By: Diane Benjamin The Bloomington meeting was 15 minutes last night. Brady, Mosley, and Straza were together somewhere and attended remotely. The only interesting thing was 1 public comment by Diana Hauman on behalf of the League of Women Voters. They claim to be non-partisan but aren’t. The City Council is supposed to be non-partisan […]
By: Diane Benjamin Diana Hauman is going to represent Bloomington on the McLean County Regional Planning Commission when her term as alderman ends April 30th. The MCRPC site shows two vacancies for representing Bloomington. I do know one of them occurred when Michael Gorman announced he is moving to Chicago. Green Top Grocery will need […]
By: Diane Benjamin History Review: Obama won the October 2009 Noble Peace Prize. He had been in office less than 9 months. During his 8 years (a short list): Russia seized Crimea Russia threatened Ukraine and shot down a passenger plane killing everyone on board North Korea developed long-range missiles China built islands for bases […]
Guest Editorial Now that Buragas is the 3rd rat to leave the ship (out of the 4 slated to run), let’s wish her goodbye with this ditty sung to the tune of Three Blind Mice. . Three Blind Mice Three Blind Mice See how they spend See how they spend . Planning and spending is […]
By: Diane Benjamin Ward 8 wasn’t represented as Diana Hauman was absent. Of course nobody mentioned why. The ISU kids showed up in Bloomington to support Tobacco 21 during public comment. ISU has indoctrinated them well to believe government needs to “parent” the population for the good of the collective. Sending your kids to college […]
By: Diane Benjamin Since Alderman Hauman’s citizen budget group hasn’t been allowed to discuss their findings at a Council meeting, I want you to see their work. (moving the library and a Welcoming Ordinance for illegals are evidently more important) The group started with the items discussed at the November retreat. The retreat was the […]
By: Diane Benjamin Part 1 with corrections: https://blnnews.com/2017/12/29/enough-games/ This statement is right above where the person filing signs their Statement of Economic Interest: It is a crime to file a false statement. See a blank form HERE Note: The form includes lines to file for all required offices at the same time. Don’t get excited about prosecutions […]
I’m changing my statements as it pertains to Jamie Mathy and Kim Bray. The statements they filed this year apply to last year, so alderman would not be on it. The real problem is the County does not post the Statements of Economic Interest filed with petitions. That means voters have no way of knowing […]
By: Diane Benjamin Tari has thought he is god’s gift to Bloomington since the day he got elected the first time. He planned to RULE, not serve. Every action he has taken from his first day on the job proves that. He has no concept of what most people think a mayor should be. The […]
By: Diane Benjamin Celebrate! Tari is returning from his “medical related” leave October 1st. Just like everything the City of Bloomington does, his return will have NO Transparency. Does he still have his government credit card? If he does, Freedom of Information Act requests are about to spike! Remember the citizen survey a few weeks […]
Correction: Karen Schmidt did report that Diana Hauman was sick By: Diane Benjamin Alderman Hauman and Mayor Renner were both absent last night. Not a word was spoken about either. That means 20% of the people you elected were missing. Progressives evidently don’t think they have any responsibility to citizens. Of course watching them in […]
By: Diane Benjamin At last Monday’s Council meeting Diana Hauman was the only vote against the citizens Review Board of the local police. She did the right thing. In this story (that went VIRAL) I stated in error what the Alderman said about Mike Matejka: https://blnnews.com/2017/07/25/bloomington-is-chicago/ She actually pointed out that he and a few […]
Did Tari Know a large crowd was coming? It matters. By: Diane Benjamin The Bloomington Police Department was told loud and clear last night they were a huge problem. I wonder how many officers today are questioning why they are willing to die on the job to protect and serve people who despise them. I […]
By: Diane Benjamin New Alderman Jamison Mathy didn’t show up last night for the Bloomington City Council meeting. As usual, nothing was said. Everybody acted like it’s perfectly normal for an elected representative to be a no-show. Unfortunately, his absence might have cost one family their property rights. (stay tuned) Alderman Diana Hauman didn’t show […]
By: Diane Benjamin Why did she write this? I believe she wrote this when Tari’s petition signatures were being challenged. (Note the City stationary) Just so you know it’s really her, this is from her campaign literature left on a citizen’s door: I admit I cropped the propaganda!
