By: Diane Benjamin
Problem identified: Kathleen’s facts are right, Stan Nord’s aren’t.
Did Kathleen read this story? Her facts were WAY OFF! https://blnnews.com/2020/12/10/lorenz-how-about-not-believing-everything-you-are-told/
Kathy didn’t do any better in an interview with Cities 92.9. She was there to counter an interview Stan Nord did previously.
You can listen to it here: https://www.cities929.com/david-paul-blumenshine/
The first topic was spending State gas tax money on trails. That gas tax was doubled supposedly to fix infrastructure. Stan thinks spending it on trail extensions is bait and switch. Kathleen thinks grants are free money and if the State wants to hand them 80% of a project she is more than happy to kick in 20%. That 20% is why money isn’t available for roads, WANTS always take priority over the needs of citizens.
Bigger issue:
The police going to Maggie Miley’s came up. It pertains to this story: https://blnnews.com/2020/12/04/pam-reece-insubordination/
Lorenz claimed the Town did exactly want they planned to do – send a police report to the Health Department. The problem is I FOIA’d the Health Department for all reports from the Town of Normal for the last 60 days. Maggie Miley’s wasn’t there. The Health Department only received 1 report, it was on Joe’s Stationhouse.
Why was Maggie Miley’s not sent to the Health Department? Maybe because they went out of business Kathleen? The police report shows the few customers there when the police arrived paid their bills and left. Sounds like intimidation for breaking no laws.
Another issue:
Lorenz has no problem with the Town debt. She claims there is a plan. As long as the payments can be made, regardless of how much money is being thrown away on interest, she’s fine with it. I wonder if she has ever paid interest only on a loan? Why does she think it’s okay to make citizens likely pay close to double for Uptown folly by paying only interest on some bonds? Is that a Responsible City?
Does Kathleen personally borrow money based on if she can make the payments? She mentioned her house is almost paid off. Will she refinance it for her personal folly? I bet the answer is NO, that policy only applies government. Home buyers are urged to look at 15 year mortgages with a payment that isn’t much higher than a 30 year loan. This saves 10’s of thousands of dollars over the life of the loan.
Kathleen, why do different rules apply to government borrowing? Because it isn’t their money being wasted?
Finally:
According to Kathleen: Leadership is getting people to follow you when they don’t want to go.
Try this: https://www.dph.illinois.gov/covid19/outbreak-locations?regionID=2&rPeriod=2
Make sure you have Region 2 – Past 30 days.
There have been ZERO COVID cases traced to bars or restaurants in the last 30 days.
Why is the Town of Normal proposing an ordinance to penalize local businesses for violating Pritzker’s non-law orders when they aren’t spreading COVID?
The ordinance will be on next Monday’s agenda.
Are you a leader or a follower Kathleen? Retaliating against local businesses merely because you can is tyranny, not governing.
She should explain her plan to pay the debt. The plan she voted into place so far is to make our grand kids pay for her overspending.
Normal is not even following their original plan. What they’ve done is extend the TIF districts in order to manage the debt. They’re not even trying to pay it off on time.
Only undeveloped parts were extended. At 2 million a year being paid, more than 40 years will be be left. Likely longer when the TIF expires and terms have to change. Let’s assume 50-60 years.
Wonder if Kathleen spends recklessly on credit cards, takes out multiple loans, and splurges on wants not needs, only to turnaround and pay the minimum balance each month and attack anyone that questions her finances. Well, that’s how she views the finances of the Town of Normal.