By: Diane Benjamin On November 2nd Normal held a Strategic Planning Session. It was a Friday at 10:00 am in the Executive Board Room at City Hall. http://www.normal.org/ArchiveCenter/ViewFile/Item/3105 Did any citizens know about or attend this meeting? Did the press report on it? Keep in mind, Trustee RC McBride is the General Manager of […]
Guest Editorial Now that Buragas is the 3rd rat to leave the ship (out of the 4 slated to run), let’s wish her goodbye with this ditty sung to the tune of Three Blind Mice. . Three Blind Mice Three Blind Mice See how they spend See how they spend . Planning and spending is […]
By: Diane Benjamin Municipal elections are by law nonpartisan. The theory is party doesn’t matter, everyone wants to do what’s best for the City. Ask those who voted against the wishes of voters if they did that when they voted for the Coliseum. Ask the recent council members if taking $40 million+ more a year […]
By: Diane Benjamin Follow up to this story: https://blnnews.com/2018/11/27/taris-candidates/ The below is posted on Jenn Carrillo’s Facebook page and copied to the Facebook page of at least one other candidate. It proves Jenn, Jeff Crabill, Georgene Chissell, and Julie Emig are running as a team. Would these 4 solve problems or create more? They can’t […]
By: Diane Benjamin I can see why the finance documents aren’t included in the packet on the Bloomington Council nights where the monthly recap is presented. I’m sure it’s much more fun to claim everything is fine than show the proof. See what was reported Monday night here: http://www.cityblm.org/Home/ShowDocument?id=20321 When they talk about Sales Tax […]
By: Diane Benjamin The first day petitions for the City Council could be circulated was August 28th. That’s almost 3 months ago. Amelia Buragas finally decided on the final day that she wasn’t running again. She probably notified Tari a few days ago which led to a frantic attempt to get signatures for a candidate […]
By: Diane Benjamin Ward 8 wasn’t represented as Diana Hauman was absent. Of course nobody mentioned why. The ISU kids showed up in Bloomington to support Tobacco 21 during public comment. ISU has indoctrinated them well to believe government needs to “parent” the population for the good of the collective. Sending your kids to college […]
I hear a challenge has been filed to Julie Emig’s petitions. By: Diane Benjamin Since yesterday was the deadline, this is what the April Bloomington ballot will look like. These are the only Wards being elected in this cycle. Amelia Buragas was the last rat to jump ship. She has been hurriedly replaced. The starred […]
Guest Editorial Council races are finally shaping up so we see who the players are. Who is up for more games and grandstanding and who is finally fed up? . All we know for sure is that Haumann and Sage are out of there, and the reasons for that are obvious to any Council watchers […]
By: Diane Benjamin As a person who doesn’t get excited by vehicles, the Rivian announcement means little to me – until the last paragraph of the second link below: It won’t be available until 2020. The largest battery is good for 400 miles. See these two links for more information: https://www.theverge.com/platform/amp/2018/11/26/18111782/rivian-r1t-electric-pickup-price-specs-la-auto-show-2018 https://www.foxnews.com/auto/the-rivian-rt1-may-be-the-american-made-electric-pickup-of-the-near-future
One more filed for Ward 8 By: Diane Benjamin Today is the last day to file for the April election. So far these candidates have filed for Bloomington City Council: http://www.becvote.org/wordpress/electiondatesandoffices/petitions-filed/ BEC appears to only have City Council candidates posted. School Boards, township, etc are not posted. McLean County has a new website, I […]
By: Diane Benjamin Bills and Payroll The arena continues to fleece taxpayers: I wonder how many payments there will be? Legal Fees For October (the boot of government?): History Museum and Visitors Center: Following Normal’s lead, Bloomington will be taxing short-term rentals! All residents who rent their property will be required to register. If the website […]
We live in a great country where everyday acts of kindness largely go unreported. I hope these stories prove Americans are still the most generous and caring people on earth. Good Samaritan returns wallet left on Frontier flight, adds money to it just because http://www.fox10phoenix.com/news/us-world-news/good-samaritan-returns-wallet-left-on-frontier-flight-adds-money-to-it-just-because Soldier Says A Stranger’s Christmas Card Got Him Through Vietnam. […]
