by: Diane Benjamin In the last City election – April 2013 – Voter turnout in Normal was slightly over 4400 people. Why do very few people in Normal vote? Because their vote doesn’t matter? How many members of the Council were appointed, and since the elections are at-large, name recognition helps them win the next […]
by: Diane Benjamin Is the behavior of Alderman Rob Fazzini going to be tolerated by the Bloomington City Council? The following email was sent by Rob Fazzini to a citizen who disagrees with his petition drive to change the Bloomington City Council. Fazzini is condescending and shows contempt for a voter and senior citizen. The […]
by: Diane Benjamin I hear Rob Fazzini already has people going door-to-door getting petitions signed to steal the City Council. He wants a modified Ward system where some members are elected at large, the remaining Wards would be huge. The effect is to take away your alderman, the one person who represents your section of […]
Spoken by Alderman Rob Fazzini as reported in the Pantagraph: “I want to make it more difficult to run for office because the more difficult it is to run for office, the more you want it and the more you want it the better job you’re going to do when you’re elected.” When does the […]
by: Diane Benjamin Is something in the water in Bloomington? Elected Bloomington Alderman Rob Fazzini thinks he can be an alderman part of the time – when he wants to be – and then be a private citizen when he wants to push his ideology. Lately he’s been telling people his outside activities are as […]
by: Diane Benjamin I getting used to the talking points – it’s not suppose to! Oh, REALLY? According to the City of Bloomington website, they operate 2 pools Holiday and O’Neil. They offer swimming lesson and they rent boats at Miller Park. I have no idea why some expenses are listed under identical accounts. Is […]
A reader told me Chris Koos heavily advertises his 2 businesses on WJBC and B104. Does this influence how they cover Normal’s government? by: Diane Benjamin Everybody knows the Coliseum is a disaster for taxpayers. It does NOT make money and is a couple million dollars away from even breaking even. The rosy reports published […]
by: Diane Benjamin In 2011 Scott Oglesby was fired from the Bloomington Police force. Last May I read the entire arbitration report and wrote about it here: http://blnnews.com/2013/05/06/the-real-story-of-scott-oglesbys-firing/ Scott Oglesby was mostly cleared through arbitration, but City Attorney Todd Greenburg and a majority of the City Council refuse to drop the case and are appealing. Mayor […]
by: Diane Benjamin Carol Struck was named the BCPA’s Interim Performing Arts Manager. The problem is Carol Struck moved to Arizona! So how much is Bloomington paying her? $150 per day for every day she is in Bloomington including weekends Plus $2000 per month David Hales, are you seriously saying there is NOBODY that lives […]
Finally today the Pantagraph hammered the Bloomington Alderman who think they have a right to conduct business privately. The editorial properly called City employees public servants, paid with taxpayer money, and therefore not entitled to closed session backroom deals, contrary to how 6 members voted last Monday. Jeers though for not mentioning it was Judy […]
Update: 3 Alderman who weren’t on the Council when Tom Hamilton was City Manager voted not to release ANY information about his time running the City: Jennifer McDade, Rob Fazzini, & Mboka Mwilambwe. Who are they covering for? Judy Stearns proposed an amendment to add the info for release. Only Scott Black, Kevin Lower, and […]
by Diane Benjamin County and City governments are now governing by committee. In order to move things along faster, government has decided that various committees would examine issues, draw conclusions, and then report to the full board for a vote. Bloomington has 9 alderman and 3 main committees: Administration and Finance, Infrastructure, and Public Safety. […]
by: Diane Benjamin Since the 1990’s spending on roads in Bloomington has been less than $1,000,000. In 2000 ZERO was spent on roads, according to Rob Fazzini. Wasn’t that BEFORE the economy melted down? Pensions are severely underfunded. But, there is plenty of money for new parks, west-side gateways, and extending Constitution Trail north. The […]
by Diane Benjamin Roads are failing apart, but the money is spent. Parts of the sewer system are over 100 years old, but the money to replace wasn’t budgeted. Pensions are severely underfunded, but the money is spent. They haven’t started paying for the Coliseum yet, maybe this year or next. Developers want a Community […]
