By: Diane Benjamin
The water quality problems are close to over. The Council approved one more algaecide treatment @ $82,534.80. Lake Bloomington water levels are back to normal and evergreen is slightly below normal.
The other controversial item was supporting the sale of Connect Transit’s property to Home Sweet Home Mission for the shelter project. Part 1 showed the difference between your elected officials using facts to make decisions and those who vote based on feelings. This story will further clarify that difference.
If every unsheltered person wanted to change their life like the public commenter at 30:50, this project would eventually end chronic homelessness. Other people commented on this project and the apartment building in the previous story. All of their views were based on “feelings” instead of facts. Most of the council did the same. “We have to do something” isn’t good government. Unintended consequences will cost Bloomington residents even though no money was allocated last night.
Sheila Montney presented more facts from projects around the country. Police, fire, and EMS calls will increase and cost money. Cody Hendricks claimed it won’t be perfect but it’s a start. Sheila wanted to add a line asking Normal to pass the same agreement since all the future costs will fall on Bloomington. The “feel good” council members opposed that because it might delay the project. It was eventually added since it won’t cause delays. It still won’t require Normal to do anything.
The big questions no one could answer is how many chronically homeless people are in Bloomington now. According to this HUD report, in 2024 there were 21 unsheltered. See page 3: https://files.hudexchange.info/reports/published/CoC_PopSub_CoC_IL-512-2024_IL_2024.pdf
Montney claimed another local study was done in January of this year but the results haven’t been issued. Are projects like this drawing chronically homeless to Bloomington because of services provided? Who are the chronically homeless here now? Is this shelter for temporarily homeless or chronic?
All 21 chronically homeless in 2024 were households without children.
The vote was unanimous to support the sale of the property. Unintended consequences will happen. Many council members don’t believe what makes perfect sense:
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Franklin was talking about what he had seen in other countries. Charity was never the job of government. This project will cost Bloomington taxpayers money in the future. Remember the Council members who jumped in without facts.
Just hit Play to find out who:
I like the Benjamin Franklin quote Diane. Here’s some more warnings from the wise on the idea of being virtuous without common sense, discretion, or considering possible results.
Plato (Greek Philosophy) – Republic, Book VI, 495e–496a
“Those who lack true knowledge but profess virtue, thinking themselves wise, corrupt the state and bring ruin to their endeavors.”
Seneca: “Many men have been harmed by having too much virtue, if it be not accompanied by discretion.”
Proverbs 19:2 “Desire without knowledge is not good, and whoever makes haste with his feet misses his way.”
Confucius: “To be fond of righteousness without managing it with wisdom is to be led astray by it.”
Jesus – Luke 14:28–30: “Suppose one of you wants to build a tower. Won’t you first sit down and estimate the cost to see if you have enough money to complete it? For if you lay the foundation and are not able to finish it, everyone who sees it will ridicule you, saying, ‘This person began to build and wasn’t able to finish.’”
Sutra of Forty-Two Chapters (Buddhism) – Chapter 16
“Those who take delight in superficial acts of virtue, seeking fame, are like those who polish a piece of dung: their efforts are wasted, and their hearts remain impure.”
Adi Granth (Sikhism) – Guru Nanak, Japji Sahib, Pauri 6
“If one’s actions are mere show, without truth in the heart, they bring only entanglement, not liberation.”
Marcus Aurelius (Stoicism) – Meditations, Book 7, Section 31
“Do not be carried away by the appearance of things, but consider what is just and reasonable in itself. For to act otherwise is to bring confusion upon yourself.”
I actually know one of these homelss people. Used to work with him. Was a great worker, personable, all around good person. Somewhere along the line got on some prescription drugs and went to crap. He is caught up on the big pharma under medication system, keeps altering his mind, can’t cope. Too bad his shrink can’t recognize and get him the right kind of help rather than just giving him the drug. Dude needs about a 90 day program to dry out and renew his self worth, think he’d be ok. I tried to help him once but his needs are beyond what I can manage.