By: Diane Benjamin The email below was sent to MoveOn.org members on both 12/28 and 12/29. The title of this email from Robert Reich was: Fascism is on our doorstep Robert Reich knows what a fascist is, people who get his emails evidently don’t. The current administration is closer to fascist than Trump ever was. Reich is reactivating ANTIFA […]
By: Diane Benjamin 1) Other counties are working to protect their citizens from illegal aliens being dumped on them: https://www.chicagotribune.com/news/breaking/ct-illinois-migrants-grundy-county-20231228-ohorvkbn6beunfc37clltrfrcu-story.html McLean County has a homeless problem and lack of housing problem. The County Board needs to act before they can’t. https://blnnews.com/2023/12/28/local-election-issue-illegal-immigration/ Even Chris Koos knows housing here isn’t available: https://www.25newsnow.com/2023/12/29/housing-crunch-would-get-even-tighter-if-migrants-come-town-says-area-mayor/ When Trump was president Koos defended Normal’s sactuary status: https://www.illinoisreview.com/illinoisreview/2018/05/normal-mayor-defends-citys-sanctuary-city-status-and-responds-i-am-an-animal-to-president-trump.html 2) […]
By: Diane Benjamin The McLean County Board needs to protect the citizens of McLean County from the out of control costs of housing, educating, and healthcare for illegal aliens. Pritzker is estimating $478 million has already been spent in Illinois. Legal Immigration must benefit the country, not fleece it’s citizens with millions of dependents. See this article: https://www.thecentersquare.com/illinois/article_1d6b697e-a4ff-11ee-bb29-33cef32c5b22.html?fbclid=IwAR2kB7dSsOsHeYo_sOeZXKNYW-exT_K-s7Si2Mvu3bocql3wrLFwIxgQ-_4_aem_AYmpJyHzk9gBYaumrgM3U6wl3dI8WbeWlWHugoNL08jJmgOgAgODNey1QuENIh62UwI […]
By: Diane Benjamin https://blnnews.com/2023/12/27/coliseum-event-profits/ I found two payments for artist fees: The reports for both shows say NET co-produce produce. I hope alderman asks if these fees are already in the NET listed or if these are additional costs. At least both shows made money either way. I don’t have any fees for the October 13th Mercy Me […]
By: Diane Benjamin See these 3 recent events – all money makers. Evidently lots of people buy tickets and never attend. See the last show, even giving away tickets doesn’t mean people will come. Co-promoting events limits the risk to Bloomington taxpayers. How many years will it take Bloomington to remove “Grossinger Motors”?
By: Diane Benjamin In case you missed the podcast, it’s about an unsolved murder in Normal from 1975. https://blnnews.com/2023/02/10/all-9-episodes-now-available/ Last week CI Proud and News 25 did stories claiming Normal police are now trying to solve the murder: https://www.centralillinoisproud.com/news/local-news/normal-police-seek-help-in-solving-48-year-old-murder-at-isu/amp/ https://www.25newsnow.com/2023/12/22/normal-police-has-gone-great-lengths-solve-48-year-old-cold-case/?outputType=amp Two more episodes were added in November. Listen here: https://radiomisfits.com/podcasts/carols-last-christmas/ Just 48 hours before Christmas, 1975, 21 year old […]
To one who has faith, no explanation is necessary. To one without faith, no explanation is possible”. ~Thomas Aquinas Merry Christmas
h/t a reader Below is a page from the covenants stating only single family dwellings are allowed. This can be changed if the current residents agree. Expect that to be the next step.
This event is organized by a regional office of education. Want to know why the number of sexually confused kids is dramatically increasing? Teachers are taught to validate all behaviors, of course without telling parents. The below was posted on Facebook by a Unit 5 teacher.
By: Diane Benjamin The below was posted in a Facebook group fighting to keep their single family housing neighborhood. Just because it was withdrawn for January 4th doesn’t mean it won’t be back. Don’t let you guard down!
It doesn’t matter if the rate is slightly lower if your assessed value is MUCH higher!
