by: Diane Benjamin This morning on Cities 92.9 Mayor Renner stated that most of what I write is fiction. Keep it up Mayor! Citizens can see right through your marginalizing of anybody who isn’t 100% behind you. Somebody has to hold you accountable, it obvious the Pantagraph and WJBC won’t do the job. Somebody has […]
Buzzing around the Council Chamber tonight, Mayor Renner has now decided to be a bully. The Council was told that they will raise taxes or he will veto the budget! Evidently there is NOTHING that can be cut. Bull Mayor. I think I know somebody who will report tomorrow. Here’s the story: http://blnnews.com/2014/03/25/im-glad-im-still-under-renners-skin/
by: Diane Benjamin Why seven Council members voted to give David Hales a new 4 contract and big raise is baffling. He gets paid HUGE bucks to manage the city, not spend it into oblivion and participate in every left-wing study and conference available. The proposed budget is his latest masterpiece. By the way, at […]
by: Diane Benjamin Tomorrow the Bloomington City Council will meet ALL DAY to discuss the City budget. Mayor Renner and City Manager David Hales are presenting “Culture Change”. They want raises for City employees and 17 new employees. Those 17 new employees come with 17 new pensions. The City of Bloomington pension systems are severely […]
City Council Alderman take an oath when elected. What does that mean to you and I, and how does that affect anything local? It vows and affirms not only the defense of the Illinois Constitution by the Alderman, but vows and affirms by their oath to uphold it. A quick review of the applicable language […]
by: Diane Benjamin In a very recent Rasmussen poll, 80% said the country is going in the wrong direction. http://www.rasmussenreports.com/public_content/politics/mood_of_america/right_direction_or_wrong_track But we are NOT powerless! Politicians do one of 2 things when challenged on their decisions: 1) They modify their policies to the will of the people 2) They dig their heals in a say […]
by: Diane Benjamin First, congratulation to David Hales for getting the January report out much quicker than past monthly reports. Bloomington Library: The citizens have been led to believe the library is growing way too fast for the current building. Maybe not. This graph is included in the City manager’s report: http://www.cityblm.org/modules/showdocument.aspx?documentid=6417 Clearly the growth […]
by: Diane Benjamin At last Monday’s City Council meeting Mayor Renner admitted to committing a FELONY. Below is the archived video from the City’s YouTube channel. Start watching at 1:33:00 https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_8kkBwBCGEA Mayor Renner proclaimed a new Art Gallery is now open – in his office! A citizens hung paintings on consignment on Public Property. His […]
by: Diane Benjamin Last November the Bloomington City Council held a retreat. The big topic was a “Culture Change” at the City. I previously reported on it here: http://blnnews.com/2014/01/27/culture-tales-bloomington-council-retreat/ Remember, this is the retreat that triggered the Open Meetings Act violation filed by Alderwoman Judy Stearns. It also triggered Mayor Renner and David Hales hiring […]
City of Bloomington: Scott Black will always vote how Mayor Renner wants. Now with the appointment of Joni Painter, who will also do whatever the Mayor wants – THEY ARE ENOUGH VOTES TO GET RID OF DAVID HALES! Mayor Transparency? How low does employee morale have to be before David Hales is held accountable? How […]
by: Diane Benjamin Did you know Mayor Tari Renner used to be the Director of Research for the International City/County Management Association? (3/17/13 Pantagraph) What is the ICMA? It’s the same group I filed an ethics complaint with against Normal City Manager Mark Peterson – IN NOVEMBER. http://blnnews.com/2013/11/20/more-on-normal-city-manager-mark-peterson/ The ICMA has yet to make a decision on […]
by: Diane Benjamin Mayor Transparency Renner seems to be taking the Obama approach to informing the public: hide everything. I’m sure you’ve heard the President is now only allowing staff photographers to take pictures at official events, the pesky press might actually capture something interesting instead of staged mugs. Now Renner wants everything filtered through […]
by: Diane Benjamin The employees of the City of Bloomington have no idea if their jobs are secure because of Steve Stockton, the City Council, and David Hales. Managed Competition is nothing more than outsourcing. It makes good sense if the private sector can do the job cheaper than City employees, but the way the […]
Bernie Anderson wants the no-name write-in guy appointed to fill out the rest of his term on the City Council – maybe 6 or 7 meetings. Why? He doesn’t say, but then one can surmise the reason: He’d be just like me! Exactly what is that Bernie? Voting for budgets that don’t fund pensions? […]
by: Stanley Wonders A committee, is a culde sac down which you drag an idea where it is quietly strangled at the end. Yet here in Halesville, City Council committees are proposed – no, I think, commanded is a better word – by his Arrogancey, Mayor Gottstocks. Even so far beneath the radar screen, the a fore mentioned Mayor announced his plans during “alderman’s discussion” […]
When buzzing in my ear is too great to ignore – I must report! The RICH do fare better in Bloomington than us commoners! Have a problem with traffic on East Washington, (eek they are too close and going to fast by my house) – just call city hall! Stockton and Hales will HIRE special […]
The City of Bloomington is “Visioning” – so what exactly is it? The Town of Normal “Visioned” the Uptown project – now the formerly sleepy town is BURIED in DEBT. Of course they have a plan to pay for it! Raise taxes – they already have. See this previous post: http://blnnews.com/2012/05/30/normal-il-what-is-up-with-the-debt/ A large part of […]
CityWatch is a group of citizens keeping an eye on local government. This is the first in a series of articles about the City of Bloomington government. http://citywatch1.blogspot.com/2012/03/wish-you-were-there-bloomington-city.html From: March 27, 2012 Upside down government. I’ve addressed it before. At last evenings Bloomington City Council meeting, more topsy-turvy politics appeared. It doesn’t surprise me any […]
