By: Diane Benjamin
Mayor Mwilambwe and alderman Cody Hendricks didn’t bother to attend last night.
Public comment by a resident who lives close to the Tent City in downtown Bloomington:
These illegal campers are terrorizing area residents and requiring many public safety resources. Welcome to socialism, the camp should have been disbanded the first day. It grew because it wasn’t dispersed, people need a reason to be productive. Since these people get fed and live for free, they have no need to be productive good citizens. Charity and compassion isn’t enabling destructive behavior.
When laws against downtown camping aren’t enforced, no laws matter.
The City claims they are working on a solution. Start by confiscating the tents.
Give them 7 days (that’s generous) to clear out and send in the end loader and dump trucks to clean up the mess!
I think this is the path to a reasonable solution.
In another era and time, those who were unable to pay had entire homes bulldozed and demolished to forcefully vacate their presence.
A 7 day notice to vacate peacefully if fair warning for breaking the law, terrorizing neighborhoods and exposing citizens to this unlawful presence in lieu of jail.
If not compliant in 7 days, on the eighth day removal begins.
I would like to go and see the encampments. If someone could send me the exact locations or would like to come with me.
Untold numbers of laws are conveniently ,unenforced, in this Country, State and these Twin Cities.
Meanwhile, ordinances, Regulations, restrictions, codes, and rules are unjustly applied against citizens, businesses and organizations oftentimes applied as if they are “Laws”. Just like being unable to bring a camera or phone into public spaces of the McLean County Courthouse is still not allowed by the citizen, but law-enforcement and lawyers are granted “special” privileges by the counties Chief Justice, excluding all others. Ignoring the Illinois Supreme Courts 2022 ruling and policy allowing cellphones, especially those used for evidentiary purposes. Obviously, limiting photographs, videos and telephone calls inside the courtroom would be prudent, but limiting 1st Amendment rights and protections for some and not others especially in the courtroom is a civil rights violation.
Pritzkers takeover of law-enforcement in regards to illegal aliens and citizenship, healthcare, education, voting rights, gun ownership is more examples. Not to mention his attack against the 2nd Amendment and the Safe T Act enacted last January, granting criminals the ability to commit more crime.
All of this together, plus other measures and legislation is creating a system of inaction and chaos determined to destroy our current system and allow the void be filled with those that have the same ideals, values, and beliefs as the rioters and protesters recently seen on university campuses.
I understand that the commenter lives 5 blocks away but I would really hope the City cares about what the residents of Woodhill think. There is a soul food restaurant in Woodhill’s old daycare. Has her patronage gone down? I know I haven’t gone there since the tents went up and she has the best soul food outside of my kitchen!! It’s too bad if your ignorance is ruining her business let alone scaring obvious actual neighbors like the Commenter. Shame on you Mayor and Council. Bringing quality of life down and increasing violence as evidenced by the amount of police calls all because Eastview doesn’t have a backbone. There’s nothing godly or righteous about passing off problems you refuse to acknowledge meanwhile you hope to get re-elected. By who??? The homeless vote??? If Eastview even voted you wouldn’t even be the Mayor!! Wake up and think of the families who live in that area. I’m so disappointed and worried about what will make you all wake up. You think they won’t war over drugs and alcohol??? Fools. All of you.
TENT CITY?
WHAT ABOUT OUR CITY, MR. MAYOR?
I was born and raised here.
I’ve been here over 60 years.
Bloomington has experienced harsh economic times.
I’ve lived through harsh economic times.
Both of us have overcome.
Until now – I will continue to overcome.
But, I have never seen this city in worse shape than the current state of affairs.
We are on the verge, here.
The geographic area has grown immensly.
The population has grown substantially.
The problems and unsolved issues have grown without resolution.
Prices for meager quality life necessities have grown to unacceptable levels.
Infrastructure is worse now than ever.
Businesses have left in unprecedented numbers.
An entire shopping center mall is left all but empty that once was the centerpiece of retail commerce with no solution or option.
Essentially, our local government has focuse on, pursued, addressed and gave attention to everything in this community except what matters – reality and the citizens of who live here.
And, now, we are exposed to and expected to tolerate and accept a tent city populated with those who are unable to overcome and survive, along with all that brings and breeds – nothing but demoralizing and criminal behavior to the community, further tarnishes its fragile and negative image.
And, on top of all else, a do – nothing Mayor who ignores citizen concerns and essentially says I don’t care.
I say, NOT IN OUR TOWN!
Yes. Take the tents, tarps, cardboard, rope, pallets, bottles, and all the wooden materials.
Disease is spread through unsanitary living conditions.
Dirty water and waste spreads:
Giardia
Dysentery
E. Coli
HEP. A.
Salmonella
Cholera
STD’- HIV, AIDS
Tuberculosis can be spread more easily
And others…
Ring worm
Lice
Mice
Rats
Bed bugs.
Poor or no security.
Rape – both women and men
Theft
Assault/battery
Drug use
Drug abuse
Drug Overdoses-death
Trafficking of women/children
Prostitution
There’s a book out called Toxic Charity: How Churches and Charities Hurt Those They Help, And How to Reverse It by Robert D. Lupton.
Also, this deliberate enabling gives the city an excuse to employ people at $100,000/yr to work on this issue. Leftist progressive marxist democrats deliberately create or enable problems so they can employ people at exorbitant salaries to “solve” the problem. But, as we all know, problems never get solved. If problems did get solved then these people who they employed at exorbitant salaries would be out of a job. And that never happens. They perpetuate problems so they remain employed.
Good read…those “charities and NFPs” will go after the poorest/homeless last dime or the middle classes electric bill budget in the name of the Lord and Prosperity and miracles. A sick game whey many get richer. All the “leadership” and big salaries in the area seem to keep getting pensions, raises and bonus and perks.
While normal folks deal with the day to day tent city, inflation, digital deception and exploit and costs of living.
A shame
NGO’s and social professionals never want the misery of others to end. The people that act like they care the most are often the people that care the least. They prey off the poorest and live good, materialistic lives. Look up the salaries of those that lead these organizations. It’s a well-oiled scheme.
Look how long has the War on Poverty been in operation and look at the results. The democrats used to be the party of the working man. Not now! The rich and the politically connected continue to benefit off the backs of the taxpayers. Whether the Bush or the Clintons, they get the cream off the top, then the govt or ngo/nfp get there cut and then the needy get just enough to get by and survive. Then another generation appears and the cycle starts again! Frustrating!
The left has “community organizers” code for communist agitators.
The right needs community leaders. Strong leadership. Neighbors and neighborhoods organized together to cleanup trash, crime, and protect each other. If the local government doesn’t work, it’s time to strip their jurisdictions of power and control, elect direct representatives that will protect and defend.
Last night at the township meeting I saw a community elect a moderator by hand vote, conduct government business by hand vote and in certain situations such as government officials not performing their legal and fiduciary duties as sworn to uphold by the Constitution, fairly, lawfully. Then it’s time to take back the reigns of power and remove those shirking their duties. We are obligated by the Constitution to do this as written.