By: Diane Benjamin What can possibly go wrong with capturing cardon dioxide and pumping it into the earth? Both people on the Right and Left don’t want to find out! The below postcard was designed by Illinois People’s Action. I don’t know if the local group still has printed copies, but you can print and mail these […]
By: Diane Benjamin Gov Pritzker was asked at a press conference why Illinois needs a gun registry. Just hit play – he states the State needs to know where the “assault weapons” are in case a crime is committed. If government knows where weapons are they will be taking them to see if yours were used in a […]
By: Diane Benjamin Read the text of SB40 that is law in Illinois as of 1/1/2024: https://ilga.gov/legislation/publicacts/fulltext.asp?Name=103-0053 Subsidized housing will be required to have EV charging stations even though people who live in subsidized housing wouldn’t be living there is they could afford an EV. New construction and renovated multi-family housing will be required to install charging […]
By: Diane Benjamin In communist China every person is required to carry their phone at all times so the government can track them. Starting January 2nd Normal is doing the same thing if you park in one of their garages. When you enter your license plate will be read. They want you to enter your bank account or […]
By: Diane Benjamin See the details of the jobs here – Bloomington is hiring 15 people. (For a new fire station?) https://www.bloomingtonil.gov/departments/fire/employment-opportunities?fbclid=IwAR2bDraNBWTeknqwqcQx_A_hfPzFzVuzUfF5GXy5WDYmMHH4HQFYkxO8Xaw I don’t think the City meant to imply after hired you can live anywhere in Illinois. Did they mean no one outside of Illinois can apply? Why go to college when No Experience Is Necessary to […]
By: Diane Benjamin Fascinating website with all the facts: https://www.bostonteapartyship.com/boston-tea-party-facts NO ONE died – it wasn’t a terrorist attack! The colonists were taxed without any representation in the British parliament. When the tax on tea was increased they had enough. Maybe that’s why coffee is more popular here now! Grab your kids and read about what patriots […]
By: Diane Benjamin Is the City this desperate to get people downtown? I bet the City won’t be advertising any religious Christian activities – even if they are downtown. On Facebook: . Per Google search – they did the highlighting: See the irony in Krampus originating in Germany?
By: Diane Benjamin The unanimous vote yesterday to reject a Special Use Permit for One Earth Sequestration LLC is only temporary. See Board member Metzker’s comment 6:00. She stated the Public Commentors would be ignored by the Board because approval of the permit happened at the Zoning Board of Appeals. Evidently your elected officials aren’t allowed to make […]
By: Diane Benjamin Australia is destroying forests to erect wind turbines. This video shows the destruction of the environment while pretending to save it: It all revolves around the myth the atmosphere is going to burn up because of carbon. Of course the rest of that carbon is left off to make it sound like […]
By: Diane Benjamín h/t a reader This is the never used Fire Station #5 on Six Points Road: . Those aren’t City trucks but the reader couldn’t read what they say. I’m sure one of you will recognize them. Last January the garage looked pretty packed with extra vehicles: https://blnnews.com/2023/01/18/no-response-to-foia-bloomington/ Maybe the City is now […]
By: Diane Benjamin Chris Koos was nominated (3rd time) in January 2023 to replace Thomas Carper. Amtrak Board of Directors: https://www.amtrak.com/about-amtrak/board-of-directors.html . The Amtrak Board obviously isn’t a priority for the Senate who has to confirm nominees. The last movement of Koos’ nomination was in October. Unlike as Mayor of Normal where the entire Council […]
By: Diane Benjamin Public Comment was entertaining last night. The LGBTQIA2S+ community was well represented. It seems like they want the City to assign criminal penalties to anyone who hurt their feelings by misgendering them or refusing to affirm their lifestyle. Later the Council changed the Human Relations Policy to the State’s version except for […]
