By: Diane Benjamin I think Tari’s constant focus on downtown comes from sites like this one: “What do baby boomers, families, young professionals and new U.S. immigrants all have in common? They’re driving the reurbanization of America. After decades of flight, cities are becoming the go-to choice of living. Access to amenities—including parks, transportation, restaurants, […]
By: Diane Benjamin Buried in the Consent Agenda for last Monday’s Council meeting was the approval of Minutes from a meeting held October 22, 2012. See the minutes here: 10/22/2012 Minutes The meeting was a Work Session concerning pension funding and the tax levy. The discussion was not profound, why the Minutes weren’t previously approved […]
By: Diane Benjamin City Manager David Hales previewed next Monday’s discussion. See video starting at 1:15:00 . Giebelhausen will be back, along with David Bentley. They have new plans for downtown. Hales referred to Steve Friedman, this is his website: http://www.sbfriedman.com/ Yeah, another consultant. Prominently featured on the Home Page is Public-Private Partnerships. Most of […]
By: Diane Benjamin The best parts of City Council meetings are frequently Public Comment and Aldermen comments at the end of meetings. Last night was no exception. Alderman Hauman READ a statement declaring some people guilty of misusing free speech. She even claimed people and businesses wouldn’t locate here if they watched Public Comment. I […]
By: Diane Benjamin Opportunities for public comment tonight before the Bloomington City Council: Special Session – 5:00 Work Session – 5:45 Council meeting – 7:00 A large number of speakers usually show up to speak at 7:00. Attend one of the other times to make sure you get to speak. Get someone to video your […]
By: Diane Benjamin The financial statement issued by Central Illinois Arena Management (CIAM) for 5/1/2015 – 7/31/2015 has never made it to the City website. Your can view it here: 1st Quarter 2016 Coliseum Fund P & L I had to request it by FOIA. There are MANY problems with the report, but I will […]
By: Diane Benjamin The meeting is during the day when most people work. The meeting is being held at a room in Police Station where City video isn’t available. Citizens can attend and COMMENT. If you can, please do!
By: Diane Benjamin The Council meeting last night was short. The video is below. Public Comment starts at 4:05. I hear most of the Council was busy doing other things instead of listening to the speakers. There are some CAN’T MISS comments, including Judy Stearns, Alton Franklin, Gary Lambert, and Joe Walden. We always hear […]
By: Diane Benjamin I realized something this morning. I’m a 2nd generation American! There was only one generation of my family born in America before me. All of my grandparents immigrated here as children. Their families FLED to this country for refuge from European wars. I never knew my dad’s parents (long story), but I […]
By: Diane Benjamin From Bills and Payroll for Monday night: http://www.cityblm.org/Modules/ShowDocument.aspx?documentid=9193 Page 89 ADMIN City Council Expens Illinois Municipal League $ 310.00 IML Registration for Mayor & D.Hales ADMIN City Council Expens Illinois Municipal League $ 310.00 IML Registration – Alderman Mwilambwe ADMIN City Council Expens Illinois Municipal League $ (95.00) IML Registration Refund – […]
By: Diane Benjamin I could mention a LOT of things from last night, but this one is by request: See Alderman Painter using Common Core math to justify the tax increase: Background starts at 1:56:50. Go straight to the math – 1:58:50. . While you are there, you might as well see Alderman Black calling […]
By: Diane Benjamin Congrats to the citizens of Bloomington who showed up at last night’s Council meeting. I hear the room was packed – all the way back to the windows. I occasionally heard some soft applause when an alderman stood up for you. Aldermen David Sage and Karen Schmidt were DYING for a way […]
By: Diane Benjamin David Hales gives frequent interviews on WJBC, I’ve posted links to many of them. I remember one of his lines about the budget – but I’m not going to re-listen to find it. He claimed any cuts to the budget now are cuts to “muscle”, not fat. Of course he was lying […]
By: Diane Benjamin Instead of raising PRIVATE money for a soccer complex – Illinois fusion expects single mothers, the elderly, people on fixed incomes, and students, to pay for their complex. They have known for years that the FAA was throwing them off the airport property. They have done nothing to raise money to build […]
