By: Diane Benjamin

One big difference between Mayor Mwilambwe and Mayor Brady: Meetings start at 6:00. I don’t remember time mattering to Mboka.

Arbor Day got a proclamation. Trees are wonderful, I’ve got a bunch of them still dropping dead branches from the last ice storm years ago. I hope since Bloomington has two arborists on staff they quit planting small trees under power lines thinking they won’t grow. Everytime I drive on East College I’m appalled at the trimming required to keep the trees planted years ago from interfering with the power lines. It’s not beautification. See the north side of College halfway between Hershey and Airport Road.

At least Brady realizes trees produce oxygen and remove carbon dioxide. More trees please, less ridiculous carbon neutral dreams.

At 17:33 is a Presentation of Illinois Law Enforcement Accreditation Program (ILEAP) Tier II Accreditation to the Bloomington Police Department. The documentation doesn’t detail what this means. Watch the video. It’s a big deal for the department.

The Connect Transit downtown transfer center plans got approved of course.

While watching, I was reminded of this story: https://blnnews.com/2021/02/25/since-mark-peterson-connect-is-even-worse/

Back in 2021 when Connect picked to build at the old Pantagraph building, acting Connect General Manager stated many bus riders downtown are going to the Law and Justice Center and the Library. After the Pantagraph idea was scrapped, they landed on the Market Street Garage. Neither are close to where they stated their customers need to go:

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Imagine this walk in 90 degree heat or high winds when the temp is 20 degrees. The current transfer point is in front of the Law and Justice Center. If this center had been located where people actually need it, it wouldn’t have relieved Bloomington of the Market Street garage they’ve been trying to dump for years because of high repair costs. This is government making decisions for them, not citizens.

You need to hear Council Montney’s comments on the massive budget that passed last night. This is a must watch. The next budget is going to be bad too. Supposedly capital project spending will reduce dramatically the year after next. Water rates are increasing again on May 1st. The spending is unsustainable and so are the taxes. Obviously the council progressives don’t see a problem, just hit Play to hear Sheila: