999;140:1245–1254
22 – Prandota, Joseph, Possible Pathomechanism of Autoimmune Hepatitis, American Journal of Therapeutics 10, 51–57 (2003)
Sodium Glucuronate is the salt ester of Glucuronic acid. In the body the salt is usually quickly removed to form Glucuronic acid, therefore for purposes of this review they will be treated as equivalent. Glucuronic acid forms glycosidic bonds with substances in the body through a process known as glucuronidation. In doing so it enables the body to metabolize drugs, pollutants, bilirubin, androgens, estrogens, mineralocorticoids, glucocorticoids, fatty acid derivatives, retinoids, and bile acids. The process of linking glucuronic acid to these compounds occurs primarily in the liver. Once linked these toxins and compounds become more water soluble and may be readily eliminated by the body through urination.
So Sodium glucuronate and Glucuronic acid enable the body to metabolize and eliminate substances it wants to get rid of. In addition Glucuronic acid by binding to certain hormones and lending its water soluble property may instead of elimination facilitate hormonal transport around the body. So Sodium glucuronate and Glucuronic acid are liver detoxifiers but serve other purposes as well.
Is exogenous administration safe?
Even though endogenous synthesis occurs, before discussing effectiveness it is appropriate to determine if exogenous administration of sodium glucuronate is safe. For that we turn to a body of studies that administered sodium glucuronate in newborn human infants. A series of four studies were published in 1959 and 1960 in which the administration of sodium glucuronate was administered to newborns born with high bilirubin and jaundice 1-4.
Bilirubin is mainly formed by the normal breakdown of haemoglobin. Haemoglobin carries oxygen in red blood cells. Bilirubin passes through the liver. It is then excreted as bile through the intestines. When this process is interrupted, excess bilirubin stains other body tissues yellow. Fatty tissues like skin, eye tissue and blood vessels are the most easily affected. Increased levels of bilirubin are linked with a range of illnesses and conditions. This includes jaundice associated with hepatitis and cirrhosis, anemia, Gilbert's disease and sickle cell disease. Jaundice is common in babies. Very high levels in babies can cause permanent damage.
The hope of these studies was to eliminate excess bilirubin. The results were encouraging in one of the four studies, mixed in another and of no value in two. The reasons are specifically applicable to the unique condition of these disease states in infants and are not readily relevant to adults. However these studies administered Sodium glucuronate to more than fifty newborns. They would not have been allowed to do so had there been a safety concern. Follow up with these infants over a six months period revealed no problems related to administration of the compound. It is a safe compound.
Is exogenously administered Sodium glucuronate effective?
Buried in research papers written in Japanese, inside the archives of 1950's Pharmaceutical companies with names like Chugai Pharmaceutical Company, Tokyo and in the nonpublic files of various academic institutions such as Kyushu University reside the results of a massive research campaign. A campaign designed for the most part to sate a wide spread curiosity. The inquiry spans the better part of five years during which Glucoronic Acid and its derivatives biological properties were examined in almost every living situation. Research conferences were held every year for at least five years during which researchers from laboratories in Japan gathered to exchange views and acquire information regarding the biochemical studies they had completed on glucornonic acid. These conferences were attended by more then 250 investigators almost exclusively Japanese.
At the 1959 conference forty-four original papers were presented. Thirteen of the papers focused on the biochemistry and physiology of glucuronic acid. Four focused on its growth promoting effect and twelve were exclusively devoted to detoxification of drugs, viruses and toxins. The remainder centered on the clinical uses of glucuronic acid.
If it were not for William H. Fishman from Tufts University School of Medicine very little would be known about this incredible research and we will rely in part on his fifty year old notes to summarize the experimental and clinical studies on detoxification that were presented at the fifth Glucuronic Acid Research Conference held at Sankei Kaikan, Tokyo in the summer of 1959.
At least two of the research papers presented were translated into English, published in the Japanese Journal of Pharmacology and readily available. That research sought to determine what effect if any exogenous sodium glucuronate would have on the very toxic morphine in lab animals.
It had already been reported that injected morphine conjugates with glucuronic acid and forms "bound morphine" 5.
In these two studies they found that injection of sodium glucuronate in advance of morphine bound to morphine and reduced its effect (toxicity). The higher the dose of sodium glucuronate the greater the inhibition of morphine's effect. They engaged in an experiment to prove a direct relationship and measured free and bound morphine excreted into urine by the lab animal after morphine and morphine plus sodium glucuronate 6,7.
They found that sodium glucuronate bound to morphine and excreted it quickly. They even found that unbound morphine was excreted quicker along side its bound brethren. The exogenous administration of sodium glucuronate decreased the toxicity of morphine and significantly increased its excretion in urine. Although they believed that exogenous administration resulted in a conjugation of glucuronic acid (formed when sodium glucuronate loses the salt ester) with the morphine they held open the possibility that it accelerated the conjugation of endogenous glucuronic acid through some unknown mechanism 6,7.
Exogenously administered sodium glucuronate very efficiently becomes glucuronic acid 8 and is able to effectively bring about a detoxification of morphine and increase its elimination. It is a very effective compound and should be capable of detoxifying a great number of less hazardous toxins.
In other studies reported at the 1959 summit we find that * :
Imanaga stated that the increase in blood ammonia in patients with a portacaval shunt can be controlled with exogenous glucuronic acid;
Harashima (Keio University) observed increased urinary excretion of glucuronic acid in rabbits experimentally exposed to benzene and carbon disulfide;
Ito discussed his study on the use of glucuronic acid in the detoxification of 2,4-dinitrophenol (DNP);
Takatsu (University of Tokyo) discussed his work on the positive effect of sodium glucuronate on the toxicity of Shigella endotoxin, phenol, pyramine, and noradrenaline in the young mouse;
In the field of virology, Ogasawara et al. (Nagoya University) studied the effects of glucuronic acid salts on the activity of influenza virus PR8 and of Newcastle disease virus in producing pyrogenic skin lesions and pulmonary consolidation. On the whole, infectivity, hemagglutinin, and antigenicity of these two viruses were not affected significantly, but the toxicity (skin lesion, pulmonary consolidation) was prevented by preliminary treatment with glucuronolactone [a glucuronic acid derivative];
Coto et al. (University of Tokyo) observed the in vitro inhibition by glucuronic acid of mouse hepatitis virus, rabies virus, and Japanese encephalitis virus, with regard to their ability to infect the host mice;
Clinical studies included work on the effects of glucuronic acid on steroid hormone excretion during pregnancy (Moriyama et al.);
Studies on glucuronic acid metabolism of newborn infants (Iwanami et al.);
Three separate investigations on glucuronic acid interrelationships with adrenal cortical function (Tokita et al., Oshima et al., and Kawai et al.);
Two reports on a therapeutic effect of glucuronolactone in diabetes mellitus (Katsuki et al. and Matsuoka et al.);
The treatment of epidemic hepatitis with glucuronic acid (Kosaka et al.);
The influence of glucuronolactone on experimental liver injury induced by Penicillium islandicum Sopp poisons (Suzuki et al. and Uraguchi et al.)
