By: Diane Benjamin
Public comment went over 30 minutes last night. That set a new precedent for allowing it to go over 30 minutes without a Council vote. Keep that in mind when Tari doesn’t want to allow all the speakers in the future. The 30 minute time limit should only apply when someone is talking, the time it takes to shuffle speakers shouldn’t be included.
Just so you know, the City isn’t keeping a permanent record of what is said at public comment. They are erasing history by no longer including a recap of what is said. This started shortly after the new out-or-town clerk was recruited. Here’s an example of what is recorded now:
The only permanent record is the videos. We don’t know how long they will be retained. Think the City really cares about the opinions of citizens?
The first two speakers complained about the conditions of the sidewalks. Both have disabilities and find them unusable. Both claimed to have talked to Alderman Schmidt, obviously aldermen have no power to get anything done.
Next was a string of people opposed to VenuWorks taking over the management at the BCPA. It’s fun to hear self-serving citizens who think everybody else should pay for what they want. The Council later voted 9-0 against VenuWorks. Since that move was presented as saving at least $200,000, don’t expect this Council to find anything to cut. Of course no one on the Council thinks government shouldn’t be in the entertainment business. How many sidewalks would $200,000 fix?
Listen to Angela Scott, Bruce Meeks and Scott Stimely at 35:00.
Former Alderman Jim Fruin showed up, see his comments at 51:40. He wants the Council to share sales tax with Normal, a plan they already rejected. He also wants a code of conduct for Council members. He doesn’t explain who gets to judge the behavior of others. We already have Not In Our Town who thinks they get to judge, we know how that has worked out! Who gets to set the standards Jim? If an alderman raises their voice do they get censured? Jim, what we really need is a way for citizens to recall members of the Council who exhibit behavior unbecoming of a public servant.
Of course, that won’t happen!
Just hit play to hear all public comments:
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The BCPA takes from the working poor and gives to the upper-middle class. Higher taxes and bigger deficits take a disproportionately bigger slice of income from the working poor. And BCPA attendees are predominately upper-income residents of the Twin Cities. So, in essence, us working stiffs pay for the rich to experience culture. Where’s the outrage from the social justice warriors? If the BCPA is such a gem, why can’t it self-fund through endowments, sponsorships, and private grants?
Preach it!
Thanks, sickofit. If we had candidates for local office that made such arguments, I believe the Council would sing a different tune. The people in Bloomington are starting to wake up. It’s evident when I speak to folks around town…outside of the Downtown area of course. Tari is on the run politically, and the Council, recognizing that he’s a liability, is now hedging their bets. Let’s keep the heat on.
A better question is why would they self fund when our representatives will steal our money to fund it. Same with Down Town. I would personally like to see the sales tax that’s been collected and paid by every downtown business that has been part of the DBA and lobbied for city funding. If I gambled, and I don’t, I would lay odds that there have been some questionable tax collecting going on Down Town.
Social justice warriors already have their agenda and it does not include justice for all.
Angela Scott has the grace and dignity to apologize when she’s out of line. Too bad Tari’s not willing to follow her example.
There are nice respectable people in this world and then there are jerks. Guess which one Tari is.