By: Diane Benjamin
5 minutes after Renner’s phone call to me, that he obviously didn’t want to make, I got an alert on my phone from the Pantagraph stating he had apologized. 5 minutes after that the Pantagraph reporter called for a comment. Shortly after. her story was posted to the Pantagraph website. Looks suspiciously like a setup. The chit-chat was my asking him if he had Face-Timed (video chat) me a few minutes earlier. He had hit the wrong button.
It would have been nice if the facts were correct. The reported stated that I tried to tie Renner’s son to the two IWU students who spoke at Council.
ONE MORE TIME:
Renner’s son was NOT mentioned in the story. I was responding to a comment made by a reader who obviously didn’t understand social media. The IWU kid posted comments in plain sight on twitter. His Facebook friends are clearly visible on his page. Why do you think kids are warned about what they post? Renner’s son was very visible on Brexton’s Facebook page. Here’s what Renner claims got him soooooo upset he turned vile – remember it’s in a comment, not the story:
I could go farther. Renner’s son is his Facebook friend, not surprising since it’s a small school.
I do question Tari’s mental status because normal people don’t spew profanity laced vulgar comments on websites. This is a repeat performance for Tari. He threatened me in his comment: you will pay the price. I’m not sure the apology covered that part. Is Tari a changed man? Did last time change him?
Renner is feeling a lot of heat. Many citizens have copied me on emails to him. Lots of people are calling City Hall.
If Tari thinks he is absolved of responsibility by a short phone call, he is incorrect. Moving on isn’t possible Tari until the public says it’s over.
Where is that public apology from yesterday? It’s not on the City website anywhere I can find! Is the Pantagraph the official City source for apologies now?
By the way Pantagraph, 20 years from now are you still going to call me the Founder of the McLean County Tea Party? I haven’t been with them for almost 3 years, you know that because the picture of me you ran yesterday was from an interview done at my house. How about updating my bio to what I currently do? I know it would kill you to write BlnNews, but give it a shot.
Last Spring during the new budget process the City of Bloomington added 17 new employees to the city payroll. One of them was Nora Dukowitz as communication manager, a newly created position under the Renner administration. What have tax payers gotten for their money? Someone working double overtime to help the mayor’s PR campaign for his temper tantrums. How’s that working out for your Bloomington? Are you being served? I don’t think this is a wise use of city employees time or resources. It’s Renner using city resources for personal gain.
Judging from the way the Pantagraph runs its online paper, they can’t wait for this story to get swept under the rug (nary a mention of it after the apology story ran).
Can’t say I blame them considering how you put them to shame with stories about what happens in this town – at much expense and little reward for you.
Stories like how our City Manager David Hales can’t make a decision without spending $100,000 to justify it…and the stunning number of decisions he can’t seem to make. Mind you that he’s probably being paid more than the Governor of Illinois, yet it doesn’t seem like we’re getting the kind of brainpower that kind of pay would justify.
Don’t even get me started about the damned garbage cans (another study that wasted a bunch of money). There is an example of what is wrong with ‘progressive’ thinking and it’s power to improve the ‘Quality of Life’. I chose the smallest can because I’m cheap. I also started utilizing the daylights out of the recycle bin they gave me. I recycle more, so I have less need for a larger can. I adapted and worked around that little scheme. Now they’re annoyed because they didn’t foresee a that choice. It’s a perfect example (albeit on a micro scale) about why the free market is a beautiful thing.
Apologies. I digress.
Stories like how ‘his Honor’ can’t seem to find anything in the budget to cut; raises THREE of our taxes; then continues to eat at Rosies eight times a month using his city issued PC Card to foot the bill for the expense.
People….that’s YOUR money he’s stuffing his face with…AFTER he raised THREE of your taxes.
Stories about how the City Council just neutered the only real power they possess – that of the purse, by allowing David Hales to spend up to $50,000 with virtually NO oversight from the Council. Seriously…did the Pantagraph even mention this? People wonder why conservatives are frustrated, but all you have to do is look locally to see that even on this level the people we elect to represent our interest do nothing but give OUR power away.
This is representation?
A disgusting betrayal at the hands of SEVEN fools caught in ‘his Honors’ glamour is what it is. People…You can vote FOUR of those fools out in the next election coming up very soon.
If you don’t think your vote doesn’t count, think about this – an ungodly number of these local positions are decided by a dozen votes or less. Can you spare ten minutes to tip the scale in favor of REAL representation? BE one of those in the dozen that matters!
Otherwise, be quiet while ‘his Honor’ is feasting at Rosies with YOUR money.
How many other brain-farts (Downtown hotels, Downtown lights, etc.) are we going to allow this ‘progressive’ child we call a Mayor to have before we say enough is enough?
Ward 4 has a chance to at least hold the line by NOT electing Amelia Buragas to the Council, as there are enough ties to Renner there to see that she would be nothing but another ‘Yea’ vote on the issues ‘his Honor’ wants to advance. This site uncovered the fact that she was appointed to the Zoning Board of Appeals by ‘his Honor’. That her father contributed $1,000 to ‘His Honors’ campaign for Mayor. Even if you take away those things, she’s already blurted out enough nonsense to show that she would be the last person to trust with OUR money, courtesy of the videos posted here.
Ms. Benjamin, I wouldn’t know these things if it wasn’t for your work and effort on this site. At the very least, it ‘should’ force a conversation about what our government does with our money, and whether or not these are things we as Citizens want done with our money.
Small wonder the ‘local birdcage liner’ can’t wait for this to go away.
On a personal note, I doubt you will remember, but I introduced myself to you while you were shopping at a grocery store a few weeks back. I hoped afterward that you weren’t too embarrassed, but it isn’t everyday I get to meet a real live wire. It takes a brave person to stand up and say something isn’t right amid ridicule and mockery. To do so is the definition of courage and betrays a strength of character that is rare in these times..
Once again, Thank you for your efforts.
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‘If they’re shooting at you, you know you’re doing something right”
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I couldn’t have said it better! Great summary. I do remember meeting you – I love meeting readers.
BUT let’s not forget Renner’s ending comment from his rant, “The fact that some of you still think you’re Christians is PATHETIC! There is a special place in hell for you!”
SO where is the apology to the Christians who visit this site? There is a special place in hell for Christians because you are mad at Diane’s post because you overreacted? What did the Christians do to offend your child? How in the heck did you fit the Christians into your childish reaction? What about that pledge card you signed on bullying, and racism, and the like? The man needs to seek psychological help before he hurts himself or someone else.