By: Diane Benjamin The upcoming City elections are vital to stopping Renner’s agenda of coming up with new ways to steal your money. Dan Metz is running as a Write-In candidate. He has the toughest road to moving on to April. If you like what he says, contact him and offer some help. I can […]
By: Diane Benjamin Last night’s Bloomington City Council meeting was short by council standards. Watch it here. . Alderwoman Stearns was not there to stand up for the citizens – called in sick. See your future Bloomington, her last meeting will be soon since she isn’t running again. A couple of Aldermen acted like […]
By: Diane Benjamin From the Packet for Monday’s City Council meeting: http://www.cityblm.org/index.aspx?page=242&parent=7717 COMMUNITY GROUPS/INTERESTED PERSONS CONTACTED: Snyder Development, A. Clay Cox, Edward R. Gower FINANCIAL IMPACT: It is estimated McLean County Land Trust CC-1 currently owes the City $562,194.78 in development fees. There are other “punch list” items that are covered by this agreement that […]
by: Diane Benjamin Face it – the people you elect on the State and National level barely listen to you. They are too busy pleasing leadership to get more money so they can be re-elected. Local elections are the only place you have a vote that counts. You can go to your alderman’s house, get […]
By: Diane Benjamin In a further attempt to make your elected Aldermen immaterial, the City of Bloomington is holding a budget meeting on January 20th. Each Alderman is to invite 10 citizens, then these 90 people will tell Bloomington where your money should be spent. Being a Representative Republic is now dead in Bloomington. Thanks […]
By: Diane Benjamin Is American History still taught? Evidently it’s been re-written to reflect mob rule instead of a Representative Republic. After all, the government is supposed to reflect the will of the people! Mob rule has come to Bloomington. Bike lanes are painted on the streets (the roads that aren’t crumbling) because the McLean […]
By: Diane Benjamin In November I reported the City of Bloomington wants to minimize YOUR elected officials. http://blnnews.com/2014/11/08/bloomington-retreat-report-cough/ 9 Aldermen are entrusted to represent you on the Council. They have the final word on the direction of the City and spending. 7 don’t realize the importance of standing for the people who elected them. Some […]
By: Diane Benjamin Mayor Tari loves to call people he wants to vilify: “they are off their meds” Sorry, but you may need “meds” after seeing how your tax dollars are spent. Government loves to control what us little people eat, but they feed themselves pizza, doughnuts, and deserts and send the bill to you. […]
By: Diane Benjamin After I spoke at Council last week, Mayor Renner made a comment implying that public speakers aren’t necessarily telling the truth. Since he made that statement directly after I spoke, I inferred he was talking about me. I went back yesterday to set the record straight. I’m on the video below at […]
I originally had the law firms backwards! By: Diane Benjamin The Bloomington City Council is meeting again tonight. They will be asked to approve more bills. Below are a few: CLARK BAIRD SMITH LLP (This is the Chicago law firm) CHECK TOTAL 4,270.43 Last week a payment of $8,798.75 was approved LYNN MONTEI ASSOCIATES […]
Start watching around 12 minutes. Don’t miss Renner commenting on what I said AFTER stating earlier the Council doesn’t respond. (I don’t know why these videos make people sound like they have a lisp!) It’s only slightly more than 3 minutes.
