By: Diane Benjamin Yesterday a Meet and Greet was held for the three remaining Bloomington City Manager candidates. The paper failed to report a crowd was expected but didn’t show up. The below is from reports by two people who did attend. Citizens can vote for their choice at a link below. People who did […]
By: Diane Benjamin I’ve been writing about the Coliseum (Grossinger Motors Arena) for YEARS. This “White Elephant” has been a constant drain on taxpayers since it was conceived. The losses are huge, theft is being prosecuted, the City failed to oversee operations, economic impact numbers are made up, and new management is doing little to […]
By: Diane Benjamin Yesterday I toured the downtown core with a friend. If the pics below have spots blurred, it because a reflection was caught in the pic. My partner wishes to remain anonymous. The Core area is bordered by Front, East, Market, and Madison. It’s 12 square blocks. First, I was surprised by the […]
By: Diane Benjamin According to Wikipedia: Back in 1967 virtually nothing existed where Eastland Mall is today. Locals tell me the City Council cheered the new mall without understanding moving anchor stores from downtown would result in today’s conditions. How many employees did the Pantagraph formerly have downtown? They recently created another empty large building […]
See links in the comments, the actual space for lease may be other locations in the same center. Source: http://www.pantagraph.com/special-sections/e-edition/page/page_b5e544d3-36fc-5e66-9c1a-b8ae5b5b1705.html Bloomington MUST quit spending money now and cut personnel. A bloodbath is coming. (Maybe they just need a bigger store in a better location) h/t a reader . . . . . . . […]
By: Diane Benjamin Tuesday night the Bloomington City Council is going to talk about TIF districts: http://www.cityblm.org/Home/ShowDocument?id=17858 PDF page 209 Bloomington has a long history of projects that aren’t the “Right Fit”. Start with the Coliseum and the BCPA, both catalyst project that did nothing to revitalize downtown. Between the two, around $100,000,000 has been […]
By: Diane Benjamin Follow-up to this story from two days ago: https://blnnews.com/2018/05/15/foia-fail-again-and-again/ I emailed both the City Clerk and Tari about the ridiculous .50 (fifty cents) charge and use of a disk since previous large FOIA requests have been delivered via Hightail. Yesterday afternoon I received the request digitally. Since the Clerk probably would have ignored […]
By: Diane Benjamin Today’s paper has an article listing every organization that will receive a grant from the Illinois Prairie Community Foundation. They are handing out $157,347 to 73 programs. http://www.pantagraph.com/news/local/foundation-awards-k-in-community-grants/article_15fc82c0-e843-5927-b376-ed42c1b68707.html Since the Pantagraph has a policy against investigative journalism, I did it for them. The Illinois Prairie Community Foundation tax return for the year ended […]
By: Diane Benjamin According to this Pantagraph story, the charges in the Coliseum case have been dropped against one of the 5 defendants and three others are in negotiations for a plea deal: http://www.pantagraph.com/news/local/crime-and-courts/arena-defendants-involved-in-talks-with-state/article_db37d3a5-218c-5fb4-8d6a-812671ec0118.html#tracking-source=home-top-story-2 Can anybody guess why comments aren’t allowed to this story? The LAST thing any level of government in McLean County wants is […]
If you comment and it doesn’t appear, occasionally some comments go to SPAM. Email me and I will check it. It happened this weekend to a frequent commenter. ___________________________________________ Lately a few people have claimed they have a RIGHT to comment on this site. So, here are the rules: It’s my site and I […]
Just like magic – the comments to the Pantagraph story are back. Here’s one: By: Diane Benjamin The Pantagraph has a story about Beth Whisman stepping down from the Airport Authority Board: http://www.pantagraph.com/news/local/government-and-politics/whisman-resigns-from-airport-board-due-to-job-conflict/article_4a553dc2-2423-58b8-8d44-cdd535b1f6b6.html#tracking-source=home-top-story-2 Besides proving Chris Koos and Normal’s legal team didn’t bother to read the law (or they can’t read), the Pantagraph proved real […]
By: Diane Benjamin More on this story: https://blnnews.com/2018/03/31/bhs-scoundrels-liars/ The statement below is from the BHS Student Handbook, it pertains to prohibited materials: https://www.district87.org/Domain/1755 Even if somebody does believe the BHS talking points about a student bringing in the document, how does it not violate the policy in the student handbook? Mr. Moore? Since the […]
By: Diane Benjamin It looks like the Pantagraph is now allowing Tari to write about himself, from March 23rd: http://www.pantagraph.com/special-section/bloomington-a-leader-in-open-government-communication/article_6376ee0b-1adf-58cd-ab19-55d71d5eccfd.html#tncms-source=infinity-scroll-summary-siderail-latest I wonder what section they ran this in? The article/editorial has some problems. Tari must have forgotten he changed the rules for his “Open Houses”. They aren’t open, citizens have to make an appointment. The […]
