Did Chris Koos LIE?

By:  Diane Benjamin Remember when the media did a story Chris Koos evidently fed to them about Stan Nord going rogue?  Koos wrote a letter to Tari Renner and the media ended up with it. https://www.pantagraph.com/news/local/govt-and-politics/koos-nord-acted-alone-to-poach-bloomington-business/article_aeff8b7c-78a3-5e32-b1ef-f65e4e81f812.html Let’s start with Koos’ first claim:  a Normal Council member went “lone wolf” to recruit across borders. I had […]

Rodney Davis needs some Connect Transit FACTS

By:  Diane Benjamin I found this article yesterday:    U S Representatives Introduce Bipartisan Bill To Increase Funding For Small Community Transit Systems Note:  “Small community”.  Tari Renner and Chris Koos don’t understand they are a SMALL Community, not Chicago. Also Note:  They are spending YOUR money. Excerpts: Currently, the STIC provides funds to those […]

More on the Hyatt

By:  Diane Benjamin Follow-up to this story:  https://blnnews.com/2019/07/30/hyatt-is-up-for-sale/ I’m sure any potential buyers of the Hyatt would know it hasn’t performed up to expectations. Since this is public record, it’s fit to print.  PDF page 159:  http://www.normal.org/ArchiveCenter/ViewFile/Item/2672 The Hyatt wanted a tax rebate from Normal, but withdrew it before the meeting.  Maybe since JB was […]

Flashback: May 11, 2016 Renner

By:  Diane Benjamin WJBC has reported Tari Renner wants to end the moratorium on new video gaming  machines: http://www.wjbc.com/2019/07/29/renner-sides-with-businesses-seeking-to-end-bloomingtons-video-gaming-freeze/ I remember when the moratorium was put in place, Tari was outraged that $50 million a year went into the machines.  It sounds like he changed his mind. Back in 2016 Tari was on WJBC talking […]

Back form the north!

By:  Diane Benjamin Hubby and I took a trip to Wisconsin this weekend.  If you head up 39 and cut through Belvidere to avoid the Rockford traffic, good news.  Wisconsin has resurfaced their stretch of Highway 76 to Clinton. Some observations: In Illinois, instead of fixing the roads they put up signs.  We saw a […]

Community Newspaper?

By:  Diane Benjamin Did you know to print just a basic obituary in the local paper will cost $205?  It looks like including a photo adds to that cost. So, your loved one is gone and funerals are ridiculously expensive.  Then the paper wants to gouge you for a couple inches of space to announce […]

Is Illinois going to violate religious freedom

By:  Diane Benjamin This is from the Illinois Constitution: http://www.ilga.gov/commission/lrb/con1.htm That sure sounds like government can’t tell you want to believe.  Until just a few years ago almost everybody believed that. Now see this article:  https://prairiestatewire.com/stories/512782685-illinois-christian-home-educators-director-fears-repercussions-of-bill-to-add-lgbt-curricula Actually read it folks!  (hint:  I can tell how many people do) Illinois wants to make sure kids hear […]

Three things you didn’t know

By:  Diane Benjamin The picture below is from the Facebook page of the downtown Bloomington business that holds Drag Queen story hour for kids.   Can anybody honestly say this is not an attempt to sexualize children?  Note the names of books they are reading to the kids.  There aren’t other life lessons as told […]

TWO State Farm Lawyers on Council

By:  Diane Benjamin Interfering in the private sector is what local government does best.  Evidently Jenn thinks she can save the State Farm building: Meanwhile other buildings in downtown have been sitting empty for years.  The CII East building is an eyesore Jenn evidently isn’t working on.  The Front and Center building is boarded up.  […]

Is Ford regretting investing in Rivian?

By:  Diane Benjamin I love reading a site called Michigan Capital Confidential.  It isn’t run-of-the-mill boring news, these guy actually investigate.  Most of their investigations pertain to Michigan, but a lot of what they find applies to politics in Illinois too. A story today mentions Rivian and Ford’s investment.  The bottom line is:  Unless government […]

Still paying dues to the NEA?

Wait Till You See What the National Education Association Is Up To Read these “New Business Items” just passed by the NEA, and see if you believe the NEA honors its Code of Ethics: “The NEA vigorously opposes all attacks on the right to choose and stands on the fundamental right to abortion under Roe v. […]

Employers lose rights, but this is Illinois

By:  Diane Benjamin It isn’t a surprise Illinois government wants to tell employers how to run their businesses.  Illinois is not participating in the prosperity much of the rest of the country is experiencing because of Illinois government. Now with the legalization of cannabis, drug testing employees could get them sued.  Employees have rights to […]

How is an application lost?