From an email sent by Jim Fruin, Bloomington alderman: From: Jim Fruin <jafruin@comcast.net> Date: 07/28/2013 8:07 AM (GMT-06:00) To: ‘David Hales’ <dhales@cityblm.org>,’Barb Adkins’ <badkins@cityblm.org>,’City Council and Mayor’ <citycouncil@cityblm.org> Cc: ‘Bobby Kerns’ <bkerns@cityblm.org>,’Alex McElroy’ <amcelroy@cityblm.org>,’Craig McBeath’ <cmcbeath@cityblm.org>,’Kathryn Buydos’ <kbuydos@cityblm.org> Subject: Transparency – section on website I’d suggest that Campaign contributions be easily accessible on our website. We need to […]
The program for troubled west-side youth is getting glorious reviews – by the organizers. The council members who voted against it are getting vilified by none other than Rob Fazzini: The city council members who voted for the small financial investment should be proud of these impressive results. Thanks to the Mayor and those who […]
From another email making the rounds: Subject: Prophesy Fulfilled H.L. Mencken (born 1880 – died 1956) was a journalist, satirist, critic, and Democrat. He wrote this editorial while working for the Baltimore Evening Sun, which appeared in the July 26, 1920, edition: “As democracy is perfected, the office of the President represents, more and more closely, […]
by Diane Benjamin If you haven’t kept up on the Schmidt-Fazzini racial rout, see this link: http://blnnews.com/2013/07/25/racism-under-every-bush-if-you-want-it-there/ Fazzini couldn’t help but show his brilliance by responding again to the email: He is our President winning by a landslide, and he is a black man. We need to accept and embrace both. Robert B. Fazzini […]
by: Stanley Wonders (Where have you been hiding Stanley? Welcome back!) Since Bloomington is a proud “Not in Our Town” town, surely we can never go too far to prove it! Especially in our elected officials! But just to BE SURE, some of them have given you the apparent ultimate PROOF. In response to a […]
A panel of judges totally exonerated Scott Oglesby today! Bloomington citizens will be paying for this one. The Council members who voted in their SECRET meeting (Executive Session) need to be held accountable. They voted to not rehire Oglesby after the arbitrator ruled he did nothing wrong. Maybe they should cough up the back pay! by: Diane […]
The Bloomington City Council wants citizens to believe everything is great, so great, the City Manager just got a huge raise. Report from a citizen: We are losing some very good neighbors on our block. They put their house up for sale and have already moved out. They showed me the gang activity in houses at […]
by: Diane Benjamin As reported by the Pantagraph: http://www.pantagraph.com/news/local/crime-and-courts/bloomington-wants-court-to-vacate-arbitrator-s-ruling-on-fired/article_ef0f507c-90e7-11e2-9757-001a4bcf887a.html Bloomington wants court to vacate arbitrator’s ruling on fired police officer BLOOMINGTON — The city of Bloomington is asking a court to vacate an arbitrator’s ruling that would require reinstatement of a police officer fired for his physical handling of a 7-year-old. In December 2012, labor […]
by Diane Benjamin In today’s Cheers and Jeers Editorial: Jeers to the council and Stockton for the decision this week not to release to the public 80 sets of closed-session minutes dating back to 1995. The council thinks it’s complying with the state’s Open Meetings Act, despite acknowledging it hadn’t reviewed such minutes as required by law. […]
by Diane Benjamin How did Normal accomplish the Uptown project? It was easy – stack the City Council. Anybody who didn’t totally agree with the agenda wasn’t considered for appointment to empty seats. The last election sealed Normal’s fate, everybody Chris Koos wanted got elected. Normal – you did it to yourself by staying […]
Roads are more and more difficult to navigate without major car repairs, pensions are seriously under-funded, union employees are very unhappy with Hales, staff levels continue to increase after paying people to quit, mandatory disclosures to the public haven’t been done for YEARS, outsourcing (managed competition) was badly handled – but the current lame duck Bloomington City […]
on the sign at Mugsy’s Pub – Main Street Bloomington
We have reported before about campaign signs disappearing all over Ward 1 in Bloomington supporting Kevin Lower for Alderman. Kevin is running against write-in guy. The local Police have endorsed Kevin, any wonder why they would do that? One local business on Main Street is fighting back with this sign: If you know, please contact the […]