By: Diane Benjamin Pepsi hasn’t paid for naming rights at the Ice Center for years. That doesn’t keep Bloomington from still giving them free advertising: PDF page 196 of the annual financial statements: http://www.cityblm.org/home/showdocument?id=20281 “Pepsi” is also on PDF pages 32 and 33. Grossinger Motors does pay for naming rights of the former US […]
By: Diane Benjamin It is very easy to describe government in Normal: “Government’s view of the economy could be summed up in a few short phrases: If it moves, tax it. If it keeps moving, regulate it. And if it stops moving, subsidize it.” Ronald Reagan Hotel occupancy in Bloomington-Normal is way down, according to […]
By: Diane Benjamin Government does not create prosperity. Government can only function on money it steals from citizens. The pic below is from PDF page 194 of the Bloomington financial statements: http://www.cityblm.org/home/showdocument?id=20281 10 years ago 4 of the top 10 employers were government, in 2018 it is 5 of 10. The only government agency […]
Press Release November 18, 2018 Stan Nord to run for Normal Town Council Stan Nord is pleased to announce his candidacy for Normal Town Council in the consolidated election on April 2nd, 2019. He has prepared the necessary filings and is excited to start the campaign process. He looks forward to presenting his views on […]
By: Diane Benjamin Long time readers know the former Coliseum managers would issue their financial statements, and then the auditor would issue theirs. The media always reported the CIAM numbers but never the audited numbers. Audited losses were much higher! The media is continuing to report fake news because the audited number from VenuWorks aren’t […]
By: Diane Benjamin I don’t think Amelia has said if she plans to run again. Somebody needs to challenge her! She’s never met a government program or tax increase she didn’t approve of. You still have time to get on the ballot. Contact the Bloomington Election Commission in the Government Center. Amelia is the one […]
By: Diane Benjamin http://www.normal.org/ArchiveCenter/ViewFile/Item/3118 Just a few bills being paid Monday night: Last year around 400 employees all got $60 Target gift cards for Christmas: https://blnnews.com/2017/11/29/normal-throws-money-at-employees/ ________________________________ Proving yet again you don’t really own your property in Normal: Normal wants to tax you for short-term rental of your house! Can’t sell because your house […]
By: Diane Benjamin These three plan to run for the Bloomington City Council, obviously they aren’t running as non-partisan: To replace David Sage, another Cheri Bustos recruit – Georgeen Chissell. How much money will Chicago Democrats funnel to her? Trying to unseat Karen Schmidt – Jenn Carrillo (angry brown woman): […]
By: Diane Benjamin The local progressives are possessed with bringing in illegal aliens! The latest is Illinois State University: Since we have no borders, these people aren’t illegal, merely undocumented. Yes it was sponsored by ISU: One of the speakers is a candidate for the Bloomington City Council – a former illegal alien […]
The Bloomington City Council meetings never start on time now that the time has been changed to 6:00 pm. The members that did show up are happily chatting away after 6:00: Last night Amelia Buragas, Scott Black, and Diana Hauman were no shows. Of course no explanation to the Wards they failed to represent. Kimberly […]
Local elections are early next year. Petitions have to be submitted between November 19 and the 26th. We need conservatives running for city councils and school boards. I can help with funding your campaign! You need to be getting signatures NOW. Contact me at [email protected] Diane
By: Diane Benjamin Tomorrow night the City of Bloomington is finally going to release the financial statements for the year that ended SEVEN months ago. The only reason they are releasing them is because the data is already available on the Comptroller’s website. Interesting reporting: The previous year they reported this: Population is dropping while […]
By: Diane Benjamin I really hope the people who keep throwing money in have requested to see certified financial statements! Trust but verify! From an email yesterday:
