Category: Bloomington

Written by Diane Benjamin - editor

BCPA event reports – too many shows and not enough attendees!

By: Diane Benjamin BCPA event reports: https://www.bloomingtonil.gov/government/advanced-components/documents/-folder-2097#docan2735_6873_64 Note the attendance at each show. Loss: $4,091.79 Profit: $21,933.02 Loss: $3,861.88 This one isn’t on the BCPA calendar: https://www.artsblooming.org/events/all-events-list-view/-toggle-allpast Loss: $18.56 This one took place on 2/8 – not 2/7 Loss: $6,468.96 Profit: $2,525.50 Embarrassing loss: $5,130.61

Written by Diane Benjamin - editor

Unit 5 passes Strategic Plan without making it available to parents first

By: Diane Benjamin Unit 5 has a link on their website for strategic plans, the plan they passed last night isn’t on it: https://www.unit5.org/cms/lib/IL01905100/Centricity/Domain/2992/District%20Strategic%20Plan.pdf There isn’t a link to the plan in the agenda either, just a line item with no explanation: See 9a https://meetings.boardbook.org/Public/Agenda/1482?meeting=627064 See the discussion with slides begins at 28:00: https://vimeo.com/event/3825867 Supposedly […]

Written by Diane Benjamin - editor

New Illinois: Fifth Constitutional Convention

https://www.tickettailor.com/events/newillinois/1194049# Thu Apr 4, 2024 5:45 PM – Sat Apr 6, 2024 5:00 PM The Chateau Hotel & Conference Center, 61704 The Fifth Constitutional Convention for New Illinois will be held at the Chateau Hotel and Conference Center, 1621 Jumer Drive, Bloomington, Illinois. The Friday evening dinner will be followed by speakers Robin Miller, activist on the central Illinois pipeline issue, and Bill Bergman, Loyola […]

Written by Diane Benjamin - editor

2 more things on yesterday’s election

By: Diane Benjamin George Wendt will not be on the McLean County Board after the November election. He was soundly defeated in Bloomington and the County: Brian Loeffler received a total of 1,318 votes, George Wendt received 677. Proving that election can be bought, Regan Deering funded a large part of her campaign herself. It […]

Written by Diane Benjamin - editor

It’s still a waste of money to have TWO election authorities!

By: Diane Benjamin The people of McLean County must love wasting money. There is no need for Bloomington to have their own election office that can’t be held accountable by voters when the County Clerk, who can be fired by voters, is capable of running all elections. In Bloomington 7805 people out of 55,242 registered […]

Written by Diane Benjamin - editor

Do I have to report the Bloomington City Council meeting last night?

By: Diane Benjamin I don’t want to, so you will get a brief recap. Summary: Officials think they are on a roll. You will be thinking Coliseum fleece instead. See 1:55 A good number of the far left showed up at public comment to talk about affordable housing and why starting a business is hard. […]

Written by Diane Benjamin - editor

Tonight: Bloomington discusses the two biggest wastes of your money!

By: Diane Benjamin For a change next year’s budget isn’t on the agenda. https://d3n9y02raazwpg.cloudfront.net/cityblm/4a76bdde-5bc1-11ee-ae13-0050569183fa-791fe512-602c-4d20-98c8-ecdbbed39134-1710528364.pdf These two fleeces are on the agenda, of course nobody will admit the obvious. Is Bloomington going to build a downtown wall to keep tent city out of view? Will anyone ask how many electric buses are working now? Who exactly […]

Written by Diane Benjamin - editor

EV Townhall a bust

By: Diane Benjamin A whopping 30 people attended the EV Townhall! If that isn’t funny enough, read WGLT’s article about the event: https://tinyurl.com/EV-Townhall 10 people were on the panel for the 30 attendees. Of course claims were made about EV’s and Climate Change. Facts are immaterial. Get some: https://climateataglance.com/climate-at-a-glance-natural-vs-human-contributions-to-greenhouse-gases-and-global-average-temperatures/ The article got really funny with […]

Written by Diane Benjamin - editor

Stepping Stones and the County Board

By: Diane Benjamin The YWCA is obviously a leftist organization. Proof is their national website: https://www.ywca.org/who-we-are It’s easy to tell when leftists need other people’s money, a conga line of speakers show up to provide “their” facts. In the case of Stepping Stones it was 6. The Stepping Stones program lost federal grant money but […]

Written by Diane Benjamin - editor

Compassion isn’t lawlessness

By: Diane Benjamin Any response from District 87? https://blnnews.com/2024/03/12/d87-fire-this-bloomington-fireman/ You thought your kids matter at school? Tent City continues to grow, it has spread to the old Pantagraph building. On Monday the Bloomington City Council will hear plans for the downtown streetscape. Maybe they can “tent” multiple blocks! It will be glorious!