There is a clear choice for candidates running for both mayor and alderman in Bloomington. Most of the current council wants to redevelop downtown Bloomington. Some candidates have stated in interviews that downtown is the future of Bloomington. If the wrong people are elected, downtown Bloomington could become “Uptown”. 2 of the mayor candidates have […]
by Diane Benjamin I really hate to do this, but I have to commend the Pantagraph for actually covering the issues with their “Council Questions” series. Everyday shows more insight into what the candidates believe and some of the answers given are truly scary is you believe in government Of the People, not I’m With […]
by: Diane Benjamin Scott Black stated again his desire to apply for more state and federal grants to help fund the Bloomington City budget. I’m sure he saw the value because of his time on the County Board. The County frequently applies for grants and is proud of their success. The problem? Receiving grants always […]
McDade admitted on radio she spent around $20,000 to get back on the ballot for City Council after she was kicked off for not filling out petitions properly. Now she is loaning her campaign $32,000! Contributed By Amt Received By Desc Vendor Name Vendor Add McDade, Jennifer 206 FleetwoodBloomington, IL 61701 $500.00 8/22/2008 Individual Contribution […]
Whispers on the street: The Council votes on Eagle View Park and Managed Competition are being delayed so the members of the council up for election in April won’t have to vote YES before facing voters. All the compliant alderman who won’t stand up for the citizens paying the bills MUST be elected so the spending […]
This site will end without your support. Click here to contribute: http://blnnews.blogspot.com/ All votes can be accessed at the City of Bloomington website http://www.cityblm.org/index.aspx?page=242&parent=128 John Hanson’s last meeting was 4/25/11. Below is a summary of votes from January 2009 until Hanson left the Council. A majority of all votes taken are unanimous, below are the votes […]
by: Diane Benjamin Mathy plead guilty to a 1995 charge of stealing cable TV. At last nights Council meeting he said he had a big screen TV in an apartment while attending college. The guys in an adjacent apartment had cable, so they strung the wire to his TV to watch Monday Night Football. First question: […]
Corrected Press release: Corrected Press Release FAX_20130211_1360598038_89 Link to supporting documents I have been notified that some details in the press release are incorrect. Mathy was not convicted of theft, he plead guilty. The group issuing the press release is revising it. The corrected version will be posted when available. This is what happens when the Pantagraph […]
by Diane Benjamin City Council elections are in April. Alderman Bernie Anderson was up for re-election, but he dropped out of the race due to health problems. I wish him a speedy recovery! The only candidate challenging Anderson is Kevin Lower. Since petitions can no longer be filed, Mr. Lower will be the only name printed on […]
by: Stanley Wonders A committee, is a culde sac down which you drag an idea where it is quietly strangled at the end. Yet here in Halesville, City Council committees are proposed – no, I think, commanded is a better word – by his Arrogancey, Mayor Gottstocks. Even so far beneath the radar screen, the a fore mentioned Mayor announced his plans during “alderman’s discussion” […]
I hear Jennifer is very upset her petitions are being challenged. Evidently following the law doesn’t matter – things like putting the correct date for the election on the petitions aren’t important. Pretty sad an elected official doesn’t even know the right date! How smart can she be? Funny, Jennifer tried her hardest to keep Judy […]
Link to the Code of Conduct: http://viabn.net/home/58 Jim Fruin evidently is trying a new career. This ad was in last Friday’s newspaper. It specifically says he has been an alderman in Bloomington for 14 years. According to the code, which he either wrote or assisted in writing: Council members should only use their title when conducting official […]
The latest news from CityWatch: “What do you mean the McLean County Regional Planning Commission are federal administrators?” That was the question in response to the recent discovery regarding who the McLean County Regional Planning Commission really is. So, what was the discovery, you ask? It started with an investigation some weeks back when we became […]
