Know who this is?
By: Diane Benjamin h/t a reader with a REALLY good dash cam Note the color of the stop light! This should be enough evidence for a ticket! Does this help:
Category: Tim Gleason
Road Trip to Ward 1
By: Diane Benjamin The neighborhood I went to yesterday is East of Evergreen Cemetery. It is adorable with many of the homes rehabbed which proves these residents care about their community. Many American flags were flying and lots of dogs where being walked. This community also had basements wrecked with raw sewage. It wasn’t a […]
HOPE: Last night at Bloomington Council
By: Diane Benjamin It’s not what you are thinking! The Public Comment below is from Chris Collins who started a non-profit called HOPE – Housing Our People Everywhere. HOPE has a website: https://etihw34.wixsite.com/website-1 This organization wants to build homes for the local homeless. He has talked with the Community Development Department, they told him he […]
New Rule for Bloomington Council:
By: Diane Benjamin FOURTY TWO Minutes of the meeting were wasted last night by Jeff Crabill attempting to make changes to the Welcoming America commission that will be established. His comments start at 43:10, the final vote wasn’t over until 1:25:30. The alderman meet in small groups with the City Manager, they know what is […]
BCPA: Where are the event reports?
By: Diane Benjamin Two performance fee bills were paid last night for the BCPA: 9/29 was: Escape to Margaritaville 10/8 was: When Disco Was King Two other events were held earlier in September. Meanwhile, an events tab hasn’t even been created yet on the Bloomington website: https://www.cityblm.org/government/advanced-components/documents/-folder-114 In previous years I had to FOIA these […]
Bloomington tonight
By: Diane Benjamin http://bloomingtonil.iqm2.com/Citizens/FileOpen.aspx?Type=1&ID=1136&Inline=True This could be a short meeting! Remember when the Council voted to join Welcoming America instead of declaring Bloomington a sanctuary city? This is on the agenda, after it passes apply here: https://cityblm.seamlessdocs.com/f/MayoralAppointmentApplication Other Boards and Commissions might have openings too. Apply! Private Sector Entertainment! They see a need and want […]
5 Things you need to know
By: Diane Benjamin 1) Pantagraph article on the Normal Town Council meeting: https://pantagraph.com/news/local/govt-and-politics/watch-now-mural-controversy-raises-new-questions-about-disconnect-in-normal/article_9ea2ebcb-99b6-55e9-8798-76e5962bb873.html Excerpt: Did the reporter watch the meeting? A “number of people” were disrupting the meeting. Was the reporter told not to mention the only reason Public Comment was moved is because Stan Nord made a motion to let them speak? It wasn’t […]
Pre-Covid: Downtown Bloomington
By: Diane Benjamin I couldn’t find what I was looking for on the Bloomington website, not surprising – it’s a BAD website. Instead, I found something I wasn’t looking for! https://www.cityblm.org/home/showpublisheddocument/26749/637628729553900000 The people who have believed for years that just millions more will get people downtown did a study. Keep in mind, the COVID shutdowns […]
Where to look for flooding help
By: Diane Benjamin I talked to a Bloomington resident yesterday who lives in an area that was severely affected by sewage spewing from drains in his basement. He is more interested in getting the problem fixed than financial help. I sent him the links below to information to share with his neighbors. Amazingly most citizens […]
Things you need to know:
By: Diane Benjamin 1) 2 more things from Bloomington Council meeting last Monday: Tim Gleason thinks he has to obey whatever Pritzker utters, of course getting money is involved. Gleason is going to require all fire department personnel to be vaccinated or test twice a week. No mention of people who have had COVID and […]
Final Bloomington last night
By: Diane Benjamin The meeting, including Township before Council, was over 3 hours. Your representatives look ridiculous behind masks. Normal doesn’t wear them at Council meetings, citizens deserve to see your faces! Of course the camera operator makes seeing faces difficult since it always isn’t in the right location. It was much more fun seeing […]
Update: More from Bloomington last night
I emailed Mboka last night about this vote. He answered a few minutes ago. This is the explanation he provided on why a re-vote will be taken: The Illinois Municipal code requires 5 votes one way or another for an ordinance and that’s why it will come back. Had 5 voted against it last night […]
Bloomington did not vote to pay damages
By: Diane Benjamin Jamie Mathy was not at last night’s Council meeting, Ward 6 is still vacant. Therefore, only 7 alderman took part in discussions. The Council had 3 options for how to assist residents that suffered flood damage: (copied from the documentation) Option A: A Resolution in Support of Utilizing the Illinois Housing Development […]
Bloomington bills for tonight
By: Diane Benjamin https://www.cityblm.org/home/showpublisheddocument/26961/637679239022670000 Evidently what is charged on Credit Cards in Bloomington is now a secret, details used to be listed: The BCPA event report tab doesn’t even have a spot yet for this year. When do we find out how much each show lost (or made)? In 2 days there is a show […]
Bloomington – Overhead sewers and more