By: Diane Benjamin Normal people would think a GOP breakfast would be for members of the GOP. This morning it wasn’t. Evidently the local GOP is pretending local elections are non-partisan even though Renner has proved Democrats have no spending limits when they have taxpayers wallets to rob. Most of the candidates for the Bloomington […]
By: Diane Benjamin This is a continuation of the previous post: https://blnnews.com/2017/02/17/how-many-facts-does-tari-get-wrong/ The Coliseum was a hot topic. Renner and Hauman continue to believe the Coliseum can be a success. Renner still wants a hotel, Hauman thinks VenuWorks can make a profit. Both of them are living in the same make-believe land as whoever projected […]
By: Diane Benjamin The Pantagraph has a video on-line of their mayoral candidate interviews. See the video below. Yes, as Tari likes to say FACTS do matter. The video is less than an hour – watch it. Diane Hauman is already planning to increase fees for garbage service even though a January 17, 2017 presentation […]
Quite by chance, the Pantagraph has an anonymous editorial today concerning their version of Fake News! By: Diane Benjamin If the Pantagraph gets their news from Tari Renner, they need a new source. See this story they did for an article on the mayoral candidates: http://www.pantagraph.com/news/local/government-and-politics/bloomington-mayoral-candidates-taxes-streets-biggest-concerns/article_9cead315-4b3f-5c04-8516-6df801039cd1.html This statement is included: #FactsMatter The amusement tax was […]
By: Diane Benjamin Yesterday the Pantagraph did a story about County union employee salary increases: http://www.pantagraph.com/news/local/mclean-county-highway-workers-get-raises/article_e1a807b1-6dcc-535b-83dd-f39b4b00079f.html This paragraph is in the story: Two problems: The City of Bloomington has been hit by at least 24 penalties amounting to around $1.6 million. (it could be more by now) That’s not “several”. Second, the County negotiated with […]
By: Diane Benjamin There are people in Bloomington who don’t care what high taxes under Tari Renner are doing to the poor. How many Bloomington residents know the City DOUBLED the amount landlords pay to register properties? Who is hurt? Renters – the poor. If any members of the Council complain about high rents so […]
By: Diane Benjamin Tonight there is a mayoral debate at the Doubletree – 7:00pm. Come early, at least some candidates will be there early. Two candidates won’t be there: Diana Hauman and Robert Fike Either they aren’t serious candidates or they are afraid to answer questions, the debate is being held by Cities 92.9. Tari […]
By: Diane Benjamin Below is a brief recap of things I’ve written about previously: Comprehensive City Manger reports are no longer issued because Hauman thinks they are a waste of money. Now citizens have no idea how tax receipts are trending. See email HERE This email also sounds like she doesn’t care about speakers at […]
By: Diane Benjamin I caught part of a video live stream on Facebook from the hearing of Bruce Meeks’ challenge to Diana Hauman’s petitions. It was enough to know the hearing was a lawyer’s game of procedures, not based on evidence. The Bloomington Election Commission has a lawyer and so did Diana Hauman. Bruce Meeks […]
Monday is the last day to file a protest. Let me know if you are going to file. Update #2 – Her petitions ARE been examined for a possible challenge! By: Diane Benjamin Diana Hauman’s petitions should also have been challenged. Today might be the last day to do so, not sure. If you want […]
By: Diane Benjamin Government dreams big, of course with your money. They don’t have to be responsible, thanks to the media who covers for them. Diana Hauman filed to run for mayor yesterday, but didn’t attend the Council meeting. You can see all the petitions filed here: http://www.becvote.org/wordpress/electiondatesandoffices/petitions-filed/ Do details matter? Diana Hauman turned […]
By: Diane Benjamin Mayor Renner said over and over and over last night that Bloomington is not raising your taxes. Here is Tari’s tax bill he paid in 2016: http://mcleanil.devnetwedge.com/view/RE/21-12-428-001/2015 Looks like in increase to me Tari! Of course, that increase is due to your house being assessed for more money. Government doesn’t have to […]
By: Diane Benjamin The Creativity Center isn’t ADA compliant! Lisa Madigan will target them next, and thanks to the Bloomington City Council you will be on the hook for that building too! The below is from the minutes of the 10/24/16 meeting in the packet for approval Monday night: http://www.cityblm.org/Modules/ShowDocument.aspx?documentid=11609 See PDF page 34. Joni […]
