by: Diane Benjamin Pantagraph Editorial today: State needs to grow jobs, not spin facts. Who wrote it Pantagraph? Too chicken to say? After getting past the same discussion happening all over Illinois for the past week, (it’s easy to copy the thoughts of others) the Pantagraph finally hits taxes. Iowa and Indiana have lowered taxes […]
It’s now a Class 4 felony to hide public records in Illinois 30 Aug 2014 | Brian Costin – See more at: http://www.illinoispolicy.org/its-now-a-class-4-felony-to-hide-public-records-in-illinois/#sthash.UfRU3txQ.dpuf It’s not all bad news in Illinois. Sometimes our politicians get it right. Illinois lawmakers have made it a Class 4 felony to intentionally hide public records from the public. House Bill […]
by: Diane Benjamin The Flex got kicked out of their league last year for refusing to travel for play-off games: http://blnnews.com/2014/04/03/more-trouble-for-the-coliseum/ Since they have nobody to play this year – why not start a new league! See details here: http://www.flexbasketball.com/flex-among-six-charter-members-of-midwest-professional-basketball-association/
by: Diane Benjamin Tari’s view of government: Repeat a lie often enough and some people might believe it Don’t question me I’m right, you are wrong I can make everything perfect if pesky citizens get out of the way People have to pay more taxes, I need more money The future of Bloomington is downtown […]
The buzz about the Bloomington City employee(s) who wrote checks and took cash from the City till is this: YOU weren’t suppose to know about it. It appears somebody spilled the beans on the City to WJBC. Not sure why WJBC, seems a strange place to rat. The real questions are: Did the whistle-blower try the […]
by: Diane Benjamin The last time Mayor Transparency Renner got to appoint an alderman, he chose Joni Painter. Since she drove all the way to Chicago to attend a fundraiser for Jan Schakowsky – a self admitted socialist, we know which way her politics blow. (http://blnnews.com/2014/08/14/fly-on-the-wall-renners-pick/) Would you drive to Chicago to hear a socialist? […]
by: Diane Benjamin I’ve written MANY times about the company hired to manage the Coliseum – CIAM (Central Illinois Arena Management). Type CIAM into the search box at blnnews.com to see them. The City of Bloomington has failed in their fiduciary duty to the citizens of Bloomington by not providing over-site at the Coliseum. Concessions have […]
The Tax Policy Center looked at property taxes around the country, sorted by county, to find what the highest average tax paid by county was. In 2012, six Illinois counties broke into the top 50, but there was only one Illinois county that was in the top 100 for average home prices. What does that […]
by: Diane Benjamin Petitions are now available in both Bloomington and Normal to run for City Council. So far nobody has taken petitions to run against Karen Schmidt, David Sage, and Joni Painter. If you REALLY can’t wait for a hotel, at your expense, don’t run. There is still lots of time. Petitions don’t need […]
Two words say it all Semper fi It doesn’t matter to me if you are a veteran or not. Please read and forward this to all your e-mail buddies. It needs to go viral. The 2014 United States elections will be held on Tuesday, November 4, 2014. During this midterm election year, all 435 seats […]
by: Diane Benjamin A citizens contacted the City Council pertaining to items on the agenda for last night’s meeting. The agenda must be posted by law 48 hours before a meeting. The law was to make citizens aware of what’s on the agenda and make comments to their representatives if desired. Since Fazzini thinks he’s […]
Oklahoma State Representative Dan Fisher call for Illinois clergy to “wake up” and join a modern day Black Robed Regiment. 7:00 Wednesday night – Cornerstone Christian Academy http://illinoisreview.typepad.com/illinoisreview/2014/08/oklahoma-state-representative-calls-for-illinois-clergy-to-engage-.html?utm_source=feedburner&utm_medium=feed&utm_campaign=Feed%3A+typepad%2FbYHz+%28Illinois+Review%29 From Illinois Review: The Black Robed Regiment was the name the British placed on the American clergy during the Founding Era (a backhanded reference to the black […]
by: Diane Benjamin From: http://blnnews.com/2014/08/18/how-about-some-facts-tari/ In the last 2 years the City of Bloomington has hired 120 people. Why are they still spending money on Temporary Labor? I hope somebody checks that invoices aren’t being paid twice. All 3 list invoices for the exact same amount. http://blnnews.com/2014/08/18/how-about-some-facts-tari/ Bills are approved for payment twice a month […]
by: Diane Benjamin Amelia Doris Buragas declared she is running for Bloomington City Council next year in Ward 4. The seat is currently held by Judy Stearns. It’s not a secret that Tari will do whatever it takes to fund his agenda. Tari doesn’t want to be questioned. Judy Stearns gets in his way […]
by: Diane Benjamin It will be the final chapter unless I find out somebody else was paid to leave. I requested paid invoices for the use of the ISU facilities. If you missed the original stories: http://blnnews.com/2014/07/15/isu-how-do-they-get-by-with-this/ http://blnnews.com/2014/07/17/more-on-the-wedding-at-isu/ This is what I received under the Freedom of Information Act: Lyons invoice – copy of the invoice […]
by: Diane Benjamin Mayor Renner used to be really unhappy with The Grove subdivision east of Towanda-Barnes on Ireland Grove Road. He told me the City got stuck paying a lot of the bills for roads and sewers the developer should have contributed to – thanks to Tom Hamilton. Evidently he got over it because […]
by: Diane Benjamin Did you watch “The Story of Us” on The History Channel? I started watching it until George Washington was a footnote to the Revolutionary War. Welcome to Common Core! At least 2 area school districts are standing up for kids. Where are the local school districts? Saying nothing. Worse, where are you […]