Written by Diane Benjamin - editor

See renderings of the new County animal shelter

By: Diane Benjamin The County Board saw a computer rendering of the new Animal Control building last night. It will be 15 miles south of Bloomington. The video shows the inside layout too. One thing not included is outdoor runs for the animals. Farnsworth designed the building with the budget they had, outdoor runs will […]

Written by Diane Benjamin - editor

A story you need to see

By: Diane Benjamin Last night George Wendt presented a commendation at the County Board meeting to a new FIFTEEN YEAR Old Eagle Scout. Most recipients are around 17, but that’s not the story. Jonathan Kunkes Eagle Scout project was a portable classroom for Pepper Ridge Elementary in honor of his sister who died at age […]

Written by Diane Benjamin - editor

Inflation, Available Apartments, and government

By: Diane Benjamin Inflation has stolen close to 20% of your buying power – just since 2021: . Inflation will continue unless government policies change. Facts: https://www.bidenomics.com/ According to GasBuddy, the cheapest local gas is at Huck’s on West Oakland – $3.39. Three years ago gas was more than $1 less a gallon. https://www.gasbuddy.com/go/gas-prices-2021-year-in-review According […]

Written by Diane Benjamin - editor

County meets tonight + Elections

By: Diane Benjamin The Rules Committee didn’t bother to meet to correct the stunt Democrats played in February, so the Public Comment policy is still illegal and not on the Agenda tonight to fix. In case you forgot: https://blnnews.com/2024/02/16/county-must-see-public-comments/ Elections: This primary election will prove Illinois’ voting season is a complete waste of money. Turnout […]

Written by Diane Benjamin - editor

Stepping Stones at YWCA wants $100,000

By: Diane Benjamin Meetings of the McLean County Behavior Health Coordinating Council have been suspended. See this story: https://www.wglt.org/local-news/2024-03-08/bhcc-meetings-suspended-indefinitely-as-its-reportedly-not-fulfilling-its-mission Excerpt from the article: . That isn’t stopping BHCC from wanting to hand $100,000 to Stepping Stones at the YWCA. I have no problem with that program. I do have a problem with handing them money […]

Written by Diane Benjamin - editor

That bus being towed wasn’t electric

By: Diane Benjamin I mentioned in this story a reader told me he/she witnessed an electric Connect Transit bus being towed: https://blnnews.com/2024/03/04/two-things-i-wish-i-had-pics-of/ It turns out it wasn’t an electric bus. Obtained by FOIA: Connect Transit is forced to use OLD buses because the new electric fleet is junk. In case you can’t read that email, […]

Written by Diane Benjamin - editor

Bloomington Council trying to buy Gleason?

By: Diane Benjamin The Council held an Executive Session last night, the mayor stated it was to discuss Tim Gleason. Considering he told WGLT he wanted the opportunity to counter the Arizona offer, that’s likely what was discussed. Gleason just got a 5% raise in September: https://blnnews.com/2023/09/11/tonight-gleason-gets-a-raise/ The mayor also stated Bloomington has momentum. “Momentum” […]

Written by Diane Benjamin - editor

D87: Fire this Bloomington Fireman

By: Diane Benjamin I was going to redact the guy’s name in the hope District 87 had the good sense to fire him. Since numerous complaints have been made about his harassment and inappropriate comments to female students AND he hasn’t been fired yet – I’m not redacting his name. The presentation by the Bloomington […]

Written by Diane Benjamin - editor

Re-Submit witness slip opposing HB 4198

By: Diane Benjamin HB 4198 is one giant step towards Illinois becoming an ALL VOTE BY MAIL state. HB 4198 provides that each election authority may decide to mail a LIVE vote by mail ballot to all qualified voters instead of sending notices and applications for permanent vote by mail status. A person who has never […]

Written by Diane Benjamin - editor

Did Gleason tell Arizona he bows to the mob?

