By: Diane Benjamin The City of Bloomington is pandering to the far left radicals. Since regular people with common sense are not speaking up, they think everybody agrees with de-funding the police. (Figure out why the Police Chief retired?) https://www.eventbrite.com/e/discussion-on-divestinvest-of-police-funding-tickets-115500841125 While the City Council continues to hide behind computer screens because of illegal edicts from […]
See response to FOIA below: By: Diane Benjamin First a side note to Tim. Since you have a FOIAable email address I’ll say thanks here. US Representative Rodney Davis was on Cities 92.9 this morning with Steve Suess. Davis was asked about the $8 million grant to Connect Transit for a downtown Bloomington transfer station. […]
By: Diane Benjamin Thanks to the Pantagraph for pointing out that Chris Koos serves on the Advisory Board of Transportation for America. https://www.pantagraph.com/news/local/watch-now-normal-mayor-chris-koos-nominated-for-amtrak-board-of-directors/article_f7dc9015-4f0a-512f-9117-e35eb5af8b0e.html Who is Transportation for America? http://t4america.org/about/ Smart Growth America is the consultant who never finished what they were hired for with the Connect To The Future Working Group. Think back. Many citizens […]
By: Diane Benjamin The Public Safety and Community Relations Board met yesterday. Since “diversity” has it’s roots in DIVIDE, this board is the perfect example of what that means: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nW-u2Zh6e8Y One white community member and THREE minority members. One member was absent, Jeff Woodard – also minority: Monday night Tari is making an appointment […]
By: Diane Benjamin I’m not going to check the Facebook or websites of every Democrat running for election, but I checked a few. If you contribute to any of the below why is ActBlue getting the money? That’s the same organization contributions to Black Lives Matter go to. We do know those contributions don’t end […]
By: Diane Benjamin It appears Jenn Carrillo has blocked me on Twitter. This morning I retweeted one of Dickie Durbin’s stupid comments about needing more money for Chicago to end poverty and violence. Of course I added a comment: Jenn responded to me with this, when I tried to reply it appears I’m blocked. Keep […]
By: Diane Benjamin Police reports: The Art and Camille Taylor incident These reports were received by the Edgar County Watchdogs, they forwarded them to me. If you missed all the previous stories these reports have the same information as the body cam videos. This story has links to all the previous stories and videos: https://blnnews.com/2020/07/24/in-support-of-art-and-camille-taylor-3-0-the-entire-police-interview/ […]
By: Diane Benjamin H/t a reader This is the same Larry Lyons who somehow got his son hired in the athletics department and then said son married a fellow employee – making three all related people working in the small ISU athletics department. No nepotism of course – even when the wedding took place on […]
By: Diane Benjamin The Council managed to stretch a 10 minute meeting into 50 minutes. 2 members went on long diatribes. I will start with Karyn Smith. If you want to hear it – go to 16:20. The topic was One Normal Plaza. Karyn felt the need to correct what she thinks is misinformation. This […]
By: Diane Benjamin You may have heard that Jenn Carrillo was ticketed for illegal parking yesterday for (as she claims) trying to protect Black Lives Matter demonstrators at the County jail. Read her shirt: She added this later to her Facebook page: How can the police protect protesters wanting criminals and suspects released from jail […]
By: Diane Benjamin h/t a reader Social Justice Warrior Lawler is on the Jenn train! Unless you want your kids indoctrinated by teachers like this one, look into forming ‘pods”. Lot of resources are available – you can deprive Unit 5 of funding by NOT sending your kids to their camps. This guy obviously won’t […]
By: Diane Benjamin Jenn Carrillo isn’t the only one calling for the release of all prisoners from the McLean County jail, her merry band of Marxists all play the same game. I wonder if she WANTS you to be a crime victim! Look at any democrat run city talking about defunding the police and enacting […]
By: Diane Benjamin As reported in this story – Normal will reject a bid for a bike share program tonight: https://blnnews.com/2020/07/31/normal-could-have-a-10-minute-meeting-monday/ The previous contract was a 3 year deal with Zagster. I think it is safe to assume this contract wasn’t a revenue cash cow for Zagster because they didn’t bother to bid this time. […]