By: Diane Benjamin Nobody gets fired. David Hales isn’t held responsible. It was just an accident that Wire Transfers weren’t brought to the Council for approval for YEARS. Nobody’s fault, just slipped through the cracks. Monday night THIS Council is asked to approve Wire Transfers from 2013, 2014, and 2015. They all weren’t members of […]
By: Diane Benjamin The agenda for the Saturday Council retreat has been posted. They plan to spend the first 3 HOURS in a secret meeting to discuss this section of the law: Closed Session: Self-Evaluation of practices and procedures or professional ethics, when meeting with a representative of a statewide association of which the public […]
By: Diane Benjamin The citizens of Bloomington have a right to be angry. Renner appointed his own hacks to study the budget while David Hales tells them what to consider (certainly not the Admin budget!). The library wants to build while traffic is decreasing. Hales throws your money out the window so employees get higher […]
By: Diane Benjamin The David Hales saga continues, make sure you read this story first: http://blnnews.com/2015/09/08/what-did-hales-know-plenty/ From the City of Bloomington website: http://www.cityblm.org/index.aspx?page=262 (b) The Council shall approve for payment all expenses and liabilities of the City of Bloomington. Seem pretty clear to you? Need a definition of “shall”? http://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/shall (directive, mandatory, expected) The City […]
By: Diane Benjamin Pretend a big corporation has a CEO and a Board of Directors headed by a guy who tells the CEO what to do. Most on the Board believes anything they are told and never look for facts themselves. The Board fails to realize they have a responsibility to the stockholders, they happily […]
By: Diane Benjamin The fine for Emily Bell spiking her pension was assessed against the City of Bloomington in DECEMBER 2014. It wasn’t paid until 4/30/15 – and congrats taxpayers, interest of $1636.99 was added to the tab. Total paid was $360,031.11! All payments in excess of $50,000 are supposed to be approved by the […]
By: Diane Benjamin On tonight’s City Council agenda (from the packet): CONSENT AGENDA ITEM: 7A FOR COUNCIL: August 24, 2015 SUBJECT: Consideration of approving the Council Proceedings of August 10, 2015. RECOMMENDATION/MOTION: That the reading of the minutes of the previous Council Proceedings of August 10, 2015, be dispensed with and the minutes approved as […]
By: Diane Benjamin The management agreement for the Coliseum specifies concessions will be handled directly by CIAM or an “independent contractor”. BMI Concessions is NOT independent, since John Butler owns both CIAM and BMI, I can’t find where BMI ever received approval from the City Council to operate as a separate company. From CIAM’s management […]
By: Diane Benjamin If the Bloomington City Council hadn’t expanded Public Comment to 30 minutes a few weeks ago (when Renner was out of town), a lot of people wouldn’t have been allowed to speak last night. See the video below – Comments starts at 6:40. First up was Judy Stearns. Please please please listen […]
By: Diane Benjamin From the Council meeting held October 8, 2012 where the Zoo Master Plan was passed (Stockton was still Mayor) The recommendation is to adopt the MPZ Master Plan, as presented without binding any financial requirements. The financial planning and funding would be decided within the citywide long term capital improvement budget which […]
By: Diane Benjamin At Monday’s Bloomington City Council meeting: Regular Agenda A. Consideration of review and analysis of Bids and Approval of a Contract with CAD Construction, Inc., in the amount of $232,760 for construction of Flamingo Exhibit at the Miller Park Zoo (Bid #2016-05.) (Recommend that the contract with CAD Construction Inc.,for construction of […]
By: Diane Benjamin Attn: Budget Task Force It is estimated McLean County Land Trust CC-1 currently owes the City $562,194.78 in development fees. http://www.cityblm.org/Modules/ShowDocument.aspx?documentid=6615 Page 167 COMMUNITY GROUPS/INTERESTED PERSONS CONTACTED: Snyder Development From the packet APRIL 14, 2014 The parties are working together in good faith to resolve their differences, and believe that they should […]