Exogenously administered sodium glucuronate is an effective and safe compound capable of significantly aiding the elimination of potentially harmful compounds.
1 – Jeliu, Gloria, Administration Of Glucuronic Acid To Icteric Newborn Infants, Pediatrics 1959;23;92-97
2 – Schwob, Marianne, The Influence Of Sodium Glucuronate On Hyperbilirubinemia Of The Newborn—Further Observations, Pediatrics 1960;25;686-689
3 – Danoff, Stuart, The Treatment Of Hyperbilirubinemia Of The Newborn With Sodium Glucuronate, Pediatrics 1959;23;570-577
4 – Dwyer, J. Henry, The Administration Of Sodium Glucuronate To Jaundiced Newborn Infants, Pediatrics 1959;24;400-403
5 – Woons, L.A., J. Pharmacol. 112, 158 (1954)
6 – Seiji Otobe, Studies On The Conjugation Of Glucuronic Acid With Morphine Part 1 : Effects Of Exogenous Glucuronic Acid Upon The Analgesia Due To Morphine In Mice, Japanese Journal of Pharmacology 9, 100-104 (1960)
7 – Seiji Otobe, Studies On The Conjugation Of Glucuronic Acid With Morphine Part 2 : Influence Of Exogenous Glucuronic Acid Upon The Excretion Of Free And Bound Morphine In Urine Of Rabbits, Japanese Journal of Pharmacology 9, 105-108 (1960)
8 – Packham M., Butler, G. C., The Fate Of Injected Sodium Glucuronate And Glucurone In The Rat, The Journal of Biological Chemistry 1954 Apr;207(2):639–646
* – Recollections of William H. Fishman
There are two compounds in Synthergine™ that may specifically reduce the potential for hepatic injury in the form of fibrosis and cell death. Cell death or necrosis is the final result of obstruction of blood supply following an ongoing incursion of fat infiltrating the liver. The preventative compound Methionine Hydrochloride will be discussed in this regard in the next section. This section is devoted to a curing compound Di-isopropylamine Dichloroacetate.
Di-isopropylamine Dichloroacetate is a compound that can be used to reverse fatty acid liver disease.
In 2005 a clinical study 1 set out to investigate the effectiveness and safety of diisopropylamine dichloroacetate in the treatment of nonalcoholic fatty liver diseases. One hundred twenty three patients who had this disease were randomly assigned to 2 groups treated with either a high dosage (120 mg/d) or a low dosage (60 mg/d) of diisopropylamine dichloroacetate for 8 weeks.
At the end of the 8 week treatment period, the overall improvement of clinical symptoms in the high dosage and in the low dosage group was 87.8% and 79.6%, respectively. These symptoms included fatigue, pain in the upper right abdomen and weight loss 1.
An alanine aminotransferase (ALT) test measures the amount of this enzyme in the blood and is used to determine if the liver is damaged or diseased. Low levels of ALT are normally found in the blood. But when the liver is damaged or diseased, it releases ALT into the bloodstream, which makes ALT levels go up. Most increases in ALT levels are caused by liver damage 1.
The study found that ALT which was initially high normalized in 55.7% and 69.4% of the cases in the two groups as a result of Di-isopropylamine Dichloroacetate treatment. Serum lipids, primarily LDL (low-density lipoprotein) and Triglycerides were lowered in 67.2% and 67.7% of the cases in the two groups. Ultrasound grading of the level of liver alteration severity was measured and found to be lowered in 51.7% and 43.5% in the two groups 1.
The differences found between the two groups were of no statistical significance so the lower dose was sufficient to achieve the positive effects. No severe adverse drug reactions were found 1.
The study concluded that "Diisopropylamine dichloroacetate could be used as a safe and effective drug in the treatment of nonalcoholic fatty liver diseases 1."
The safety of Di-isopropylamine Dichloroacetate
This article is compelled to examine the toxicity and safety of this compound because a few early studies failed in their methodology (i.e. tainted samples) and wrongfully arrived at a conclusion that this compound is potentially mutagenic. In untainted forms they were deemed safe.
Dichloroacetate
The most complete study on the safety of Dichloroacetate (DCA), Absence of Mutagenic Effects of Sodium Dichloroacetate, Fox, Anthony W., Fundamental And Applied Toxicology 32, 87-9 5 (1996) was undertaken so that clinical studies exploring the therapeutic potential could be undertaken in a clinical setting. Dichloroacetate has the potential to play a role in the treatment of stroke and head injury and in the treatment of disease states that result in elevated lactate concentrations.
This study went far beyond previous studies which undertook a single reverse mutation test on E. Coli called an Ames test. This study included an Ames test, a mutation test in mouse lymphoma cells, a clastogenesis test in Chinese hamster ovary cells and erthroid micronucleation after in vivo dosing in male & female rats.
In each of these they found no evidence of mutagenic activity attributable to Dichloroacetate.
They then examined previous studies which used an Ames test only and had reached inconsistent conclusions. The results of their examination revealed that in those instances where a mutagenic effect was found the researchers had introduced differing impurities into the test material. One such study which showed both a mutagenic effect and no mutagenic effect appears to have included an impurity in the redistillation of their liquid acid with a boiling point similar to the acid of the study compound Dichloroacetate and so the impurity remained.
They went on to note the other studies that found no mutagenic activity from their Ames tests and stated that "previously published Ames test results do not convincingly demonstrate that dichloroacetate can cause reverse mutations."
The authors concluded,
"The present studies have examined a wider variety of mutagenic mechanisms than previous reports. The objective here was to meet the modern standards established by the International Conference on Harmonization. The consistently negative results for DCA among these diverse types of assay, as well as (when appropriate) between assays with and without activation, provides a comprehensive basis for concluding that DCA from this source (which is relatively pure compared to some other sources) is not mutagenic."
Diisopropylamine
At about the same time as the aforementioned study was being conducted; a comprehensive study on the safety of Diisopropylamine was published. Final Report on the Safety Assessment of Diisopropylamine, F. A. Andersen, Journal of the American College of Toxicology 14(3):182-192 (1995) examined the safety of Diisopropylamine primarily because of its widespread use in the cosmetics industry. The study found no mutagenic activity and suggested that a study conducted 13 years prior which reached an opposite conclusion did so because of an impurity in the Diisopropylamine that was used.
The studies undertaken on mutagenic activity in this study were far more extensive then previous studies and each test was completed in triplicate. No toxicity was found.
"On the basis of the data presented in this report, the CIR Expert Panel concludes that Diisopropylamine is safe as a cosmetic ingredient as presently used."
They did note that Diisopropylamine should not be used in products containing N-nitrosating agents which could form nitrosamines which are potentially harmful.
So what is a "Nitrosating Agents"?
