by: Diane Benjamin
Nothing epitomizes what both Bloomington and Normal are doing to you better than this letter written by a resident of Austin Texas (the most liberal city in Texas):
“I’m at the breaking point,” said Gretchen Gardner, an Austin artist who bought a 1930s bungalow in the Bouldin neighborhood just south of downtown in 1991 and has watched her property tax bill soar to $8,500 this year.
“It’s not because I don’t like paying taxes,” said Gardner, who attended both meetings. “I have voted for every park, every library, all the school improvements, for light rail, for anything that will make this city better. But now I can’t afford to live here anymore. I’ll protest my appraisal notice, but that’s not enough. Someone needs to step in and address the big picture.”
I’ve written many time about Quality of Life spending. The government has “gifted” the citizens, especially in Bloomington with more Quality of Life than they said they wanted, or are willing and able to pay for. Unfortunately, the Bloomington City Council doesn’t understand that. You just got 3 tax increases, but you also got flamingos at the zoo.
Alderman Rob Fazzini isn’t done though. In his Ward 8 report, he added this:
CONCLUDING COMMENTS:
Part of my campaign platform when I ran for the alderman position three plus years ago was to advocate for a Dog Park in Bloomington. This was the result of the survey during my door-to-door visits which indicated that over 32% of households had pets. Because of the severe budget challenges of the past three years, the Dog Park has not become a reality even though the cost has been estimated to be under $50,000 (primarily because the park would be done on land already owned by the city) which would be primarily for fencing and water access). The Parks, Recreation & Cultural Department has placed a Dog Park in its budget each of the past years. Currently the McLean County Planning Commission has included the Bloomington Dog Park in its plans to help attract tourism, and a contact has been made from the Commission to the Parks, Recreation & Cultural Department at the City of Bloomington. Support from any of the 900 or so citizens receiving this report in the form of a return email or telephone call to me (663-0476) would help in our effort to make a Dog Park in Bloomington a reality. Consider this a call to arms! You can make a difference.
Robert B. Fazzini
It’s only $50,000 to make sure your dogs have Quality of Life too! (Unless they decide the dogs need obstacles to play with, a water park, a ball thrower, etc etc.) What about park maintenance Rob? Bloomington is buried in deferred maintenance now, you want to add more?
Alderman Can’tSpendEnoughOfYourMoney also takes jabs at Aldermen Stearns and Lower for their frequent NO votes. At least 2 members of the Council realize spending by government means YOU can’t spend your own money. A call to arms Rob? You want people to scream for more property taxes? How are pensions going to be paid next year Rob? Are you going to tell these warriors property taxes will be going up, even without the dog park?
How close is Bloomington to Austin Texas? With SEVEN Fazzini’s (big spenders) on the Council, what do you think?
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Please tell me how a dog park will attack tourism in Bloomington? Are people going to drive in from out of state or out of town to see our dog park???? Is this another, if you build it they will come? Great job, McLean County Planning Commission! Maybe we should build a pet friendly hotel in downtown for them to stay while they visit the dog park.
I read stuff like this and I just shake me head that this is what we’ve got on our City Council! And yes, he’s for real.
You do realize the effort to demonize Stearns and Lower is alive, well, and working?
I know of three different people (different families) that will be moving out of IL this month. None of them work at the Farm. This town, this state really sucks!
Heads firmly planted under ground. They won’t know how bad it is until 2020 when the next census is taken. Maybe we should take our own so they understand.
He said that 32% of people are PET owners. What percentage are dog owners? Even if it is 32%, that means we are paying for a dog park for a third of the people. How many people would actually take the time to pack up their dogs and drive to it?
Also, isn’t there already a dog park in town? Is that one too crowded or is Bloomington suffering from me too syndrome?
Liberals don’t use logic. They do what feels good and try to solve problems after.