By: Diane Benjamin Evidently the media isn’t the least bit curious about Hudson’s mayor quitting right after he got elected. Jason Collins said he was quitting for personal reasons. It wasn’t easy to get a copy of the letter Collins sent to the Board, but I did receive a redacted version. This is what Section […]
By: Diane Benjamin The new City website isn’t fine. Last week the OLD website was back: https://blnnews.com/2017/05/26/not-up-in-smoke-its-the-cloud/ This morning this is what I got at cityblm.org It has been like this for hours. It can still be navigated, but is this what tax dollars paid for? (I just checked again, it may now be fixed. […]
By: Diane Benjamin Yesterday news reports stated the zoo increased the number of visitors from last year and revenues were up around $21,000. Good for them! One reason given was the new flamingo exhibit. Left out of all the good news stories is how much it cost to increase revenue and attendance. Just construction – […]
Lots of people asked me over the weekend about Andy (husband), so here’s the latest: He has been at home for a little less than 2 weeks. He needs little help getting around or taking care of himself, but he is still really tired. He isn’t capable of doing regular tasks yet. I know a […]
By: Diane Benjamin How much did the bike trail from Chenoa to Funks Grove cost? Good question – but I have no idea! Researching anything the County does is close to impossible. The County took the lead, but Bloomington, Normal, Chenoa, Lexington, McLean and Towanda all contributed. All County work is done in committees and then […]
By: Diane Benjamin Source: http://www.connect-transit.com/documents/05-30-2017%20Regular%20Board%20Meeting%20Binder1.pdf Tonight Connect Transit’s Board will discuss ending some unprofitable routes. Sorry, they don’t mean all of them since NONE of the them are profitable. They just want to get rid of the worst ones. One would think Connect is trying to reduce the massive operating losses, sorry again – that […]
By: Diane Benjamin On this Memorial Day weekend, we remember those who have fought and died for us. America began with a war for freedom and many wars have been fought since to protect it. We would not enjoy this legacy today without the sacrifices of those willing to lose their life in our defense. […]
The newer website is now back. The Council approved the website back in March of 2016: http://www.cityblm.org/home/showdocument?id=10583 ________________________________________________ By: Diane Benjamin I came across the name of the company I think the City of Bloomington hired to do their new website. I went to cityblm.org to research payments. Surprise – the new website was gone and […]
Evidently WJBC isn’t doing podcasts today – no Karch interview available. By: Diane Benjamin Kevin Lower ran for mayor on fixing the streets. Tari did too but, but unlike Lower – Tari wasn’t telling you the truth. This morning, Public Works director Jim Karch was on WJBC. The ONLY money Bloomington is spending on streets […]
By: Diane Benjamin You already know R.C McBride is the General Manager of WGLT radio and he is a Trustee on the Normal Town Council: http://wglt.org/people/category/6 http://www.normal.org/1135/Meet-the-Council , , , , , . If that isn’t enough to question the integrity of WGLT reporting, here’s more: http://www.mcleancountydemocrats.org/?zone=/unionactive/view_page.cfm&page=Other20counties McBride is also a precinct committeeman for the […]
Today I got this response: Obviously there is no reason why this lame response couldn’t have been given within the 5 days allowed by law. The Grove information came from this document dated February 2015: http://www.cityblm.org/home/showdocument?id=12052 Since many more houses have been built at the Grove since 2015 – Tari is relying on old information. […]
By: Diane Benjamin The silent majority who just want government to leave them alone are being stomped by the local boots of government. They stayed home yet again for the local elections. Evidently their destruction is the only remedy for narcolepsy. Stay asleep, that’s what they want (and your money). This is what Democracy looks […]
By: Diane Benjamin Council meetings are pretty boring now that no one is looking out for citizens. It is fun to see big government types spin their wheels trying to justify their overreach to control the people, especially if you don’t live in Bloomington. The Transportation Committee, supposedly to increase transparency, will get approved at […]
By: Diane Benjamin If Connect does hold their scheduled meeting tomorrow, it won’t be legal. The agenda must be posted 48 hours in advance according to the Open Meetings Act. Nothing has been posted. Click here and verify the packet for 5/23 meeting is not listed: http://www.connect-transit.com/about/trustees/packet.asp Leave a comment below, I may need witnesses. […]
By: Diane Benjamin https://drive.google.com/file/d/0B4zAZemF_qQuTWpzaE1qbUt2Wk0/view Connect Transit held a Budget Work Session on May 2nd. The documentation shows the massive operating losses will continue. They want to increase advertising revenue, but that will have a minor effect on the loss. The link above has some budget scenarios based on changing budget conditions. Many of them […]
By: Diane Benjamin Twelve States have now passed a Convention of States Resolution. 34 states must pass it to make the Convention happen. Contrary to what naysayers claim, this is not a Constitutional Convention. The resolution says nothing about re-writing the Constitution. Abolishing the Constitution won’t be discussed, the Convention of States is merely a […]
By: Diane Benjamin At every recent Council meeting Mayor Renner has appointed people to various boards and commissions. He is obviously transferring his agenda to every part of Bloomington and anywhere he can in the County. How many people didn’t want to stop serving, but were forced to? Monday night Renner has two appointments and […]
By: Diane Benjamin I recently had some time to read through the minutes of CIRA Board meetings and other information on their website. Discussion about extending the soccer lease took place in March: http://cira.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/04/March-14-2017-minutes.pdf Normal has every intention of forcing its citizens to pay for the proposed complex: I found another item that is even […]