Nitrosating Agents include Sodium Laureth Sulfate, Ammonium Laureth Sulfate, Sodium Methyl Cocoyl Taurate which are products used as engine degreasers and in personal care products that foam; Sodium Lauryl Sulfate, Ammonium Lauryl Sulfate frequently disguised in semi-natural cosmetics with the explanation "comes from coconut"; DEA (diethanolamine), MEA (Monoethanolamine), TEA (triethanolamine) used in cosmetics to adjust the pH as a basis for a cleanser as well as Cocoyl Sarcosine, Imidazolidinyl Urea, Formaldehyde, Hydrolysed Animal Protein, Lauryl Sarcosine and Quaternium-7, 15, 31, 60.
None of this has anything to do with Synthergine™ because those chemicals are not present in Synthergine™. For the sake of sating the curious mind lets list end product nitrosamines which are the compounds that can be potentially harmful and cause mutagenic activity. They include:
Gastric juices
Rubber manufacturing
Metal industries
Pesticide production and use
Certain cosmetics
Certain chemical manufacturing
To the extent you are able, it is best to limit ingestion of these items and avoid the chemicals associated with those industries and I surmise with gastric juices it is best to not have an excess.
Juice extracted from Kiwi and ascorbic acid are two items capable of inhibiting n-nitrosation and should probably be used if you are exposed to any of the chemicals listed previously 2.
In conclusion pure Di-isopropylamine Dichloroacetate is a safe non-toxic compound when it is not part of a product containing N-nitrosating agents.
1 – Lu LG, Zeng MD, Diisopropylamine dichloroacetate in the treatment of nonalcoholic fatty liver disease: a multicenter random double-blind controlled trial, Chinese journal of hepatology 13(2):92-5, 2005 Feb
2 – Advances in Food Research By C. O. Chichester, B S Schweigert, Academic Press (January 1988) page 62
Like Arginine & Lysine Methionine is an amino acid. It is a lipotropic compound which means it increases the export of fat from the liver. When estrogen levels are high, the body requires more methionine. Higher levels of estrogen reduce bile flow through the liver and increase bile cholesterol levels. Methionine helps deactivate estrogens and normalizes the flow of fat from the liver.
Methionine is readily converted to Cysteine. Cysteine has a high affinity for binding metals and other toxins which enables it to detoxify, chelate, and remove harmful metals and free radicals from the body. These things are important.
I wanted to emphasize two studies which fit within some of the general themes of this article.
The first study details how a derivative of methionine can protect the liver from the bad effects of a liver enzyme. Previously we explored how the pattern of growth hormone release determines whether male or female specific liver enzymes will be created. Creating liver enzymes inappropriate to ones sex can cause problems. We often view these problems as resulting from toxins that liver enzymes are unable to metabolize. However in some instances the liver enzymes themselves can cause liver injury.
In S-adenosyl methionine protects ob/ob mice from CYP2E1-mediated liver injury, Aparajita Dey, Andres A. Caro, and Arthur I, Cederbaum, Am J Physiol Gastrointest Liver Physiol 293: G91–G103, 2007 the expression of the liver enzyme CYP2E1 was shown to potentiate liver injury in obese mice but not lean mice through its ability to generate oxidative stress.
Methionine acts as a methyl donor in biochemical pathways which can be converted to SAMe (S-adenosyl methionine). SAMe can prevent CYP2E1 induced toxicity 1,2. In addition mice fed a diet deficient in methionine and choline developed fatty liver. Humans who have developed cirrhotic liver have been shown to have both an impaired metabolism of methionine and reduced synthesis of SAMe in the liver 3,4.
The study found that SAMe acted to protect the liver from injury but also that the method used to increase CYP2E1 expression decreased endogenous SAMe levels. The exogenous administration of SAMe more then compensated for the loss by elevating the liver SAMe levels to higher concentrations then normal. This exerted the protective effect.
The second study in addressing the protective role of Methionine underscores the need for balance. Both methionine and cysteine which is converted from the precursor methionine prevent both fibrosis and liver cell death. However cysteine is a double edged sword. When it is given in excessive doses it will promote liver cell death 5. On the other hand methionine administration allows the body to convert what it needs without leading to cysteine excess and cysteine induced injury. Methionine as a precursor amino acid creates the proper balance.
In Further Observations On The Production And Prevention Of Dietary Hepatic Injury In Rats, Paul Gyorgy, M.D., Alum Harry Goldblatt, M.D, The Journal of Experimental Medicine, Vol 89, 245-268, 1949 the authors concluded that massive or zonal hepatic necrosis (cell death) can be induced by fats with high unsaturated fat content such as lard and cod liver oil and that tocopherol and the sulpher containing amino acids (either methionine or cysteine) can protect against this occurrence. Nine years worth of data led them to believe that fat infiltration in the liver led to cirrhosis of the liver. Without lipotropic factors, or diets devoid of choline, methionine or cysteine fat incursions reached a peak within 21 days with the manifestation of fibrosis occurring 70-100 days later. During this time period cells die from blood flow restriction without much initial indication of problem. The accumulated damage however results in fibrosis.
The fatty incursions specifically lard and cod liver oil promote destruction of tocopherol. If those substances that promote fat flow from the liver are deficient (i.e. methionine and choline) large scale liver cell death occurs. Supplementing with choline and methionine prevents cirrhosis of the liver. Tocopherol as well as cysteine supplementation to some extent also overcame the development of necrosis however cysteine in larger quantities enhanced the production of cirrhosis of the liver.
The liver has a powerful regenerative capacity that can not be overcome when faced with both continued ingestion of certain unsaturated fats which leads to infiltration and deficiencies of methionine, choline and tocopherol. The authors concluded that regular intake of lipotropic factors such as methionine will help prevent the potential for the liver to fail to overcome an assault which will overwhelm its regenerative capacity and result in massive cell death and cirrhosis.
1 – Koteish A, Diehl AM, Animal models of steatohepatitis, Best Pract Res Clin Gastroenterol 16: 679–690, 2002
2 – Shivapurkar N, Poirier LA, Tissue levels of S-adenosylmethionine and S-adenosylhomocysteine in rats fed methyl-deficient, amino acid-defined diets for one to five weeks, Carcinogenesis 4: 1051–1057, 1983
3 – Duce AM, Ortiz P, Cabrero C, Mato JM, S-adenosyl-L-methionine synthetase and phospholipid methyltransferase are inhibited in human cirrhosis, Hepatology 8: 65–68, 1988
4 – Llovet JM, Burroughs A, Bruix J, Hepatocellular carcinoma, Lancet 362: 1907–1917, 2003
5 – Curtis, A. C.; NewburghThe Toxic Action Of Cystine On The Liver Of The Albino Rat, Arch Intern Med. 1927;39(6):828-832
This article examined the potential contribution to health and wellbeing of each of the ingredients that make up Synthergine™ and found that they may contribute to achieving a balance during times when the liver is under stress.
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Written by: M.M. a/k/a DatBtrue
Copyright 2009 by M.M. a/k/a DatBtrue
Licensed in perpetuity to Synthetek Industries Pty Ltd.