By: Diane Benjamin News flash: Bloomington City Manager David Hales will put the sale of 3 golf courses out to bid if the budget task force recommends selling them. He will seek “proposals from golf management companies with an established track record of success”. Meanwhile, 2 guys with a track record of failure are renegotiating […]
By: Diane Benjamin I found this chart in the 2012 Bloomington Budget: http://www.cityblm.org/Modules/ShowDocument.aspx?documentid=2018 Page 114 Since the City of Bloomington can’t print money, expenditures should have been close to revenue. I do remember they got into trouble by dipping into reserves though. I wonder where that “recession” that caused the City to slash jobs was? […]
By: Diane Benjamin The Bloomington City Council is holding a Committee of the Whole meeting Monday night. The June Committee of the Whole meeting was NOT live streamed or video taped. Transparency? NOPE. That means, you better attend! John Butler and Bart Rogers from CIAM are scheduled to proclaim the greatness of what they have […]
By: Diane Benjamin The Council voted to give up $100,000 last night to pretend they are helping the environment. Where is that money going? All I heard was it goes to people promoting wind and solar. Like Solyndra? Campaign contributors who collect big bucks on government contracts? The Council didn’t think that part was important […]
By: Diane Benjamin I want to compliment Alderman Buragus for her remarks regarding Public Comment. She wants consistency meeting to meeting, not sometimes the 15 minutes is extended and sometimes it’s not. Nice point. Just when you think the Council might be listening to citizens, somebody at the City EDITS the video from last night. […]
By: Diane Benjamin Thanks so much for the contributions! My computer broke, now I can get it fixed. It was a bad day yesterday made better by people who want information and are willing to stand up to the local abusive government. For now I’m using an ancient laptop. It wasn’t a surprise that Alderman […]
By: Diane Benjamin Little Stevie is upset that he was FORCED to disclose his family connections with Bloomington’s mayor. He NEVER would have informed readers on his own if I hadn’t called him out! Hey Steve – If you fail to disclose every time you write about the City of Bloomington that your DAUGHTER was Renner’s […]
By: Diane Benjamin Lisa Madigan started a Public Access office so citizens and the press can hold their government accountable. Just like Not In Our Town doesn’t hold signers of their pledge accountable, virtually nothing happens when a complaint is filed with her office. Our local State’s Attorney could prosecute cases filed against the City, but […]
By: Diane Benjamin The ONLY reason I started this site IS the Pantagraph. I watched years of their misreporting that turned to lack of reporting. They messed with the WRONG person! Citizens deserve news, the Pantagraph doesn’t report it unless it fits their purpose. They are completely in bed with local government, Steve Vogel’s daughter was […]
By: Diane Benjamin If you have never attended a Bloomington City Council meeting, you really don’t get to see what’s going on. Most of the Council members are busy with other things during Public Comment. It’s no wonder they want rules governing it! At one point Joni Painter passed something to Amelia Buragas. Scott Black […]
By: Diane Benjamin At the Bloomington City Council meeting last night around 50 minutes was spent discussing the best way to take away your right to speak. I have no idea what they actually voted on, it sounded to me like the changes to the ordinance were tabled until July. But that wasn’t the motion […]
By: Diane Benjamin I wonder if Renner is going to make it back from San Francisco in time for tonight’s meeting. Maybe he will pass out souvenirs since taxpayers paid for the trip. By changing the public comment rules tonight, Tari thinks he can limited public complaints. Most of the speakers chastise the Council for their […]
By: Diane Benjamin If the potted plants agree citizens should have no voice in their government – it will happen Monday. Tari attempted to shut down Judy Stearns while she was on the Council. Tari attempted to shut me down with his vile comments on my site. I made a big mistake by not pressing charges against him […]
By: Diane Benjamin I’ve always thought minutes of a meeting reflect what happened at the meeting. I also believed that minutes were kept as a permanent record for posterity, therefore whoever took them had a duty to make sure they accurately reflected proceedings. Evidently the City of Bloomington doesn’t think so. On their website 2 items are […]
