Tag: bike trails

Written by Diane Benjamin - editor

Nationwide gas prices, Illinois highest east of the Rockies

By: Diane Benjamin A friend was recently in the Quad Cities. The Iowa side had long lines at the pumps with Illinois plates. https://wirepoints.org/this-weekend-try-to-fill-your-gas-tank-anywhere-but-illinois-wirepoints/#respond Besides the State Sales Tax (6.25%) and State Motor Fuel Tax (.39) and Federal Gas Tax (.19), both Bloomington and Normal added .08 in local motor fuel taxes. https://www.newspapers.com/newspage/75413201/ Any surprise […]

Written by Diane Benjamin - editor

Ethically challenged Koos

By: Diane Benjamin From a 2014 Pantagraph story titled: Normal gets award for being bike friendly https://www.pantagraph.com/lifestyles/health-med-fit/normal-gets-award-for-being-bike-friendly/article_992c233d-4b52-55bc-88a7-f14cafee5883.html NORMAL — The town of Normal on Tuesday received a Bronze Level Bicycle Friendly Community award from the League of American Bicyclists, joining more than 325 communities from across the country honored by the group. The award recognizes […]

Written by Diane Benjamin - editor

What do you call a politician who votes HIS pocketbook?

By: Diane Benjamin Story from 2018: https://www.adaptbn.com/home/2018/6/25/going-local-vitesse-cycle-shop Excerpt: “Constitution Trail has been a big benefit to biking and to bike sales,” said Chris Koos, owner of Vitesse Cycle Shop in Normal. I bet you thought all those Bike Trail extensions Normal keeps making their citizens pay for while the roads are less than adequate were […]

Written by Diane Benjamin - editor

Fly on the Wall: Trail snow removed before streets

Flying around I saw lots of angry citizens who couldn’t get out of their driveway for days, maybe still can’t. I see the trails in both cities got cleared before streets. Are both Normal and Bloomington using snow to fill the potholes? How much MOTOR FUEL TAX was used to clear the trail for bikes […]

Written by Diane Benjamin - editor

Koos is a Conflict of Interest

By: Diane Benjamin The University of Illinois at Chicago recently rated Illinois as the second most corrupt state in the country: https://www.illinoispolicy.org/reports/corruption-costs-illinois-taxpayers-at-least-550m-per-year/?fbclid=IwAR11VlYYI6ARmHozjFT0DQgsFig-PgAJNkYwkSGbD1jj3AvL_hCEGbDrJK8 Central Illinois isn’t exempt. The Town of Normal is famous for calling new bike trails a Quality of Life issue. It is – for bike shop owner and Mayor of Normal: Chris Koos. […]

Written by Diane Benjamin - editor

Normal tonight. Rivian over citizens

By: Diane Benjamin If Normal passes an ordinance tonight to punish small businesses just trying not to close permanently here is what they are doing: Ignoring where COVID does kill people There is no proof bars and restaurants spread the virus but there is lots of proof nursing and group homes do. We know what […]

Written by Diane Benjamin - editor

Three hours and twenty minutes!

By: Diane Benjamin Normal has gone from 10 minute meetings with no discussion before spending millions of dollars to bloviating just to hear themselves talk. I can’t possibly recap everything that happened, so I will pick what I think is important. The other media can fill you in on what the Town thinks happened. Last […]

Written by Diane Benjamin - editor

Your Monday bills Bloomington:

By: Diane Benjamin On Bills and Payroll for Monday night:  http://www.cityblm.org/index.aspx?page=242&parent=9535 HR and the Water department needed more auditing?  Sikich did the City audits. Consultants: Only $47,000+ US Conference of Mayors?!? Pantagraph: only $9300+ Yeah! Bike Trails. Remember SLBB?  (Sick Leave Buy Back)  Remember how they were going to fix it? . .