By: Diane Benjamin

The Bloomington City Council was downright pompous about passing a shiny new ethics ordinance. How could anyone possibly oppose it?

An ethics ordinance with zero penalties is completely worthless. They already ignore City Code with impunity — this will be no different. After all, they get to decide what’s ‘ethical,’ so violating the rules with no consequences is perfectly fine. “Teeth” would be a public civil trial that ends in expulsion from office.

Go ahead, slap up some pretty curtains and pat yourself on the back for making the cracks ‘disappear’ from the inside. How clever. Too bad everyone walking by can still see your whole shattered mess in perfect detail.

The biggest violator of City Code, Cody Hendricks, was the first to jump in the conversation and claims he’s been working on an ordinance for a year. Just hit Play below. The ordinance will probably be on the next agenda.

Numerous people spoke against a local data center. Committee of the Whole doesn’t vote but a 6 month moratorium will be on the agenda soon. Staff needs to determine how expansive the moratorium will be since all data centers aren’t the same.

Meetings have changed since Dan Brady became mayor — for the better.

I used to wonder how the council majority was quietly whipped into voting on items with almost no public discussion. Decisions were made in backroom huddles with staff and the city manager, and the public was kept in the dark.

It’s refreshing to finally see less ruling and more actual representing — with real opinions expressed openly.