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 it.
The problem is much worse than Cody Hendricks getting union funds to run for mayor: https://blnnews.com/2024/07/17/4-things-you-need-to-know-3/
Unions also funded Cody’s run for alderman: https://shorturl.at/D9c1q
Review the City Code:
Cody has a substantial financial interest and a personal interest in this official matter because he wants to be mayor. Cody Hendricks isn’t the only one however!
All of the below are from https://www.illinoissunshine.org/search/
Mollie Ward and Jenna Kearns received union bucks:
John Danenberger too:
FOUR alderman should be recusing themselves from voting on code changes that hand power to local labor unions. They were all bought and paid for by those unions – Illinois corruption staring you in the face.
Tom Crumpler will be running for re-election, he is filing campaign disclosure reports and spending campaign cash. His first run for alderman shows a venture capitalist in Austin Tx donating $5000 to his campaign. He needs to explain that one: https://shorturl.at/94Ujl
Kearns, Ward, and Crumpler are up for election April 1, 2025. If you hate government corruption, watch this vote that might be Monday. Only the people they represent can remove them from office. The unions bought the aldermen they wanted. Elect people who represent you instead of special interests.
Every day we get closer to the corruption from chicago and springfield. Vote.
The far left wants to own McLean county
That’s politics.
Not just here in town everywhere.
Lobbyists……
I’m sure the majority of politicians have received some sort of monetary “incentives” from specific groups wanting to promote their own agendas.
There is a difference between getting people elected with your ideology and paying them to promote new ordinances you help write to permanently change how the city contracts labor.
I think you’re going down a slippery slope here. If you consider it corruption for these labor unions to donate to local politicians, then you also have to consider it corruption for the local police union to be donating such large amounts to candidates that they favor. Should Nick Becker and Sheila Montney have to recuse themselves for voting on anything related to policing? According to your logic, the answer is Yes. In fact, if you’re talking about politicians being bought, you have to start with those two, as the amounts that they received from the police union were even more ridiculous (wasn’t it like over $10,000) than the money received by Kearns, Hendricks, and Ward from other local unions.
Those 2 aren’t negotiating contracts with government unions. The PLA is happening because these aldermen pushed it. If you can’t see a difference you never will.
Long but true…every county and state and school or college or industry and politician (both sides of aisle) use this playbook – systems/IT agenda and projects (all types)and all others. Not new but no-one/including elected folks ever questions any of it locally or state wide in a serious meaningful way so… her we are. The money and data funnel and money and taxpayer exploit
Thankyou Diane for your work and vocal sunshine and vigilance and devotion. Very few folks (including elected and paid) do anything of essence but you do
System and processes exploit and broken and needs sunshine for sure-
Reason why Durbin signs held high and local union halls.
Every in Mclean County and surrounding counties heavily agenda and project driven DEI, Emergency Systems, Cybersecurity, Globalism effort, Green energy. Sustainable, Data grab/abuse, Tax system, GIS, C02/wind projects, Surveillance Capitalism/China model projects, Siebel, CRM, recruiting/hiring, logistics. AWS architecture, ESG scoring, Procurement, Kronos, ADP, SalesForce, Claims, Special investigations units Guidewire, Insurance, Healthcare operations, FinTech, data, NFPs, Hiring (the list is ling $$$$
Money and and names always and pay to play is their legacy at the most vulnerable and taxpayer expense (same names always drive these efforts)
Rossi arrest was a good example of how deep it goes.
Cheers and keep up the fight!
Ironic thing about it is, the citizens give them more money by paying their salaries, etc. Not to mention how cheap they are on receivable donations. They get a mere pittance for selling their souls. Crack head hookers are paid better.
Internet of Things projects/agenda…..IoT (heavily funded)
Does anyone here have any problem with the police unions buying Becker and Montney? Should they recuse themselves for all votes, dealing with the police and public safety?
I answered that. Council doesn’t negotiate contracts, staff does. PLAs demand discrimination against non union labor. If this passes unions can demand whatever they want knowing taxpayers get the bill.