Category: elections

Written by Diane Benjamin - editor

Update: What happened at the County Rules Committee meeting?

Audio is now available – over 2 hours. I may or may not listen. The problem with audio is listeners might not be able to tell who is talking. There are three Public Comments at the beginning you need to hear. The first 30 minutes resembles “Who’s On First”. https://mcleancountyil.gov/ArchiveCenter/ViewFile/Item/10027 By: Diane Benjamin Follow-up to this story: https://blnnews.com/2024/02/05/weaponizing-the-county-board/ The Rules Committee met […]

Written by Diane Benjamin - editor

One more thing on the Coliseum

By: Diane Benjamin I saw a social media post asking why the arena was built downtown instead of along the interstate that could have brought people in from nearby cities. (Common sense?) I didn’t respond but the answer is clear. It was built downtown because the people who are elected to represent you have been trying for DECADES […]

Written by Diane Benjamin - editor

Comedy via Krystle Able

By: Diane Benjamin Sometimes people deserve to be laughed at. Start with this meme from Able’s Facebook page: . Israel is a foreign country that was attacked on October 7th. They don’t care what Chicago’s mayor says! Maybe Israel should call out Chicago for all the daily violence and schools that don’t educate – just babysit. Progressives just want chaos. […]

Written by Diane Benjamin - editor

Proterra is Solyndra

By: Diane Benjamin The Connect Transit Board meets at 4:30 today. You can watch it here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CFica7k-pGY Will any of the below be discussed? 🤣😂 Remember when Solyndra was supposed to create a ton of solar panels, got tons of federal money, and then declared bankruptcy. Of course no one was ever held accountable, so this “making friends of government […]

Written by Diane Benjamin - editor

Nextdoor comments to Mboka’s WGLT story

By: Diane Benjamin I don’t comment on NextDoor but reading the comments is interesting. Somebody posted this story: https://www.wglt.org/local-news/2024-01-16/bloomington-mayor-says-migrant-arrivals-are-an-opportunity The comments below prove the immigration extremists showed up at the County Board meeting to protest Chuck Erickson’s ordinance. The opposite side stayed home and vented on their keyboard. Which side affects votes by elected officials? Obviously, not most of these […]

Written by Diane Benjamin - editor

Too late for Bloomington

By: Diane Benjamin I didn’t get a chance to watch Bloomington’s Committee of the Whole meeting until yesterday. The City has the same goal they’ve had for decades: Get people downtown. All the empty buildings will never be developed until you comply, so your tax dollars will be “invested” yet again. If at first (or second or third) you don’t […]

Written by Diane Benjamin - editor

Mboka wants illegals!

By: Diane Benjamin See this story: https://www.wglt.org/local-news/2024-01-16/bloomington-mayor-says-migrant-arrivals-are-an-opportunity?fbclid=IwAR3sk1vSuXaYjJpAoVD7JzKIiefInecaDL3F2HE4CZuaX7RlA2UXXaVG24Q_aem_Ac-7erlnSRtzkVEj2ctv7mKVdaRhb_7AO3U0opqMbcMf0h77UtpKx_QX-t_C6tOdMA0 Elections for local offices – like Bloomington Mayor – will be early in 2025. Since few vote Mboka could easily be re-elected by the majority who vote socialist. He won’t run as a socialist because that’s a loser, he just needs to act socialist. Read the story, he welcomes people illegally in this […]

Written by Diane Benjamin - editor

Listen to Pritzker on ABC?