By: Diane Benjamin The County Board Justice Committee meets tomorrow. https://www.mcleancountyil.gov/ArchiveCenter/ViewFile/Item/6792 The agenda report is packed with information, below are just snippets. Here’s a stat that I can make sound really scary – watch the media, this is what they do. During the second quarter of 2020 (April-May-June) Juvenile cases of Abuse and Neglect were […]
Midwest Food Bank is no longer on the list ______________ By: Diane Benjamin h/t a reader Jenn Carrillo thinks they are – they are listed on a new website Jenn is working on for “lefty” causes: https://www.justblono.net/resources Below are all of the ones listed, she forgot Connect Transit: Jenn is looking for writers to blog […]
By: Diane Benjamin From McLean County Health Department Note the dates: Interesting points: The people testing positive aren’t that sick People in their 20’s are the biggest group testing positive Why was the color scheme changed? They couldn’t find a new color for adding a category? The infection rate is staying ridiculously low! 2.1% https://health.mcleancountyil.gov/708/CORONAVIRUS-COVID-19 […]
By: Diane Benjamin https://www.wglt.org/post/isu-change-watterson-towers-house-names-over-slavery-history ISU President Dietz has caved to the Cancel Culture. He thinks it isn’t fair to ask students to live in Watterson Towers in houses named for historic figures ISU likely has no classes that even discuss. His Assistant for Diversity (head divider) told him. Dietz doesn’t know the Cancel Culture never […]
By: Diane Benjamin With virtually nothing on the agenda Normal might be back to a short meeting. I don’t expect that trend to continue unless they are completely out of money and just not telling anyone. Monday would be a great time for off-agenda Public Comment – lots of them! Koos has the time to […]
The Open Meetings Act applicable section was amended effective 1/1/2013. That’s more than 7 years ago! _____________________ By: Diane Benjamin The Town of Normal under the current leadership prefers to make up their own laws. The most obvious example is their illegal public comment policy. Here’s another one: http://normal.org/DocumentCenter/View/7697/Chapter-03—Council-Meetings-and-Ordinances?bidId= What does the Open Meetings Act […]
By: Diane Benjamin The CT Board held a meeting on 7/28/2020. No financial information was included in the packet because June was the end of their fiscal year. That doesn’t mean other information wasn’t included in the packet: https://drive.google.com/file/d/13_-iBZ8DuPQ_3Or2S90fgHrWo9JhJ1Wf/view PDF page 3 shows customers were down 13.6% for the year July 1, 2019 – June […]
Link to purchase tickets: https://tinyhousebigimpact.com/
By: Diane Benjamin Undo police scrutiny? Poor investigative techniques? Does the LWV want the police defunded to go along with their left wing bias? Obviously nobody at the LWV bothered to listen to the audio of the body cam: Short version: https://blnnews.com/2020/07/24/breaking-in-support-of-art-and-camille-taylor-2-0-the-un-redacted-truth/ Entire Interview: https://blnnews.com/2020/07/24/in-support-of-art-and-camille-taylor-3-0-the-entire-police-interview/ Thanks for proving you are democrats or worse LWV. We […]
I talked to Connie Beard, Chair of the McLean County Republican Party. This is a local effort to counter the democrats who are doing the same thing. No voter fraud here folks. By: Diane Benjamin Republicans around the State of Illinois should be calling for the immediate resignation of GOP Party Chair Tim Schneider if he […]
By: Diane Benjamin One thing that bothered me about the previous story was no mention the role parents play in education – especially if kids are expected to learn from home. See that story here: https://blnnews.com/2020/07/29/is-remote-learning-racist/ After I posted that story I received a comment from a local teacher. The comment is used with permission […]
Don’t miss Part 2: https://blnnews.com/2020/07/29/part-2-is-remote-learning-racist/ If you believe most low income people belong to minority groups, then how can remote learning not be racist? These are the kids being hurt the most! https://money.yahoo.com/remote-school-in-the-fall-will-hurt-lowincome-students-the-most-152333355.html Remote schooling leads to a ‘shocking’ disparity between rich and poor students Excerpts: While many school-aged children were disadvantaged and lacked the […]
