By: Diane Benjamin I decided to tune into the council meeting last night only to see the 1% Sales tax vote. No one from the Town mentioned how much more they have been raking in from increased Sales Tax revenue. Several Trustees did. Everything you buy costs more so they are collecting a LOT more […]
By: Diane Benjamin Two receipts below are from 2021, the other one is last Saturday. Inflation started with the war on fossil fuels which raised all transportation cost that got priced into everything you buy. No one has ever proven a link between CO2 and warming. Schools have indoctrinated at least a generation into believing […]
By: Diane Benjamin How much do you think the price of this can of dog food has increased in recent years: I’ve been buying this for years and I have receipts. I bought some Saturday: The older receipts are fading, but still readable. 2022: How about 2021: The can now could even be suffering from […]
By: Diane Benjamin Tonight’s Agenda: https://d3n9y02raazwpg.cloudfront.net/cityblm/f70d9db5-5bbe-11ee-ae13-0050569183fa-791fe512-602c-4d20-98c8-ecdbbed39134-1719001395.pdf There is a public hearing on re-allocating federal money for a park: . This statement is in the attachment to this item. It shows a huge problem with government: Government “needs” are frequently not the “needs” people identify. Did you “need” a water park or just two new pools? […]
By: Diane Benjamin Let’s review: The US Census Bureau claims the population of Bloomington-Normal decreased in 2023: https://blnnews.com/2024/05/20/losing-population/ The US Bureau of Labor Statistics claims local employment dropped just since November 2023 and the unemployment rate increased: https://blnnews.com/2024/05/20/stats-you-needs-to-see/ Patrick Hoban, CEO of the Economic Development Council, sang a different song last night. His comments are […]
By: Diane Benjamin Surrena Fish was back with an update on Tent City. She claimed there is a waiting list now and police had to be called to break up a fight. Just hit play to hear her comments. The Connect Transit update on the downtown transfer station isn’t that long. If you don’t want […]
By: Diane Benjamin Inflation has stolen close to 20% of your buying power – just since 2021: . Inflation will continue unless government policies change. Facts: https://www.bidenomics.com/ According to GasBuddy, the cheapest local gas is at Huck’s on West Oakland – $3.39. Three years ago gas was more than $1 less a gallon. https://www.gasbuddy.com/go/gas-prices-2021-year-in-review According […]
By: Diane Benjamin Everyone but Tim Gleason managed to show at last night. Gleason might have been attending another meeting. Jenna Kearns: Just stay seated during the Pledge of Allegiance. You would look like less of a hypocrite: The upcoming presentation for downtown wasn’t mentioned, supposedly the room in the Government Center will be done. […]
By: Diane Benjamin Congressional earmarks were brought back this year by the REPUBLICAN HOUSE. WGLT did a story detailing how Rep Eric Sorensen is bringing home the deficit spending: https://www.wglt.org/local-news/2023-07-19/b-n-project-grants-advance-in-u-s-house Of course WGLT didn’t mention DC’s money printing is destroying the value of the dollar. Seen inflation? The rate of increase is slowing but it […]
By: Diane Benjamin A couple more things from Bloomington’s Monday meeting: Jeff Jurgen, who was promoted to the 2nd Assistant City Manager has a base pay of $186,134. With benefits the total is $234,297: https://bloomingtonil_redesign.prod.govaccess.org/home/showpublisheddocument/29259/638174076712770000 An employee now with the State’s Attorney’s office has been hired to replace Jurgens as Corporate Attorney – Christopher Spanos. […]
By: Diane Benjamin Every time you eat out in Normal the prices are higher now – the Town is collecting more Food and Beverage Taxes because of food inflation. Every time you buy items in Normal the Town collects more Sales Taxes based on the inflation prices. Every time you buy inflated gas the Town […]
I bought both of this “waterpik” type teeth cleaners two years apart. I paid $39.99 for both. I’ve had a waterpik, these are better – but there is a problem. The new one is on the left. It is much smaller than the one on the right. This is how much water each holds: That […]
By: Diane Benjamin Is Uptown a success? The successful buildings on the circle so far are government owned, Children’s Discovery Museum and Amtrak/Town offices. The third building still has an empty first floor and the taxpayers are renting the entire second floor for the Town. (Remember when the Council told Pam it was a high […]
By: Diane Benjamin Monday night the Bloomington City Council will vote to ratify a contract with the police that provides 2.5% raises for 3 years. http://bloomingtonil.iqm2.com/Citizens/FileOpen.aspx?Type=1&ID=1140&Inline=True Because of inflation that 2.5% will not keep up with the cost of living. The out of control spending in DC and Democrats war on fossil fuels will keep […]
A reader just emailed this information: Nicor natural gas: Price per therm: May 2020 – .26 May 2021 – .53 By: Diane Benjamin If you heat your house with propane: For the 2019-2020 heating season the price per gallon was $1.399 For the 2020-2021 heating season the price per gallon was $1.259 Of course that […]
By: Diane Benjamin All the tax and spending increases since Renner became mayor he blames on one thing: inflation. See this report from the City website: http://www.cityblm.org/Modules/ShowDocument.aspx?documentid=8145 Total spending for 2009 through 2014 is listed. Click it to make it more readable. Since 2015 has not been added, I looked it up. Actual 2015: 144,183,767 […]
Facts alone are enough to decide the election. The polls are meaningless, the American people aren’t stupid enough to fall for them. Gas Prices: 1.84 when Obama took office – hovering around twice that now. Fill up once a week? That’s is at least $40 a week x 52 – $2,080 per year – more than 1 […]