By: Diane Benjamin The City of Bloomington has been trying to minimize the power of the City Council. The 9 aldermen are elected by citizens to be their representative, but the seven potted plants on the Council continue to defer to David Hales instead of making common sense decisions for themselves. Frankly, I’m surprised there […]
By: Diane Benjamin When the David Hales and Tari Renner put an item on the Bloomington City Council agenda, they now state why it’s a good thing. Here’s why new Liquor Licenses should be approved: STRATEGIC PLAN LINK: Goal 4. Grow the local economy. Motion: That a TAS liquor license for Around the Corner, Inc., […]
By: Diane Benjamin If you contributed to Renner’s campaign for Mayor you are doing well! The unions got massive increases in pension funding – the Council was set up and fell for plans needing tax increases to succeed. More increases coming. At least one campaign contributor has art for sale in the Mayor’s office Rob […]
By: Diane Benjamin Tonight the Council voted to NOT buy the 4 acres by McGraw Park for use by Central Catholic High School as a practice football field. Jim Fruin recused himself, the vote was unanimous. At the first meeting there was much hand-wringing about accepting $750,000 from a bankrupt state. Some aldermen stated that somebody […]
By: Diane Benjamin When the Fruin-Brady-Central Catholic flap exploded after the last City Council meeting, the Pantagraph was the last to report. Maybe the below explains why. Bills to be approved for payment next Monday night at the Bloomington City Council meeting: http://www.cityblm.org/Modules/ShowDocument.aspx?documentid=7597 PANTAGRAPH PUBLISHING HR Advertise 1,323.06 PANTAGRAPH PUBLISHING BCPA Advertise 3,315.04 PANTAGRAPH PUBLISHING CtyClerk Advertise […]
by: Diane Benjamin The Bloomington City Council is meeting tonight – Committee of the Whole. In other words, it’s the indoctrination meeting where no votes will be taken. On the agenda: Raising Liquor License and Video Gaming Fees. The packet devotes pages 38-62 to the topic. http://www.cityblm.org/Modules/ShowDocument.aspx?documentid=7555 The discussion revolves around User Fees. Funny how […]
From Fruin’s bio on the City website: http://www.cityblm.org/index.aspx?page=59 Jim has been very involved in the community, serving in several leadership positions with Illinois State University, Holy Trinity Church and Schools, Central Catholic High School, the McLean County Economic Development Council, the Bloomington/Normal Convention and Visitors Bureau, the Community Health Care Clinic, and currently as a […]
By: Diane Benjamin Below is the video of Alderman Jim Fruin’s 7 1/2 minute speech Monday night in support of the Brady/McGraw Park/Central Catholic deal. At the beginning Fruin lists family members etc that have graduated from Central Catholic. He then makes the comment he “bleeds Central Catholic” At the end, around 7:20, Fruin says […]
By: Diane Benjamin One overlooked fact: Central Catholic is NOT in Bill Brady’s District! They are represented by Jason Barickman. Local City government loves back room deals, no risk of exposure since they are cozy with most of the press. You won’t see the Pantagraph breaking news of corruption, in fact they cover it up. […]
by: Diane Benjamin Do you remember the budget discussions that took place earlier this year on the Bloomington City Council? Mayor Transparency Renner demanded tax increases and declined to consider any cuts. He publicly vilified Alderwoman Stearns for even presenting a list for consideration! Renner vetoed the budget – then he got his 3 new […]
Correction: The Department heads didn’t have to come today, they have Saturdays off. Only minimal staff and the Council are there today. The Council is really earning their $4500 a year salary. __________________________________________________ by: Diane Benjamin Yes, I stopped by the Den yesterday. If you want to see all the highest paid employees of the […]
By: Diane Benjamin Alderwoman Stearns announced this morning on Cities 92.9 that she will not be seeking a 3rd term on the Council. The taxpayers of Bloomington will be losing their biggest advocate. I occasionally hear “Judy just votes NO to everything”. That’s not true, but she does oppose spending your money on Wants instead […]
I’m still trying to interpret the City’s presentation of debt. The accompanying notes don’t match the tables, more later. By: Diane Benjamin The City of Bloomington has issued their Financial Statements as of 4/30/2014. http://www.cityblm.org/Modules/ShowDocument.aspx?documentid=7479 The numbers below start on page 51. The current debt payments are set to explode in 2020: The outstanding […]