By: Diane Benjamin See previous stories: https://blnnews.com/2020/07/16/looks-like-a-revolt-at-isu/ https://blnnews.com/2020/07/20/isu-when-you-hear-from-the-attorney-general-just-plead-guilty/ Today I was notified by the Public Access office of the Attorney General they are going to investigate whether the first faculty meeting violated the Open Meetings Act. Excerpts: See the entire document I received: 63926 FI Letter When Kalter or ISU responds the Attorney General’s office […]
By: Diane Benjamin I am very familiar with one of the payouts below – it’s highlighted. What caught my attention was how this was paid – by the City of Bloomington’s insurance company. You will hear the results soon. That got me wondering what else the insurance company pays for that we never see, the […]
By: Diane Benjamin As if it isn’t already ridiculous that Tari puts time limits on your elected representatives, now he doesn’t want them pulling items from the Consent Agenda. Maybe he’s taking lessons from Chris Koos. Tari was upset Donna Boelen pulled two items, he claims Consent Agenda items have no need to be discussed. […]
By: Diane Benjamin The City of Bloomington has dealt with Aldermen who disrespect the flag with activist signs and refuse to say the Pledge of Allegiance, just make them disappear. Next they need to work on the disrespect to their oaths of office, promoting socialism or worse is not compatible with the Constitution they swore […]
By: Diane Benjamin Last week the Kathy Michael, McLean County Clerk, and Tim Mitchell, Executive Director of the Bloomington Election Commission, issued a joint Press Release. Note: If you had voted to abolish BEC when you had the chance there wouldn’t be TWO now! (No, I’m not letting you forget) You will be getting a […]
By: Diane Benjamin One Normal Plaza is a tranquil park like setting. It is the site of the Soldiers and Sailors Home were many kids grew up. If you haven’t driven through the area, please do. Everything about this should be preserved for future generations. The Town of Normal staff have proposed zoning changes allowing […]
By: Diane Benjamin Source: http://bloomingtonil.iqm2.com/Citizens/FileOpen.aspx?Type=1&ID=1082&Inline=True I bet you thought gas taxes went to fixing roads, not if it can be diverted to other expenses: Sewage backed up in their house after repairs to a water main break went bad: Remember the $172 MILLION Water plan discussed last week? https://blnnews.com/2020/07/21/bloomington-met-too-last-night/ Tonight the plan is on the Consent […]
http://www.truenorthreports.com/Anthropologist-Says-Christopher-Columbus-Critics-Have-Their-History-Wrong It isn’t unusual for the Cancel Culture to get their facts wrong, Columbus just might be one of them. Of course, Jenn won’t care – canceling history is popular in her circles. She mentioned at the last Council meeting she will make changing Columbus Day to Indigenous People’s day a Council initiative. Excerpts: Read […]
By: Diane Benjamin See all previous stories: https://blnnews.com/2020/07/23/in-support-of-art-and-camille-taylor/ and here: https://blnnews.com/2020/07/24/breaking-in-support-of-art-and-camille-taylor-2-0-the-un-redacted-truth/ This incident had NOTHING to do with race – Art and Camille Taylor made it about race. Not In Our Town jumped at the chance to accuse Trump supporters of racism. The entire video proves race played no part except to the Taylor’s. See […]
By: Diane Benjamin See both previous stories at this link: https://blnnews.com/2020/07/23/in-support-of-art-and-camille-taylor/ . Art Taylor, in his four-page screed complaining of his treatment during the incident closes with this: Not being accorded the respect of the “benefit of the doubt” is what hurts the most, and that is why citizens of color feel like there are […]
Just a warning – something HUGE is coming later today. No idea what time, a lot depends on how fast my internet decides to be today.
By: Diane Benjamin People have been emailing Public Comments to the Bloomington City Council instead of calling in. I’ve always considered Public Comment for the PUBLIC, not for the elected officials. Most hardly pay attention. Meanwhile citizens like hearing what other citizens have to say to elected officials. I FOIA’d these comments for 6 meetings. […]
By: Diane Benjamin At last Monday’s Bloomington Council meeting Ryan Whitehouse, Connect Transit Board Chair, declared transportation to the Veterans Clinic isn’t a problem. https://blnnews.com/2020/07/21/bloomington-met-too-last-night/ Veterans do not agree. No one coordinated construction of the facility with Connect Transit, Bloomington should have made sure transportation would be adequate. Economic Development must only matter downtown. As […]