By: Diane Benjamin City Manager Tim Gleason really wanted your property taxes increased. The main reason Alderman Boelen was against it was the water rate increase the Council recently passed. If you forgot: 33% increase for 3 years because the City needs to spend around $300,000,000. Gleason stated again last night that water rates haven’t […]
By: Diane Benjamin Last night’s Bloomington City Council meeting proved why failure of the majority of registered voters to actually vote is destructive to your wallet! The majority of people can’t wait to vote in meaningless national elections and then they ignore local elections allowing the far left to run your city. Citizens are the […]
By: Diane Benjamin The Council will take the final vote on raising your property taxes. Tis the season . . . The Finance Director will give his monthly report – he should present it before the property tax vote but won’t. The City has plans for your money. You aren’t allowed to keep and spend […]
By: Diane Benjamin The BNWRD meeting is tomorrow: From the doc below: You couldn’t wait until the appraisal is done to put buying this property on the agenda? The Public never attends BNWRD meetings. The taxable value of this property payable in 2023 was $21,900 meaning the value is around $65,700. It has a 2160 […]
See the redacted original video below. By: Diane Benjamin The video is awful but you can clearly see this school bus not stop at the stop sign. I have the original dashcam video but it has identifying information, I chose not use that version. This happened yesterday where 6 Points Road meets Covell Road. The […]
By: Diane Benjamin Yesterday I was sent a Bloomington-Normal Housing Analysis that is dated April of 2022. Note: the source is NPR. You can see it here: https://npr.brightspotcdn.com/69/5d/501447894b7cb83e9117e436d098/bloomington-normal-housing-analysis-white-paper-april-2022.pdf I stopped reading it at PDF page 9 because there is a huge problem! Note the McLean County Regional Planning Commission is listed on PDF page 2 […]
By: Diane Benjamin The Town needs more time to “convince” area single family home owners to stop objecting: Good thing it also gives the area homeowners more time to organize opposition!
By: Diane Benjamin I’m sure this debt comparison is temporary since Bloomington is going on a spending spree (not to fix the roads). According to the Illinois Comptroller’s website – Bond Debt: Bloomington as of 4/30/2023: Normal as of 3/31/2023: The Uptown TIF ends in 2026 meaning Normal’s taxpayers will be paying off the debt […]
By: Diane Benjamin The first thing to notice from the charts below is Normal doesn’t provide the detail Bloomington does. The first chart is from PDF page 28: https://www.normalil.gov/DocumentCenter/View/19327/Annual-Comprehensive-Financial-Report-21-FINAL-DOC?bidId= The second chart is from PDF page 26: https://www.normalil.gov/DocumentCenter/View/23148/Annual-Comprehensive-Financial-Report-23-FINAL-DOC Below is also a recap of a few. Normal revenue is up $29.5 million in 4 years. […]
By: Diane Benjamin Below are 2 charts from the Bloomington Financial Statements that show Revenue over 4 years. The first chart is on PDF page 25: https://www.bloomingtonil.gov/home/showpublisheddocument/27129/637709284831130000 The second chart is on PDF page 24: https://www.bloomingtonil.gov/home/showdocument?id=29768&t=638343020405529919 There is a lot of data on these charts, this is a recap of a few. Keep in mind […]
By: Diane Benjamin Thursday the Normal Planning Commission will approve destroying a single family neighborhood: https://www.normalil.gov/ArchiveCenter/ViewFile/Item/4822 Everyone on that commission is appointed by Chris Koos to do his bidding. No one represents citizens because citizens can’t even know who Koos appoints until after the Council votes. It won’t matter how many citizens show up to […]
By: Diane Benjamin Every year Normal claims property taxes have to increase to fund pensions. Last night the Council did it again. Only one person showed up to speak at the Public Hearing. Meanwhile the Cost of Living here is rising dramatically because every unit of government sees $$$$ they can steal. https://www.bnbiz.org/coli
By: Diane Benjamin 1) Don’t forget Tri-Valley is raising property taxes 5 days before Christmas: 2) Bloomington had planned to meet tonight and next Monday to avoid Christmas. Tonight’s meeting has been canceled. Maybe raising taxes 2 meetings in a row had the alderman’s phone ringing too much. I wonder if next Monday Gleason will […]
