By: Diane Benjamin
Below is just one example of comments Tari has made about me during Council meetings. This meeting took place January 26th, 2015 – shortly before his written attack on me. He doesn’t refer to me by name, but everybody present knew who he was talking about. He called me a liar without producing any proof. He has never produced any proof that I lie about anything on BlnNews.com.
Tari is always welcome to contact me or comment on articles, I just wish his comments were constructive, not juvenile attacks.
The video below is a clip from the full meeting. Renner attempts to cut Alderwoman Stearns off, which is almost every meeting. Shortly after that he launches his attack on her and me. I’m urging citizens to watch his attack because this happens over and over and over. This video shows the real Tari Renner. It also shows why he exploded with vile comments on my site. He can’t stand being challenged when he can’t refute what I report. Watch the big grin on his face when it’s over. Did the bird-cage liner report any of his antics? Nope.
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This is the video of the full meeting – Renner attempts to cut Stearns off at 2:05:57. Renner launches unsubstantiated allegations and the Council lets him. Do you really think the Council will hold him accountable?
Diane…You were wronged…no doubt about it. The facts are out and people are aware of the situation, But now its time to move on to new topics. Lets move forward!
Move on how? To his next attack? He has a long history of attacking anybody who disagrees. If he stays in office it will happen again.
Oh Sue, really? Just move on? Oh, how sweet it is. Gosh. How nice it would be for us to all engage in a group hug and sing some silly songs as we laugh off whatever it is that is in the kook-aid you’ve been drinking. Fact is that the repetitive attacks on these women PROVES that the man is not well and needs professional help. No one is doing him or the city any favors by pushing this matter aside. When Renner is relieved of his position as mayor and only then should the citizens move on. Move forward with a new mayor at the helm.
Totally wrong attitude to have, Sue. Why let this issue die down and slowly fade away?
I too would like to move on. Spectacles like this only damage the town’s reputation. I heard it said that apologies are meaningless until they cost something to the one doing the apologizing. Mr. Renner has apologized, but it did not truly cost him anything. Sure his pride took a hit, but with the local media in full move on mode, it’s a very small and temporary hit.
Mr. Renner has done nothing to show that he understands his actions were wrong and has not articulated how he plans to stop this behavior in the future. That is why I think moving on is not yet possible.
I disagree Sue Feldkamp. You are welcome to your opinion, but in my opinion, Mr. Renner has a history of demeaning those he disagrees with. He needs to learn to respect other people who disagree with his policies. And there are plenty of them.
What actions has the Not In Our Town organization taken concerning this matter?
Unfortunately I think most of the board members for Not in Our Town are democrats who are friends of Renners or who have worked on his campaigns or contributed financially to them. That would explain their silence.
New motto: not in our town unless you mock conservatives
Great question!
Check wikipedia for Workplace Bullying. Interesting stuff. Says it all.
Boy talk about a piece of garbage. This Mayor needs to go. Time to do some research to see if we can get him removed.
I could not agree more with the Mayor’s comments. You are the worst type of person siane
Note: This comment came from an IWU IP address
I’m curious, what exactly does one have to do to qualify as the “worst type of person”? Is it attacking others like both you the mayor have done to Diane? Maybe it is being intolerant of other perspectives, again just like you and the mayor towards Diane’s views.
It seems to me that all it takes to earn this designation is to expose problems and falsehoods in liberal logic.
Tari has seething, pathological and barely repressed violent hatred for ALL Conservatives.
Never let this go until he turns in his gavel. Friday night will be a sham, but at least it will bring some more media attention to this idiot. One thing for sure, he will do it again because he cant help himself. Diane will keep reporting and The Miami Mouth Machine will not disappoint! Then what will the Rennermites say in his defense?
Tonight we may see the City Council put an end to Free Speech on the Internet. 2/20/15 shall be the D-Day for the internet in our town.
I don’t understand why anyone who is for Free Speech and a Free Open Internet wouldn’t support the Mayor.
How about because it violates my free speech? Especially since I use facts and he is just abusive.
I support people with mental issues through realizing same and guiding them towards getting professional help. Is that what you mean by supporting the mayor?
How does it violate your free speech? My God, you have this Blog and other avenues.
My bet is you watch FOX,so abuse is something you most likely are quite use to, with little regard for Facts.
I’ve read web staff comebacks referring to peoples ignorance, so you know what they say about glass houses.
Free Speech allows for abuse. Were you with Charlie Hebdo or against?