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redpajama_set_name: RedPajamaCommonCrawl


As I just mentioned above, about being Honest. Well, yes, I am becoming honest with Myself and with you guys but am I, really? I mean do I have the courage to be absolutely black and white with the world?To tell them every single thing about Myself? I guess that is a Big NO-NO! I mean, come on, you don't expect Me to tell Me everything now, do you? Like for example what I did last night? Or with whom I was last night? Or am I in love or not? Or you know, what color underwear I am wearing? Some of you must think, "Hell Yeah! We will really like that!" But the truth is that no one can 100% truthful. Even if we try. I know I don't. And there are many reasons to that. Sometimes it is fear. Fear that you may sound weak and small. Sometimes it is insecurity. Insecurity that if I tell her who I truly am, she may not like Me. Or sometimes it is just the fact that you wanna show the other person that you are the most amazing human being on the planet! Some of My readers are also My friends and who know Me very closely and whenever they read My entries they message Me that I am a hypocrite and a Liar. That what I show the world is only a farce. Well, those things are true. But so are the things that I write here.
Don't get Me wrong, I am not here to justify Myself. I have done bad things too. I have cheated. I have lied and I have hurt many people, people who cared for Me. Intentionally or unintentionally. Today, when I think of all the things that I have done, I don't feel bad. Not because I have no emotions. It is because all those things that I am a better person today. My mistakes have made Me come closer to My Self-Truths. That if I lied once and hurt someone, then I shouldn't do it again and that can only happen if I have the courage to be a little more truthful than last time. As they say, 'Honesty is the best policy.' Now, little by little, step by step, I have come this close to My Truths. Yes, I do lie but in comparison to the truth it is only a mere 10% of it.
Thank-you once again for sharing your space with us. your blogs have always helped me see myself from within...which is why waiting to read your blog is worth a wait. A Big Thank-You.


text:
Canyon County Fair Not Dealing From Top of Deck
It has been reported to THE GUARDIAN the Fair people may not be play fair with booth assignments. Maurice Clements asked to see the dated application for the people who are supporting the Jail Bond (YES Voters) and the application for the people against the Jail Bond (NO Voters). Mr. Clements request to see the applications was denied by Ms. Ellen Tingstrom of the Fair management staff and in charge of booth application approvals.
Ms. Tingstrom told Mr. Clements he would have to file a bonafide public records request with Ms. Angie Sillonis, Communications Officer for Canyon County. All of this run around does not pass the smell test for such a reasonable request and surely it does nothing to promote transparency of government.
Here is the letter Mr. Clements sent into Ms. Sillonis:
Angie Sillonis
Canyon County Commissioners Office
Dear Angie,
I requested a copy of the application I submitted for a booth at the Canyon County Fair from Ellen
Tingstrom at the Fair Board Office. I also requested a copy of the application submitted for a booth by
the people who are promoting "yes" on the Jail Bond Election. She informed me that I would have to
get these documents through you. I am hereby requesting you send me these two applications.
Maurice Clements
7326 Rim Road
It would seem in the public interest to have both sides represented at the Fair if booth space is granted to the pro-Jail Bond people, then why not the against-Jail Bond people in the interest of having people cast an informed vote. Secondly, why the runaround on such a simple request? Who got there first and who was granted space seems like a reasonable request. Filing a Public Records request for this mundane inquiry adds a bad odor to what is going on and does not further the cause of open and honest government.
The county is allowed three business days to answer Mr. Clements in this matter. Sadly, the fair as well as the election will be over. All this makes the case that nepotism is not tolerated unless you are a friend or a relative. Mr. Clements should have received the answer to this simple question immediately if not sooner.
Here's link to the story as reported by TV 6 News Fair Booth Application Dates In Question
Final note: THE GUARDIAN called Ms. Tingstrom to lobby for Mr. Clements to get his booth space at the fair one day after his request was submitted. Ms. Tingstrom said she had four applications and two spots left. It appears the YES people got one and Mr. Clements did not. You can make you own decision on just how fair the Fair was in this matter.
Wildfire Shows Why NOT to Allow Foothills Homes
Wednesday, July 28th by David R. Frazier
BLM chopper battles fire north of Eagle on Wednesday
The terms are all too familiar…"structures are threatened…trying to get a handle on the fire…lightning caused…man caused…" tallies on the number of engines, tankers, retardant aircraft, helicopters, and hotshot crews from other locations.
The reason for the massive response is all too familiar as well–lives and property are endangered because people move into areas subject to wildfire and local politicos allow the development. GROWTHOPHOBES can complain forever, but it seems little changes and emergency crews are forced to respond as fire rages across the so-called "urban wilderness interface."
At this writing it appears three homes are damaged or destroyed by a Wednesday fire believed to have been caused when lightning strikes dotted the landscape Wednesday morning north of Eagle. An estimated 2,500 acres which is currently targeted for residential development was scorched. One firefighter told the GUARDIAN, "It certainly wouldn't be a pretty sight" if the area is developed as proposed.
At least 50 fire engines, 5 air tankers, and hundreds of firefighters from Boise, Eagle, Meridian, Star, BLM, etc. etc. are as the TV folks like to say, "On Scene!"
As a former editor at the trade journal "FIRE ENGINEERING," the GUARDIAN is an old hand at covering fires and the fire service. Yellowstone's Old Faithful firestorm was the worst. Over the years we find politicos put an unneeded burden on fire chiefs and firefighters alike when they increase the demands–and risks–all in the name of GROWTH. One issue which hampered emergency crews was also familiar: Police and Fire can't communicate. The technology exists with the new radio communications system, but the players can't seem to agree on who gets access to which frequencies.
On the bright side we saw one McMansion north of Beacon Light Rd. that survived a direct wildfire assault because the owners did the right things creating "defensible space." From everything we observed and heard, the emergency responders did their jobs well battling the fire, traffic, and conducting evacuations.
Firewise planning saved this luxury home.
Posted by Paul Alldredge at 9:25 AM 1 comments Links to this post
Why America Locks UP Too Many People
THE GUARDIAN is a subscriber to the Economist Magazine. This week's cover story is on jailing too many people for insignificant acts. In some instances they point out some of the things people are in jails and prisons for shouldn't even be classified as crimes or criminal acts.
This series of cover story articles could not be a more timely series of stories as the election for the jail bond election moves closer to Tuesday, August 3rd.
Stimulus savings of $5 million on interest payment by down will evaporate. It was reported to THE GUARDIAN this morning if the county accepts the federal stimulus money they will be on the hook to pay Davis-Bacon wages for all workers and contractors on the project.
Davis-Bacon will require a prescriptively defined wage rate for all jobs performed if the jail bond passes. There will be no allowance for any contracts to reflect the labor market of supply and demand. This requirement will wipe out any savings in labor costs for the jail project. Wages will be set by federal mandate because the Commishes took the federal stimulus money.
Another interesting point made at the forum in a comment below: Urban renewal in Nampa and Caldwell has siphoned off over $200 million of our proeprty tax dollars. Let Urban Renewal step up and pay for a new jail.
