By: Diane Benjamin
Since equal justice under the law no longer exists, Bloomington citizens have no reason to believe the City Code matters. If elected officials Cody Hendricks and Jenna Kearns don’t have to follow City Code, citizens can’t be expected to either. If you receive a parking ticket or ordinance violation, mail it back with a note stating a City Code that doesn’t apply to some doesn’t apply to anyone.
Today is the 13th anniversary of the first story on BlnNews. For the uniformed who don’t think this site is the press, read this: https://www.techdirt.com/2014/04/16/court-declares-that-yes-bloggers-are-media/
Bloomington tonight: Agenda 4/28/2025
Guess what is on the Consent Agenda, meaning nobody wants to discuss it? A raise for City Manager Jeff Jurgens. Agenda quote: As a result, a Resolution is being presented to provide the City Manager with an increase in salary effective May 1, 2025, and an extension of the employment agreement to May 1, 2030.
The documentation doesn’t state what the raise is. You have to go to the attached ordinance exhibit to find out:
5.39% increase.
This is a good thing if you can find someone to enforce it, also on the Consent Agenda:
Tonight is the last meeting before the newly elected are sworn into office. Expect a party and awards for those leaving office:
The Council will also codify the housing incentives discussed last week at the Committee of the Whole meeting:
Congratulations on the anniversary of your publication!
Congratulations on your site’s anniversary. Furthermore, bloggers are definitely media, especially Bln News.
AS FOR CITY CODE VIOLATIONS: Maybe this wouldn’t be such a one sided issue if McLean County Republicans knew how to win elections. . . Last time they tried, they broke State Campaign Laws and illegally funneled thousands of dollars to a candidate. You want to talk about corruption and “rules for thee, not for me”? Hello, Local GOP!
Illegally hasn’t been proven
Campaign Finance Laws limit individual contributions to be, if I remember correctly, about $7,300 to candidates. Greg Shepherd gave — on behalf of his wife and himself — $29,000 to the local GOP. This party was legal, you can limit up to $14,500 to political parties. Either Greg, Kathleen (or both) instructed the GOP to illegally funnel the money to the Lorenz campaign, and they did. This was very illegal, and it’s been admitted by Kathleen herself.
This probably happens all the time, but it seems like this operation was led by a bunch of idiots. The type of idiots, who, I don’t know, would tell WGLT they did this?! I mean, come on: don’t break the law, firstly, but if you are going to do it then you should probably start with not telling any news outlets?
Hendricks violated Coty code. Kathleen violated State statute.
No ruling against Kathleen.
and there’s been no ruling against Cody or Jeanna either! Ya’ll are a bunch of hypocrites. Kathleen is innocent until there is a ruling, but Cody should be removed from office immediately right? Just like you can read the code and pass judgement against Cody, others can read the statute and pass judgement against Kathleen. Ya’ll are so blindly willing to excuse every bad behavior of the people who you THINK are on your side, but damn near demand public hangings of the Democrats, it’s no wonder you can’t win elections–you don’t have any sense.
Cody and Henna are black and white, no hearing is scheduled. Justice only for some?
They never violated city code: local political parties have the choice to endorse candidates in our municipal elections. Being endorsed is much different than running as a Republican or Democrat. Having the endorsement is not being of affiliation to.
Besides, it’s no secret who is who. The parties will donate, like McLean Republicans did illegally or like McLean Democrats did legally. Democrats give money to candidates who vote like Democrats, Republicans give money who vote like Republicans.
Thanks for proving the clueless exist
You’ve been ranting about this city code “violation” since he ran for Ward 6. . . People don’t care, there are much bigger issues happening that you selectively choose to ignore because they’re Republicans. At least pretend like your blog is nonpartisan.
Prove that! It started with mailers from THIS election.
I don’t go deeper than the front page of your website, it’s disturbing how close it comes to my birth year. . . 🙂
Can’t read then?
You should definitely do this, I would absolutely encourage you to see where this gets you.
You!
If I stilled lived in Bloomington I think I’d go out and get a parking ticket on purpose just so I could mess with them on this issue.