Maybe you could point out where I didn’t use facts. Tari exploded because I expose what the local media refuses to cover. I really enjoy the completely uniformed trying to act informed! Come back and actually read some stories some time.
See there you go, being abusive. I didn’t say you don’t use facts. So not only are you abusive by calling me uninformed with no reason but you also lied about me saying you don’t use facts.
You see I don’t like being called uninformed and thankfully you didn’t imply I am ignorant. If you did, I would have to come back with some names myself on the Free Internet using Free Speech.
I noticed you didn’t answer my question about supporting Charlie Hebdo. Do you have an answer?
No I don’t. This site covers local matters, all I know is terrorist shot up their office. Are you trying to compare us somehow?
Can you pleas clarify this comment, “so abuse is something you most likely are quite use to, with little regard for Facts”. I’m a little unclear about the context, but it seems you accused all Fox news viewers (of which you are stereotyping Diane into this group) of not using facts. If I am misreading the comment, please let me know.
Charlie Hebdo, lol. You need to hire a new research assistant.
Just trying to determine how much of Free Speech you believe in, and now it appears it’s limited, quite a bit. I’m surprised.
Thank you for coming back without being abusive.
Renner is the one supporting Not In Our town. Please remove the signs or change them to Yes In Our Town.
I guess we need to change them to Yes In Our Town for when you come into town. Sorry, that was abusive.
His comments weren’t? You seem to think it was perfectly okay for hum to threaten me. Wow. We live on different planets if you think my comments were abusive.
You didn’t even notice the threat until someone pointed it out to you, I may be wrong. So now it was a threat? Come on.
Yes, your comments are abusive, your general tone is abusive.
The difference between us is, I support your right to abuse if you so wish to do so.
It’s just words.
If that was posted to you, your mother, your daughter, your sister, or depending upon your gender your wife or your partner, am I to understand that you would just let it drop? Sorry but it is my humble opinion that you would see things differently in that situation.
No, I would consider my involvement that created the situation. Then I would go handle it myself on a personal level. I would not, nor would I support the City thinking I need them to take care of my business.
Quite frankly, I’m surprised the Benjamin would support the spending of tax dollars on this issue, much less the lack of freedom being attacked.
Of course when you have someone who wants to spend tax dollars to True the Vote because we don’t know how much voter fraud there is, one should be able to see the light.
The government should monitor all pregnant women to make sure no one is getting an abortion after legal time. Why? Because we don’t know how many are happening.
Last comment on this. Once again you have offended me by suggesting we live on different planets. Calling me garbage would have been less offensive than saying we are on different planets. If I needed this type of abuse I would leave my town and go to Ellsworth.
Peace Out
I am curious as to how living on a different planet is offensive we have so much to learn about the universe. Possibly some other planet out there has inhabitants that are of greater intellect, kind and sharing and all the fuzzy warm stuff. Living on another planet is not necessarily an insult. The post by the mayor was offensive, it was abusive, and the man noted, “PLEASE quote me on that.”
Mudd, we must live on different planets for you to come up with that comeback. Try again if you like.
Evidently some commentors don’t understand that Tari is the face of Bloomington to the state and the country. He has made Bloomington look like the JV is in charge and can’t handle the job. How many businesses will NOT locate here because they don’t want to deal with a juvenile?
How many?
I may not agree with everything that either Alderwoman Stearns or Diane Benjamin say; however, in this instance it was completely inappropriate for the mayor to cut Stearns off when she was trying to speak. This is a recurring theme, and I am frankly very disappointed.
I shared many differences with peers when I was an elected County official south of Bloomington and have shared my views many times since then. However, his handling of this situation has been completely inappropriate, and he never should’ve stated what he did to Benjamin. I honestly think the hostility they have for each othe through past interactions does not justify his reaction. I do not care for the smirk on his face in the video after trying to stop Stearns. While the “actions” and “issue” have been said and people want to move on, he is still mishandling himself. I was appointed to a commission by the mayor in 2014, and I have shared my disappointment as a result of his actions with him directly. This needs to stop. I will not apologize for the fact that I will not support him in the next election. It actually wants me to get and take a stand to join as an alderman of our City if he is not censured tonight. True colors by all sides will be shown. This is not about a Renner vs. Benjamin issue now; this is about inappropriate conduct of an elected official. If you can’t stand the heat (i.e., the articles, comments, words, suits, etc. from Benjamin), then get out of the kitchcen (i.e., your seat as mayor, in a professional manor).