Potential Reduction For 2C Bus Service
Boise Guardian A different slant on the news. HomeAboutArchivesSubscribeContactSearch for: Go Canyon
Our transportation expert paints a sad picture of mismanagement and missed opportunities in the following GUARDIAN EXCLUSIVE special report.
By Jimmy D. Bus, Guardian Transportation Correspondent
Canyon County residents face the prospect of reduced bus service if Valley Regional Transit plans become reality. The service changes would begin in October 2010 and cover both the Caldwell-Nampa local service and the CaldwellñNampañBoise Intercounty service. Public hearings about the service changes have been scheduled for this week in both Canyon County and Meridian.
This situation is a direct result of Valley Regional failing to issue a bid for a new Caldwell-Nampa service contract in a timely manner. Although Valley Regional had known for 5 years that the current Caldwell-Nampa-Boise Intercounty service contract was going to expire early in 2010 they waited until the old contract had almost expired before putting a new bid for services out on the street.
Because the new bus service contract was not bid in a timely manner, Valley Regional found itself held over the proverbial barrel when the then current contractor demanded, and received, a 24% increase in their fee to extend the current contract until a new contractor could be found. A new contractor has been awarded the contract and the increase remains at about a 25% level causing an estimated $ 200,000 plus shortfall for the Fiscal Year 2011 budget year.
Canyon County politicos say they're not willing to pony up more taxpayer dollars for the service, so either service reductions or fare increases need to be made. At this point fare increases appear to be off the table. Staff reductions at Valley Regional headquarters also appear off the table even though a part of that overhead cost is allocated to the Canyon County operations.
The favored option points to reduce Nampa-Caldwell local services so Intercounty services can be maintained. Why that option? Because Boise City is being asked to pony up about $ 48,000 to cover the lease of the buses used in Intercounty service and it would be hard to justify Boise City paying for those leases if those buses were sitting in a parking lot unused. Not unlike Eagle bailing out on its obligation earlier, calling upon BSU to carry the financial load.
The irony here is that Valley Regional has had stimulus money for about a year to purchase new buses for Intercounty service. However specifications for the new buses are just now in development and the bidding process is incomplete. Had specifications been developed and the buses bid right after the stimulus money was announced in August 2009, yes 2009, those buses would be much closer to delivery or maybe even on the road. New buses would have reduced or eliminated the lease payments, allowing those lease funds to be used for local Caldwell-Nampa service.
This is a last minute event as far as Valley Regional's budget is concerned and one that could easily have been avoided. Had Valley Regional bid the new Caldwell-Nampa contract in a timely manner it would have known about the new contract increase in either late 2009 or early 2010, been able to have had a new contract in place as the old one expired, and planned any necessary budget or service adjustments in a rational timely manner. Had it bid the new Intercounty service buses in the timely manner the money saved by not leasing vehicles could have gone toward maintaining Caldwell-Nampa local service.
Some would call such a planned approach "Transit Management 101." Apparently that's a course Valley Regional Transit staff flunked.
More Urban Renewal Abuse In Boise At Property Tax Payer Expense
Dave Frazier aka Boise Guardian put this together and we are sharing this with our readers. It is about as graphic as it gets to demonstrate the abuses of Urban Renewal in Boise and for that matter all of Idaho. We have a huge loophole in our Idaho Code permitting wide authority and taxpayer abuse in Idaho Urban Renewal laws. We desperately need a legislative fix to stop this abuse of property taxpayers.
Bench Taxpayers Fund Boise's Valley Projects
July 25, 2010 by David R. Frazier, aka Boise Guardian
When the proposed 30th Street Urban Renewal District came up at the Boise City Council meeting last week (a vote to create the district was postponed) it was noted by some that a total of nearly two square miles of Boise would be "off the tax rolls."
Hint: 640 acres to a square mile and the new district would put a total of more than 1,100 acres within urban renewal jurisdiction. That means taxes on all improvements and appreciated value would go to the CCDC (Capital City Development Corp) NOT the city, county, school or highway district.
We looked at a map of the city and a shocking fact became obvious: The MAJORITY of property below the Depot Rim provides NO TAX REVENUE to the city.
Consider these tax exempt properties in addition to the 2 square miles soon to be under control of CCDC:
–BSU Campus and newly purchased residential areas
–Ann Morrison, Julia Davis, Albertson, Veterans, Municipal parks and Warm Springs Golf Course
–Military Reserve in the hills
–St. Luke's Hospital and Elk's Rehab complex
–V.A. Hospital and Federal building campus
–Capitol Bldg. and State office complex
While we certainly don't advocate doing away with our wonderful riverside parks, hospitals or educational institutions, it should be noted those of us who live on the Bench are getting soaked for a huge tax burden with little direct benefit. No wonder the politicos keep annexing more areas to provide revenue for their pet projects.
Boise PD has special patrol squads for the downtown booze crowd, the fire department needs expensive ladder trucks and extra manpower for high rise responses–mostly funded by residents and businesses on the Bench. Rather than expand the controversial CCDC sphere of domination, we feel it would be wiser to seek alternative funding methods and leave as much property on the tax rolls as possible.
THE AREA WITHIN THE RED IS OR SOON WILL BE PRETTY MUCH A "TAX FREE ZONE."
Note: "TAX FREE ZONE" means no property taxes will go to support local government functions like police, fire, schools, streets, and all other taxing agencies. All the money will go to the UR board.
Caldwell and Nampa suffer from the same levels of abuse of property tax payers via Caldwell East Urban Renewal and Nampa Development Corp. These entities are nothing more than a alter ego of the Mayors and City Councils where they exist. They answer to no one for anything they do or how they spend your tax dollars.
We thank Mr. Frazier for sharing this with all of us.
Los Angeles Has $74 MM Jail and Can't Afford to Open
It was reported to THE GUARDIAN today, Los Angeles has a brand new $74 MM state of the art "podular jail" and they can't afford 44 more staff positions to open the place. It sits idle while the old cell block jail in Parker Center remains open. It can be run with less staff for the same number of beds in the new digs.
The old Parker Center jail is 60 years old and the new state of the art "podular jail" will take more staff to operate and they do not have the funds to hire people to open the place.
How does Canyon County propose to run a new "podular jail" with fewer people when Los Angeles Police Department is on record saying it will take more staff to run a podular jail based on state and federal requirements?
The short answer is we taxpayers are being led down the primrose path on the costs of running a new "podular jail" by the Commishes and Sheriff. Here is a link to the LA story of woe on their new jail costs, No Money To Open New LA Jail.
The photo in this post is of Parker Center and the new "podular jail" going up in the background. The new jail is completed but no cash on hand to open the place for the foreseeable future. This same thing can happen in Canyon County.
Hardin, MT Built Prison And Can't Afford TO Run It
Hardin, Montana built $27 million Two Rivers Correctional Facility thinking they could cash in on a prison for hire. Consultants from Texas sold the good people of Hardin, Montana on this scheme to become a prison for hire. Jobs was the big selling point to voters.
