By: Diane Benjamin Another tip from a reader: No, this time it’s not about State Farm leaving. Think Mitsubishi Motors. See this link titled: Mitsubishi Plant Fate Could Be Decided This Year (http://tinyurl.com/ohsn7j8) The article contains a lot of information the local media has failed to notice. The plant is extremely underutilized. Either Mitsubishi will […]
By: Diane Benjamin I get a lot of tips from readers, this is one of them. Decades ago downtown Bloomington was heated by steam. Below the old existing buildings are pipes, and no surprise – they are wrapped in asbestos. Didn’t you find it strange that the Giebelhausen “shovel ready” project won’t be shovel ready? […]
By: Diane Benjamin Yesterday we all learned the Coliseum lost a lot of money. See this story: http://blnnews.com/2015/06/12/lap-dog-media-falls-for-coliseum-report/ The City of Bloomington put out their own version. The below was emailed to anybody who signed up to receive their News Update. Notice anything funny? Like the meat of the story is buried behind a link? […]
By: Diane Benjamin The Coliseum year-end report is finally out. The year ended 4/30/15. As I have reported many times, what CIAM reports is pure fiction. The birdcage liner is reporting the Coliseum lost $494,320 for the year. Of course, that number isn’t accurate. Worse, they reported CIAM’s reported loss last year of $183,727 instead of what […]
By: Diane Benjamin A reader filed a Freedom of Information Request for food receipts where charges were listed without explanation. He filed for what showed on the statement approved for payment at the April 27th Council meeting. Keep in mind, all the PCard charges used to reflect dates and who the meal was with. Changing how the […]
By: Diane Benjamin The David Hales April report is now on-line: http://www.cityblm.org/Modules/ShowDocument.aspx?documentid=8632 Visitors to the library continue to be lower than prior years, but they want to expand! If they build it you will come! I’m sure you realize you are saving a lot of money with lower fuel prices, but so is the City! The […]
By: Diane Benjamin Mayor Tari wants the Front and Center building torn down so he can get a downtown hotel. Other City departments want the windows and roof fixed. Um. Haven’t citizens been told over and over and over the City can’t force Huffs to fix the building? It would take too much time and […]
Update: Renner WJBC interview is posted
The WJBC Renner interview is now posted: http://cdn.stationcaster.com/stations/wjbc/media/mp3/Tari_Renner__Bloomington_mayor__6_10_15-1433957937.mp3 The exact words Tari used to describe IPI were: they have an ideological agenda. He switched the conversation to tax rates when he learned he was wrong. He claimed Illinois has comparable taxes to surrounding states. Why is everybody leaving Illinois? Other items of note: Tari has massive interest from […]
By: Diane Benjamin At Monday’s Council meeting Tari shut off public comment. Unless the rest of the Council refuses to tolerate it, citizens have a much smaller voice at City Hall now under Tari. The rules say 15 minutes is allotted. 3 minutes for 5 speakers weren’t a problem before Tari’s agenda was revealed because 5 people […]
Contrary to claims made by Tari, Bloomington population is decreasing. So is Normal’s. Raise taxes and watch the people flee! Source: https://www.illinoispolicy.org/most-illinois-cities-are-shrinking-according-to-u-s-census-bureau/?utm_source=Illinois+Policy%3A+Opens&utm_campaign=8d7c43b0c3-utm_source%3Dmailchimp&utm_medium=email&utm_term=0_9471dd8540-8d7c43b0c3-14268985 By: Diane Benjamin Both Bloomington and Normal are bleeding taxpayers to death with new taxes and fees or raising old ones. Both have a 2% Food and Beverage Tax, but it’s really sad when […]
By: Diane Benjamin The citizens of Bloomington were “Community Organized”. Check Renner’s campaign Facebook page. Did you fall for his false promises? While running for office: Now we know what consensus is: Shut down discussion and anyone who disagrees.