Best recap I’ve read anywhere. Thanks.
Thank you Diane; I truly do appreciate that! I’m hoping to attend the meeting this evening; I’m betting I might see you there.
I will be there with my very tall son. Should be easy to spot.
I decided to stay home and watch the live streaming. I’ll introduce myself another day.
No problem!
It was a number of years ago I recall taking some training or seminar on discrimination and harassment. It comes in many shapes and forms so to speak.
I remember the speaker giving an example of a woman who filed a sexual harassment claim because a guy keep staring at her breasts in the elevator and other things he did.
I just wonder if Alderwoman Sterns, while not sexual in mature, could likewise file a claim with the EEOC for the harassment she gets from the mayor. She is paid by the city for the position. I’m no HR attorney by any means but just seems plausible that could be done. Might be the first case ever filed for something like this.
She has put up with more abuse than anybody. it was sweet of the press to totally ignore it! The story is now a national story. I hope Bloomington is proud of their mayor!
From the opinion of David Stanczak on the WJBC website.
He is a total JACKA$$ in my opinion. I noticed he didn’t give his ( ) likewise opinion of the mayor’s blog.
http://www.wjbc.com/common/page.php?feed=121§ion_id=1&pt=WJBC+Forum%3A+Renner+v.+Benjamin+v.+City+Council&id=181882&is_corp=0
“As of this writing, the city council may call a special meeting to censure Renner. Nonsense! First, Renner had every right to say everything he said in that blog. As Justice Douglas used to free speech, by reason of the fact that it is free, is unbridled, and sometimes offensive. Benjamin was free, even as a non-citizen of Bloomington to make the comments she made about the Mayor’s son (as ignorant as they might have been) and Renner was free to respond as he did. “
I attended tonight’s City Council meeting and spoke to it. Renner did not apologize to Diane. The core issue of the problem remains the same. The mayor is too proud to admit he did wrong and too greedy to hang onto the rings of power. Pride and greed are not virtues, they are mortal sins. His leadership will not succeed with such a flawed moral foundation.
@D Kohlenberg 4:15pm, 2/20,,,Being the blogger that she is, she posted HIS comment which included “PLEASE quote me.” Blaming Diane has no substance. Citizen outrage caused the continuance.
Mudd, this will be my last reply to you unless your idenity is disclosed.
While I would prefer to move on, yet, I’ll bite.
IMO When posts are made to a blog, it’s the bloggers talking back and fourth. The human element should be disgarded. Why? Because some people do not like being called “Potted Plants, or ignorant or uninformed, as attacks on a persons character.
plus words just don’t come across right, often.
I don’t know Diane, this blog stands for itself, so when using the bloggers name, I know I am only addressing the blog. Others may benefit from that thought as well.
My stance remains, Whats good for the goose is good for the gander. Do unto others as others do to you. Pot calling the Kettle Black.
isn’t this a good point to move forward from.
Although I really resent the Sterns comment about this being an attack on Christians. It was a low judgmental comment unworthy of coming from a Christian, if that’s the case. Hard to tell.
I call them potted plants because they do not represent the people in their ward. Tax increases and increased spending are no bit deal to them, meanwhile the roads are crumbling and there is no money to fix them. The City of Bloomington needs a major reset, but that won’t happen until there is a new Council and Mayor.
Your reply has nothing to do with my comment as I responded to your (corrected 4:09) post, “No, I would consider my involvement that created the situation. Then I would go handle it myself on a personal level. I would not, nor would I support the City thinking I need them to take care of my business.” If you can’t stay on topic then I welcome your last reply as your last reply.
Diane, thank you for sharing these videos. I’ve taken some time the past few days to review them, and I think it’s absurd. I just wanted to say that I am sick of people saying that you have no business criticizing Bloomington because you are not a resident. I do not live there either, but people I care about do, and I absolutely keep up with the local politics because I have a vested interest in it. I would also like to say that I am not party affiliated, but definitely lean towards more liberal views on many issues. I have followed this blog for a couple of years now, and I see nothing but you wanting to get to the truth. And I suspect you’d be just as critical of any party that was in power. The truth is the truth, and you have every right to question it. Just wanted to thank you and tell you to keep up the good fight.
Thanks so much. It is the job of every citizen to hold their government accountable. Media doesn’t so I do and yes I would report on anybody wasting taxpayer money – they aren’t entitled to it.