By: Diane Benjamin
I realized something this morning. I’m a 2nd generation American! There was only one generation of my family born in America before me. All of my grandparents immigrated here as children. Their families FLED to this country for refuge from European wars. I never knew my dad’s parents (long story), but I don’t remember my mom’s parents talking why they left their homeland to come here. All I have is research and some things my grandmother wrote.
Maybe my passion for liberty and freedom is my genes. What does it take to pack up the few belongings you can carry, hop on a ship, move to another country where you don’t know the language, and start over?
What made a bunch of farmers take on the British army? After a vicious battle, General Wayne wrote a letter to General Washington:
“Your men and officers behaved like men determined to be free.”
Fast forward to today. The leadership of both Bloomington and Normal only want “Yes Men” on the Councils. Even citizens have been convinced that harmony is valued above all else. One guy on the Bloomington Council always makes sure he votes with the majority so it looks like everybody agrees, even if he doesn’t agree. Does the Council want you “Determined to be free” or put in voluntary indentured servitude?
Tomorrow night Normal is going to decide how to spend their new-found wealth. The City Manager is quoted in the crap paper media that no one in the private sector would ever build a soccer complex, so they have to. Instead of raising private money for the past two years+, Citizens Advocating for Area Youth has been begging government for money. Not all the parents of soccer kids want government money, but they are afraid to speak up. What about you citizens of Normal? Are you determined to be free?
Then there is Bloomington. Besides the regular meeting Monday, they are holding another meeting Wednesday. It’s during the day – 11:30-1:30 – and it’s at the police station. It won’t be recorded so you can watch it later. If you are unable to attend you won’t have any clue what was said. It’s billed as a work session, details here: http://www.cityblm.org/Modules/ShowDocument.aspx?documentid=9204
The lack of transparency being exhibited is astonishing! Alderman Hauman held an informal meeting in her Ward a month or so ago. She told the attendees that Bloomington wasn’t considering the 1% Sales tax increase. Smack! She wasn’t a no vote. Now they are meeting at a time and place unavailable to most citizens. Obviously the only freedom involved is their freedom to do whatever they want.
April Huber will be holding her usual Awakening the Front of the Bloomington City Hall Monday night at 6:30. April is “determined to be free”. If you are, join her!
Ready to quit being sheep?
Diane, I have a similar background to yours as my family also came from Europe to the USA to escape the Prussian War. They settled in the Midwest as farmers. They worked hard for what they had. They lost their farm due to the “Dust Bowl.” They survived the Great Depression. They were (and still are) self-sufficient, dependable and honest and no whining allowed. “Do something or shut-up!” It is the recipients of the “participation trophies” who feel entitled. All I want the City to provide is clean water, my household waste removed, drivable roads, adequate public schools, and safety.
For me, it’s more about the Council’s deception and failure to recognize that many citizens know what is best for themselves. The Council doesn’t want to hear the truth because they don’t recognize it when it is before them nor can they handle the truth.
“Budget, Deficit and Related Process Issues” Now that’s specific! The ‘Process” will most likely be how to align with Normal. I will say this again; until the Council recognizes that THEY are to fault for the current Structural Deficit, they will not be able to make reasonable cuts to the budget.
I heard today that SF will have a footprint of appx. 3500 in the next 10 years. So, it astonishes me that one, Tari and Chris ignore this (SF informs them of their plans), and two, why do they continue to spend li ke B/N is going to grow?
Where did you hear that? Don’t they have 14,500 now?
A long time employee.
It’s entirely possible that the footprint will drop substantially. But I can’t see it down to 3500 unless they start selling off buildings at their complexes. They could fit 3500 at Corp South. Not sure about Corporate. Thing is who would by these buildings? I don’t think SF would want to be stuck with property they won’t use unless Tari wants to make them into condos.
Low income housing
Wouldn’t be a stretch. The way the economy is looking with Mittsubishi leaving and CAT cutting 10k jobs over the next few years, there probably will be a drain of higher income earners. Hyvees, Chik-Fil-As, and Red Robins are nice, but there needs to that big employer that brings people to Bloomington-Normal. Country may have an opportunity to be that employer.
They just outsourced tech jobs to India.
I think it was on the firewood paper website where someone posted a comment about the tax rates where SF was locating people to. Uh that was a no brainer why they would locate there.
Many years ago when I worked at Corp. South I think maybe 8,000 or less worked there. That was before the call center and the bank. I know a few people who still work there but I haven’t talked to them in a long time to know what is going on.
The other part of it is attracting talent. I think they were having trouble getting young grads. Phoenix is out west where Stanford, Cal Tech, UCLA, and Cal-Berkley are. Plus there is a big IT presence and lots of finanicial institutions. Richardson is near the Dallas-Forth Worth which has been growing for awhile. A big IT presence there. Plus you can get grads from Texas at Austin and the multitude of Dallas area colleges. Atlanta has tons of colleges and the area continues to grow. Ed Rust had been critical of Illinois’ corporate tax rates for years. I think State Farm will always be in Bloomington but as people retire, they may attempt to move teams to the hubs. Bloomington will be a hub but it’s more of a home office. The true strategy lies at the very top. Which stinks because there people who are wanting to know if they should start selling their house or is it OK to take out that loan to redo the deck.
It’s called crony capitalism. Obviously these two guys couldn’t care less about the burden inflicted upon the taxpayers and future generations. Somewhat concise as they pull it off, yet bumbling idiots as the full consequences are above their intellect.
Both sides of my parents came over from Europe. My mother’s side I am almost sure came from Germany. I have some relatives that have traced that side back to Europe. I probably know the least about that side.
My father’s side I believe came from England. My great great grandmother’s first name is America. She was born in the U.S. in 1883. I believe I am probably 4th or 5th generation. My great ?, not sure how many greats, grandfather fought in the Revolutionary War, 14th Virginia Regiment of the Continental Army, 1776 to 1779. The unit spent the winter of 1778-79 at Valley Forge. He lived from 1755 to 1836. Last year in November there was a dedication at his grave and a marker put up.
Not sure if any of you have heard of the website, http://www.findagrave.com I maintain my relatives memorials and link them together on that website. Most of them born in the late 1800’s I have their pictures posted too. Sort of uh like a Facebook for dead relatives. 🙁 so to speak. So far no entry there yet for me.
Not to go off tangent but I was helping someone locate someone for a class reunion and we didn’t know what her married last name was. So I went to findagrave and found her parents and sure enough the obit was posted with her name.
Will April Huber turn off her cell phone for her “Awakening?” During the last council meeting it not only rang, she proceeded to have a conversation during the meeting. Police Chief Brendan Heffner had to tell to shut up and hang up.
The Chief would have been much nicer than your account. I think April may be a nurse so who knows what kind of calls she gets. Some people just forget. Seems the farce with Renner and his cronies during these meetings is of greater concern. I think I saw Scott Black playing on his tablet while Alton Franklin called for David Hales to be fired. Kevin Lower looks the most engaged of the bunch.
Yet the mayor berates sitting aldermen and publicly exhibits psychotic blubber on blog sites. Did the chief step in for those moments?
Whatever the reason, I think Rob was trying to be a smart alek. But if Tari wants to use the police to control who opposed him he is going to lose.