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 when legal used to be done by a staff lawyer for what is paid to Springfield in only 3 months.

When legal expenses explode there is always a reason.  Hiding information and developing back room deals are just a couple I can think of.

The most interesting part of the interview came toward the end.  Remember just weeks ago when Tari wasn’t interested in funding a soccer complex?

Of course that was before the election.

Start listening about 10:00.  Renner and Koos talked to area reps in DC during the One Voice trip.  They asked them to get an extension for soccer use at the airport.  Renner and Koos wanted an extension for THEM – not the kids.  Renner clearly stated they needed more time of time to work out the details for a complex – complete with fields for rugby, cricket, soccer, and indoor ice.  It will be great – tournaments will happen here.  If you pay to build it they will come.

Renner claims there is a shortage of ice here.  The Pepsi Ice Center does normally break even or  show a small profit – on Operations.  It does not generate money to pay the mortgage and it doesn’t generate a dime in property taxes.  Renner’s dreams of a sports complex will take more land off the tax rolls – a lot of land.  Renner thinks Bloomington’s contribution will be to rebate sales taxes.

In a race to the bottom, Bloomington and Normal will soon have yet another public asset that costs more than it generates.

Quality of Life!

( or government tyranny – take your pick)