By: Diane Benjamin The audited financial statements for the Coliseum year ended 4/30/2014 are finally posted on-line: http://www.cityblm.org/Modules/ShowDocument.aspx?documentid=7481 Below is the auditors statement of Revenues and Expenses. The numbers in RED are what CIAM (Central Illinois Arena Management) reported. See their report here: Coliseum 4/30/2014 Note that CIAM reported more revenue than the auditors. Including […]
by: Diane Benjamin The following are from Bills and Payroll to be approved for payment: PANTAGRAPH PUBLISHING CHECK TOTAL $3,960.11 Peoria Journal Star CHECK TOTAL $1,314.12 LEGAL Outside Legal Co $90,640.10 (Sent out of Bloomington) How much was spent on my lawsuit and how much was spent on the Paradigm fiasco? Unclaimed […]
by: Diane Benjamin How about some weekend fun! When I filed the lawsuit against the City of Bloomington, I had no idea what emails they were hiding. Since the City has since produced at least some of them, they have admitted guilt. Of course, they will never say that publicly, but it’s obvious anyway. The […]
by: Diane Benjamin Another Request for Review has been filed against the City of Bloomington for holding an illegal meeting. I didn’t file it. Lisa Madigan’s Office is in charge of the investigation. Since they have a long history of taking a year or more to make a decision, don’t expect a resolution anytime soon. […]
by: Diane Benjamin Each Ward in Bloomington is represented by one Alderman. An attempt to change the system to some City-wide Aldermen failed miserably earlier this year. Obviously citizens want small wards with a personal representative on the Council. Unfortunately, most of the Council doesn’t work for you. Their attitude is “they hired David Hales”, […]
by: Diane Benjamin tyranny The following is from OpenTheBooks.com. The information comes from databases they have access to. One way to see how fiscally responsible government handles your tax dollars is to look at trends. I gleaned information available from the City website to update the chart. Budget: FY 2013-2014 $169,000,000 FY 2014-2015 […]
by: Diane Benjamin She is hiding who she is! Her candidacy announcement says she works at the Dorris Law form. There is no mention that she is the daughter of David Dorris, a big player in downtown Bloomington. Is she hiding that fact because daddy is most likely FOR spending YOUR money downtown? Is […]
by: Diane Benjamin Mayor (less than) Transparency is busy stacking the Council. Scott Black quit the County Board to be a Renner puppet. Renner appointed Painter, so far nobody is running against her next year. Tonight Renner gets another appointment. The Council members made comments to Renner about his pick but they are still a […]
by: Diane Benjamin “Every Tax is a Pay Cut … A Tax Cut is a Pay Raise” (So good I copied it: http://www.cltg.org/) Tari Renner does not understand that or care. He WILL propose a PROPERTY TAX increase to fund next years budget. He mentioned numerous times during this year’s budget discussions that Bloomington City […]
Renner is going to appoint one of the two candidates who applied to fill Fazzini’s seat. We already know who Renner is going to appoint, even though the Pantagraph is reporting she will be interviewed by phone. He is going to appoint Diana DeSio Hauman, it doesn’t matter the other applicant (Alton Franklin) attends virtually every […]
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According to the local paper, tax revenues in Normal have been affected by State Farm’s transfer of people out of the local area. Funny thing, Bloomington still thinks their town is growing! If they did admit the obvious, spending would have to be cut! Think your Democrat Mayor is going to allow that? Think Normal […]
by: Diane Benjamin A citizens contacted the City Council pertaining to items on the agenda for last night’s meeting. The agenda must be posted by law 48 hours before a meeting. The law was to make citizens aware of what’s on the agenda and make comments to their representatives if desired. Since Fazzini thinks he’s […]
by: Diane Benjamin Not only is buying the property south of the library for $250,000 on the agenda for the Monday City Council meeting, there’s more! One of their SECRET MEETINGS (Executive Session) is scheduled for 5:45. Guess what the topic is: What does it take to stop the spending? A hotly contested budget was […]
by: Diane Benjamin The TAXPAYERS of Bloomington have around $4,000,000 invested in a Fire Station on the west side that has NEVER been used. It leaks. The station is fully outfitted, complete with a kitchen. It is being left to decay because the City of Bloomington can’t afford to staff it. The TAXPAYERS of Bloomington […]
By: Diane Benjamin The City of Bloomington has been using this building for 2 years – for free – after Connect Transit moved to their new location. At last Monday’s Council meeting a motion to pay them $5,226.54 per month passed the Council. Several aldermen questioned why it was free for 2 years, but […]
