By: Diane Benjamin
Media was quick to report East Peoria is moving forward with reopening their City. WEEK Live streamed Mayor John Kahl’s press conference on May 1st. The only place I have been able to find it is on the East Peoria’s Facebook page.
What I have not heard in any media report is this:
- This city of around 23,400 people is expecting a budget shortfall of $5.4 million
- City departments have reviewed budgets and cut 15%
- 4th of July fireworks have been cancelled, Mayor Kahl said he could not in good conscience spend money on non-essentials when people are out of work
- The City budget is down to bare-bones essential services
- If more cuts are needed layoffs or concessions from labor will be the only options
City finances are not discussed until about 10 minutes before the press conference was over. If this small city is expecting to collect $5.4 million less, what are Bloomington and Normal expecting? What cuts are they making?
The tone set by Mayor Kahl was exceptional, it is worth listening to at least part if you are on Facebook.
See the story WEEK did that doesn’t mention any of the above: https://week.com/2020/05/01/east-peoria-moves-forward-with-local-plan-to-reopen-businesses/
It does have this:
Meanwhile, Normal’s Mayor Chris Koos authorized the police to enforce rules laid out by the governor: http://www.normal.org/DocumentCenter/View/16503/Emergency-Order-20-008—Stay-at-home-enforcement-?bidId=
That is the difference between leadership and a tyrant.
Below are details of the East Peoria re-opening, evidently McLean County doesn’t have any leaders doing similar:
Not one shot was fired and poof! Just like that we’re screwed. Idiot lemmings like Koos, Renner, Jenn and Jeff and many other demonrat followers will be a part of the carnage as unbeknownst to them, they are still not a part of the billionaires club.
Koos and Renner are happy to drive out most private businesses so they can replace them with taxpayer-subsidized “right fit” crony businesses that they approve of. When things return back to some level of normalcy in our society, watch all the handouts to help local businesses. See who gets money/rebates/tax breaks/etc. and who doesn’t. Koos better figure out what to do about ISU and fast. Hundreds of colleges and universities are getting sued by students because they’re not getting full refunds, and projected college attendance nationally is expected to plummet come fall semester.