By: Diane Benjamin Illinois doesn’t care about passing illegal laws. They play sue me if you don’t like it, their oath of office is meaningless. HB 3337 is attempting to make Normal legal by changing the rules that ONLY apply to them. Equal justice under the law doesn’t apply to the citizens of Normal. It […]
By: Diane Benjamin Of course democrats won’t care if they pass an unconstitutional law, they do it all the time. The Town of Normal sure doesn’t care either since they are behind HB 3337. Rep Sharon Chung and Sen Dave Koehler have proven they just do what they are told. https://www.normalil.gov/DocumentCenter/View/7696/Chapter-02—Officers-Elected-and-Appointed?bidId= PDF page 10 It […]
By: Diane Benjamin HB 3337 was brought up again by Stan Nord. He wants the Council to vote on proposing municipal code changes instead of the Town going behind the backs of most elected officials. Keep in mind this bill ONLY applies to Normal AND permanently recuses the Town from following the current code for […]
By: Diane Benjamin Judge Kording ruled in September that Normal is an Incorporated Town even though they don’t act like it. In his ruling he stated he knows his decision could: . The “parade of horribles” has only just begun. The Normal elites ignored the ruling while celebrating the defeat of the citizen led referendum […]
By: Diane Benjamin Remember when Stan Nord was denied the right to participate remotely in an off-schedule Executive Session? https://blnnews.com/2022/09/09/village-of-normal-discriminates-against-stan-nord/ Stan wasn’t allowed to participate because it was an illegal meeting to discuss the referendum. Pam Reece knew Stan Nord was unavailable the day of the meeting, she scheduled it that day on purpose, then […]
By: Diane Benjamin David Shestokas has spent 87.5 hours so far because of the referendum challenge. All of the above know they are going to lose, therefore they should get the bill. To donate by check: Citizens for Districting Normal 21 Grandview Drive Normal, IL 61761-4071 Go Fund Me is available on the website https://betternormal-il.com/support-us. Note: […]
By: Diane Benjamin I’ve seen a copy of what David Shestokas filed Friday with the Circuit Court. I could review the court cases Normal listed to support their position, but that would be tedious on a holiday weekend. Let’s just say Shestokas rips their ruling to shreds. Can we agree what Koos and company wrote […]
By: Diane Benjamin This is another round in Normal’s effort to not allow their citizens a choice. Koos and company do not want you to be able to decide if Trustees should be elected At-Large or in Districts. Government closest to the people is the most representative government. Obviously Normal doesn’t want you to have […]
By: Diane Benjamin Patrick Dullard only had one chance to object to names, process, petitions, etc in regard to putting a referendum on the November ballot. Dullard failed to identify any specific data to support this statement he filed: Since he cited no proof with that statement his argument is invalid. He doesn’t get a […]
By: Diane Benjamin Normal has money for everything except microphones that work. Kevin McCarthy had to hold his when he spoke, the sound still wasn’t clear. Brian Day had a large hand-held microphone because he is always hard to hear from his perch, his did work. Chemberly Cummings is now Chemberly Harris, no explanation. Scott […]
By: Diane Benjamin Yesterday was a Federal Holiday. Town of Normal code says meetings can not be held on any legal holiday: The Open Meetings Act law says a regular meeting can be held on a holiday if it is regularly scheduled, Normal threw in a Special Meeting that is not allowed under the law: […]
By: Diane Benjamin Remember the year around (cough cough) fitness court the Normal Council voted to proceed with? https://blnnews.com/2022/01/06/conflict-of-interest-by-mccarthy-sure-looks-like-it/ Scott Preston appears to have only voted YES because he was told the National Fitness Challenge is a nonprofit. Just hit play below to hear Pam Reece state it “appears” they are a nonprofit, then Scott […]
By: Diane Benjamin Previous stories for reference: https://blnnews.com/2022/01/05/see-anybody-with-a-disability/ https://blnnews.com/2022/01/05/are-koos-and-mccarthy-profiting/ https://blnnews.com/2022/01/05/some-people-will-fall-for-anything/ I wonder of Brian Day, Normal’s attorney, has a copy of this book? Normal pays the Illinois Municipal League a lot of money every year, if he doesn’t have a copy he should. Does the Town hand out copies of this 216 page book to […]
By: Diane Benjamin Monday night wasn’t the first time Chris Koos has used Roberts Rules of Order to cut off Stan Nord. He even claimed Monday he wasn’t “picking” on Stan, just following the RULES. The Koos comment also makes clear he despises Stan’s use of Facebook posts and videos to actually communicate with the […]
By: Diane Benjamin Yesterday I showed you the code passed by the Normal Town Council because they were told it was State Law when it isn’t State Law: https://blnnews.com/2021/12/21/normal-comedy-central/ Nobody from the Town of Normal has sent proof that story is wrong and WGLT hasn’t done a story calling me a liar, so I have […]
By: Diane Benjamin The Town of Normal attorney made a lot of money last year: Yep, $195,105 because he’s a LAWYER. I’ve written before about things he gets wrong, last Monday night he did it again. He is supposedly the resident expert on Roberts Rules of Order, Koos frequently asks him procedural questions. Monday night […]
