By: Diane Benjamin After a long line of licensed massage therapists spoke, stating that the ordinance still needed work, the City Council passed an amended version. Public comment begins at 33:25, and the discussion and amendments start at 56:00. Most of the outdated language from the 1970s was removed; however, the ordinance remains a complex […]
By: Diane Benjamin Agenda: https://granicus_production_attachments.s3.amazonaws.com/cityblm/a982639c281d15cf5e4ea08f054b02060.pdf Only 1 item on the regular agenda: Existing State licensed massage therapists will not be subjected to licensing by the City: This was common sense. It still does nothing to rescue people being trafficked. The ordinance, including changes, took 25 pages to write. I’m glad the legal department came to […]
By: Diane Benjamin Last night’s meeting featured extensive public comments from licensed massage therapists, who were livid upon learning that the ordinance to combat human trafficking would also require a city license for them—adding, of course, another fee. The staff that proposed it overreached and the Council failed to immediately fix it. They already pay […]
By: Diane Benjamin I’m starting with Public Comment. Two people spoke about human trafficking in Bloomington. A group called Allies Against Trafficking claimed Bloomington has 14 massage businesses. They want the City Council to pass an ordinance requiring these businesses to register with the city so an investigation can determine whether they only hire licensed […]
By: Diane Benjamin This video is of a press conference by a Florida Sheriff who recaps a mass arrest of trafficked persons and the people paying for them. You can listen from the beginning to here more details, but the important part is cued to start when you hit play. One of the woman arrested […]
By: Diane Benjamin 1) Other counties are working to protect their citizens from illegal aliens being dumped on them: https://www.chicagotribune.com/news/breaking/ct-illinois-migrants-grundy-county-20231228-ohorvkbn6beunfc37clltrfrcu-story.html McLean County has a homeless problem and lack of housing problem. The County Board needs to act before they can’t. https://blnnews.com/2023/12/28/local-election-issue-illegal-immigration/ Even Chris Koos knows housing here isn’t available: https://www.25newsnow.com/2023/12/29/housing-crunch-would-get-even-tighter-if-migrants-come-town-says-area-mayor/ When Trump was president Koos defended Normal’s sactuary status: https://www.illinoisreview.com/illinoisreview/2018/05/normal-mayor-defends-citys-sanctuary-city-status-and-responds-i-am-an-animal-to-president-trump.html 2) […]