The Two Rivers prison was completed in 2007 and has been sitting empty since completed. No money to operate the place is the problem and no customers to use it either. In may of 2008, Hardin defaulted on the bonds citizens approved for the construction of the prison. In October of 2009 they made a play to house inmates from Gitmo. Their appeal went nowhere with the military brass and others looking for a place to house Gitmo's inmates. People who had faith in their elected officials feel betrayed and bewildered.
This is another great example of elected officials leading citizens down the primrose path of prosperity if they only stepped up and built this prison. After all the consultants from Texas said it was a sure thing. Bankruptcy and defaulting on the bonds was not on anyone's mind when they voted to approve this new prison.
Here is a link to the Hardin tale of woe and bankruptcy. Hardin Tale of Woe. Think it can't happen here, think again. Canyon County is about to have a bond election to build a jail project and the funds to operate the place are in question. We can no longer afford to operate our dogie jail, where will the funds come to run a new jail if it gets built. $60/day is the average costs to keep someone in jail. This figure comes to just over $14 million additional tax dollars to run this new jail project.
Is this a case of "if we build it we'll find $14 million somewhere"? Portland, Oregon's Multnomah county thought this would happen with the Wapato facility they build for $58 million and the place has sat empty since 2004. Rocky Mountain Corrections out of Colorado told Commishes and the Sheriff they would never be able to build their way out of a jail space problem back in 2006. They ignored the advice of their own consultants and have twice brought a bond election forward and twice it has been rejected by voters.
The economic health of our county is on the line with this jail project. The federal government is not giving Canyon County $10 million for this jail project. If we float $46 million in bond debt that is what we will have to pay back to the lenders and underwriters. We need a big dose of fiscal responsibility on August 3rd. What is wanted and what we can actually afford to pay for in this economy are at odds with one another.
It will cost taxpayers $47,000.00 per day over and above current jail costs if this bond passes muster with voters who actually take the time to vote on this issue. $7k/day to pay for the bond and $39k/day to run the place.
We question the ability of taxpayers to absorb this tax shock.
Sheriff Puts Inmates In Work Release Facility
THE GUARDIAN was astounded, speechless and happy to find the Sheriff and Commishes have wisely come to the realization they can use the Work Release Center and 160 empty beds for non-violent offenders. The local paper ran this story in the paper today.
We have been told for years this could not be done for any number of reasons. Now just days before the election for a new jail, and not much cash left for out of county charges for inmates, our elected "deciders" are going to finally put inmates in the work release tent! (photo courtesy Dave Frazier)
Question in our mind is why they didn't use this facility years ago instead of letting the main jail go down hill, over crowd the place and after repeated warnings finally got their wish of a lawsuit from the ACLU over mismanagement of our jail assets. Cost to taxpayers for this blundering approach has been in the hundreds of thousands if not over a million dollars. Ddenial the work release center could be used for incarceration of low level offenders has been the pat answer while 160 jail beds sat empty and unused.
THE GUARDIAN would offer this is a very good example of government waste, fraud, and abuse of our tax dollars. If they can use the Tent today, then why did they not use it 5 years ago and save all the money spent on housing inmates out of county. It will be interesting to hear why this decision took so long.
Credibility and faith in our elected leaders is once again called into question over this sudden change of heart about using the work release tent for inmates. Bottom line is the Sheriff now has another 160 beds he denied having until today. We do not need a new jail but we do need people with some respect for taxpayer funds and how best to spend those scarce dollars.
Deciding to use the WR tent just gave the Sheriff a 50% increase in jail beds for no cost to taxpayers. We think this move is a good one and it should have happened five years ago.
We would like to suggest better and more use of Pre-Trial release as a management tool to address overcrowding of the jail. In this country we are considered innocent until proven guilty. The catch phrase "catch and release" is getting a lot of play these days. People with ties to the community and low flight risks should be considered for Pre-trial release in cases where it is appropriate.
You can vote early on the Jail Bond Election at 1102 Chicago in the Elections and Passport County Offices 8-5 weekdays. We encourage you to cast an informed vote as well as your wallet on this bond.
Citizens Against Jail Bond Say This
VOTE NO ON JAIL BOND! TUESDAY AUGUST 3, 2010
Voters have said NO on two previous bond requests to fund a new jail prior to the current economy. They are now willing to spend $35,000 of scarce tax dollars for a special election for a new jail.
Do they not understand we are paying all we can afford in property and business tax?
$46MM for the bond equals $58+MM on the easy pay plan they want us to underwrite. They are not telling us how much it will cost to staff and maintain a new jail. Average costs for a jail of this size run in the neighborhood of $15-20MM a year. This cost will come from higher taxes on all property and businesses in Canyon County.
There is a serious disconnect between the Sheriff, the Prosecutor, the judges and taxpayers ability to pay more property taxes. The United States has the highest incarceration rate on the face of planet Earth. It currently costs $84/day to keep someone in our jail.
Commissioners have twice violated public trust with illegal purchases of property for jail sites and twice citizens have filed lawsuits over their illegal behavior. What they tried to accomplish on the sly they now want to do with a bond election and are asking you to sanction their bad choices.
The average jail sentence is 18-20 days. In the mid 1990's the average was 9 days. They could double the jail space by reigning in jail sentences and court efficiency by getting indigent jail inmates through the system in a timely manner.
More use of alternative sentencing along with the use of cite and release for misdemeanor violations rather than immediate incarceration.
If current jail conditions are atrocious it is due to poor management of a public asset. ACLU lawsuit cost taxpayers $190k for our elected and appointed officials not taking care of the place.
Now is not the time to put more tax burden on our citizens, businesses and property owners. We are asking you to vote NO on the jail bond Tuesday, August 3rd, 2010.
It will cost taxpayers $8,000/day to pay back the bond debt for the next 20 years. It will also cost taxpayers $39,600/day to operate a new jail of the size Commissioners want to build. $47,600 a day to keep people in jail at our expense.
Call the County Elections Office @ 454-7562 to find your polling place. Or you can vote early at the county elections office in Caldwell at the corner of 11th Avenue and Chicago. There are only 12 polling places open for this special election for the entire county.
A Dubious Way To Start Up An Urban Renewal District
This guest opinion first appeared the local paper. Mr. Hoffman has garciously agreed to let us share it with those of you who may have missed it or do not take the local paper. This is how most UR agencies get their start and never stop fleecing property taxpayers.
By Wayne Hoffman, Monday, July 19, 2010
The way the urban planners describe it, you'd think portions of Boise resemble the tribal enclaves of Afghanistan. You know, dilapidated buildings, barely functional infrastructure, chaos, black cats, broken mirrors and unpermitted, non-conforming uses.
Some of that I made up. But then again, most of the conclusions in a 40-page report to Boise's urban renewal agency and City Council are also made up.
