By: Diane Benjamin
Yesterday I listened to the re-broadcast of the WGLT/League of Women Voters Ward 4 debate Tuesday night.
If you missed previous posts about Ward 4, I have video clips available from their first debate – the one NO media chose to cover:
http://blnnews.com/2015/02/04/ward-4-forum-buragas/
http://blnnews.com/2015/02/05/more-ward-4-video-buragas/
http://blnnews.com/2015/02/05/ward-4-buragas-frank/
Here’s some of what I heard from the Tuesday debate:
Both Buragas and Frank mentioned the City needs more Revenue. Buragas thinks the City is understaffed, Frank didn’t get specific.
Frank thinks the Council needs to be more cohesive. Evidently he is for Bloomington turning into Normal where dissent doesn’t usually happen.
Kelly: No hotel downtown with taxpayer dollars
Buragas – believes in the “If we build it they will come” philosophy for downtown. She believes the Route 66 visitors center will bring people downtown and they need a hotel to stay in.
Buragas – Doesn’t see a difference between Needs and Wants. All other candidates saw a difference, citing streets, water, sewers etc. She also claims IWU students want downtown Bloomington to be a destination like Uptown is for Normal.
Frank: Thinks the market should drive plans instead of the Council creating plans
Frank: Downtown Business Association needs to do a better job promoting activities (Does he know they get a lot of money from the City?)
Kelley: Government shouldn’t dictate what businesses locate downtown
Shultz: He is informed (former City employee). He attends almost every Council meeting
Shultz: Council didn’t learn anything from the Brady/McGraw Park fiasco
Shultz: Bike paths downtown are dangerous for bikers
Shultz: The Farr plan for downtown (same guy that did Uptown) bring UN building desires local
Shultz: I will not rubber stamp whatever is on the agenda
Metz: Paths to downtown are dangerous for bikers, besides vehicles – his family has experienced problems with dogs and menacing people
Metz: Also concerned about Council rubber stamping the agenda – especially Brady/McGraw Park
Metz and Schultz believe the Mayor should resign. The others want the Council to decide.
Ward 4 votes next Tuesday
Will more than 10-20% of registered voters bother to show up? Your wallet depends on it, spread the word.
As it stands, most IWU students (and ISU students for that matter) would rather go to Downtown than Uptown. There are several really good restaurants and the night life is way better. Add in the fact that IWU is a 20 minute walk from Downtown, and ISU is part of Uptown, I’d say the market is serving a Downtown better. Which is freer?
Buragas – Doesn’t see a difference between Needs and Wants. All other candidates saw a difference, citing streets, water, sewers etc. She also claims IWU students want downtown Bloomington to be a destination like Uptown is for Normal. ??? How is it a destination when the IWU students already live here??? Duh. Although she passed her bar exam, the chick is clueless.