By: Diane Benjamin Tonight Bloomington will increase funding to help defray the cost to residents for installing an overhead sewer system. Current funding is $40,000, it will increase to $250,000. Residents are eligible for up to $4,500 after navigating the bureaucracy: https://www.cityblm.org/government/departments/community-development/overhead-sewer-grant-program-application What is an overhead sewer? I found this article from a plumber in […]
Tim Gleason gets a raise
By: Diane Benjamin http://bloomingtonil.iqm2.com/Citizens/FileOpen.aspx?Type=1&ID=1134&Inline=True The 2.5% raise is on the Consent Agenda which means nobody will talk about it unless it gets pulled: Tim Gleason’s new salary isn’t reported unless you go to the ordinance to be approved: One more change: Instead of receiving the $550 a month car allowance, the City will be paying […]
Local Government Isn’t Your saviour
By: Diane Benjamin Monday night the residents with damaged property due to flooding last June didn’t show up at Council. They have been to every other Council meeting since June making Public Comments. Maybe they were too appalled the Library would claim $20 million+ was all they need for GLORIOUS while their homes remain damaged […]
Bloomington last night: Library
By: Diane Benjamin This meeting will take more than one story, it was another 2 hour assemblage. The expansion to the library has been taking shape for years, it will not be stopped by this Council. Tari Renner made sure the library stayed downtown, he appointed people to the Library Board who believed it should […]
Bloomington charges ahead library expansion
By: Diane Benjamin http://bloomingtonil.iqm2.com/Citizens/FileOpen.aspx?Type=1&ID=1133&Inline=True Committee of the Whole is meeting tonight. Expanding the Library is the main focus. Like true Progressives, all facts don’t matter. The population is immaterial because the Internet didn’t exist in 1976. People do not need to go a library to do research anymore. People don’t need to go a library […]
The rest of Bloomington
By: Diane Benjamin I wonder how many of the people with sewage in their basements bothered to vote in past local elections. I’m betting many didn’t because turnout is despicable. City Councils are the ones who destroy you the fastest, think Coliseum, BCPA, a never used fire station, and a water tower built to short […]
Bloomington Bills and Payroll tonight
By: Diane Benjamin https://www.cityblm.org/home/showpublisheddocument/26917/637667133834300000 Payroll shows 887 employees. Remember when Renner constantly reminded us the City only had 650 employees? Some of those 887 are seasonal and maybe part time employees. Below is what the City of Bloomington reported to the Illinois Comptroller as of 4/30/2020. Updated information as of 4/30/2021 should be available in […]
Bloomington tonight
By: Diane Benjamin http://bloomingtonil.iqm2.com/Citizens/FileOpen.aspx?Type=1&ID=1131&Inline=True Items on the Consent Agenda taxpayers need to know about: 1) The process to replace the Market Street parking garage has started. The existing/new location will also be studied. 2) Replacing O’Neil pool is getting more expensive: 3) If you want Federal Money the feds own you. If you want fewer […]
Fibbing Pam Reece?
By: Diane Benjamin Remember the sewer receipts fiasco between Normal and Bloomington? Normal finally figured out Bloomington had been collecting money from Bloomington water customers on sewers owned by Normal. It only took Normal 9 years to notice, even though Bloomington had attempted to resolve the issue previously. Stan Nord wondered why the 3/31/21 financial […]
Bloomington: Citizens deserve better
By: Diane Benjamin When elected individuals are sworn into office with an oath to preserve, protect, and defend the Constitution of the United States of America – citizens have the right to expect them to do it. America has always attempted to create “a more perfect union”, we don’t need representatives that want the system […]
Bloomington tonight 8/23/2021
By: Diane Benjamin https://www.cityblm.org/home/showpublisheddocument/26853/637649014385500000 From bills and payroll: If you thought anybody was serious about combining the County 911 Dispatch Center with Bloomington’s, buying new furniture likely nixes that idea: Meeting agenda: http://bloomingtonil.iqm2.com/Citizens/FileOpen.aspx?Type=1&ID=1130&Inline=True Jenn Carrillo’s last meeting – she will likely get a plaque for her service. I wonder if she will show up? Consent […]
New Bloomington Police Chief: Choose
By: Diane Benjamin I did not attend the meet-and-greet last Monday with the two Chief candidates. One person who did told me Jamal Simington, Illinois State Police, appeared as more of leader than Springfield Police Chief Kenny Winslow. City Manager Tim Gleason announced Monday night a special email address can be used for public comments: […]
Bloomington on dangerous ground
By: Diane Benjamin I’m losing track of how many meetings have been held to discuss the June flooding. Tonight is part 4? 5? Not sure! I hope everything that has already been discussed is skipped, presentations have a habit of showing the same slides over and over and then adding a couple new ones at […]
Five things:
By: Diane Benjamin Headline from the Pantagraph: h/t a reader So, a journalist from a country without any “freedom of the press” has partnered with the US government for almost 10 years to teach how to be a journalist and teach how to teach journalism I think we found the reason 95% of the media […]
Why is Normal paying higher interest rates than Bloomington?
