By: Diane Benjamin City of Bloomington employees held another birthday party parade today. This time is was for a 12 year old girl – golden birthday. She is also the daughter of a City employee! The vehicles were staged on private property, they didn’t ask permission before using it. Isn’t that called TRESPASSING? Maybe the […]
By: Diane Benjamin Both Bloomington and Normal are closing the pools, canceling fireworks, and other OUTDOOR event for the summer. Yahoo News from the middle of April: https://news.yahoo.com/sunlight-destroys-coronavirus-very-quickly-new-government-tests-find-but-experts-say-pandemic-could-still-last-through-summer-200745675.html Koos and Renner don’t let science get in the way of their ideology! Since fireworks are at night, but still outside, they don’t trust people to be safe […]
By: Diane Benjamin Total Bills and Payroll approved at the first meeting in May of 2019: Total Bills and Payroll for approval Monday: Employees are getting paid as usual, other spending is WAY down. This wouldn’t exist if the Bloomington Election Commission had been abolished FYI Either the fireworks show is going to be a […]
By: Diane Benjamin READ all the way to the bottom please! The tyrants keeping Illinois shut down have no basis in the law to continue doing so. Start with Chris Koos – his original ordinance #5804: http://www.normal.org/DocumentCenter/View/16424/ORD-5824—Emergency-Authorization—032320?bidId= That ordinance references: Koos is basing his Executive Powers on the Governor’s Executive Order. What does the […]
By: Diane Benjamin Media was quick to report East Peoria is moving forward with reopening their City. WEEK Live streamed Mayor John Kahl’s press conference on May 1st. The only place I have been able to find it is on the East Peoria’s Facebook page. What I have not heard in any media report is […]
By: Diane Benjamin The local beggars held another weekly call Wednesday night. Alderman Jeff Crabill wants the Council to be compassionate and cough up money. https://week.com/2020/04/29/despite-setback-twin-city-coalition-resumes-battle-to-ease-covid-19-economic-stress/ Excerpt: I could make an extensive list of how government has no compassion, but that isn’t necessary here. Also according to the article, these groups made up the attendees: […]
By: Diane Benjamin Public comment last night was loaded with those who think they are entitled to tax dollars. Yes people have lost jobs and yes paying bills is next to impossible, but that doesn’t make them entitled to anything. The good socialists showed up en masse to criticize the FIVE Council members who voted […]
By: Diane Benjamin Make sure you read to the bottom! http://bloomingtonil.iqm2.com/Citizens/FileOpen.aspx?Type=1&ID=1069&Inline=True Monday there is an ordinance up for approval to prorate refunds paid for video gaming licenses since these businesses are closed. See PDF page 374. Anybody else hold a license you can’t use? Demand a refund too, equality supposedly matters. PDF page 372 has […]
By: Diane Benjamin Watch the Pledge of Allegiance at 1:55:00. The only part where Jenn’s lips move is “Liberty and Justice for All”. She obviously has no clue where liberty comes from, she must think government grants freedom, of course government must also give justice for her hommies too. Two years ago I did a […]
By: Diane Benjamin With barely a peep the Bloomington City Council passed a huge budget tonight. Did you know that NO CITY in the world is laying people off because that would cause the unemployment rate to rise? Did you know just because an item is budgeted that doesn’t mean it will get done? Somebody […]
By: Diane Benjamin Five days a week I get a newsletter form ICMA – International City/County Management Association. The email is links to stories, sometimes around the world, detailing actions taken in various places. Both local City Managers attend their conferences, we never hear reports on what they learned. This story is in today’s edition: The […]
I forgot to mention one of the callers to Public Comment is running for the County Board: RJ McCracken. Since he demanded handouts with no facts just feelings, he is unqualified to serve. By: Diane Benjamin The meeting started with Public Comment. The Crabill gang had 4 people lined up to beg for money. Jeff […]
By: Diane Benjamin City of Bloomington has a Committee of Whole meeting Monday. Agenda: http://bloomingtonil.iqm2.com/Citizens/FileOpen.aspx?Type=1&ID=1072&Inline=True On the agenda: How the Budget Overview is presented will be fascinating. If it is “sugar-coated” it will be to promote the discussion following. Tax revenue has to be plummeting: Income tax, Sales Tax, Food and Beverage Taxes, Hotel/Motel Tax, […]
By: Diane Benjamin The local socialist lost the case for setting prisoners free, so they are moving on. Below is the latest email sent to every elected and appointed official with any power to hand out money. Note the writer wasn’t smart enough to put it in her own words, she copied and pasted the […]
