By: Diane Benjamin
Every dime that Normal spends comes from somebody’s pocket. Taxes and fees have been constantly raised on the citizens of Normal because your government needs more money. State and Federal grants have been used to fund parts of Uptown – all TAX money from other people.
When they build in Uptown they aren’t creating new businesses, they are merely changing where money is spent – picking winners and losers. A new restaurant opens in Uptown, one elsewhere in the area closes. Worse, money is being drained from Unit 5 because they aren’t getting their share of the Uptown Revenue because it’s a TIF district.
Besides the $60 some million Chris Koos wants to spend on a new library and more development, now he wants to build an indoor soccer complex and rec center. Bloomington, be happy Koos is doing it instead of Renner! There is no end to Koos plans, at least until the money runs out. Koos will look for grants from the bankrupt State and Federal government because he has a vision. Instead of allowing citizens to decide how the money they worked for is spent (freedom), Koos thinks he knows better.
Want to know why your kids can’t name the Founding Fathers? Government can’t violate the rights of citizens to their own money if they understand what made America great. Schools don’t teach what capitalism means anymore. Instead Public-Private partnerships are declared as the only way projects can get done. Government balances their vision for your life directly on your back. Evidently Normal has given in to socialism. Does the Koos tower of taxes have to collapse before the citizens wake up?
Koos and his hand-picked Council can always quit, maybe even leave town. Can you?
If the Town owns the soccer complex and rec center they won’t be paying any taxes on the property! If these projects were capable of supporting themselves the private sector would build them. Instead, Koos wants to gift some citizens with what they want.
People will leave Normal. The citizens who don’t leave will be forced to pay for Chris Cronyism. I guarantee friends of government will profit while you pay the bills.
It may already be too late. Maybe the citizens of Normal want government ordering their lives. Since few question the endless spending, Koos has green light to continue. You too can be California Normal! Bankrupt, high taxes, businesses and people are fleeing the State.
Do you agree with Koos or Ronald Reagan? You get the government you deserve!
Well, the truth is, there are simple answers – there are not easy ones. The time has come for us to decide whether collectively we can afford everything and anything we think of simply because we think of it. The time has come to run a check to see if all the services government provides were in answer to demands or were just goodies dreamed up for our supposed betterment. The time has come to match outgo to income, instead of always doing it the other way around.
Ronald Reagan
First Inaugural Address (Midnight Ceremony) – January 2, 1967
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“A new restaurant opens in Uptown, one elsewhere in the area closes.” And soon closes because the rent is outrageous!
“…at least until the money runs out.” Pretty sure it already has, so up my taxes will go!
Koos is one of the lunatic fringe I referred to in comments on a previous story. I can’t wait to leave Normal and move to Hudson!
Normal – more of the we’ll decide what “wants” you can have and you’ll pay for it too.
You’re right people deserve the government they have chosen and they need to wake up and take control. Recreation centers or any what I call fluff like this is best served by private businesses, Four Seasons, Gold’s Gym, YMCA, etc. and not the government.
I am against the consultants/planners , , , period! They just come up with grand plans to match their fees but don’t contribute anything else to implement their plans. If the town staff can’t justify clearly what the town has already done, WITH OVERALL RESULTS, isn’t it delusional to spend anything more?
Illinois has the lowest credit rating and highest debt load of any of the 50 states. The Koos Regime is absolutely clueless. This debt in this economy cannot be sustained. As State Farm continues it’s exit and a college education becomes more obvious it’s a waste of money, the town’s future looks bleak.
Yeah, Ok. Try getting a decent job without a bachelors degree. One not in a trade.
The rest, you’re spot on.
People with degrees can’t get a decent job!
Koos IS an IDIOT period! I just wonder HOW MUCH he gets as a kickback from FARR? And Bloomington “thinks” they have to be “just like uptown” and UPTOWN wants to be like Boulder, CO-I used to live /work there, know what the locals call Boulder? “Ten square miles surrounded by reality” sound familiar? I DO NOT shop in Normal, nor go there! No parking and too hard to get around, and as for making it a part of Bloomington, as has been put to vote a few times-NO AGAIN! Keep the Normal schmucks out in lala land!
Read the plan for Bloomington.
http://www.mcplan.org/egov/documents/1421957922_4759.pdf
This document will be discussed (possibly approved) at the 4:00 PM meeting on Wednesday, July 8, 2015 in Council Chambers.
There is no meeting agenda posted for Wednesday. Nothing can be acted on. What meeting is it?
Planning Commission Public Hearing #1 regarding “Bring it on Bloomington” Strategic Plan. Public Hearing #2 will be on July 22. No voting but a chance to comment if commenting is allowed.
Here is a link to another related document:
http://www.mcplan.org/egov/documents/1407520400_61692.pdf
Comment is supposed to be allowed.
The agenda: http://www.cityblm.org/modules/showdocument.aspx?documentid=8786
I’m one of the many who lived in Normal & saw what Koos was doing and got the heck out of there before it was to late.. At least now I can communicate with r council which is more than what I could do living in Normal