By:  Diane Benjamin Bloomington City Council last night: See 12:17. A 30 year employee of the Illinois State Police spoke at Public Comment,  He applied for the Police Chief position.  His application was submitted on time and he received a confirmation email saying his application was received.  He followed up with Nicole Albertson, head of […]

Liquor License Denied to Park Pantry

By:  Diane Benjamin By a vote of 5-4 the Liquor License recommended by Tari Renner’s Liquor Commission was denied. 4 members of the council supported the license:  Scott Black, Jamie Mathy, Julie Emig, and Jeff Crawbill.  Reasons given were to support a large investment on the west side and a review of the license after […]

Home sales a mixed bag

By:  Diane Benjamin I haven’t done a list of recent home sales in quite awhile, so here’s one based on random sales this month.  I tried to pick a variety of price ranges and some from both Bloomington and Normal.  The information comes from Zillow and County records.  Any of the properties can be looked […]

Can you shower at work?

By:  Diane Benjamin connect-transit.com July 23   This is item is on the Connect Transit agenda for tomorrow’s meeting.  Every dime was stolen from a hard working taxpayer.  $184,660!   A HOUSE could be built for that much!   PDF page 89 Will employees start showing up in their PJ’s?   Will breakfast be served too?  How do […]

Drag Queens at the Library?

By:  Diane Benjamin In case you didn’t know, there is an establishment in downtown Bloomington that holds drag queen story hours for kids.  Since they are a private business, they can do whatever they want.  Next weekend is the 2nd Pride Fest.  Last year people told me it was not a kid friendly event Holding […]

Bloomington bills for Monday

By:  Diane Benjamin http://www.cityblm.org/Home/ShowDocument?id=22247 Tari and the employees had fun: Add the previous Hawaii expenses of $1,968.00, and Tari’s trip cost $3,892.50.  https://blnnews.com/2019/04/18/off-to-hawaii/ This is what the Pantagraph reported:    Pantagraph.com twin-city-mayors-focus-on-transit-climate-at-conference The cost of the CONFERENCE was $950.00.  The paper didn’t include that part.  What did taxpayers get?  The bill? Remember the FREE entertainment […]

The funniest thing you will read today

By:  Diane Benjamin A website called SmartAsset just published a new list of: The Least-Stressed Cities in America – 2019 Edition https://smartasset.com/financial-advisor/least-stressed-cities-in-america-2019 Bloomington made the list! According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, the real unemployment rate is:    https://www.bls.gov/eag/eag.il_bloomington_msa.htm Since the survey claims they are using 2017 data, see the REAL unemployment rates in […]

Four B’s and an R (Gas Tax)

By:  Diane Benjamin Dan Brady, Bill Brady, Jason Barickman, Tom Bennett, and Chapin Rose I bet the gas prices are killing your budget.  Lawmakers never understand you have to cut your budget in other places to pay their tax increases.  You have less money to spend, therefore tax revenue, like sales tax, will decrease.  You […]

Feeling okay Koos?

By. Diane Benjamin This sage started with a planted story at WGLT, it needed 3 reporters to write it:    koos-says-nord-went-lone-wolf-fire-department-merger-uptown-recruitment Then it got funnier when the Pantagraph decided it was news:  koos-nord-acted-alone-to-poach-bloomington-business Somebody please check on Chris.  Make sure he isn’t suicidal or buying a gun.  He’s obviously lost his mind over Stan Nord. […]

Tari got clipped, then talked to death

By:  Diane Benjamin At last night’s Bloomington Committee of the Whole meeting Tari lost his ability to appoint anyone he wants to Boards and Commissions without review by the Council before a name is put on the agenda.  The Council didn’t vote, but the consensus was the Council needs to know names before notice is […]

Koos thinks Trustees merely Rubber Stamp

By:  Diane Benjamin In the past elected Trustees were just rubber stamps.  Since the election, Koos is losing control. Has Chris Koos ever read Illinois law?  Read the last line Mr. Mayor: At last night’s meeting Koos stated (15:32) the bills listed with the agenda have already been paid.  He expects the Trustees to just […]

Bloomington talks cannabis tonight?

By:  Diane Benjamin The City of Bloomington is holding a Committee of the Whole meeting tonight.  On the Agenda: The last time appointments to Boards and Commission were discussed it got contentious.  Renner wanted an appointment many on the Council objected to.  The entire process was tabled until tonight for more discussion. Video Gaming licenses […]

Why I asked about high school

By:  Diane Benjamin Followup to this story:  https://blnnews.com/2019/07/11/question-for-parents-of-high-school-kids-or-recent-grads/ The Federal deficit is closing in on $22.5 Trillion.  That debt is unsustainable and will destroy future generations.  With that in mind, besides providing funding for empty buses, here’s another questionable program from the Feds. The Unit 5 FOIA officer told me the Feds reimburse expenses for […]