By: Diane Benjamin Ryan Whitehouse and Julie Hile didn’t attend the meeting. Barb Singer participated remotely. Evidently Normal is missing one representative – see this page: https://connect-transit.com/board/meet-the-board The video of the meeting doesn’t not show the beginning, so I have no idea why they declared a quorum didn’t exist. 3 members were present with 1 […]
By: Diane Benjamin I continue to get reports of few people at the O’Neil Aquatics Center. According to this article, it cost $13.8 million: https://www.wglt.org/local-news/2024-05-24/oneil-aquatic-center-makes-a-splash-with-memorial-day-weekend-opening H/T a reader. This pic is 6:00 pm on a Thursday night, the pool is open until 7:00: . Keep in mind, instead of replacing both City owned pools that […]
By: Diane Benjamin Review this story from yesterday: https://blnnews.com/2024/07/29/when-local-governments-celebrate-grants/ Next read this story: https://foreignaffairs.co.nz/2024/07/30/mil-osi-usa-following-sorensens-advocacy-mclean-county-receives-funding-to-extend-historic-route-66-trail/ Rep Eric Sorensen announced a grant to McLean County to design the final 9 miles of the Historic Route 66 Bike and Pedestrian Trail. $675,000 to DESIGN. Another grant will be needed for construction, I think in the past the feds […]
By: Diane Benjamin Both the Federal government and Illinois spend more money than they collect. Every grant celebrated isn’t “bringing home the bacon”, it’s destroying your future prosperity by devaluing the dollar. Like inflation? Unlike responsible citizens that live within their means, government doesn’t. Click the link for more facts, especially the numbers government reports […]
By: Diane Benjamin The July meeting is tomorrow at 4:30. No financial information this month because June is their your end. Ridership was down in June. The number of available vehicles was up from June of last year, but the miles they drove were down. If you expect FLEX to be at your house at […]
Bloomington, IL – 7/26/2024 – Roger Bedeker, a lifelong resident of Central Illinois, has announced his candidacy for City Council Ward 9 in Bloomington. “I am thrilled to announce my candidacy for City Council” said Bedeker. “Having grown up in Central Illinois and raising my family here, I am passionate about what lies ahead for […]
By: Diane Benjamin The local LWV posted this to Facebook: . Of course it is a crime for illegal aliens to vote. It’s also illegal to cross the border. Who is prosecuting illegals for that? WAY over the heads of anyone at the LWV: Every vote by an illegal cancels the vote of a citizen. […]
By: Diane Benjamin h/t a reader Providing housing for homeless veterans is admirable. The grant had to be substantial, why did they chose properties people already live in? This was posted on Facebook, the name was redacted by me: The below was included:
By: Diane Benjamin Yes, cramming local elections close to divisive national elections is on purpose. You are expected to not notice or vote, thanks for complying! Turnout is ridiculously low for electing people taxing you to DEATH. The big ones are: Both City Council and School Boards I couldn’t find any mention of the April […]
By: Diane Benjamin There was a Township meeting before the Council meeting, but the reason the meeting was lengthy was because high school and college students who worked for the City under the Youth Enrichment Program all made a brief speech on what they learned working under mentors in all City departments. They were paid. […]
By: Diane Benjamin One item the Bloomington Council passed Monday night was setting priorities for local housing. Go to 1:54:50 to see the slide recapping the plan. It doesn’t include interest rate buydowns. City Manager Jeff Jurgens introduced the resolution, unfortunately the slides with statistics he presented are not on video. Jurgens stated Illinois is […]
By: Diane Benjamin https://blnnews.com/2024/06/19/foia-fail/ Vieweg Real Estate in Decatur collected $271,250 for acting as agent for both sides in the City buying the old Owens Nursery property. One possible explanation for Tim Gleason using a Decatur realtor is he thought the price would increase if he used a local realtor. In other words, he didn’t […]
By: Diane Benjamin The Bloomington Council meeting was ridiculously long. Council discussion were not the reason. More on that later (maybe). Nothing is ever on the Bloomington council agenda that is not going to pass. Details and discussion take place in 3 on 1 meetings because appearing united is vital. The Downtown Southwest TIF was […]
By: Diane Benjamin https://www.mcleancountyil.gov/DocumentCenter/View/8174/Types-of-acceptable-ID Below are the documents needed to register to vote, keep in mind as of July 1 illegal aliens in Illinois can get a regular driver’s license that doesn’t have any identifying marks showing they aren’t citizens: Illinois elections authorities are not allowed to check immigration status. If someone wants to register […]
By: Diane Benjamin Entire agenda: https://d3n9y02raazwpg.cloudfront.net/cityblm/f7169b76-5bbe-11ee-ae13-0050569183fa-d854eb82-3702-4140-9de6-ac3a8e3f379d-1721418738.pdf The Council will authorize spending $6,841,961.14 to resurface the below: . The regular agenda is filled with downtown TIF actions. I wonder if anybody will mention how much the City will throw in? The Front and Center building and People’s Bank aren’t going to demolish themselves and the property […]
By: Diane Benjamin The Constitution was written to limit government. The founders believed people can govern themselves. The fight ever since has been between people who don’t want government running every aspect of their lives and those who do. Progressives use government to enrich themselves and their friends. That couldn’t be more clear than the […]
By: Diane Benjamin Quotes from this article: https://unionhall.aflcio.org/bloomington-normal-trades-and-labor-assembly/news/bn-trades-hosts-candidates-forum-makes-local “On June 5 the Bloomington & Normal Trades & Labor Assembly (AFL-CIO) and the Livingston & McLean Counties Building & Construction Trades Council hosted a local candidates’ forum. Specific questions were given to candidates in advance so delegates could compare their answers.” . Read the article, unions endorsed […]
This is who Bloomington hired as new Deputy City Manager: More details from the Watchdogs: https://edgarcountywatchdogs.com/2012/06/money-generation-a-family-affair/?highlight=McLaughlin
By: Diane Benjamin The probable Project Labor Agreement coming to the City Council is a clear example of pay-to-play politics. Labor unions throw money at aldermen to get them elected, then those alderman pass ordinances that are good for labor unions while also being destructive to taxpayers. Bloomington’s City Manager stated union representatives helped write […]
By: Diane Benjamin https://www.bloomingtonil.gov/government/advanced-components/documents/-folder-2104#docan2735_6873_64 For a change this cost is included on a report: I wonder why around 200 people who bought tickets and didn’t attend. Celebrate though, this made money.