By: Diane Benjamin The video is linked in this story: https://blnnews.com/2024/01/14/pritzker-we-dont-have-places-for-more-migrants/ If you listen to the whole interview, around 24:00 Pritzker claims Trump didn’t sign the optional loyalty oath. He claims that means Trump doesn’t believe in the Constitution. That must mean local Democrat District 8 candidate Eric Hansen doesn’t either. He didn’t include a signed and notarized copy […]

Written by Diane Benjamin - editor

County Board – Part 2

By: Diane Benjamin The most revealing item of the night happened during County business that had nothing to do with immigration. After the two hours of liberal bloviating, the Finance Committee had an item on the agenda allowing a fee to process applications for reduce property taxes to affordable housing investors. This was prompted by new State […]

Written by Diane Benjamin - editor

County Board – Part 1

By: Diane Benjamin Quite a show last night! Two hours of liberals calling Chuck Erickson all kinds of names, claiming the ordinance was an election stunt, and spouting false information about what the ordinance would have done. All it said is TAXPAYERS (you) won’t be forced to pay for housing and food for illegals who arrive on buses […]

Written by Diane Benjamin - editor

Proof “migrants” are pawns

By: Diane Benjamin From 2009-2010 Democrats controlled all 3 branches of government. Joe Biden had the same thing in 2021 when the Senate was 50-50 giving Kamala Harris the tie breaking vote. They could have legalized illegal immigrants and DACA and recipients all by themselves, they didn’t even try. If they care so much about “migrants” why didn’t they? […]

Written by Diane Benjamin - editor

Yep, invasion applies

By: Diane Benjamin Since the Constitution hasn’t been repealed, leadership needs to be held accountable for violating it. (Easy grounds for Biden impeachment) Article IV, Section 4: More than 8 million illegals crossing the southern border since Biden took his Oath of Office is an invasion. There are close to 2 million more got-aways we know nothing about. […]

Written by Diane Benjamin - editor

Do Krystle Able, Corey Beirne, and Mike Matejka lock their doors?

By: Diane Benjamin Evidently they have open door policies in their homes because they don’t want to protect McLean County from Biden’s invasion of the country – estimated now at 8 million people who walked across the border. These people know nothing about local and national laws, many expect to be taken care of by taxpayers. See Chicago […]

Written by Diane Benjamin - editor

Bloomington employee increase: Are they making your life better?

By: Diane Benjamin Bloomington payroll shows 202 more employees now than just 2 years ago: https://www.bloomingtonil.gov/home/showpublisheddocument/29950 https://www.bloomingtonil.gov/home/showpublisheddocument/27390/637770534053800000 Go back to payroll reports January 2019 – pre Covid. Some employees were paid weekly, others were bi-weekly: Total: 777 December 2023 the City of Bloomington had 1009 employees. December 2018 the City of Bloomington had 777 employees. 2020 population: 78,680 2022 […]

Written by Diane Benjamin - editor

Notice anything missing?

By: Diane Benjamin READ to the bottom! City of Bloomington Live Stream video YouTube page: https://www.youtube.com/@cityofbloomingtonil/streams Feel free to check all videos is you like wasting time! On May 1st 2023 numerous socialists were supposedly sworn into office. Video from the previous 3 swearing in ceremonies are posted, but not 2023.  I only checked because of this story […]

Written by Diane Benjamin - editor

Laugh at the antics against Trump

By: Diane Benjamin Hilarious WGLT story pertaining to yesterday’s filing to have Trump removed from the ballot: https://www.wglt.org/illinois/2024-01-04/trumps-candidacy-is-challenged-by-a-group-of-illinois-residents?fbclid=IwAR02ETCTlUVLjTB54F8y2ZyykTnX2LDaBcrgoH0W4Ea85mEBeDu1_oeOH88 Things to know: . The word “democracy” does not appear anywhere in the Constitution, therefore his claim that a “constitutional democracy” can be lost is a lie. Democracy is mob rule which is exactly what this filing is – the […]

Written by Diane Benjamin - editor

3 Things you need to know

By: Diane Benjamin 1) Jeff Fritzen’s case against the Town of Normal and High Haven for how the special use permit was approved got tossed out of court: https://www.25newsnow.com/2024/01/04/judge-throws-out-ex-normal-town-councilmans-cannabis-dispensary-lawsuit/?outputType=amp Hilarious quote from the judge: Judge Foley wrote: “Case law is clear that a home rule municipality is not bound by its own procedures, unless in doing so the […]