By: Diane Benjamin The Town of Normal loves to brag about their AAA credit rating, even though only Fitch has them AAA. Fitch is the smallest rating agency, so that’s like a kindergartener saying you are the best person ever. Recently Normal decided to finance a new fire vehicle instead of paying cash. The interest […]
Bloomington Last Night – Part 2
By: Diane Benjamin A public hearing was also held and resulted in quite a bit of Council discussion: Brandon Gray isn’t interested in the alley if he has to pay for it. Public Works would like to pawn off maintenance to him and save themselves the expense. It sounds like they haven’t been maintaining it […]
Bloomington last night – Part 1
By: Diane Benjamin Jenn Carrillo didn’t bother to attend. Other council members have forgotten how to talk INTO a microphone, at times voices were difficult to hear. A long line of people appeared again disappointed at the City’s reaction to the raw sewage in their basements. One thing is obvious: The City isn’t capable of […]
Remember when Normal didn’t know where their sewers were?
By: Diane Benjamin See this story and the one linked in the story: https://blnnews.com/2021/04/21/return-to-civility-by-normal/ It only took Normal City Manager Pam Reece many years to realize Bloomington was collecting sewer fees from Normal customers. They used to meet yearly to divvy up the proceeds. Evidently Normal’s then City Manager Mark Peterson stopped having time. Bloomington […]
Bloomington and Normal going in opposite directions
By: Diane Benjamin Remember when Bloomington paid cash for a new ambulance and Normal bought the same but financed it? https://blnnews.com/2021/08/02/purchasing-bloomington-vrs-normal/ Normal claimed their savings could earn more money than the interest on the loan, but they forgot to put in the ordinance that equal cash is REQUIRED to remain in savings for the 10 […]
If you still think government works for you, explain this:
By: Diane Benjamin A reader from Bloomington sent me numerous emails he had sent to the City in 2011. Catch that date: 2011, as in 10 years ago. Start with this email sent to former Ward 7 alderman Steve Purcell: 10 years ago sewers were collapsing on West Chestnut. Sewage was in people’s basements. Another […]
Purchasing: Bloomington vrs Normal
By: Diane Benjamin It’s really rare for Bloomington and Normal to buy the same thing so close together, but they just did. 7/26/2021 Bloomington: Normal tonight: Normal got $9000 for trading in a 2013 model, Bloomington is keeping a 2012 for backup. Both opted for gas engines instead of the more expensive diesel. Normal is […]
Six things you need to know
By: Diane Benjamin 1) A local lawyer left this comment today: 2) The problem with Bloomington’s IT department isn’t old technology. Not knowing where people will look for things is a much bigger problem which makes finding information difficult. Bloomington is currently taking applications from Ward 6 to replace Jenn Carrillo. It should be easy […]
Claim denied!
By: Diane Benjamin Since Facebook will not allow truth, find me on Gab.com: BlnNews – Diane Benjamin. I will post stories on Facebook (when the ban is over) but I might not respond to comments. I am also on Parler since it is working again: Blnnews Most of the 500+ people who filed claims with […]
Bloomington Council tonight
By: Diane Benjamin http://bloomingtonil.iqm2.com/Citizens/FileOpen.aspx?Type=1&ID=1126&Inline=True On the Consent Agenda: Ordering a new ambulance ($284,444.00) upgrading the City’s Voice Over Internet Protocol (3 yr cost $117,266.71) receiving $70,000 to demolish abandoned properties from Il Housing Authority Zoo is proceeding with a South American Exhibit – all grant money $1,000,000 The Grove will get another 33 lots Didn’t […]
Connect Transit Tosses your money
By: Diane Benjamin Don’t forget – there is no penalty for stupid government! Participants just move on to being stupid elsewhere 2019 Story: https://blnnews.com/2019/11/16/connect-transit-empty-buses-and-brains/ BEB is Battery Electric Buses March 4, 2021 story: https://blnnews.com/2021/03/04/pulling-the-plug-on-electric-buses/ Minneapolis abandoned electric buses for biodiesel Today: https://www.westernjournal.com/california-city-bought-electric-bus-company-promoted-white-house-now-considering-scrapping-expensive-fleet-nonstop-disasters/?utm_source=facebook&utm_medium=conservativetribune&utm_content=2021-07-23&utm_campaign=manualpost&fbclid=IwAR2w9iJr0t2OuY09oA-K4uRCSbifA1V7dKuZ2gLx4Y2JMY0kg8IsypGYh_A Another story from today: https://djhjmedia.com/steven/california-agency-looking-to-scrap-electric-buses-because-they-melt-catch-on-fire-and-costs-a-fortune-to-repair/ Quote: One Southern California city’s test run of […]
Spend it on sewers Bloomington!
By: Diane Benjamin Below are two screen shots from Monday’s Council video: All the free money awarded to Bloomington can be spent on separating sewer and storm water lines. The current project on East Washington cost around $4.2 million. Citizens with sewage in the homes need to demand it is only spent on health and […]
