By: Diane Benjamin
These pictures were sent to me by a reader. This tent city is on Center Street in Normal across from where Steak and Shake used to be:
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Note: Sugar Creek is much higher after yesterday’s rains.
The reader was not only concerned about the trash but also wondered where all the bodily fluids and excrement are going—into Sugar Creek?
This is a horrible look for Normal. In case you missed this story, Illinois told municipalities they can’t move people off public property: https://blnnews.com/2025/03/14/need-another-reason-to-leave-illinois/
This tent city is growing, and there’s nothing Normal can do about it. If these people want to keep camping on this property (I’m told the Town of Normal owns it), the ruling party in Illinois demands citizens be afflicted by this blight.
There was a rumor before the election that Normal was going to build a shelter for them. There are no reports on how they’d get these people to move there if drugs and alcohol are banned.
How fast would this be stopped if the campsite moved to Uptown?
Meanwhile, Illinois wants to mimic Los Angeles. Search “LA homeless – Images.” Normal’s future isn’t pretty. Allowing deviant behavior—just not in their neighborhood—only means it grows. It will reach their neighborhood and yours too.
This isn’t compassion; it’s enabling. If the best isn’t demanded, citizens never get it.
The Illinois General Assembly answer to taxpayers? It sucks to be you! That are making a Law as we speak to christen and bless every homeless shelter/encampment in Illinois. Local government will have no power to stop them as they take a sh$$ on the sidewalk. God Bless America. And how many people voted in this week’s election? Blame yourselves for this.
It would be very interesting to see what would happen if tents started popping up near Vitesse bike shop.
this is what happens when we have a unelected city employee running everything ! I guess paying said unelected city employee $300,000 per year, isn’t enough for her to do her job
What’s very concerning is where Sugar Creek continues its westward flow–behind Oakdale School is one spot. Would anyone want to live close to the creek, (and there plenty who do!), knowing what is in that contaminated water?
It’s disgusting! They also had a campfire going on evening. With all this wind, it’s a big accident waiting to happen. I have to drive by there everyday and I can’t believe they allow this pig sty and don’t make them at least clean up the mess. Is there no pride in this community? We as responsible, productive members of society are expected to follow local laws and ordinances and keep our residences clean and safe.
Let the Democrats deal with it seeing how they created the issue.
Notice they don’t care?
The problem is they keep enabling them. Food and supplies are delivered daily to them from charitable organizations. Campers just tell the charities what they need and bingo it’s there. Then of course they tell their friends about all the free stuff and the community grows. I saw some of them pulling their suitcases through the Kroger on Main St. I am sure Kroger and Casey’s are thrilled to have them as neighbors.
Exactly! There won’t be any end to it.
Koos vision of Town of Normal looking like Chicago is becoming more apparent everyday. Way to go mayor!