The report, by Keyser Marston Associates, Inc., is designed to elicit anxiety about the fate of an area known as the 30th Street Urban Renewal Area. City leaders want to turn the area into a new urban renewal zone which siphons taxpayer money into a big slush fund to pay for projects without a vote of the people. In order to do that, the city must conclude that the area meets the definitions of a deteriorating area under Idaho law.
The proposed urban renewal area runs from just west of the downtown area to west of the Idaho Transportation Department headquarters on State Street. I've been writing about public policy for more than 20 years, and I can't remember ever using an exclamation point in an article or a commentary. But I'm having trouble sufficiently conveying the blight, deterioration and urban horrors found in the 30th street area without them. So here goes:
The area has vacant buildings! Yards are not well-maintained! In 3 1/2 years, there have been 67 code violations! The parcels are not big enough for a big box store! And my favorite: There are 83 homes and two businesses in the 100-year flood plain!
In short, if you apply the Keyser Marston standard of "deteriorating" to almost any town or city in Idaho, the whole state could be declared an urban renewal area.
While there are some exceptions, by and large urban renewal has been used to hoodwink taxpayers into believing they're getting something for nothing.
In most cases, when a government agency wants to debt finance a project, they're required to get voters' permission. Not so with urban renewal. Instead, here's what happens: Say you have a piece of property valued at $10,000. Put a new building worth $1 million on top of that land. All the taxes from that increased value go to the urban renewal district, not to the city or the county or any other taxing district.
So while the urban renewal district benefits and it can fund its projects, there is no new money to pay for new firefighters or police officers or other government operations. The pressure increases to raise taxes elsewhere to replace the money that was put into urban renewal.
But there's more to the story. Boise's plans will impact people who have lived and worked in the area for decades. I had the pleasure of speaking with one shop owner who has been in the same building and the same business for more than 40 years carrying on a family tradition. This hardworking businessman was dismayed to learn that a photo of his company is included in the Keyser Marston report as an exhibit of the "urban blight" and deterioration. It's a slap in his face and another example of Government Nannyism.
City leaders think they're curing a problem. All they're really doing is substituting their judgment for that of the area's property owners.
Twelve Polling Places for Jail Bond
$35,000 is what the special jail bond election will cost. Here are the twelve polling places for the jail bond election. The info is courtesy of the County Elections Office.
Three places in Nampa and three in Caldwell with one each in all the other communities in the county.
JAIL BOND BOND ELECTIONPOLLING PLACES
CANYON COUNTY, IDAHO
Precincts Polling Place
01-52-57 KIRKPATRICK - ANDERSON HALL
305½ BATES AVE, PARMA
11-12-23-54 CHURCH OF CHRIST
CORNER OF 10TH AND USTICK 4012 So. 10TH, CALDWELL
5-6-10-13 SEVENTH-DAY ADVENTISTCOMMUNITY SERVICECENTER 2216 E LINDEN, CALDWELL
4-7-8-9-15-27 CALDWELL POLICE DEPARTMENT FRONT ENTRANCE - COMMUNITY ROOMDOUBLE DOORS TO THE RIGHT
110 SO 5TH, CALDWELL
18-29-56 MIDDLETON TROLLEY STATION
310 E MAIN ST, MIDDLETON
21-22-55 GREENLEAF CITY HALL 20523 NO WHITTIER (WHITTIER & HWY 19)
3-28-59 MELBA SENIOR CENTER115 BASE LINE RD, MELBA
20-31-33 EDMARK GM SUPERSTORE38-40 SHOWROOM
15700 IDAHO CENTER BLVD, Nampa
25-32-35-36-37- BETHEL CHURCH OF THE NAZARENE
39-41-50-59-60 3001 12TH AVE RD, NAMPA
34-42-43-44-45-46 NAMPA CIVIC CENTER
7-48-49 BANQUET ROOMS – WEST ENTRANCE
311 3RD ST SO NAMPA ID
51 NOTUS COMMUNITY CENTER
389 1ST ST, NOTUS
19-57-62 CROSSROADS ASSEMBLY CHURCH
CORNER HWYS 95 AND 19, WILDER
ALL PRECINCTS LISTED TO THE LEFT OF THE POLLING PLACE
WILL VOTE AT THE POLLING PLACE LISTED
Army Corps of Engineers Wants to Dam Boise River
Another case of why GROTHOPHOBES have a good argument.
By David R. Frazier (aka Boise Guardian)
Last week, the Army Corps of Engineers and Idaho Water Resource Board presented preliminary findings from the "Lower Boise River Interim Feasibility Study" of potential dam sites on the Boise River system
They claim a new dam is needed for water supply and flood risk management, not hydropower. Targeted rivers include the North and Middle Fork Boise Rivers which were protected from new dams by the state in 1992.
Here's what the greenies at Idaho Rivers United have to say about the proposals along with some common sense observations about the future:
A dam on the North Fork or Middle Fork would have devastating environmental and social effects. A dam at Twin Springs on the Middle Fork would destroy campgrounds, Class IV whitewater, and endangered Bull Trout habitat, as well as wildlife habitat along Middle Fork and North Fork Boise River.
A new dam is unnecessary and extremely expensive. The consequences of a dam could not be mitigated, and the costs to our state and the nation far outweigh the potential benefits. Less drastic alternatives can be used to meet our water needs and reduce flood risk even as we experience growth.
Public funding should go toward the study of these more feasible and less costly options, which include:
- -efficiency and conservation
–water rental pools and water marketing to provide water to new users
–a floodplain levy to limit building in the floodplain
The Boise River is a vital consideration in economic, environmental, and quality of life issues in Idaho. It provides water for household use and irrigation and nearby recreational opportunities. Its beauty is also a great draw for new businesses and potential residents.
If we destroy our natural resources by building a new dam, we jeopardize the future growth, health, and livability of our community.
The Corps is accepting written public comment through July 31st. Please visit www.idahorivers.org for more information or call 343-7481
County Commishes Get It Wrong Again On Jail Bond
This is a guest opinion written by Richard L. Harris Atty and former Canyon County Prosecutor and was published in the local paper June 9th. (We have received his permission to publish his letter on the Caldwell Guardian Blog.)
The Canyon County Commissioners have done it to us again. They have scheduled another vote on the jail bond August 3.
They will not take no for an answer. They just want to ram it down our throats, like it or not.
And their timing is a bit curious. Instead of waiting until November when there is a bona fide election in which this issue could be included, they schedule the expense of a special election, hoping that most people will pay no attention to a single-issue vote, and only those with an interest in a favorable outcome will be inclined to vote.
The Commissioners espouse a conservative philosophy. At least one commissioner ran on a platform of fiscal conservatism. That means no new taxes!
They desire the citizens to pass the largest bond in the history of the county. In that respect they are like Obama: spend, spend, spend.
Understand that the bond is only one part of the total expense. The real expense is staffing and operating the jail, which is not funded by a bond spread over years but is paid out of annual tax revenue.
