By: Diane Benjamin I’ve written many stories about the Illinois Municipal League. This organization works for cities, not the people paying their bills. This is their latest plan: It all sounds wonderful until you look at the facts. All of these funding numbers come from the Comptroller’s website, the latest numbers for Bloomington and Normal […]
By: Diane Benjamin Consent Agenda: 23:40 – Donna Boelen pulled the purchase of the garbage trucks to talk about the Henson Disposal bills. She wanted clarification on why Henson was getting thousands a week from the City. She asked if the contracts will expire soon so they can be renegotiated. City Manager Gleason said internal […]
By: Diane Benjamin Why did the Sports Complex come back? It looks like it’s being pushed by the Convention and Visitors Bureau: (CVB) That email was included in one of the FOIA request I received. Another email shows the Normal City Manager’s response to a citizens opposed to the complex. I redacted he name: Meanwhile, […]
By: Diane Benjamin The Creativity Center is still a mystery to most Bloomington taxpayers. See this story: https://blnnews.com/2019/02/14/it-a-secret-bcpa-creativity-center/ Taxpayers are funding the salary and benefits for a fundraiser – but you aren’t allowed to know how much money she has raised! She is raising money for the Friends of the BCPA a 501-3C that doesn’t […]
By: Diane Benjamin https://www.cityblm.org/Home/ShowDocument?id=22589 See PDF pages 116-121. All Amazon purchases totaling $12,498.95 with no hint of what was purchased. More unidentified Amazon purchases totaling $11,299.12 are listed on PDF pages 107-110. In between are wire transfers we used to get an explanation for. Did you get the full color BCPA show listing brochure? BCPA […]
Connect Transit is the best example of a government agency throwing away tax dollars. In the near future they will want more of your money to throw away. Marc Tiritilli posted the below to Facebook. Keep in mind he requested an appointment to the Connect Transit Board to fill the year long empty seat representing […]
By: Diane Benjamin I’ve written about the Illinois Municipal league numerous times. If you don’t know much about them, start with this story from 2016: https://blnnews.com/2016/03/29/the-iml-scam/ IML is holding their annual conference in Chicago in September. Many local people will be attending at a cost of at least $310 each. From Bloomington, Tari Renner, Julie […]
By: Diane Benjamin May 11, 2016, Tari on WJBC: https://audioboom.com/posts/4551685-tari-renner-bloomington-mayor-5-11-16?t=0 At the very end: Tari states that having NO Video Gaming in Bloomington should be on the table. He groused about it making more need for police, especially when combined with alcohol. The rest is entertaining if you want to relive history. Downtown, downtown, downtown. […]
By: Diane Benjamin Evidently local governments don’t know that a $15 minimum wage is coming thanks to the State of Illinois. Your taxes will go up along with the price of everything. People will lose jobs because mandatory wages mean some businesses will cease to exist. Other businesses will increase the price of their products […]
A pavilion was heavily vandalized somewhere in a Bloomington park last night. If you know where, let me know. Otherwise, I will find out later.
By: Diane Benjamin Bills and Payroll: https://www.cityblm.org/Home/ShowDocument?id=22497 Indoctrination camps, the Illinois Municipal League represents cities, not taxpayers: The Coliseum continues to bleed taxpayers: This is year THREE for the Small Business Development Center. Is anybody asking what has been developed? https://blnnews.com/2018/01/03/knuckleheads/ Option 1 (50/50 split): That the Resolution approving the Small Business Development Center funding […]
By: Diane Benjamin The Freedom of Information Act was created to insure citizens can obtain information about the government THEY pay for. All documents belong to citizens, not government. There are a few exemptions to what can be withheld, but every FOIA request starts with the assumption documents are available to anybody who asks for […]
By: Diane Benjamin Jenn Carrillo makes up history and twists facts to fit her own agenda: she wants democratic socialism. She will tell you that democratic socialism is much different from just plain old socialism, but it isn’t. Anybody who thinks government is capable of running your life better than you skipped civics and history. […]
by: Diane Benjamin Oh wait – they are already here: Jenn Carrillo still thinks being an alderman requires a public displays of sexuality: Jeff Crabill decided to stage his own protest with a T-shirt: This is what the shirt says: Jeff confirmed everything the democrat party is saying: People here illegally are more important than […]
By: Diane Benjamin https://www.cityblm.org/Home/ShowDocument?id=22465 Tonight a representative from the McLean County Regional Planning Commission will talk about local transit. She will be followed by the Connect Transit’s General Manager. Prediction: Neither speaker will mention the buses are too big to serve the people with no other means of transportation. Neither speaker will recognize the huge […]
By: Diane Benjamin I thought Chris Koos was all lovey-dovey with Tari Renner now and Metrozone was just a footnote in history. Maybe not: An email received by FOIA. Did Normal forget to redact this one on the basis of pending litigation, or did Normal want the info out? If you forgot, Metrozone was an […]
By: Diane Benjamin Why was the Connect Transit Working Group formed? Think back: People disenfranchised by route changes, non ADA compliance, fare increases, and huge empty buses showed up at City Council meetings (over and over) demanding changes. These people had tried talking to the Connect Transit Board and were ignored. They tried talking to […]
The sidewalk is ADA compliant though!