By: Diane Benjamin It’s really sad when government thinks they have the right to force people to comply based on a façade of fear. Is Reece just trying to get more Pritzker money? Want to know why Pritzker hasn’t allowed the legislature to make laws concerning COVID? He doesn’t want Illinois to find out the […]
By: Diane Benjamin Below is a a clip from the Normal Town Council meeting 8/2/21. Chris Koos thinks GIS could be wrong after Stan Nord produced a map clearly showing Rivian does not own all of the property adjacent to Electric Avenue. Why do taxpayers fund GIS if it isn’t accurate Chris? Why should anybody […]
By: Diane Benjamin I attended the Normal Planning Commission meeting last night. It was over 3 hours because MANY citizens did not want alcohol in the park. The video below is of Town Planner Mercy Davidson. She claims the Town Council brought this forward last year. Actually staff brought it forward and the bobbleheads said […]
By: Diane Benjamin More on the “Attack” Stan meeting last week. Attorney Brian Day spoke about 3 items-video below: 1) Day didn’t talk about Pam Reece’s procurement ethics, just Stan Nord’s. Day complained about Nord talking to local vendors AFTER the Town had already picked their favorite. Day left out the AFTER. The Town didn’t […]
By: Diane Benjamin Last night’s Normal Town Council meeting isn’t online yet, maybe because they don’t want you to see what happened before you vote. Stan Nord brought up again appointments the public knows nothing about until the council votes. Evidently the appointees don’t know either. Stan talked to last night’s person and she didn’t […]
By: Diane Benjamin Chemberly Cummings is the perfect Trustee for the establishment in Normal. She believes her job is to rubberstamp staff recommendations. Listen to her Saturday interview – start at 38:30 – https://www.cities929.com/steve-suess-podcast/ She, and all the other Trustees except Stan Nord, think they hire “professional staff” who are experts in their fields, so […]
By: Diane Benjamin This item is on the Omnibus Agenda. In case you forgot, those items are routine and don’t need to be discussed unless a Trustee pulls one. Since Stan Nord was elected the Council does pull items, mostly not to object, but more to praise staff for the great job putting it together. […]
By: Diane Benjamin If you already knew “right fit” businesses are all that matters in Normal, last night cemented their place in history for being unfriendly to business. The Town levied fines on Joe’s Stationhouse Pizza for daring to defy Pritzker’s spewings when the Illinois Constitution clearly states emergency powers last 30 days. It was […]
By: Diane Benjamin The best evidence yet to not re-elect Scott Preston and Chemberly Cummings: While the Town of Normal is determined to put non-compliant restaurants out of business by fining them for not closing indoor dining, staff can eat in a conference room at Town Hall. The Town attorney – Brian Day – who […]
By: Diane Benjamin Tari Renner tested positive for COVID. He stated himself Monday night he had symptoms for 13 days. So far reports to me have him going to a local restaurant and a grocery story WITH symptoms. Don’t forget his dancing antics without a mask too. What are citizens going to tolerate? Is the […]
By: Diane Benjamin The Town of Normal has waged war on it’s citizens. Besides burying you in debt they want to make sure you can’t talk about it. They know their Public Comment policy is illegal. See this story 9/5/2019: https://blnnews.com/2019/09/05/normals-illegal-public-comment-policy-2/ The Town knew LONG before the above – March 16, 2017! More than 3 […]
By: Diane Benjamin Remember the property taxes Normal paid Monday night that Pam Reece, Brian Day, and Chris Koos couldn’t explain – or didn’t want to? https://blnnews.com/2020/06/12/more-property-taxes-normal-doesnt-owe/ The parking lot at 100-104 Beaufort is part of the Trail East project. From the Trail East documentation: A link to the above is not included on purpose, […]
By: Diane Benjamin I previously reported the Town of Normal couldn’t find any communication for Chris Koos’ purchase of a bike from his shop to give to Trustee Fritzen. I also reported I filed a Request of Review with the Attorney General’s Public Access office: https://blnnews.com/2020/03/27/remember-that-bike-fritzen-got/ Fritzen’s party was held on April 23, 2019. Fritzen […]
By: Diane Benjamin Tonight the Town of Normal will attempt to seize power there is no need for: https://blnnews.com/2020/03/22/normal-emergency-meeting-monday/ Mayor Koos and Pam Reece want broad powers to respond however they see fit when no emergency exists locally. See this story from earlier today: https://blnnews.com/2020/03/23/just-the-facts-china-corona-virus/ Worse, the Town of Normal doesn’t want citizens present. Public […]
By: Diane Benjamin One of the properties Normal owns they shouldn’t be paying property taxes for is up for sale. Stan Nord specifically mentioned this property, the Town hasn’t taken the time to change it to exempt. https://normal.org/bids.aspx?bidID=218 The Town is taking bids on 1404 Ft Jesse until January 15th. Evidently they can’t find anybody […]
By: Diane Benjamin When a Request for Review is filed, the Attorney General’s office sends the complaint to the government body and lets them respond. I just received Normal’s response to what I filed concerning their workshop that wasn’t posted. They claimed it wasn’t a real meeting and no decisions were made. It was supposedly […]
By: Diane Benjamin Last night the Normal Town Council defied the Attorney General’s letter and made only minor changes to their Public Comment Policy. They relied on the opinion of their City Attorney Brian Day who formerly worked for the Illinois Municipal League. First, you need to understand what the IML is. See this story: […]
