By: Diane Benjamin

A few people stood up for you at Public Comment. Just hit play to hear them below. You can hear the Mayor’s stupid Public Comment statement too – no Public Comment is for citizens. The council doesn’t care what speakers say, especially when only a few bother to address them.

The City has a 70 year plan to replace around 6 miles of water pipes a year. Tim Gleason will ride off into a retirement earning more than most people will ever make on their job and the City Council will change numerous times. Anybody think a 70 year plan will still be in effect 5 years from now?

Some future City Manager and Council will see all the money Bloomington wants to bank and have some brilliant ideas for how it should be spent, it won’t be the reasons this Council voted last night for. Home Rule will give them the right to transfer money to be spent elsewhere. If you haven’t figured out LIMITED GOVERNMENT yet you are one of the sheep that didn’t appear at the BIG show last night.

Meanwhile your in-box today is likely flooded with Giving Tuesday money requests. Credit Card debt is at an all time high – over a TRILLION DOLLARS with interest rates that don’t allow them ever to be paid off. Property taxes are increasing a lot, government never has enough money. Even though Bloomington is flush with cash the roads aren’t getting better. The large General Fund reserves can’t be used for roads even though Motor Fuel Tax receipts are down. Government priorities are never your priorities since most people don’t vote in local elections. Having trouble making ends meet? How many jobs can you work to pay the increased costs of living in Bloomington?

A local restaurant owner told me his business used to be 75% credit card, it’s now 90%. That increases his costs because he can’t get the money without paying fees. I know the fees used to be 3%, not sure what they are now. That means he has to charge more for food to cover that cost.

You are looking at unsustainable. Don’t vote or keep voting for progressives. It’s working great.