By: Diane Benjamin Bills and Payroll: http://www.cityblm.org/Home/ShowDocument?id=20301 Ending Sick Leave Buy Back and the penalties that go with allowing employees to spike their pensions is not going to end anytime soon. What the Council passed recently was a dog and pony show designed to make you believe they heard your outrage. Monday night you will […]
Why was the Democrat Party Chairman handing out pizza to the voters at ISU? Erik Rankin just happen to be with Dan Brady’s opponent – Ben Webb. Webb had to be asked to leave since his presence at a polling place is obviously illegal. Rankin didn’t know that? (Seems democrats either never know the rules […]
I am feeling better than two weeks ago, still not back at full strength – but getting there. I’ve been struggling with something for quite awhile. As this site becomes more and more popular, the attacks are becoming more frequent. I’m an expert at seeing who wants information and who doesn’t care about facts. Arguing […]
By: Diane Benjamin JB might have bought the governorship, but it didn’t work in the McLean County Clerk’s race. The final contribution numbers to candidates are not yet available. I can tell you what contributions are listed to date on the Board of Elections website. Nikita Richards received $20,720 Nikita Richards Here’s a few […]
By: Diane Benjamin One of the 5 charged in connection with the Coliseum pleaded guilty yesterday. See this Pantagraph story: https://www.pantagraph.com/news/local/crime-and-courts/guilty-former-bloomington-arena-official-gets-fine-probation-after-plea/article_00b6cb16-2aeb-5558-9614-2a50e543d503.html#tracking-source=home-top-story-2 One part of the story doesn’t make any sense: ________________________ I hope these numbers aren’t what the entire case against the five is based on. The commissions don’t make any sense either. According to […]
By: Diane Benjamin Follow up to this story: https://blnnews.com/2018/10/20/the-corn-crib-fleece/ The property ID # in the County system for the Corn Crib was 14-17-400-004. You can look this PIN number up on the County Assessor’s site: http://mcleanil.devnetwedge.com/ Taxes for 2010 were $95,365.40 Taxes for 2011 were $145,019.90 Taxes for 2012 were $32,119.36 Taxes for 2013 were ZERO Heartland […]
By: Diane Benjamin Congrats Illinois. Democrats are in complete control. Will somebody please name one place where Democrats have allowed prosperity. Anyone? Anyone? Democrats create dependents, not a vibrant growing economy. Illinois will collapse under the weight of politicians who refuse to fix the problems. Likely it is too late to leave Illinois since property […]
https://csteventucker.wordpress.com/2018/11/06/the-truth-about-republicans-and-preexisting-conditions/ Contrary to popular belief, both Democrats AND Republicans have had a long history of ensuring that Americans have access to coverage for preexisting conditions. In fact, a bipartisan piece of federal legislation requiring coverage for preexisting conditions existed long before the implementation of the ACA – Affordable Care Act, known colloquially as “Obamacare”. Public law […]
Voting is more than a right. It is the duty of every citizen! Vote YES to eliminate the Bloomington Election Commission Problems voting in Bloomington: Call 309.888.5136 Problems voting anywhere else in McLean County: Call 309.888.5189 or 309.888.5956 / / / / / / / / / /
By: Diane Benjamin The paper decided to publish a multi-part story on sexual assault victims. Gee, why? This is one of them: https://www.pantagraph.com/news/local/b-n-sexual-assault-survivors-reveal-trauma-lessons/article_e6a2547d-f8a2-5b55-908f-1b4ca3c6f764.html#tncms-source=infinity-scroll-summary-siderail-latest If they thought it would get out the democrat vote, they probably did the opposite. The story claims those that have now come forward did so because of the Kavanaugh hearings. Yes, […]
By: Diane Benjamin The lawyer the City of Bloomington hired to investigate the computer usage of Nikita Richards was John Redlingshafer. According to his profile he specializes in: https://www.lawyers.com/peoria/illinois/John-Redlingshafer-3448847-a/ Aviation & Airports Governmental Business and Commercial Litigation Agribusiness Nothing is mentioned about his ability to investigate computers and browser history. Experts do exist […]
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