By: Diane Benjamin
When the Pantagraph didn’t need their huge building anymore they sold it. Anything happening there with the new buyers or is it just another empty downtown building?
Since they realized they didn’t need that much space and probably couldn’t afford to keep what isn’t absolutely necessary, they moved to a small space. How many subscriptions have they lost with their constant price increases? I see people bailing out frequently on Facebook, especially when they realize a year’s subscription doesn’t mean a year.
Do the Pantagraph advertisers ask for circulation numbers? Do the advertisers know the Pantagraph is GIVING AWAY papers to make them believe subscriptions are higher. How many of those free papers are simply tossed?
It was no surprise to see how two Pantagraph reported today on Eastland Mall wanting to pay less property tax. Government economics is sacred, the same economic forces that made them move and lose subscriptions must not apply to government, at least in their opinion.
See if you see a problem with the second paragraph: https://www.pantagraph.com/business/local/eastland-mall-owners-challenge-tax-assessment/article_20f8d9e0-2083-5bfd-b617-5663c6175a28.html#tracking-source=home-top-story-2
Anybody?
This one is pretty easy unless you believe government must control all, entertain, and steal from citizens whatever they need to accomplish those goals.
Obviously the Pantagraph does!
Would that be socialism, Marxism, or communism?
It doesn’t matter which, it sure isn’t government “for and by the people”.
State Farm will be doing more downsizing. It is WAY past time for government to downsize.
The mall is just joining the conga line of property tax protesters. Raising taxes on the citizens who haven’t yet left will do the same thing to the City that happened to the Pantagraph when they raised prices.
Maybe Bloomington-Normal needs a yellow vest protest – without the violence of course. Orange vests would probably work better since lots of people have them already for hunting.
The Pantagraph needs to lose even more subscribers. They are obviously against taxpayers.
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When there was talk of the downtown hotel for Bloomington while the Pantagraph was still in their old building they pushing for it to be part of the development? I agree the time has come for protests like the ones in France without violence… Time for the sheep to show there is something under that wool.
WHY ole Smiling at the end of the rainbow sash TARI will re-invent EASTLAND, sure as GOD made little green apples! Don’t ya know, soon, it’ll be so far underwater he’ll make it an aquarium, and fund it along with the zoo..
EVERYONE in Bloomington should protest their property taxes! Since SF is moving folks out, certain price range houses are HARDER to sell, which means cheaper prices! See HALES house as an example!
Just look at the number for sale vs sales…
The selective concern for taxpayers by the Pantagraph is comical. When was the last time they had our backs? (They’re usually stomping on them.) Has the Pantagraph spoken out against the increased taxpayer burden on others as a result of the losses from and mismanagement of the Arena, BCPA, Downtown Business Association, Green Top Grocery, or Route 66 Museum? Of course not. Elitists hate shopping malls, and since it’s based out of town, CBL is easy to pick on without making waves at the next Chamber gala. Is the mall ownership group perfect or without blame? Of course not. However, they’re doing what anyone else in their shoes would do given the circumstances. My hunch is Tari and his pals will say “no” and CBL will respond with diminished financial support for mall management, which would mean less upkeep and interest in investing in a turnaround. Tari will then get mad at CBL for hurting our workforce, putting public safety at risk, not paying their fair share, and other “it’s all your fault” talking points. Things spiral from there. Local tax bodies would be wise to make a deal with CBL that includes some contingencies in return for a revised tax bill.
I think they should take the PRICKSTER approach. Remove all the toilets.
You’re likely not far off, Meidaghpst. If CBL can’t pay the bills, they’ll start making operational cuts at Eastland. Cleaning, security, maintenance, repairs, etc. will likely all be trimmed to the bone. The Pantagraph appears to be laying down cover fire for the taxing bodies to say “no” to CBL’s request. How’s Austin Grammar coming along with those top-tier retailers that want to come to Bloomington? I’m sure Neiman Marcus and Tiffany’s will be moving here any day now. Plenty of disposable income from the claims and customer service jobs that will remain at State Farm’s Bloomington locations.
The “Slantagraph” is so biased it’s NOT even news.. It’s OK when those slime balls downsize due to loss of revenue due to THEIR views, Eastland is a victim of the local economy!! They have lost 4 of 5 ANCHOR stores, so maybe they SHOULD get their taxes reduced 4/5ths!!
IF I ran Eastland I’d give the CITY ONLY 2 choices-Give us OUR request or we raze the building.
Then Tari can re-invent a parking lot into a bicycle training ground for the “future” millenials that want to live here..
Maybe Johnee Painter can get the area speed limit raised to 40mph, since it’s ONE lane and there’s no mall traffic..
Eastland is dying and will become one of the hundreds of dead malls around the country quicker than anyone can imagine. The Pantagraph has a 20th Century business model that can’t be sustained much longer. State Farm is a 20th Century company that cannot survive with the leadership and business model it currently has. All of the higher education institutions here have priced themselves out of their own market and their value in the marketplace is declining as technology disrupts them.
Employment and GDP is declining in Bloomington/Normal at a time when the national economy is booming with unemployment at an all time low for all racial and ethnic groups. The tax base for all governing bodies is shrinking and will soon start to force leadership to cut staff and services.
What worked here before is not working in 2018. What protected Bloomington/Normal from the cycles of economic ups and downs no longer exists. The protective bubble is gone. Yes, we have a media and leadership (business and governmental) who refuse to even talk about what is happening? And when the next round of layoffs at State Farm comes… what will we hear from our media and leadership? “Nothing to see here… move along citizens, we have this under control”
Sorry, Lawrence555, Renner and Koos are busy opining about the prevention of nuclear war. As seasoned foreign policy experts with vast diplomatic experience, they are well-suited to this task. Haha! This, of course, is just another way for them to score points with their lefty loony base and avoid dealing with the real issues: declining commercial/industrial base and outmigration. Both Renner and Koos are in complete denial of the economic realities facing Bloomington-Normal. So sad.
The next big round of layoffs at SF is closer than people realize. SF is in the final stages of implementation of a new software suite called “Policy Center”. PC automates underwriting and will replace the vast majority of SF underwriters and their support staff. When the layoffs come for the highly compensated underwriting staff they will number between 2000 and 3000 in BloNo.
Not to worry, Erik. I’m sure Renner and Koos will tax the rest of us more in order to make up for the decline in tax revenue. Thus, the spiral of Bloomington-Normal will kick into overdrive. People that can move will move. Lower wage jobs like claims and customer service will stay and grow here. By the way, as you alluded to, underwriters are well-paid and typically have superior mathematical and/or STEM skills and background. So, in addition to the financial loss of tax revenue, the hit on our ability to advance the local economy may be just as devastating in the medium-to-long term.
Get tired of listening to people complain about the Pantagraph, but fail to step up and do the obvious “right thing”: Boycott. Pantagraph. Advertisers! (And be extremely vocal with merchants about why you are doing so) Probably won’t change the behaviors of the “big guys” with national accounts, but many small businesses will listen. Trust me. It works!
That would be almost every retail business in the cities! Taking into account the insert ads too!