Written by Diane Benjamin - editor

The County Board races for 2024

By: Diane Benjamin No petition challenges have been filed: https://www.mcleancountyil.gov/1226/Elections The current County Board has 10 Democrats and 10 Republicans. A total of 9 members are not up for election until 2026 – 5 Democrats and 4 Republicans. Since both cities are run by Democrats/Socialists, the County Board could look the same by the end of this year. Pritzker […]

Written by Diane Benjamin - editor

“We have work to do” 🥶

By: Diane Benjamin Last night’s Bloomington City Council meeting proved why failure of the majority of registered voters to actually vote is destructive to your wallet! The majority of people can’t wait to vote in meaningless national elections and then they ignore local elections allowing the far left to run your city. Citizens are the […]

Written by Diane Benjamin - editor

McLean County will be forced to change their Public Comment policy – FINALLY

By: Diane Benjamin I’ve been waiting years for someone to file with the Illinois Attorney General’s Public Access division concerning their policies. Public Comment is Freedom of Speech and a 1st Amendment Right to address grievances with YOUR government. McLean County thinks you need to give them 24 hours notice if you want to speak. […]

Written by Diane Benjamin - editor

Unit 5 – you elected them

By: Diane Benjamin WGLT story on Unit 5 property taxes: https://www.wglt.org/local-news/2023-11-16/unit-5-proposes-151m-tax-levy-but-plans-to-lower-tax-rate Your property taxes are going up because Unit 5 needs the money. Below is a quote showing the mentality of the people you elected: People buy homes to live in. It doesn’t matter how much more your house is worth if you aren’t planning […]

Written by Diane Benjamin - editor

Illinois Comptroller must have decided to void transparency

By: Diane Benjamin The purpose of the Local Government Data on the Comptroller’s website is to present finances in a way citizens can understand. When the data isn’t available it should make everyone wonder why! Normal’s year end was last March 31st. The “landing page” for Normal has been updated to reflect the FY 2023 […]

Written by Diane Benjamin - editor

Bloomington: Can’t afford housing and food? Better see what Gleason wants you to pay for:

By: Diane Benjamin 5 socialists sit on the Bloomington City Council. There aren’t have enough common sense votes to stop spending that increases the size and scope of local government. You better see the downtown vision: https://downtownforeveryone.com/renders/ Government never produces prosperity. Bloomington will try anyway since they know where to get money. I’m sure they […]

Written by Diane Benjamin - editor

Remember why the Bloomington Library said they HAD to build?

By: Diane Benjamin I remember statements like: “The library was built when the population was only 40,000 people.” Remember this chart from past stories? https://www.bloomingtonlibrary.org/sites/default/files/content/minutes/BPL%20June%202023%20Board%20Packet.pdf This chart is in the June 2023 packet. That is also the last month this chart is included in a packet. Did somebody decide to quit including it because it […]

Written by Diane Benjamin - editor

Darin Lahood supports sending more money to Ukraine

The “war” has been going on for more than 1 year. Biden has prevented peace talks. https://www.politico.com/news/2022/11/08/biden-admin-nudging-led-ukraine-to-drop-putin-condition-for-peace-talks-00065679 Meanwhile, we are funding salaries and pensions for people in Ukraine – I believe the total is up to $130 billion with no accountability or transparency on who’s pocket our money ended up in. Ukraine is a corrupt […]

Written by Diane Benjamin - editor

Truths we used to know, hook up the Uhaul

By: Diane Benjamin In case you missed this story in the media: https://www.thecentersquare.com/illinois/article_bc96b2e2-5338-11ee-a876-73caeb277433.html Clever Real Estate teamed up with moving company Allied Van Lines and found that Illinois has had more outbound moves than any other state in the past six months. Why would people continue to flee Illinois? The Bloomington City Council is encouraging out-migration. 5 of […]