By: Diane Benjamin Today the paper has a cool graph showing City of Bloomington budgets for the last 10 years. I recapped the same info here: https://blnnews.com/2018/03/08/bloomington-budget-workshop-saturday/ See the Pantagraph graph here – bottom of the story: http://www.pantagraph.com/news/local/government-and-politics/council-eyes-business-fees-overdue-parking-fines-to-balance-budget/article_b1dd3a23-7b7c-50aa-8f9e-30046a7375a9.html#tracking-source=home-top-story-1 Instead of pretending spending is up over 10 years, they should have marked on the graph […]
By: Diane Benjamin Forbes magazine printed the latest addition of what states people are fleeing based on data from United Van Lines data. Illinois is #1 https://tinyurl.com/Forbes-United-Van-Lines While McLean County and Normal were smart enough to cut spending, Bloomington is looking for more revenue tonight. Tari Renner is quoted in the paper saying City budgets […]
By: Diane Benjamin So much spending, so little information. Some items require an explanation, leave a comment for items YOU will FOIA. I have far too many outstanding FOIA’s already. Bills and Payroll for Monday: http://www.cityblm.org/Home/ShowDocument?id=16156 Your March contribution to mostly empty buses: Anybody want to guess what this is? Media payoff: I wonder how […]
By: Diane Benjamin Last week the local media reported the low local unemployment rate. Here’s an example from WJBC: http://www.wjbc.com/2018/03/15/bloomington-normal-jobless-rate-remains-lowest-in-state-2/ They must be afraid to report the rest of the story: https://data.bls.gov/timeseries/SMU17140100000000001?amp%253bdata_tool=XGtable&output_view=data&include_graphs=true This chart is from the Bureau of Labor Statistics These numbers are the actual number of people employed – in thousands. In the […]
By: Diane Benjamin Followup to yesterday’s story: https://blnnews.com/2018/03/16/hum-uptown-circle/ As reported yesterday, this new building in Uptown has no tenants on the first floor. The Town of Normal is renting the entire second floor: According to the Pantagraph from 7/4/2016: http://www.pantagraph.com/news/local/normal-eyes-design-contract-for-office-space/article_9d3ad5b1-f04d-5709-a834-2d10fe6db9eb.html The town will lease 13,780 square feet of office space for 15 years, with renewal options, […]
By: Diane Benjamin So yesterday Kyle Ham’s resignation from the Bloomington-Normal Economic Development Council was announced. Of course he went on the junket to DC, paid by taxpayers: https://blnnews.com/2018/03/09/your-tax-dollars-at-work/ It looks like him on the far left. The EDC gets their money from government, that would be your taxes. They are totally unaccountable to you for […]
By: Diane Benjamin Normal is cutting: communications director, economic development director, and assistant to the city manager. If Normal doesn’t need them, Bloomington doesn’t either. Bloomington isn’t twice as big as Normal – but Bloomington’s budget is more than 100% higher! Bloomington is once again looking at a budget that does not provide enough money to […]
By: Diane Benjamin http://www.cityblm.org/Home/ShowDocument?id=15938 Lots of travel and professional development is included. Browse the link above yourself. Check out pages 83 and 84 for who got loans and grants. Miscellaneous other spending Tari got some free lunches: The Bloomington Election Commission handed out pay raises, plus these expenses: http://www.becvote.org/wordpress/wp-content/uploads/2018/01/Minutes-Dec-5-2017.pdf Salt!: I wonder if tires and […]
By: Diane Benjamin Occasionally something is worth reading in the paper, especially what they don’t write. A Letter to the Editor yesterday is one of those! The letter was written by Ruth Ann and Guy Fraker. Guy practiced law in Bloomington and wrote books about Abraham Lincoln. Ruth Ann was Supervisor of the Bloomington Township […]
By: Diane Benjamin Did the Pantagraph chastise Tari Renner when he attacked Judy Stearns with a WRITTEN prepared statement in 2014? I sure don’t remember it. This video is up to 11,150 views: If the Pantagraph has cared in 2014 maybe this clown wouldn’t be mayor now. The Editorial staff must finally be at least […]
By: Diane Benjamin The Attorney General’s Public Access office is investigating the Town of Normal for a meeting they held on January 18th. No agenda was posted for this meeting. That is a violation of the Open Meetings Act because the public was not notified this meeting was going to take place. The only information […]
Normal wants a study for between $40,000 and $60,000 to see if a sports complex makes sense. Seriously? ____________________ By: Diane Benjamin The local soccer people held a press conference in August 2013 to demand taxpayer funding for their complex. It was complete with cute little kids in their soccer uniforms. The group handed out […]
By: Diane Benjamin I heard this from TWO sources when I started posting old articles from when the Coliseum vote was taken. Evidently Mayor Markowitz wanted the arena built, at least in part, because her son loved hockey and she wanted him to move back to town. My sources heard her say after the vote: […]