By: Diane Benjamin Kimberly Bray was just elected to represent the 9th Ward. Rumor has it she has never voted in a local election before this one. (If she did – she could easily prove it!) Rumor also has it that Joni Painter and Tari Renner recruited her to run. She obviously doesn’t read BlnNews […]
By: Diane Benjamin The first person to be banned from commenting on this site is a lady named Regina Boe. She is employed by the Carol Stream Library, she’s far from local. Regina was banned because she has no interest in having a conversation , she simply spouts left-wing talking points. If she is proved […]
By: Diane Benjamin My husband is coming home tomorrow! Andy was supposed to be at BroMenn for 3 weeks, but he is progressing so well he got out a week early. Andy still has more outpatient rehab to go, but he is closing in on a complete recovery. Only many many prayers and God’s grace […]
By: Diane Benjamin The media did leave the Committee of the Whole meeting early. I didn’t see any reporting on the most important item on the agenda: Burying you in taxes and/or debt! Here’s the plan: PDF page 65 http://www.cityblm.org/Home/ShowDocument?id=12980 The City wants to spend $285.82 million over the next 5 years with only $59.78 […]
By: Diane Benjamin Yesterday I reported on a property that sold in March 2016 for $2,670,000, but it only had a taxable value of $1,789,289 by December 31st. https://blnnews.com/2017/05/15/how-did-this-happen/ The McLean County Assessor’s office said I needed to contact the Township Assessor to find out why the taxable value is much less than the purchase price. I […]
By: Diane Benjamin After the McLean County Chamber of Commerce supported every big spender in the local elections, they are now want a huge sports complex at your expense. If government created prosperity, Illinois would be the most successful state in the country! Instead, people are fleeing high taxes, regulations, and government nonsense. But the […]
By: Diane Benjamin Remember in 2014 when a new soccer complex was proposed? That plan involved relocating the YMCA to south Main where the Great Escape used to be. The new building would be a community center. All the planners needed was a tax increase to fund it. State Farm Bank was owed money on […]
By: Diane Benjamin Last week I received this email from a patron of a downtown Bloomington business: When I drove down Main Street today, I noticed that several businesses had their doors wide open. I made a comment to an employee at the locale where I was conducting my business about the nice weather outside. […]
This article was just published by the Illinois Policy Institute: https://www.illinoispolicy.org/grand-bargain-redux-brady-plan-the-next-in-a-long-list-of-failed-compromises-for-illinoisans/ Bill Brady proves once again why the IL GOP is useless: Only in Illinois could a budget deal that hits struggling Illinoisans with billions in new taxes be called a “grand bargain.” Excerpts: State Sen. Bill Brady, R-Bloomington, has proposed what he hopes may […]
By: Diane Benjamin Normal agenda and documentation for Monday night: http://www.normal.org/ArchiveCenter/ViewFile/Item/2628 Below are some items I found interesting – many others could be questioned. This meeting will be short – nothing serious isn’t on the consent Agenda. 1) Town will reimburse emergency repairs. The documentation says a contractor caused the sewer back-up, there is nothing […]
By: Diane Benjamin A few days ago a saw a biker on Veterans Parkway, he constantly looked over his shoulder to see if he was going to get hit. Yesterday a lady on a bike made a left hand turn in front of me without any signals. Remember when we were kids – left arm […]
By: Diane Benjamin Last week I wrote about the review of signatures of some voters in Normal: https://blnnews.com/2017/05/06/normals-vote-recount/ The McLean County Clerk has the signatures on file for the purpose matching the voter with that signature on election day. Since voter ID isn’t required, it’s quite easy for anyone to pick the name of a […]
By: Diane Benjamin The City of Bloomington has Master Plans for everything – instead of fixing the roads, they spent MILLIONS of dollars on plans that are now out of date. Gee, maybe they should just do the essential services citizens want and quit trying to create demand where none exists! (Limited Government – figure […]
By: Diane Benjamin Tari Renner on WJBC this morning: https://audioboom.com/posts/5905103-tari-renner-bloomington-mayor-5-10-17?t=0 Listen to his opening statement declaring how transparent the City is! Bull Tari. The results of Council meetings are pre-determined, FOIA requests are routinely denied, City Manager reports with usable information no longer exist, and suddenly the City MUST spend $60,000+ a month on legal […]
By: Diane Benjamin At the Council meeting two weeks ago, where City Manager David Hales got a raise, Alderman David Sage promised a speech praising him at the next meeting. That meeting was very lengthily, so he wanted to delay his accolades. Since every vote was unanimous Monday night, the meeting was short. Sage took […]
By: Diane Benjamin Alderman Mboka Mwilambwe doesn’t like that these pictures of the damage done by teenagers at McGraw Park are on social media: I hope he doesn’t like them here either! The teenagers have been caught after police were called at 2:00am. According to the Pantagraph, a neighbor of the park followed them until […]
By: Diane Benjamin Jeff Jurgens needs to take his show on the road. The City of Bloomington has BOUGHT the Springfield law firm now, so any opinions he offers are obviously going to be the answer the City wants to hear. Keep in mind the City sends Sorling Northup Hanna around $60,000 every month. A […]
By: Diane Benjamin The City of Bloomington is selling this property for $5,000 tonight. The house was condemned years ago, the City tore is down for $9,690.00. The address is 206 N Dorrah. PDF page 54 http://www.cityblm.org/Home/ShowDocument?id=12802 The sale was advertised in the Pantagraph, the City needs to find a new way to publicize sales […]
By: Diane Benjamin Tonight’s Bloomington Council packet contains this statement on PDF page 4: http://www.cityblm.org/Home/ShowDocument?id=12802 Now jump to the Bills and Payroll for tonight: http://www.cityblm.org/Home/ShowDocument?id=12794 PDF page 107 The City if THROWING away money by allowing employees to spike their pensions! This payment of $64,859.95 brings the total to $1,877,252.40 since the law was changed in […]