Written by Diane Benjamin - editor

New Alderman Jenna Kearns is Jenn Carrillo 2.0

By: Diane Benjamin Thanks to no one else running in Ward 1 last April a socialists walked on to the Bloomington City Council without a fight. Nice folks. You should know Jenna Kearns does not say the Pledge of Allegiance which means her oath of office to the Constitution of both the US and State […]

Written by Diane Benjamin - editor

Announcement:

It is impossible for me to cover all local units of government myself, therefore I am going to quit covering Normal. If anyone actually cares about schools, I need help there too. Your part-time mayor driving a vehicle taxpayers paid almost $74,000 for and putting regular plates on it instead of government plates didn’t make […]

Written by Diane Benjamin - editor

Unwad your panties Democrats

By: Diane Benjamin It was the Democrats who wanted to change the agreement made when a 10-10 Board was elected and a Republican was picked as chair. Last night changed nothing. In October the last empty seat will be filled restoring the 10-10 board. A Republican will still be in charge, what the Republicans did […]

Written by Diane Benjamin - editor

After County Administrator gets an unknown raise – she wants your money!

By: Diane Benjamin This is the only mention in the agenda attachments of the raise the County Board awarded to Cassy Taylor last night: Board member Chuck Erickson tried to stop it because salaries of Administrators are out of control. He couldn’t muster enough Republican votes to stop it. So, how much is it? I […]

Written by Diane Benjamin - editor

Republicans outflanked Democrats for County Board chair

By: Diane Benjamin One Democrat was denied the right to attend the meeting tonight remotely which meant 9 Republicans were present and voting to 8 Democrats present and voting. The rules were changed by the Republican majority to elect a chair based on the majority present instead of a majority of the total. On a […]

Written by Diane Benjamin - editor

Affordable housing myths

By: Diane Benjamin Read this WGLT story: https://www.wglt.org/local-news/2023-09-12/group-looks-to-rally-support-for-a-community-land-trust-in-bloomington-normal-aimed-at-housing-affordability Local housing is a problem that the free market will self-correct. Interference in the process is why housing is unaffordable. One thing is certain: Additional housing can’t be created next month. It takes time and creating a Community Land Trust isn’t going to fix anything quickly. They […]

Written by Diane Benjamin - editor

Update: Editorial: Don’t Vote County Board

I’m told the established rules require 10 votes for a chair regardless of who is present. By: Diane Benjamin The County Board now has two vacancies. Since every District has two elected officials everyone still has representation. The only District that doesn’t have the same representation is 5, it used to have a Democrats and […]

Written by Diane Benjamin - editor

Ross Webb Announces Candidacy for McLean County Board’s 10th District 

BLOOMINGTON IL — Ross Webb has announced his candidacy to serve the citizens of the 10th District on the McLean County Board. Ross wants to give a voice to the constituents of the eastern Bloomington district and is delivering a message of common-sense approach to local government.  Ross is an advocate for the taxpayer, a […]

Written by Diane Benjamin - editor

Fitch proved why credit ratings are a joke

By: Diane Benjamin Fitch downgraded the US credit yesterday: https://www.msn.com/en-us/money/other/shock-u-s-credit-rating-downgrade-by-fitch-rings-alarm-bells-about-economy/ar-AA1eGOTE This is a quote from the story: According to the company, despite the fact that the debt ceiling standoff was resolved two months ago, “the repeated debt-limit political standoffs and last-minute resolutions have eroded confidence in fiscal management.“ Let me interpret: Fitch would rather see […]

Written by Diane Benjamin - editor

Unit 5 contract details

By: Diane Benjamin One Public Comment was given at the last School Board meeting by the mom of a bullied student who was punished for defending himself. See 30:55 https://vimeo.com/event/3579210 When the Unit 5 School Board approved contracts on July 19th there was NO DISCUSSION. No recap for the public – nothing. Various Board members […]