https://www.wglt.org/local-news/2024-07-15/chris-koos-announces-bid-for-6th-term-as-mayor-of-normal I wonder what the price tag for the underpass (only walkers and bikers can use) is up to now? I hear he has told people for many years he doesn’t want to run again but does anyway. What is he trying to make sure nobody finds out? . .
By: Diane Benjamin 1) Since Cody Hendricks accepted campaign contributions from 2 labor unions, City code prevents him from voting on any Project Labor Resolution that will benefit unions. How is that not a Conflict of Interest? Of course he can’t render a fair opinion. See this story for sources and details of the contributions: […]
Update: Hendricks announced his run for mayor today! 😉 By: Diane Benjamin Just hit Play below to hear the intro by City Manager Jeff Jurgens to the proposed Project Labor Agreement ordinance. He is followed by two alderman happy to see this brought to Council. The two are Tom Crumpler and Cody Hendricks. Jurgens stated […]
By: Diane Benjamin Did the wind last night affect the downtown campers? Did garbage blow everywhere? Was refuge provided to the people living in tents? If you are in the area please let me know! The Bloomington Council held a Committee of the Whole meeting last night. The first Public Comment was by Surena Fish […]
By: Diane Benjamin Bloomington Committee of the Whole agenda for tonight: https://d3n9y02raazwpg.cloudfront.net/cityblm/4a82862a-5bc1-11ee-ae13-0050569183fa-d854eb82-3702-4140-9de6-ac3a8e3f379d-1720798851.pdf See this item for discussion: Presentation and discussion on the use of Project Labor Agreements Pandering to funders of local campaigns and get out the vote efforts: It gets worse, DEI is proposed to advance businesses based on skin color and gender. No, […]
By: Diane Benjamin News organizations had difficulty with the truth this weekend. Which of the below was more accurate? CNN lost all credibility with their headline: . Local media was no different. See the title: . The title has since been changed: Why was the title changed WGLT? You didn’t understand this was an assassination […]
By: Diane Benjamin As of right now these are the only reports posted: https://www.bloomingtonil.gov/government/advanced-components/documents/-folder-2104#docan2735_6873_64 A WWE show happened on June 22nd. Accounting must be too difficult for the staff to create a report and post it. I’m dying to see how they explain this: Did this show make money? Is a loss why the event […]
By: Diane Benjamin The part of Constitution Trail where tent city is located now looks more like a garbage dump. Homeless people don’t trash their home, these people don’t care because they are mentally ill. More downtown business owners need to speak up, I hear stories of threats and crimes happening. Stay silent – lose […]
By: Diane Benjamin This is a link to a 52 page report on electricity nationwide: https://www.nerc.com/pa/RAPA/ra/Reliability%20Assessments%20DL/NERC_SRA_2024.pdf If you need a nap, try reading it. Jump to page 51. Illinois is in PJM (reference PDF page 27). Both wind and solar are underperforming, see ACTUAL vs. EXPECTED. Forced outages in PJM are second only to Quebec. […]
*** For Immediate Release *** July 11, 2024 Contact: Mark Clauss Phone: 309-825-1249 Email: mark@markclauss4mcb.org Mark Clauss To Run for McLean County Board in District 10 Bloomington, IL: Mark Clauss officially filed forms to seek the District 10 seat on the McLean County Board for the November 5, 2024 Election. Mark is replacing Ross Webb […]
By: Diane Benjamin Various people have sent pictures of tents along Constitution Trail but they were taken from a vehicle and difficult to see. Since I was in town today I went to take my own. The trail from Lincoln street east of Evergreen cemetery appears to stop/start there. No sidewalks or parking so I […]
By: Diane Benjamin You don’t know the answer to that because local government doesn’t want you to know. Both cities use the excuse you would be able to figure out how much dispensaries earned if you knew the taxes they paid. Luckily the Illinois Policy Institute figured it out based on taxes paid to the […]
By: Diane Benjamin Illinois State Treasurer Michael W. Frerichs sent an email yesterday. He went into a long diatribe about a bike accident he had as a kid that ended with requiring the removal of his spleen. The point of his story is people need to ask for help when they need it. He was […]
Anyone else hear the rumor Normal is busing their tent dwellers to Bloomington? . .
By: Diane Benjamin Of course socialists hate capitalism. Krystle posts lots of anti-American stuff but this is a classic: . Let’s start with people should be encouraged to buy a home, not rent their entire life. Owning builds wealth, renting does nothing but provide a place to live while you pay somebody else’s mortgage. Krystle […]
By: Diane Benjamin The actual City Council meeting was only about 30 minutes long. The video is about 43 minutes because the City plays commercials before and after now. Surena Fish spoke at Public Comment. The downtown business owners held a meeting last night with the Bloomington police concerning the problems with vagrants downtown. Listen […]
Yes, they exist and aren’t afraid to state it. I got 6 out 6 correct. See how you do: https://prageru.typeform.com/to/SwXy0LIn?utm_source=Iterable&utm_medium=email&utm_campaign=campaign_10376652#source=email&platform=10376652
