by:  Diane Benjamin

Those who do not know history are doomed to repeat it.

I will do a history recap for you Tari, even though you will ignore it.  You are brilliant, past failures won’t happen with you at the helm!

There is no date on this document, but it is prior to the City approving TIF spending for the Ensenbergers building.  It appears this is from 2005 or earlier.  The City pledged to spend $2,228,000 for this project.  A decade later Ensenbergers is still not complete and people aren’t flocking to buy condos downtown.  This project was under former mayor Steve Stockton.

Read the entire document here:  Tom Hamilton-Ensenbergers

Here’s an except.  Where’s that “tremendous impact”?

 

Search old Pantagraph articles for what former Bloomington mayor Judy Markowitz said to get the Coliseum built.  It was “key to downtown redevelopment”.  She even talked about a downtown hotel in 2004.  She also claimed that revenue from the ice rink and Coliseum events would pay for everything.

Now look at the Cultural District.  I found a Pantagraph article from 2006 with this title:

PERFORMING A REBIRTH ; Cultural District seen as reviving downtown

 

The Coliseum and Ensenbergers are two examples of colossal failures that local government proclaimed as not only necessary, but required.  The BCPA doesn’t come close to breaking even and has done little to revitalize downtown.  The potted plants on the Council will do nothing to stop the Renner agenda of spending more downtown.  Representing their wards is not considered part of the job – by them.

Now Mayor Renner is saying all the same things.  This video is Renner’s closing remarks from last night’s meeting.  Start watching at 1:25:07

Renner claims:

• There is now substantial interest in downtown
• Investors look at local political leadership
• The Route 66 visitors center is the reason for increased interest
• Council will deter investors if they drag their feet
• Bloomington is on the move
• City is transparent
• Bloomington is the only city of it’s size without a hotel downtown
• capital attracts capital
• Bloomington is a model for other cities

Whenever government hands out free money there will be substantial interest.  Renner believes he is smarter than everybody else, this time it will work.

Making up facts is Renner’s way of creating his own reality.  He stated corporations look at the local government before investing.  Obviously Renner want 9-0 votes on everything proposed.  He will blame anybody who questions him for stopping investors.  The Council isn’t allowed to represent their wards, they work for Tari.  Unfortunately, he can count on  7  votes.   Tari, why is Illinois not creating jobs?  Investors aren’t investing in Illinois and businesses are leaving.  Democrats have controlled everything for at least a decade, is there a problem with the state political leadership?  Democrats must agree with Mike Madigan or be his target in their next election.  Illinois has high taxes, massive amounts of regulations, and tons of corruption.  Tari, you are leading Bloomington down the same path.  You won’t be any more successful at creating a new reality than Illinois is.

I agree Bloomington is on the move, lots of people are moving out.  I like how you are back to saying the population is 80,000 with no data to support it.

Transparent?  Really Tari?  I had to file a lawsuit to get emails illegally redacted by the City.  More on that coming up soon.

If capital attracts capital, downtown would already be booming.  The City invested millions in Ensenbergers, almost $40,000,000 in the Coliseum and Pepsi Ice Center, and around $15,000,000 in the Cultural District.  What about all the money given to the Downtown Bloomington Association or the Economic Development Council?  Where are the investors?  Instead, businesses continue to leave downtown – except the bars.  If anybody is stopping local economic development, it’s you by attempting to create it when there is no market (except in your head).

Corporations don’t look for political leadership that drowns its citizens in debt and taxes.  They are discouraged from investing when government picks the winners and losers.   Remember those 3 new taxes you crammed through last year Tari?  Corporations want economic freedom, good roads, a good work force, and low taxes.  You are destroying Bloomington all by yourself.  Instead of spending the people’s money on needs, you are spending it on YOUR wants.  Taxes will need to raised again because there isn’t enough for both.

Judy Markowitz said the Cultural District and the Coliseum would revitalize downtown.

Steve Stockton said investing in the Ensenbergers building would revitalize downtown

Both Mayors tried to use public money to create their vision.  Both failed.

Renner will fail too.  Government can not create economic activity except when they spend your money.  As soon as the money is gone, so are the investors.

Are the citizens going to let Renner repeat history?

Evidently!  2 candidates on the ballot next year have no opposition.  Bloomington is becoming just like Normal.  They will be no dissent and nobody representing you.   Renner is pleased.

Get ready for a hotel, a new library addition, and massive debt.

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