By: Diane Benjamin Not only is Hauman not qualified to be mayor, she isn’t qualified to be alderman! Why? Because both are supposed to represent the people who elected them. She doesn’t. It is her fault that monthly City Manager reports are no longer published. The Council never voted, she just mentioned it was a […]
By: Diane Benjamin This item is on the Agenda for Monday’s City Council meeting: At the August 8, 2016 meeting, Tari tried to abolish the liquor Commission and crown himself the only guy in charge. He took it off the agenda before anybody discussed it. See this post: https://blnnews.com/2016/08/09/tari-is-truth-too-difficult/ Jim Jordan is on the Liquor […]
By: Diane Benjamin A reader found this story from 2005 in Peoria Magazine: http://www.peoriamagazines.com/aa/2005/jun/silhouette It’s an interview with former Mayor Judy Markowitz when she left office. Quotes from the article: Are both running successfully yet? The BCPA is a big money loser, you already know about the Coliseum. (Another Coliseum story: http://ilnews.org/9870/financial-probe-of-coliseums-former-manager-may-involve-concession-money/) Every mayor since […]
By: Diane Benjamin Scott Laughlin did a reasonably good interview with Diana Hauman this morning about her run for mayor. Listen to it here: https://audioboom.com/boos/5051767-diana-hauman-bloomington-alderwoman-9-15-16 Hauman is Tari Renner. Downtown is all that matters, the roads will take decades to fix. Diana really never said what makes her a better choice, only that she’s not […]
By: Diane Benjamin The only Regular Agenda item tonight for the Bloomington City Council is the race to debt. (Capital Improvement Plan) For decades essential spending on roads, sewers, pensions, and maintenance have been neglected for “Quality of Life” items. Now, in an obvious election year proposal, the Council will debate borrowing money to fix […]
By: Diane Benjamin The Illinois Municipal League has a conference in September. The IML is an organization that hasn’t filed tax returns in decades, their top employees got themselves State pensions even though they aren’t State employees, and they lobby Springfield for local governments – and against the citizens paying the bills. See these two […]
By: Diane Benjamin The Connect Transit July loss report is out. This is before the route changes were enacted in August. July is the first month in their fiscal year. Of course they lost money: All of this information is in the 8/23/16 packet: http://www.connect-transit.com/about/trustees/packet.asp Note that Connect Transit PLANS to lose more than $12,000,000 […]
By: Diane Benjamin Diana Hauman first got a seat on the Council by being hand-picked by Tari Renner to fill a vacancy. She was then elected in 2015. Every once in a while I’m surprised by Diana, like her objections to Geoffrey Tompkins’s appointment last Monday. At other times, I just want to say: REALLY? […]
This story has two updates: https://blnnews.com/2016/07/13/renner-emails-judy-again/ https://blnnews.com/2016/07/14/stearns-response-to-renner-part-2/ By: Diane Benjamin After Judy Stearns reamed out most of the Council Monday night, Alderman Hauman and Mayor Renner had to attack her via email. Note: When Judy was on the Council she refused to give me emails under some belief that she shouldn’t. Now she’s free […]
By: Diane Benjamin On June 23, 2016 I posted an email from Alderman Hauman questioning why David Hales did a City Manager’s Report: https://blnnews.com/2016/06/23/hauman-shows-no-respect-for-citizens/ It looks like Hales agrees and is therefore not compiling the report anymore. For May, some data is in a folder – most is missing: http://www.cityblm.org/index.aspx?page=21&parent=9539 I’m sure posting real information, […]
By: Diane Benjamin Hit PLAY below to hear last night’s Public Comment: Some of the speakers were REALLY good! Two things of note happened: Diana Hauman managed to get restrictions removed for a small business trying to open. (Listen to public comment) It seems that somewhere between the Zoning Committee and the Agenda, the number […]
By: Diane Benjamin I was looking for something else when I did a FOIA for emails recently. It never fails to amaze me what some elected officials will put in writing when they think it’s a secret. Emails are part of the public record because State law requires all deliberations be done openly in front […]