By: Diane Benjamin Every alderman managed to make it to the meeting last night! Public comment start at 6:22. Gary Lambert spoke at 9:30 about the council not releasing Executive Session minutes that are now over 10 years old. He also mentioned his recent gas bill had municipal taxes higher than his natural gas cost. […]
By: Dine Benjamin Start with this chart that recaps actual and projected tax receipts in the current budget: PDF page 120 https://www.cityblm.org/home/showdocument?id=22149 The Local Motor Fuel Tax didn’t exist before Tari. Since doubling the tax, the City expects to collect $4,630,000 this year. The Amusement Tax didn’t exist before Tari. The City expects to collect […]
By: Diane Benjamin https://www.cityblm.org/Home/ShowDocument?id=22419 There isn’t any new business on the agenda – everything is on the Consent Agenda. Unless some item is pulled, the meeting will last 10 minutes. The former Gypsy Room, now Mystic Kitchen and Tasting Room is up for a Liquor License. It includes package liquor. To start they will only […]
By: Diane Benjamin Partial list of empty buildings in downtown Bloomington: CII East Front and Center and the building to the west Former Clark and Barlow Peoples Bank Elks Former Pantagraph building Ensenberger Condos – 6 for sale on Zillow A large variety of smaller spaces are also empty Bloomington doesn’t need another one! State […]
By: Diane Benjamin It could take a long time to report everything I received with a FOIA of emails between Stan Nord and Normal City Manager Pam Reece. One thing obvious is she doesn’t approve of Stan looking at what she and the “professional staff” do. Pam thinks Stan’s job is setting policy, not looking […]
By: Diane Benjamin Last night WMDB TV did a story on problems veterans with disabilities will have accessing services at the new veterans clinic in south Bloomington if they have to ride the bus to get there. I wrote about the issues here: https://blnnews.com/2019/07/24/does-bloomington-care-about-vets/ Once again Connect Transit isn’t listening. They plan to erect a […]
By: Diane Benjamin WJBC has reported Tari Renner wants to end the moratorium on new video gaming machines: http://www.wjbc.com/2019/07/29/renner-sides-with-businesses-seeking-to-end-bloomingtons-video-gaming-freeze/ I remember when the moratorium was put in place, Tari was outraged that $50 million a year went into the machines. It sounds like he changed his mind. Back in 2016 Tari was on WJBC talking […]
By: Diane Benjamin Tari thinks a Public-Private partnership can save the State Farm building in downtown Bloomington. Jenn Carrillo must think she can bully State Farm the way she did the Gypsy Room. If you don’t understand the hazards to your wallet, keep reading. If you do, a petition to “Let It Go” is on-line […]
By: Diane Benjamin In 2014 the Bloomington City Council heard the results of a study they commissioned to exam the 911 system. See the report here: PDF page 17: https://www.cityblm.org/home/showdocument?id=7555 The purpose of the report: The report is extensive and may or may not still reflect reality. Recommendations for future updates are included, I don’t […]
By: Diane Benjamin Bloomington City Council last night: See 12:17. A 30 year employee of the Illinois State Police spoke at Public Comment, He applied for the Police Chief position. His application was submitted on time and he received a confirmation email saying his application was received. He followed up with Nicole Albertson, head of […]
By: Diane Benjamin In case you didn’t know, there is an establishment in downtown Bloomington that holds drag queen story hours for kids. Since they are a private business, they can do whatever they want. Next weekend is the 2nd Pride Fest. Last year people told me it was not a kid friendly event Holding […]