By: Diane Benjamin Tonight’s agenda: https://d3n9y02raazwpg.cloudfront.net/cityblm/f6f358da-5bbe-11ee-ae13-0050569183fa-d854eb82-3702-4140-9de6-ac3a8e3f379d-1709935302.pdf In case you missed this story: https://www.wglt.org/local-news/2024-03-07/bloomington-city-manager-is-a-top-candidate-for-arizona-job The only reason tent city still exists in downtown Bloomington is because the far left screamed at the City for planning to disband it. Some laws are okay to break which means all laws are okay to break if leadership is intimidated […]

Written by Diane Benjamin - editor

Green Top Grocery has a GoFundMe

https://www.gofundme.com/f/keep-local-organic-food-in-our-community?utm_campaign=p_cp+share-sheet&utm_medium=copy_link_all&utm_source=customer&utm_term=CP_SSS_variant Copied: If food is important to you, please help… In 2017, after five years of grassroots organizing and capital-raising, Green Top Grocery Cooperative opened in Bloomington IL. A key part of our mission is to support local family farms by making fresh, nutritious, locally-grown and -produced goods readily available in our community. Our little […]

Written by Diane Benjamin - editor

Front and Center building

By: Diane Benjamin The City of Bloomington wants to condemn the Front and Center building since it’s been sitting empty for a long time. WGLT reported: https://www.wglt.org/local-news/2024-02-29/bloomington-condemns-landmark-downtown-building-at-front-and-center If the current owners object, taxpayers get to fund a court battle. With or without legal fees taxpayers will get the demolition cost which includes asbestos removal. Keep […]

Written by Diane Benjamin - editor

Final on the Local Housing Assessment report

By: Diane Benjamin More from this story on the local Housing Assessment: https://blnnews.com/2024/03/05/ignoring-the-elephant-in-the-room/ PDF page 32 – copied and reformatted since the paragraph is difficult to read: Poverty levels have increased in McLean County over the last 5 years, Bloomington and Normal. Poverty is measured by the Official Poverty Measure (OPM), which measures pre-tax income […]

Written by Diane Benjamin - editor

2 things: WGLT

By: Diane Benjamin 1) More about this story on Rivian moving to two shifts: https://www.wglt.org/local-news/2024-03-05/rivian-to-cut-3rd-shift-for-r1-production-at-normal-plant-next-month?fbclid=IwAR14-gqvch-aRzqS0sQotFTIA9NuEwrvC8JfWDUSsfiuK7JQnIdJxEDDXkg All hourly employees were sent a form so they could pick what shift they wanted to work: 7:00 am to 3:30 pm or 9:00 pm to 5:30 am They won’t be working 10-12 hour days as rumored on social media […]

Written by Diane Benjamin - editor

Ignoring the elephant in the room!

By: Diane Benjamin The McLean County Regional Planning Commission hired an Indianapolis firm to conduct a local housing survey. The draft version is available here: https://npr.brightspotcdn.com/a2/83/4592f3f04409bcdd453644d32b78/draft-final-rise-plan.pdf Comments can be made on this document until 3/14. I’m not close to going through all 97 pages, but problems are pretty easy to see. The chart on PDF […]

Written by Diane Benjamin - editor

Please oppose this Illinois bill!

By: Diane Benjamin Submit witness slip OPPOSING HB 4198 which is sponsored by Carol Ammons(D, Urbana) and is one giant step towards Illinois becoming an ALL VOTE BY MAIL state. Please take action by Tuesday. 3/5 by 2PM. Jimmy Carter opposed vote by mail decades ago because fraud was easy! HB4198 provides that each election […]

Written by Diane Benjamin - editor

Pritzker tax hikes

By: Diane Benjamin The Illinois Policy Institute recapped the Illinois budget JB is proposing. See their story here: https://www.illinoispolicy.org/pritzker-wants-to-spend-record-amount-but-needs-898m-in-tax-hikes-to-do-it/ Of course it’s a record budget that includes massive tax increases. Pritzker made a big deal about eliminating the grocery tax: See that last line? At the last Bloomington City Council meeting the Finance Director stated […]

Written by Diane Benjamin - editor

Two things I wish I had pics of

By: Diane Benjamin I get tips frequently, mostly people forget to take pictures or aren’t able because they are driving. If you can stop and get a picture, please do! Visual is always better. 1) With the severe winds over the weekend I hear the tent city in downtown Bloomington had garbage blowing everywhere. A […]

Written by Diane Benjamin - editor

Bloomington Police: Walley, Moreland, Carlton

By: Diane Benjamin Three years ago a lawyer, Samantha Walley, tendered her resignation as the City Manager of Leroy. At the time she was in a kerfuffle with the Leroy Police Chief. She was and is married to a Bloomington Police Detective named Steve Moreland. Walley had previously worked in the States Attorney’s office. Walley […]

Written by Diane Benjamin - editor

Do you only see White doctors Gleason?

By: Diane Benjamin The policy under Tim Gleason in the City of Bloomington is to hire employees who resemble the people they serve. Just listen for 25 seconds: Gleason is talking about the rebranding program the Council never approved but now is expected to continue funding. If the majority of the Council wasn’t socialist the […]