By:  Diane Benjamin

The next election can’t come fast enough because all but one of the elected officials are not working for the people in Normal.  Covering last night’s meeting is going to take more than one story.  Start with Trustee comments at the end of the meeting.

Chemberly Cummings lectured the public on wearing masks and not going back to the way things were.

Karin Smith weighed in stating wearing masks has become a political statement.

Scott Preston (Republican) thinks government should keep you safe by controlling re-opening.

Koos sent a letter to the governor asking for his support for the HOI Plan.  If Pritzker doesn’t approve Normal won’t go forward

2:12:10 Lorenz (supposed Republican) claims there is no right or wrong answer.  She thinks the council needs to make a series of decisions concerning public health and economic health.  She must not realize the COUNCIL has made no decisions.  Koos and Reece are making them  She also claimed not opening the pools is an economic decision because they could have spent $1,000,000 to open them and nobody shows up.  She doesn’t realize taking away fun while favoring Uptown proves her allegiance isn’t to citizens.  (The Uptown story in part 2)

1:55:04  Stan Nord, as usual was the only voice of sanity.  He recapped an article stating businesses like distribution centers are re-thinking their plans for large facilities subject to shutdowns.  They will be moving toward smaller centers in areas that aren’t subject to shutdowns instead.  He wants Bloomington-Normal to prove they are business friendly since we are perfectly located.  He warns that operating 30 miles away will happen if both prove to be unfriendly to business.  He mentioned the McLean County Board will be voting on a plan today.  It is possible the rest of the County will open while Bloomington-Normal remains under tyranny.

Here are some facts most of the Trustees are missing:

• We don’t live in a dictatorship.  Pritzker had 30 days as stated by law and two opinions by former Attorney Generals stating he has no authority after 30 days.
• Masks aren’t a magic bullet for preventing COVID unless everybody is wearing an N95 mask that is uncomfortable and can make breathing difficult.  The masks people are wearing in public can be more dangerous – not wearing one isn’t political, it’s an informed position.  See NPR:  https://www.npr.org/sections/goatsandsoda/2020/01/29/800531753/face-masks-what-doctors-say-about-their-role-in-containing-coronavirus
• The original shutdown was to “bend the curve”.  The curve got bent so much that hospitals were empty while non-essential procedures were cancelled.  Public health has been put at risk because tests and procedures were delayed.
• Government is instituted by the people and only receive power from the consent of the governed.  (See the Declaration of Independence)  Business owners at risk of losing what they worked their entire life for are not “consenting”.  The unemployed are not “consenting” to not being able to feed their families and pay their bills.
• Nowhere is government permitted to “keep people safe”.  If they were the speed limit would be 10 miles an hour, going out after dark would be illegal, and Pritzker wouldn’t be freeing convicted murderers and rapists.
• Masks aren’t “political”, but the shutdown sure is.

Yes there are Right and Wrong answers.  Your government does not trust you to make informed decisions.  People at risk can stay home.  People too chicken to live free can stay at home.  Quarantining the healthy was a moronic political approach.  The evidence is in Pritzker’s continued tyranny and threats while his family is immune from the orders he gives the rest of us.  He will find out soon this is a bad idea.  Elected officials kissing his feet will face the same backlash.

See all of their comments at 1:44:45