by: Diane Benjamin I was looking for something else when I found an old email from now Mayor Renner. This is from BEFORE he won. 3 tax increases and massive spending increases later, did you get what you voted for? Tari Renner <[email protected]> 2/12/13 to me Hello Diane! Thanks for thinking of me! Things are […]
by: Diane Benjamin How many Letters to the Editor has the Pantagraph refused to print supporting the Cities 92.9 flamingo campaign? Yesterday the Editorial staff wrote urging Bloomington to get busy fixing up downtown. It shouldn’t be a mystery why: They want to sell their building and there is currently no market for it. They have […]
by: Diane Benjamin A comment made by Mayor Renner at the end of Monday’s meeting has been bothering me ever since. Watch the video stating at 1:18:33. It’s short. . What is the point Mayor? Not in Our Town? What is not going to happen in our town? You have no facts, so what’s the […]
Wednesday August 27 – Bringing back the Black Robed Regiment details here: IllinoisFamily.org event Thursday September 4 – Dennis Michael Lynch details here: Dennis Michael Lynch Saturday September 20 – Stop Common Core details here: Common Core Peoria
by: Diane Benjamin We were led to believe Bruce Rauner isn’t a conservative and he’s just a front for Rahm. http://illinoisfreedom.com/news/follow-money-rauners-2-million-tea-party-groups-undermines-moderate-pose/
by: Diane Benjamin Monday night the Bloomington City Council heard a presentation on a new way to create budgets. It started with a professor from the government division at Illinois Institute of Technology. He didn’t say it, but he thinks cities are stupid and incapable of doing the right things. In Bloomington’s case he may […]
by: Diane Benjamin I hear New Orleans is lovely this time of year. Ask Ben Owens – McLean County Board. In July he attended a conference there. Travel $544.00. Expenses from 7/10 to 7/13 – $810.68. The County doesn’t know if the conference cost anything. Common sense government is no longer allowed. Education is required […]
The buzz is NO football this year! The last owner left town and a lot of bills. Just add that to the list of CIAM (Central Illinois Arena Management) contract violations. Is anybody even managing the Coliseum?
by: Diane Benjamin The following information comes from the City of Bloomington – Budget in Brief numbers. http://www.cityblm.org/Modules/ShowDocument.aspx?documentid=2014 http://www.cityblm.org/Modules/ShowDocument.aspx?documentid=5104 http://www.cityblm.org/modules/showdocument.aspx?documentid=7075 How many times have either Mayor Renner or City Manager David Hales talked about the huge reduction in staff at the City of Bloomington. They cut to the bone! Below is a recap of the […]
by: Diane Benjamin I had NOTHING to do with this – other than take the picture. Earlier today it didn’t have a flamingo, but one landed while I was at church! I blacked out where it is to keep the thieves from hijacking it prematurely. Yes, it is on top of a street sign. It […]
by: Diane Benjamin Two items in today’s Pantagraph are appalling. First they opine the labor force in Bloomington-Normal is shrinking because baby boomers are retiring. People are also leaving – but of course they haven’t noticed that. So, not enough babies are being born to replenish the population. It’s a problem across the country. […]
by: Diane Benjamin I have reported before about Renner declaring strip malls dead and downtown being the future of Bloomington. Since he has 7 member of the Council who rarely represent their wards by considering the best interests of citizens, all Bloomington taxpayers are at risk. Renner obviously doesn’t think his last 3 tax increases […]
IS YOUR LIBRARY XXX… LIKE ORLAND PARK? Child porn and other illegal content is unfiltered and access is paid for by taxpayers at their local library. CAN A HOMESCHOOLING, PREGNANT MOTHER & HER COLLEAGUE STOP IT? Orland Park Public Library Director Mary Weimar, Spokesperson Bridget Bittman, and their board have pushed a radical “unfettered, […]
Funny! Today Jason Chambers called for a special prosecutor! The Pantagraph reporter did a 180. No more sweet nothing to see here story.
Buzz has it Renner has already hand-picked an opponent for next year’s city election to take on Judy Stearns. He picked Joni (Johnny) Painter, the fan of socialist Jan Schakowsky, so more of the same is coming! Can you imagine a Council where only Alderman Lower ever asks questions? Eight potted plants can vote […]
by: Diane Benjamin I’m really not in the mood to work for free today, but a friend sent me Alderman Rob Fazzini’s latest Ward 8 Report. Evidently he thinks people are going to be impressed. See what you think: INTRODUCTORY COMMENTS: During July the time I spent on city council activities was 84.0 hours bring […]
So, the McLean County Public Defender suddenly quits. A local attorney ends her contract with the public defender’s office. Does anybody believe something isn’t going on? I heard buzzing that police may have been involved, as in an escort out of the building. Buzz also is a support person was fired. So when do we […]
by: Diane Benjamin This 5 1/2 minute video sums up how wealth is created. Mayor Renner needs to see it. Government hinders economic development, growth, and wealth creation. Mayor, all your Utopian plans will never succeed downtown.
by: Diane Benjamin Your house isn’t worth as much as last year – according to the National Association of Realtors. See this link: http://www.realtor.org/sites/default/files/reports/2014/embargoes/2014-q2-metro-home-prices/metro-home-prices-q2-2014-single-family-2014-08-12.pdf or click on the picture to enlarge. The value of your house is down 8.8%. Or maybe just cheap homes sold. . Local and State governments are killing you. They […]
by: Diane Benjamin If you believe government always acts in your best interests, don’t bother reading this post. There is a lot more to the presentation by the Ecology Action Center at last nights Council meeting. The presentation starts on page 611: http://www.cityblm.org/Modules/ShowDocument.aspx?documentid=7126 The oral presentation didn’t use any troubling words, but the written copy […]
