by: Diane Benjamin
Bloomington City leaders have been enamored with downtown Bloomington for a long time. That’s why the Coliseum is there. They believe if enough money is thrown at downtown, people will want to own businesses and live there. Of course it’s your money and you have no say.
Tonight the Council will throw another $90,000 at the DBA – Downtown Bloomington Association. The DBA was supposed to be self-sufficient in 2011. Now 3 years later they are still taking your tax money.
If the potted plants on the Council cared, they would ask why your money is still going to the DBA. Professor Mayor Renner isn’t going to say no, he thinks there is a waiting list of people who want to live downtown. He wants it to be a destination spot for tourists.
Still believe in Hope and Change professor?
This post has more information: http://blnnews.com/2014/02/04/government-and-dba-dont-have-to-be-responsible/
It contains this quote: In 2012, the City cut funding to the DBA to $90,000, which is 2/3 of their budget. The 2012 article states “there is little incentive for downtown businesses to join the DBA if Bloomington taxpayers are going to supply the majority of the organization’s funding.”
Watch the potted plants not even discuss it before the vote.
“I believe there are more instances of the abridgement of the freedom of the people by gradual and silent encroachments of those in power than by violent and sudden usurpations” — James Madison
Maybe all of the neighborhood associations should ask the city for some money. Or is just the DBA that special? What are the rest of us,,,chopped liver???