By: Diane Benjamin The local political parties elected their leadership this week. The Republicans picked Connie Beard for a second term. Connie works in the private sector. The Republicans previous leader was John Parrott. He worked in the private sector. The Democrats chose Nikita Richards. She works for the City of Bloomington. Their previous chairman […]
By: Diane Benjamin Citizens were spared from a long line of people wanting the City to fork over your money. Most of public comment was emailed, those were forwarded to the Aldermen but not read out loud. One of the comments was called in, the form aid would take is never mentioned. Stan Nord also […]
By: Diane Benjamin Saul Alinsky wrote a book he dedicated to Lucifer. Rules for Radicals The local bellyachers are using his playbook. Note Jenn’s intern signed the email below that sent to the County, Bloomington, and Normal. See the rules here: https://bolenreport.com/saul-alinskys-12-rules-radicals/ Read past the meme to the actual rules. I see at least two […]
By: Diane Benjamin The local socialists are demanding public funds be used to protect the most vulnerable in the community. It doesn’t matter to them that government is the least effective mechanism possible. It doesn’t matter to them local charities are working hard to help. It also doesn’t matter the feds are going further in […]
By: Diane Benjamin Bills and Payroll: https://www.cityblm.org/Home/ShowDocument?id=24286 PDF pages 47 – 58 show tons of REFUNDS. Most aren’t large but added together are likely pretty big. If someone wants to total them, let me know. Most are from the Ice Center and Parks and Rec. More Pension Spiking: Since MLK’s vision of America is now […]
By: Diane Benjamin I received a large FOIA from the City of Bloomington this week. They extended the usual 5 days to 10 and then attempted to extend it even further. I refused their request. When I FOIA for emails what I get is the same emails numerous times. Each time there is a response […]
By: Diane Benjamin Found in the latest FOIA request from the City of Bloomington: What is it? https://thelincolnacademyofillinois.org/2020-laureates-announced-by-gov-pritzker/ This event has been postponed because of the lock-down. It looks like Gov. Pritzker will attend when it is rescheduled. This event looks like a party for elites. It honors people who have lived in Illinois at […]
By: Diane Benjamin Being marginalized for her socialist views at Council meeting after Council meeting isn’t stopping Jenn Carrillo! She only won because most of her Ward stayed home on election day. Make that mistake next year at your own peril. Remember when Mayor Koos berated Stan Nord for daring to talk to a friend […]
By: Diane Benjamin If you haven’t read Gov Pritzker’s Executive Order, see it here: https://www2.illinois.gov/IISNews/21288-Gov._Pritzker_Stay_at_Home_Order.pdf Note the Title: Stay At Home Order There are no exceptions in his order for government helping kids celebrate their birthdays. There are dictates requiring people to stay 6 feet away from each other if they have to be outside […]
By: Diane Benjamin So who at the City of Bloomington did this family know? https://www.pantagraph.com/news/local/photos-bloomington-girl-receives-special-birthday-present/collection_2fa6b4ee-8fc8-5a52-806f-f3268f9e9d11.html#3 Yes folks, another parade for a kid’s birthday. One difference, this time it was a girl and the only City vehicle she got was an emergency response truck with paramedics. Obvious sexism since she didn’t get all the same vehicles […]
By: Diane Benjamin If the rules issued by Gov. Pritzker don’t apply to City of Bloomington employees, they don’t apply to you either. This pic is from the birthday boy’s mom’s Facebook page – it is only to prove a City employee is involved: Does this look like 6 feet away? Yes folks, there is […]
I haven’t found the video on-line. Maybe they realized the party and the parade violated the Stay-At-Home order. In comments to this story a lady admitted being at the party even though she lives in Normal: https://blnnews.com/2020/03/31/i-expect-apologies-the-kid-isnt-even-sick/ By: Diane Benjamin If you read to the bottom of this story: Gleason response to parade I predicted […]
By: Diane Benjamin Bloomington City Manger Tim Gleason didn’t answer my email from yesterday: The “Sorry, no hello” is an insider joke. Tim Gleason has always been straight forward with me, this time I don’t see it. What the whole “parade” shenanigans amounts to is City employees do not understand your tax dollars aren’t their […]
