By: Diane Benjamin
You can’t see any of the Public Comments because the camera never changed to show them. You can only hear them.
Even though City Code prohibits holding meetings on a Federal or State holiday they did. (Chap 2 Sect 15) Maybe staff had the day off except for a rookie called in to operate the camera. At least the screen behind the Mayor showed the speaker’s names.
Holy Trinity Church and Rectory is already on the National Register of Historic Places. The Historic Preservation Commission wanted it designated a Local Historic Landmark against the wishes of the owners. The discussion should have ended there but didn’t. Since the owners objected this needed 6 votes to pass. The far left could only manage 5: Jenna Kern, John Danenberger, Cody Hendricks, Mollie Ward, and Tom Crumpler. If you want to lose your property rights, 3 of the 5 will be on the April 1st ballot and 1 wants to be mayor. Crumpler isn’t running for re-election. If another far leftist is elected in Ward 3 or 5 they have their 6 votes.
One public comment represented the Peoria Diocese position, another one was a member of Holy Trinity who defied that position. She identified herself as a member of the League of Women Voters which explains a lot. I wonder if she questions the church’s theology too.
Public comment begins at 3:54. Six people spoke, some of them on tent city disbanding. Evidently some of the people are going back to the woods instead of wanting housed inside for the winter. The Council needs an ordinance prohibiting “camping” downtown or the problem could return in the spring. One comment pertained to a neighbors tree dropping walnuts on his house. He sounded exasperated at his inability to do anything about it. City Manager Jeff Jurgens added more about the homeless problem at 40:40.
The Holy Trinity conversation begins at 28:00. Donna Boelen attended by phone due to illness. Kent Lee was absent. One point Donna made is the Planning Commission claimed the church could save money on Sales Tax when doing preservation work. Since churches don’t pay sales tax that is a fallacy.
Property rights have always been sacrosanct in this country. People don’t invest their money when government is allowed to seize control of property. 5 members of the Council don’t believe in those American values when government in their eyes has a better plan.
The same 5 don’t believe in religious liberty either. Government is not free to mandate how the Catholic Church must spend their money. If they will do this to a church there is no limits to what they believe they have the right to control. All they need is one more vote.
Once your rights are gone you won’t get them back.
Just hit play to hear the brief conversation and 2 votes. Yes, they had to vote on both options. Both votes were 5-3. Don’t miss far left Jenna Kearns at 51:25 wishing everyone a Happy Indigenous People’s day. The left has to vilify everything American to re-write history. She must want the Aztecs still sacrificing children too.
When those in government forget their place, they begin using the power of the position for untoward purposes, Ulterior motives, and personal gains. In this instance, having the city gain influence over a practicing Catholic Institution, I dare to assume the motives.
However, it is shameful that it went this far, especially since the controlling party involved tends to continually spout, “separation of Church and State” as though it were actually in the Constitution, when pushing their agendas. Hypocrisy much?
The people aren’t choosing to live outside during the winter instead of living in a shelter. There are NOT ENOUGH BEDS FOR THEM. They have no other choice you philistine.
Didn’t watch the video moron
Yes they do have a choice. Those that run to the woods or prefer to live in plain sight in a tent are mostly drug addicts or alcoholics. Some that are mentally ill also choose to live this way. Why? Because they like it and/or they have no interest is assimilating in society. They also have no interest in getting off the drugs or alcohol. It’s a choice. Those that find themselves homeless due to unfortunate circumstances are few and far between.
Your comment was deleted. It’s obvious why Illinois is run by democrats with so many low information voters.
I was in the video moron. I was there when it was being recorded.
Jeff Jurgens around 42:00. Same reason as your previous comment
There are beds but to stay where there are beds you have certain rules that you have to follow, ie no drugs or alcohol. Living in a tent in the woods you can do as you please.
I can’t believe it Diane you just report what was said and you get called a name. Maybe that person needs to go to the tent people and offer them a bed in his or her house,problem solved!
If only the city and county could partner together and purchase an old motel and then give the homeless free lodging… and the taxpayer pick up the tab..
Illegals are getting that