by: Diane Benjamin http://www.cityblm.org/Home/ShowDocument?id=22287 Reports to me from people who attended last year: Don’t take your kids: The documentation doesn’t name the Parkview Inn, but this ordinance is so they can get back in the gaming business. It’s generic in case another establishment with video gaming now is destroyed and rebuilt: Tari Renner and Jenn […]
By: Diane Benjamin There are a lot of factors involved in determining whether twice a year bulk waste pickup saves money. We know two knuckleboom trucks were purchased and so far haven’t been used much: https://blnnews.com/2019/06/21/coliseum-garbage-service/ Total cost: $308,819.96 We know while bulk is being picked up, employees don’t have time for things like patching […]
By: Diane Benjamin http://www.cityblm.org/Home/ShowDocument?id=22247 Tari and the employees had fun: Add the previous Hawaii expenses of $1,968.00, and Tari’s trip cost $3,892.50. https://blnnews.com/2019/04/18/off-to-hawaii/ This is what the Pantagraph reported: Pantagraph.com twin-city-mayors-focus-on-transit-climate-at-conference The cost of the CONFERENCE was $950.00. The paper didn’t include that part. What did taxpayers get? The bill? Remember the FREE entertainment […]
By: Diane Benjamin At last night’s Bloomington Committee of the Whole meeting Tari lost his ability to appoint anyone he wants to Boards and Commissions without review by the Council before a name is put on the agenda. The Council didn’t vote, but the consensus was the Council needs to know names before notice is […]
By: Diane Benjamin The City of Bloomington is holding a Committee of the Whole meeting tonight. On the Agenda: The last time appointments to Boards and Commission were discussed it got contentious. Renner wanted an appointment many on the Council objected to. The entire process was tabled until tonight for more discussion. Video Gaming licenses […]
By: Diane Benjamin That would be – sucking up your tax dollars! June event reports: http://www.cityblm.org/government/advanced-components/documents/-folder-1702 Read the Executive Director’s Comments. Some shows were Free Free Free! How did the “free” Gothic at Midnight show have revenues of exactly $10,000? Bloomington is now pretending to be Normal where people have to be lured downtown […]
By: Diane Benjamin How many bikes have you seen using the existing bike lanes? One? Two? None? (I see far more bikers heading to Dawson Lake in the country) The State is planning to finally fix Route 9 through town. Thursday Bloomington wants your input at a public hearing from 4:30 to 6:30 at City […]
By: Diane Benjamin Absent last night: Jenn Carrillo and Jeff Crabill. Tari Renner claimed he is homeless because pipes broke in his house. I wonder if he will be paying the likely high water bill? I hope he didn’t opt out of the insurance that will cover part of the cost. He was back from […]
By: Diane Benjamin News Flash: The working group is a joke. Connect Transit has no intention of serving the people who MUST ride the bus because the board is appointed by 2 mayors who think Bloomington-Normal is Chicago. Don’t forget Connect hired a firm for more than $50,000 to facilitate – they expect you to […]
By: Diane Benjamin I think Tari mentioned Mboka would be conducting Monday’s meeting, maybe he extended his taxpayer funded trip to Hawaii. Unless something gets pulled from the consent agenda, the meeting will be really short. As of now nothing is mentioned under “Regular Agenda”. There is an interesting item on the Consent Agenda: Using […]
By: Diane Benjamin http://www.cityblm.org/Home/ShowDocument?id=22163 Does the message of MLK matter anymore? Is anybody judged on the content of the their character? Empire TIF payouts: Coliseum continues to bleed taxpayers, is the 3rd one to cover operation losses? Legal fees sent to Springfield is at least down a little: Nothing is on the calendar for 6/20, […]