By: Diane Benjamin Previous stories: https://blnnews.com/2020/03/30/illegal-parade-yesterday/ https://blnnews.com/2020/03/31/gleason-response-to-parade/ The 4 year old kid that got his own City parade isn’t even sick. Colleen Winterland, Street Supervisor (base salary $75,499.58) is buddies with the kids mom. Yes folks, government is all about WHO you know. This proves it is Us vrs. Them. The mom, Melisa Menssen, tried […]
You need to see this one: https://blnnews.com/2020/03/31/i-expect-apologies-the-kid-isnt-even-sick/ By: Diane Benjamin Follow-up to yesterday’s story: https://blnnews.com/2020/03/30/illegal-parade-yesterday/ I asked Bloomington City Manager Tim Gleason about Sunday’s parade of City vehicles. The original rumor was the parade was for a grandchild of the City employee who organized it. Tim responded yesterday afternoon, I continue to redact the employee’s […]
See this UPDATE: https://blnnews.com/2020/03/31/i-expect-apologies-the-kid-isnt-even-sick/ By: Diane Benjamin h/t a reader Yesterday there was a mini parade of City vehicles, including an emergency fire department vehicle. The parade was organized by a Public Works employee, I know who. I am waiting for a response from City Manager Tim Gleason before using her name. Supposedly the parade […]
A link appeared in a comment: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uxRwWA4bZxE http://prntscr.com/rpizp1 By: Diane Benjamin If you didn’t watch the Bloomington City Council meeting held on March 23, 2020 LIVE, it appears you will never see it. The meeting video has not been upload. Click the Archived City Council Video link to verify: https://www.cityblm.org/government/city-council/meetings-agendas The published minutes of meetings […]
By: Diane Benjamin The Bloomington City Council met Thursday night since technology prevented them from holding a meeting on Monday. The only Alderman in the room was Donna Boelen. also present was Tari Renner, Tim Gleason, City Clerk Leslie Yochum, and Jeff Jurgens. There was a painfully long pause when aldermen wanted to speak, most […]
By: Diane Benjamin Both Bloomington and Normal held meetings last night. Both attempted to use “conferencing”. Some elected officials were in the council chambers, others were on the phone or computer. Both attempts proved government incompetence. Government should be the very best possible performing essential services. When government expands their role “for the people” it […]
By: Diane Benjamin Maybe the below will tell you why the public is encouraged to watch this meeting on-line instead of showing up. In an “emergency”, keep citizens from speaking. WEEK is the only media I’ve seen saying the virus has likely been here for some time: https://week.com/2020/03/20/mclean-county-reports-3-new-confirmed-cases-of-covid-19/?fbclid=IwAR0txyysl-6hw6DFVEnpzQ_g8xkdJh7ESaf0Re0UoDVIsLaSu2wYe3l0ukg Packet for Bloomington Monday night: http://bloomingtonil.iqm2.com/Citizens/FileOpen.aspx?Type=1&ID=1067&Inline=True Hey […]
By: Diane Benjamin Correction: “firearms” is mentioned on pdf page 343 7.3a.7 No surprise, it wasn’t posted until around 5:00 pm. PDF page 335 http://bloomingtonil.iqm2.com/Citizens/FileOpen.aspx?Type=1&ID=1067&Inline=True This is mostly a re-write of the City Code and has Jeff Jurgens’ legalise all over it. The words ammunition and gun are NOT in it, unlike Champaign. This statement […]
Renner’s open house will be by phone today: I can’t imagine what you could ask Tari, – oh maybe why the BCPA is not transparent? Wasn’t Renner Mayor Transparency? https://blnnews.com/2020/03/20/bcpa-resorts-to-deception/ How about telling Tari to scrap the $738,000 STUDY for O’Neil Park! They can no longer afford it!
By: Diane Benjamin Since the BCPA is shut down, staff had time to do event reports. Well, they sort of did reports. To disguise how much money they are losing, most of the reports below don’t show any REVENUE. Of course the Artist Fees aren’t on the reports either. You are looking at the reason […]
By: Diane Benjamin Budget – PDF page 56 https://www.cityblm.org/home/showdocument?id=24029 We have no idea when life will return to normal, but government needs to scale back now. The only receipts that may increase is the Utilities Tax since a lot of people are at home. All the X tax receipts will be effected, how many businesses will […]
By: Diane Benjamin I’d love to tell you which streets are going to be fixed this year, but the information still isn’t posted on the City website as promised: https://www.cityblm.org/government/departments/public-works/bloomington-streets#ad-image-103 I did hear Hershey and Streid Drive are on the list, both badly needed. Don’t forget – the only money they are spending is Motor […]
By: Diane Benjamin Remember around a decade ago when taxes you already paid funded garbage service? The City of Bloomington put trash in an enterprise fund and gradually raised your fees to cover the cost. All the taxes you used to pay for garbage have been swallowed by the bureaucracy. Meanwhile the Coliseum is an […]