See what the Wall Street Journal headline was: http://www.morningstar.com/news/dow-jones/TDJNDN_201801261459/caterpillar-breaks-losing-streak-wsj.htm By: Diane Benjamin The Pantagraph claims to pay big bucks for Associated Press stories. Below is why they need to knock it off! This headline appeared on January 25th, the story is by Associated Press: Caterpillar posts 4Q loss on tax charge, but adjusted EPS […]
By: Diane Benjamin Saturday the Pantagraph cried in an editorial wanting to be relevant. Today they printed the City talking points. They don’t understand that regurgitating what government buddies want you to say doesn’t drive people to read! See: http://www.pantagraph.com/opinion/columnists/bechtel-daily-newspapers-worth-the-price/article_a10766c7-c709-5c81-b62f-519f8800ec01.html http://www.pantagraph.com/news/local/government-and-politics/city-staff-to-give-council-options-for-m-deficit/article_5e8cdbfc-3bf5-508b-9d97-f0307f5331e2.html The packet for tonight has very little information on the new budget – See […]
By: Diane Benjamin http://www.normal.org/Archive.aspx?AMID=47 Anybody see an agenda posted for yesterday’s meeting? According to the dead tree the Normal Town Council held a budget workshop yesterday. In the TWO stories they did, 5 of the 7 Council members are mentioned. Five is more than half, meaning it was a meeting. Open Meetings Act violation #6345. […]
By: Diane Benjamin Editorial in the Pantagraph March 3, 2004: (available at the library) Does anybody trust the Council? Poll below↓ . . . .
By: Diane Benjamin First the news: Pepsi is not paying the Ice Center anymore for naming rights ($50,000 a year), the Coliseum is no longer receiving $125,000 from Pepsi as a sponsor there! Both deals expired 3/31/2016. I bet you didn’t know that! total lost: $175,000 Nothing is clearer than the lies told by Arena […]
By: Diane Benjamin According to the newspaper, Unit 5’s payments to coaches violated IHSA rules. Unit 5 still won’t connect the dots and say why Coach Hess resigned and if they told him to resign or be fired because of these payments. Unanswered questions still circle back to the disgruntled parents secretly meeting with the […]
By: Diane Benjamin I’ve always been a huge fan of history. People who don’t know history repeat the same mistakes over and over. The current crop of Council members are doing just that because they don’t know Bloomington’s history – especially of downtown. Judy Markowitz didn’t want to wait for the results of the non-binding […]
By: Diane Benjamin Coliseum history: The below was printed in the Pantagraph on September 3, 2003. It is available on microfiche at the Bloomington Public Library. Tom Hamilton, former City Manager now collecting $11,350 a month in retirement, is quoted in the same edition saying the city’s risk is very low because of the numbers […]
By: Diane Benjamin About this story: https://blnnews.com/2017/12/22/food-ban-at-miller-park/ A few people are trying to convince me that food won’t be banned at Miller Park, but I can’t get them to explain what Jay Tetzloff meant when he aid: “Once we have a concession stand you won’t be able to bring your food in” I’m told that when […]
By: Diane Benjamin It’s not hard to find someone at State Farm willing to talk. The employees have no idea whether they will have a job tomorrow, 3 months from now, or 6 months from now. I’m told 2018 is going to be worse for downsizing than 2017 was. Keep your eyes on this site: https://www.thelayoff.com/state-farm […]
By: Diane Benjamin When the new and re-elected members of the City Council were sworn it last May 1st, no agenda was posted: http://www.cityblm.org/government/advanced-components/documents/-folder-499/-npage-5 If you watch the video, Tari called the meeting to order anyway, see it here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vfeOZOEU6xs This is the meeting where an illegal oath of office was given. Now that the City […]
By: Diane Benjamin The 111 felony count indictment against CIAM employees was returned by the Grand Jury on September 20, 2017. In case you forgot, CIAM formerly managed the Coliseum. Every story the Pantagraph has written since has mentioned the Illinois State Police investigated for 18 months. Since it takes time to put together a […]
By: Diane Benjamin From Connect Transit’s October report: https://drive.google.com/file/d/1anF4rCMlP7zqbGQ3vM1EE6PhNz-FaJ9x/view PDF page 14 Ridership Increasing! Problem? Those 225,646 generated less than $100,000. The first chart only reflects Fixed Routes, not Connect Mobility. Of course there is more to the story: See this link for October 2016: PDF page 20 https://drive.google.com/file/d/0B4zAZemF_qQuZEhveVl3aVMzakE/view Total Operating Revenue with fewer riders […]
By: Diane Benjamin TIF districts are like Greek to most citizens. If you don’t understand them, government will continue to redistribute money and call it Economic Development. TIF’s made easy: Government sets a Tax Increment Finance area. All government bodies in the area have to agree to forgo tax increases due to increasing property values. […]
