August 9, 2012 DAY 6! Investigators are now looking into what’s going on-hopefully more information today. One possible theory: The contract to sell electricity has expired and they don’t presently have a customer to purchase the electricity. The Carlock Wind Farm has not been operating for at least the last 2 days either. The 2 […]
Sheriff Emery referred me to a story written by Charlie Schlenker at WGLT radio. It goes into more depth and explains the problems more completely: http://wglt.org/wireready/news/2012/07/05173_CJCC_Immmig_depth_180058.shtml by Diane Benjamin A letter to the Editor in today’s Pantagraph from a local member of Latinos United For Change and Illinois Peoples Action caught my attention. They […]
by Diane Benjamin Let’s get one thing straight: This post has nothing to do with whether being gay is right or wrong. It’s about Integrity. If you pay any attention at all to politics, you know that several state and national Illinois GOP elected officials are suspected of being “in the closet”. It has now […]
Local 99 – Plumbers and Pipefitters PAC gave Tari Renner $10,000 for his mayor campaign: http://tinyurl.com/catcjyu Compare it to Steve Stockton’s 2009 mayor campaign: http://tinyurl.com/bqryeao Mayor Stockton loaned his campaign $12,000. Cash and in-kind contributions of $10,660 are listed. Mayor Stockton defeated Tari Renner in the last election. The Local 99 contribution means Tari Renner […]
It might seem to some local citizens, and even to many of our local city officials and elected council members, that the focus of sustainable issues, and thus, Agenda 21 – related projects, are issues that only us here at CITYWATCH are concerned about. Such is not the case. But, unfortunately, our community and city officials […]
by Diane Benjamin Heartland Community College is a public institution funded by taxpayers. They are accountable to taxpayers for how OUR money is spent. Ideology should have NO ROLE in education, but it does at Heartland. The college pushes “Green” technology at any expense and with total disregard to the people paying the bills. See […]
. . . and while they’re watching us, we’re watching them right back – this video explains a why – This is what we do. And, we could use your help. Let me explain. I am by no means a fan of Hillary Clinton (sorry), but some years back, Ms. Clinton wrote a book entitled, “It […]
Is the heat being turned up on CITYWATCH? Has the search of truth become so infringed that it has become a threat to those that hide it? And has the right of the citizens to know that truth become threatened when groups like CITYWATCH become the “watched”? The answer to all three of those question […]
The properties pictured are all connected to the Uptown project. The Town of Normal is listed as the owner on all yellow properties. All of the properties were checked on the McLean County Assessor’s Office website. The parcel pictures are all from the Assessor’s site. The Town of Normal, McLean County, Unit 5, and all […]
The House Energy and Commerce Subcommittee has held hearings on Obama’s WAR on COAL. Is GREEN ENERGY worth the cost? It’s not the “Do Nothing” Congress – it’s the “Do Nothing Senate” John Boehner’s Office sent the following email today: #WarOnCoal Energy & Commerce Hearing Highlights Obama Administration’s “War on Coal,” Expected […]
I spoke this morning to the Attorney General’s Office (7/30/12). Bloomington is responding to Request For Review today. The Attorney General will forward a copy of the response to me when they receive it. by Diane Benjamin I thought the Pantagraph was going to file – Pantagraph?
by: Diane Benjamin CPA, reg http://www.pantagraph.com/news/local/article_f82ad694-a293-11df-8558-001cc4c03286.html The total cost figures for the multi-modal transportation station vary from report to report – but I will use the ones listed in the Pantagraph above: Total Cost: $43,300,000 Tiger grant: $22,000,000 […]
Eminent Domain was meant for government to obtain land from private citizens for the public good. Until 2005, public good meant for schools, public buildings, & roads, but the Supreme Court decided eminent domain could be used against a private citizen for use by another private citizen. The Town of Normal is now famous for […]
I drove by this lot today to see who is allowed to park there. The part labeled 2 is mostly reserved for the Coffee House on Beaufort. 3 – I didn’t see how to access it, but I may have missed something. This is NOT a straight parking lot where it is clear what you […]
All the the following is public information or it was obtain under the Freedom of Information Act. On August 20, 2008 – Simon Wilson sold the following parcels to One Main Development for $1,412,500: 14-28-435-013 114-122 E Beaufort 14-28-435-027 North of -013 to College 14-28-435-014 North of -013 to College 14-28-435-030 North of -013 to […]
by Diane Benjamin The Town of Normal doesn’t have just 1 or 2 Tax Increment Finance districts, it has 4 – all started since Chris Koos became mayor. The original intent of TIF districts was to encourage developers in blighted areas. According to one of my sources, TIF districts are now used more to provide […]
Normal didn’t stop at 2 Tax Increment Finance Districts – More tomorrow by Diane Benjamin The last report on properties bought – sold – given away – and held by the Town of Normal focus on the Normal Uptown Increment Redevelopment. Part of that strategy is to pay for the plan using the difference between […]
by Diane Benjamin Since Chris Koos has been elected Mayor more than once – You Did! In previous posts about the Town of Normal, I stated in 2003 every citizen was $11.52 in debt to Normal. By 3/31/11 every citizen was $1725.18 in debt. The 3/31/12 financial statements have not been issued yet. A look […]
Per Capita Personal Income 2010-2011 per the Town of Normal Financial Statements Page 137: $38,882 The average HOUSEHOLD income in Normal from 2006-2010 was $50,304 http://quickfacts.census.gov/qfd/states/17/1753234.html 246 of the 361 retirees received more in retirement than the per person income in Normal 186 of the 361 retirees received more in retirement than the average HOUSEHOLD […]
by Diane Benjamin CPA reg. Many factors are not available for analysis of this project. This process must continually be updated when REAL data becomes available. Some of the factors are: Cost per KWH for purchased electricity over the next 20 years – it most likely will not remain constant Amount of electricity generated by […]
BIKES AND DEMOCRACY? – Give me a Representative Government DIRECT DEMOCRACY/BLONO FACEBOOK PAGE May 21, 2012 Direct Democracy. What is it? James Madison defined it as “…a number of citizens, whether amounting to a minority or majority of the whole, who are united and actuated by some common impulse of passion, or of interest, adverse to the […]
