By: Diane Benjamin I’ve done numerous stories about Connect Transit buses destroying the infrastructure at the north west corner of Portillos. It is impossible for the huge buses to make that turn without running over the curb and sidewalk. That of course crushes the concrete. The corner has been fixed but the bus route was […]
By: Diane Benjamin Don’t forget – there is no penalty for stupid government! Participants just move on to being stupid elsewhere 2019 Story: https://blnnews.com/2019/11/16/connect-transit-empty-buses-and-brains/ BEB is Battery Electric Buses March 4, 2021 story: https://blnnews.com/2021/03/04/pulling-the-plug-on-electric-buses/ Minneapolis abandoned electric buses for biodiesel Today: https://www.westernjournal.com/california-city-bought-electric-bus-company-promoted-white-house-now-considering-scrapping-expensive-fleet-nonstop-disasters/?utm_source=facebook&utm_medium=conservativetribune&utm_content=2021-07-23&utm_campaign=manualpost&fbclid=IwAR2w9iJr0t2OuY09oA-K4uRCSbifA1V7dKuZ2gLx4Y2JMY0kg8IsypGYh_A Another story from today: https://djhjmedia.com/steven/california-agency-looking-to-scrap-electric-buses-because-they-melt-catch-on-fire-and-costs-a-fortune-to-repair/ Quote: One Southern California city’s test run of […]
By: Diane Benjamin http://bloomingtonil.iqm2.com/Citizens/FileOpen.aspx?Type=1&ID=1120&Inline=True Proving yet again the citizens are not allowed in the closed Connect Transit cabal, Judy Buchanan is being reappointed to the Connect Transit Board. She has already served for 12 years. Didn’t she want to retire when Renner was mayor? New members aren’t allowed evidently, they might find out it only […]
By: Diane Benjamin City Manager Tim Gleason stated the City still has $100,000 to hand out to small businesses. I don’t know if this is the right page, but start here to see if you qualify: https://www.cityblm.org/doing-business/cdbg-cv-business-program The City anticipates ending COVID restrictions on June 30th. Vaccinations will still happen on a smaller scale at […]
By: Diane Benjamin This meeting will take more stories to adequately cover what happened last night This is #3. #1 https://blnnews.com/2020/07/07/koos-i-dont-care-what-a-judge-says/ #2 https://blnnews.com/2020/07/07/is-koos-fit-to-serve-he-forgot-the-words-to-the-pledge/ Numerous people were appointed to boards and commissions. Koos finally filled the empty seat on the Connect Transit Board. Tim McCue will represent Normal, the seat has been empty for well over […]
By: Diane Benjamin Scroll to PDF page 31 below. You will see this: The “Cares Act” is just another cute name for “We Don’t Care How Much We Spend”. As reported in this story: https://blnnews.com/2020/05/22/wow-so-close-connect-transit/ In April Connect lost a little more than usual. That $9,179,551 the feds showered on Connect will make up for […]
By: Diane Benjamin Bills and Payroll: https://www.cityblm.org/Home/ShowDocument?id=24286 PDF pages 47 – 58 show tons of REFUNDS. Most aren’t large but added together are likely pretty big. If someone wants to total them, let me know. Most are from the Ice Center and Parks and Rec. More Pension Spiking: Since MLK’s vision of America is now […]
By: Diane Benjamin Definitive proof the Connect Transit Connect to the Future working group is wasting their time comes from the words spoken by member and Connect Transit Board member Judy Buchanan. Agreeing at the last Board meeting to purchase 35 foot electric buses for the next 5 years confirms it. Go back to the August […]
By: Diane Benjamin Pantagraph story: https://www.pantagraph.com/news/local/govt-and-politics/connect-transit-to-buy-at-least-electric-buses-over-four/article_63972e20-636a-52ea-81d2-a56849c9cef2.html#tracking-source=home-top-story-2 So many things are wrong with what happened at the Connect Transit meeting, but start with the fake reporting: Stan Nord wasn’t there! Bloomington Alderman Donna Boelen did and she did ask the Board to wait until the Working Group was finished. Did a reporter even attend? Was stating […]
By: Diane Benjamin https://www.cityblm.org/Home/ShowDocument?id=22419 There isn’t any new business on the agenda – everything is on the Consent Agenda. Unless some item is pulled, the meeting will last 10 minutes. The former Gypsy Room, now Mystic Kitchen and Tasting Room is up for a Liquor License. It includes package liquor. To start they will only […]
By: Diane Benjamin Two of this weeks top read stories were about Koos lying to the media. I hope you noticed the media hasn’t issued a correction! I don’t know how you could have missed these stories, but if you did: https://blnnews.com/2019/07/31/did-chris-koos-lie/ https://blnnews.com/2019/07/31/did-chris-koos-lie-part-2/ Last night I was wondering what possesses a supposed public servant to […]
By: Diane Benjamin The people wanting accountability from Connect Transit aren’t going away. They will be at Tari’s Open House on Friday: Details: Join riders, advocates, and concerned community members as we call on Mayor Renner to choose rider representation over favoritism on the Connect Transit Board! With two seats vacating on the Connect Transit […]
By: Diane Benjamin See Part 1 here: https://blnnews.com/2016/11/30/connect-transit-lunacy-part-1/ See the Board packet here: November-22-2016-regular-board-packet Below is a few items paid in September and October. Remember, they knew by this time the State of Illinois was late paying them and they were in danger of running out of money. I have no idea what a Vault […]