The commissioners apparently don't understand the challenge of the current economic climate. We are in a recession, and some of Obama's own economists are predicting a depression. And it is in this environment these commissioners desire to increase our burden.
In this newspaper (Idaho Press Tribune) dated June 29, under a headline "Budget issues plague county," the paper reported that county officials have begun efforts to meet rising expenses with reduced tax revenues, pointing "to continued revenue shortfalls as property and sales tax revenue have plunged."
Do they not pay attention? Vote NO again on the jail bond.
Commishes Vote to Hold August 3rd Election for Jail
Canyon County Commishes met as planned today to agree to go for another run at a jail bond. The vote was unanimous to put the question to a vote on August 3rd. This time around we will only have about 12 precincts to vote on this debt question v. the usual 48 or so precincts.
Cost of the election will run between $30,000 and $40,000 and will take place on August 3rd, 2010. The amount of the bond will be for the original $46 million with interest costs undefined at this point in time. The payback could run as much as the previous bond measure. Payback of the interest, principle and bond underwriting costs to banks could be as high as $72 million or as low as the low $59 million. (Depending on Obama stimulus taxpayer funds offset interest costs.)
The annual cost will go something like this: $8,000/day or a little under $3 million a year to pay it all off in 20 years. The biggest number will be the operational costs for the facility which will be in the neighborhood of an additional $15-$20 million a year. This money will come from additional property taxes needed to run the place Current costs per inmate at the Dale Hale Detention facility run $84/day per inmate. This figure comes from taking the current $9.3 million/year jail budget and dividing it by the number of inmate beds listed on the county website for the Dale Haile Detention facility.
THE GUARDIAN is worried about the ability of the people's ability to pay for this if it is approved. Current property tax collections are down by 10% of what they normally run for this time of year based on information from the Clerk Auditors Office. Add that to a sour economy and people's ability to pay for this is in question. Currently there is no extra money in city or county general funds and we wonder if this is a prescription for default on the part of the county.
The following was taken from the resolution passed by commissioners:
"WHEREAS, the County does not have sufficient funds available to pay the cost of the foregoing Project and has determined it advisable to finance such cost through the issuance of the bonds of the County pursuant to the provisions of Chapter 19, Title 31, Idaho Code, as amended, and Chapter 2, Title 57, Idaho Code, as amended, and in order to do so, the County desires to provide for the holding of the special bond election required by said provisions;..."
The "coupon clippers" at 1115 Albany are broke, we are all taxed to the max and they want to spend yet more money neither they nor us have at the moment. Commishes are saying we can do this for a lot less money if we act now. They are in denial about the ability of people to pay more property taxes.
Supporters of the jail bond have verbally indicated they have in the neighborhood of $30,000 to spend on getting this bond approved from people in the community who are in support of this latest jail bonding effort.
We would like to see sentencing alternatives used to avert the need for more jail space. Passage of school bonds earlier this year will place an already undefined additional tax burden on property taxpayers all over Canyon County. Declining property assessments will be nullified by higher levy rates to keep the cash flowing to all taxing entities.
In any event, you will get the opportunity to vote this question up or down come August 3, 2010. Good luck trying to find one of the 12 places that will be open for you to cast a vote. It will require a super majority of 2/3rds of the people who take the time to vote for this to pass.
Multnomah County in Portland, Oregon built a $58MM jail that was completed in 2004 and has been sitting since then because they can't afford to operate the Wapato Jail. Here is a link for more on the Wapato fiasco. (Wapato Jail Info Link) Former Clerk Auditor Noel Hales is on record questioning the ability of Canyon County to fund the operation of a new jail of this size when the first bond election was held in 2006.
Correction City Council, Sunday Liquor Sales
We noted in the official civic agenda, Sunday liquor by the drink sales issue will be discussed by Caldwell City Council at their regular city council meeting starting at:
7:00 PM Tuesday, July 6th, 2010.
It will be part of the NEW BUSINESS agenda Tuesday evening.( Caldwell City Council Agenda 7-6-2010)
See "H2O Nancolas" story below in another post for details.
Chip Sealing This Year-Streets Look Great!
Chip sealing this year in Caldwell was not nearly the dreaded event it has been in the past. Caldwell Street Department did a super job of keeping the excess gravel to a minimum. The clean up after the fact was out of the ordinary as well.
The general level of care about how this was done this year has been duly noted. The streets were cleaned prior to the oil and rock applications and the amount of gravel was kept to a minimum. Excess gravel was cleaned up within a few short days. And as a added step a water truck pushed what the street sweepers missed to the side of the streets and another trip through with the street sweeper.
In years past we have not seen this level of attention to making the dreaded chip sealing pretty much a non-event this year. Hats off to the Caldwell City Street people.
H2O Nancolas or Let'em Drink Beer a Mai Tai or a Martini
It has been more than a decade since discussions started about liquor by the drink sales on Sundays in Caldwell. It looks like Caldwell is about to enter the new century with ordinance 1916, 11-4-91.
"AN ORDINANCE RELATING TO THE SALE OF DISTILLED BEVERAGE SPIRITS BY THE DRINK AT RETAIL RESTAURANTS AND DINING FACILITIES LOCATED WITHIN THE CITY OF CALDWELL, IDAHO".
Temperance attitudes have given way to economic opportunity and tax revenue reality. THE GUARDIAN remembers when this first came forward as a source of tax revenue for our fair city, Mike Gable was on the Caldwell City Council and he was excited to see this happen and the prospects for upscale fine dining that might locate in Caldwell along with the tax revenue he hoped to see for Caldwell. That was over a decade back and we are finally going to give progress some leeway and temperance will take a back seat to this new juggernaut of boozing it on Sunday in Caldwell from 10:00 AM to 10:00 PM.
Is Caldwell about to cross the Rubicon with this stroke of progressive legislation? We think not. Thirteen long years of deliberation on this matter by the Nancolas administration is long enough to decide this issue. It is time to get up to speed with other cities with this economic opportunity for our city. Sunday is a big business day for people dining out and to prevent a food establishment the right to serve customers in the best possible way does nothing but inhibit economic growth by big name operators of restaurants in Caldwell.
Heretofore, Sunday bans on liquor sales have stifled investment in Caldwell. We applaud those who are moving this ordinance forward and hope it passes muster with temperance minded city councilors. We hope they can put personal and religious objections aside on this issue.
We all know and appreciate R.C. Wiley is closed on Sundays and seem to be doing fine with that policy. This secular reference was used by one City Council member in the past to deny distilled spirit sales on Sundays. Temperance and ones personal beliefs need to be moderated here and not be used to dictate to those who would like to exercise the option of when and where to imbibe in a beverage of choice when dining at eateries in town.
Food service businesses operate on thin profit margins and need every option on the table to keep their doors open and tax revenue flowing to those who spend our tax dollars. We welcome this enlightened ordinance to the Caldwell taxation toolbox and the potential it offers to investors in our community.
More Urban Renewal Abuse In Boise At Property Tax ...
H2O Nancolas or Let'em Drink Beer a Mai Tai or a M...