By: Diane Benjamin The work session last night before the Council meeting was more interesting than the Council meeting. Alderman Sage had questions for the Council about the direction his budget work group should be taking. Code: They want tax increases, but didn’t want to look stupid bringing them back to the Council without permission. Since […]
By: Diane Benjamin Each speaker at public comment is given three minutes. Time allotted is a total of 15 minutes. Previously if more than five citizens signed to speak the rules were suspended. Not tonight! Karen Schmidt has always supported suspending the rules. Crickets from her tonight as Renner skipped asking for a motion. Kevin […]
By: Diane Benjamin A vote on the Giebelhausen downtown redevelopment deal could be as early as June 18th. Renner’s folly for a downtown hotel makes this project dangerous for the future of Bloomington. Citizens said no public money, so Tari is borrowing it instead. Does anybody trust their government? Citizens said NO Coliseum, they did it anyway. […]
By: Diane Benjamin Below are some interesting items on the Bloomington City Council’s Bills and Payroll for tonight. http://www.cityblm.org/Modules/ShowDocument.aspx?documentid=8638 BENSINGER DUPONT & ASS EFT 06/08/2015 1 10011410 70690 HR Purch Serv 2,742.75 Invoice Net 2,742.75 CHECK TOTAL 2,742.75 Who are these guys? Consultants. Here’s their Mission statement: http://www.bensingerdupont.com/mission Reshape At BDA, we help people change their lives by adjusting […]
Since I was way too busy today to respond to Steve Vogel’s latest stupidity, and I know people who can respond even better – I let the Edgar County Watchdogs do it. Congrats Stevie – it’s now being read all over the State, far more people than read your writings! Bloomington, IL. (ECWd) – I […]
By: Diane Benjamin I thought the last time I posted clogged street drains the City would have a pretty good idea where they are. They probably drove through the standing water last time it rained. Since more rain is predicted. City: this is Front and Clinton. Do citizens have to clean them? Can bikes navigate standing […]
By: Diane Benjamin Remember this story: http://blnnews.com/2015/04/29/austere-budget-short-staffed-really/ ? The opening and closing of a lane at Ireland Grove and Towanda Barnes continues, but I want you to remember the other part of the story. Two City employees were sent out to mow, one guy did while the other guy sat in the truck for almost 2 […]
By: Diane Benjamin On Monday night the City of Bloomington will hold another Council meeting. Lots of you have commented on this site about the Dukowitz-Renner-Hauman attempt to silence the Press. I STRONGLY encourage you to speak at Public Comment. Too often the Council sees the same people at every meeting. The Council can ignore your […]
A reader called WJBC. They consider it over. Truth doesn’t matter to them either! By: Diane Benjamin The ONLY reason I started BlnNews is more than obvious. Local news didn’t exist. The Pantagraph and WJBC slanted every story to fit their purpose. They praised elected officials for their brilliance while in office, then blame them when […]
By: Diane Benjamin Facts: The Normal police did NOT arrest Fistbump for knocking on Nora Dukowitz’s door. Dukowitz dropped civil action against Fistbump the day before it went to court. Tari proclaimed in open session that Fistbump was being investigated for a felony: Start watching at 5:30. https://youtu.be/PzTrILJQlLY Diana Hauman believed a person representing Cities 92.9 is not fit […]
By: Diane Benjamin . . Nora filed for a dismissal in her case against Fistbump. Maybe she feared being laughed out of court! She should have known that before she filed! Tari: You went after Judy Stearns and lost! Remember the long standing ovation she received? Tari: You went after me and got a censure […]
By: Diane Benjamin Don Rients is a really nice conservative guy. He is smart and the kind of guy who should be in government. In the 18th District he doesn’t have a chance, he has no major backers and not a lot of money. I really hope he stays in politics and runs for his County […]
To the clown who is no longer allowed to post comments: Research what the current Gas Tax is being used for. Research where the almost what the almost $1 Trillion Obama plan for “Shovel Ready” infrastructure went. Neither was/is spent on roads and bridges. The Feds don’t need more money, they need to spend what they have […]
By: Diane Benjamin Law and Justice Center (I may have altered the calendar slightly) The courtrooms don’t hold a lot of people, arrive early if you want to support Freedom of the Press and Freedom of Speech. Maybe Tari will show up and say again how knocking on a door is felony stalking. This is […]
By: Diane Benjamin Below are some interesting items approved for payment at the last City Council meeting. Bills and Payroll – 5/26/15 http://www.cityblm.org/Modules/ShowDocument.aspx?documentid=8606 Moving expenses for the new City Clerk from Nevada: CHERRY LAWSON 00000 INV 04/30/2015 MVNG EXP NV 4/15 115554 1 10011310 70632 CtyClerk Pro Develp 2,604.55 Invoice Net 2,604.55 CHECK That’s pretty cheap considering […]
By: Diane Benjamin A Freedom of Information Request was filed (not by me) for invoices from Sorling Northrup in Springfield. This is the firm Jeff Jurgens works for, the attorney Bloomington uses instead of replacing Todd Greenberg. The request was received including the summary below of charges per month. The cost per month is HUGE. Greenburg was […]
