Since most people never saw it, the writer asked me to print it too. LETTER: Chung, council ignore taxpayers Normal made two recent requests seeking public input regarding art and the proposed Vernon Avenue improvements. However, Normal only accepts input when it supports the proposed project as presented to gain public support for the projects. […]
By: Diane Benjamin I’m pretty sure most of you got a card in the mail from Responsible Cities telling you who to vote for. Guess who also got a card in the mail addressed to “Responsible Citizens at . . . .”: Me I can’t vote in Bloomington elections -their preferred candidates are on the […]
By: Diane Benjamin Cat Peterson from Cities 92.9 simply asked Andy Byars a question. Here’s what happened next: https://www.cities929.com/2023/03/09/39240/ Summary of the story: Lobbyist in Illinois are required to register with Springfield BEFORE lobbying. They are required to take training before being listed as “compliant”. Cat found the State lobbyist website – it showed Andy […]
By: Diane Benjamin 1) Biological males are using female restrooms at Normal Community. The rights of females are immaterial. Cancel culture cancelled the right to privacy for females. 2) Refer back to this story: https://blnnews.com/2023/02/22/proof-normals-staff-runs-the-town/ Remember all those “community” meetings Normal had to hear what people wanted to see in Uptown South? The email Mercy […]
By: Diane Benjamin Have some fun, click here: https://evtown.org/ Know who owns that website? I hope you noticed the wind turbines, it isn’t just about EV’s. The Town of Normal owns it – the phone number goes to Planning. Take another trip here: https://apps.ilsos.gov/lobbyistsearch/lobbyistsearch That link should show a registered lobbyist named RECALL STRATEGIES, LLC […]
By: Diane Benjamin Kathleen thinks her, Karyn Smith, and Andy Byars are the positive candidates. Of course she implies the other 3 aren’t. I am positive these 3 will raise taxes and fees, vote for more bike paths, throw your money to the underpass when it goes way over budget, pretend government creates markets, and […]
By: Diane Benjamin https://www.wind-watch.org/news/2018/11/05/how-a-county-election-in-rural-illinois-became-a-referendum-on-wind-energy/ Excerpt: Some question whether Hartke is being paid by or is otherwise involved with national groups with ties to the fossil fuel industry. At a hearing in McLean County, resident Andy Byars raised that question, calling Hartke a “carpet-bagging wind opponent” using “fear-mongering tactics” to spark local opposition to wind energy. […]
By: Diane Benjamin Normal’s candidates were much more interesting than Bloomington’s because all 6 showed up. Two of Bloomington’s in the only 2 contested Wards did not. More on them later. Since I have a lot of video I decided to start with the opening remarks from all 6 candidates. There is a stark difference […]
By: Diane Benjamin I am convinced Illinois has local elections so close to national elections to discourage voting. It works! Turnout is dismal. In Bloomington only 21.89% of voters showed up for the 4/6/2021 election. That was higher than usual because a mayor was being elected. The rest of the County turnout was 20.32%. Both […]
I have two Council meetings to report on plus Normal’s Work Session, but I have to take a detour for what I received from WordPress this morning. The meetings will be spread out over several days, there is a lot to cover. If I had been able to post on Saturday, the “days in a […]
By: Diane Benjamin Last weekend’s flooding proved local governments care more about building new than maintaining the infrastructure they already have. Anybody think the underpass Normal is desperate to build won’t flood? Think it won’t get icy in the winter? How will Amtrak passengers get to the other side if either happens? Probably the same […]
By: Diane Benjamin The Town of Normal Council has two meetings tonight: 5:30 agenda: https://normal.org/ArchiveCenter/ViewFile/Item/3975 7:00 agenda https://normal.org/ArchiveCenter/ViewFile/Item/3974 Recap tomorrow if you don’t watch live.
By: Diane Benjamin A whooping 8,480 people bothered to vote in Normal. You get what you vote for – or didn’t vote for at all. Property taxes will go up as well as every other fee. A full service Koos government takes tons of money, he will be getting it from you. The underpass will […]
By: Diane Benjamin McMIllan has this pinned to the top of his Facebook campaign page: Even though Ray Lahood lied to the FBI, the justice system has laws for the well connected and different laws for the rest of us. Brad McMillan was right by Lahood’s side. He didn’t know Lahood failed to disclose a […]
By: Diane Benjamin The video below was sent to me by a reader. The original post doesn’t say where this took place: https://www.bitchute.com/video/h491gFFllFBs/ The part you need to see is at 23:00. Business owners are meeting with the like-minded because they have had enough of government telling them when and how they can operate. The […]
By: Diane Benjamin At the last meeting (September 8th) Kevin McCarthy pulled approving the bills from the Omnibus Agenda just so he could state “it is just a report”, everything spent was already approved in the budget. Last night Kathleen Lorenz pulled the same item so she could give the same speech. Who’s turn will […]
By: Diane Benjamin The Normal Town Council held a special meeting last night to address the COVID outbreak around campus. Guess what! Protests are exempt from regulations so as not to trample on the 1st Amendment. Funny how Normal has no problem trampling on YOUR rights under the 1st Amendment: …to petition the government for […]
By: Diane Benjamin Indiana is open. I know locals who have driven to the Beef House right across the border to sit down for a good meal. Iowa is open for full capacity in-restaurant dining. Wisconsin is open after their Supreme Court ruled the governor’s actions illegal. Illinois has Pritzker’s boot on everybody’s neck, he […]
By: Diane Benjamin During the Pledge of Allegiance – the sign is courtesy of Chemberly Cummings: The meeting began with comments from Janessa Williams, chairperson of the Human Relations Board of Normal. She did denounce the violence. The part of the meeting that should outrage citizens was the selling of the property on Ft. Jesse. […]
By: Diane Benjamin I’m up to page 202 of 924 in my latest FOIA! The comment below was submitted on-line to the Normal Town Council. I don’t know who Victoria is but I bet many of you will agree with her comments. (It likely aggravated some Trustees ♥)
By: Diane Benjamin The December 2nd joint meeting of the Bloomington and Normal Councils to print money for a sports complex has been cancelled. Evidently they found out that is illegal. Actually Bloomington has little interest in funding a $43 million project guaranteed to lose money and Normal can’t do it alone. Why a meeting […]
The ornaments are for sale: By: Dine Benjamin https://normal.org/ArchiveCenter/ViewFile/Item/3467 Since the video had “technical difficulties” just during public comment at the last meeting, the minutes for approval tonight have a TINY bit of info on each person who spoke – emphasis on TINY: All of the speakers with the exception of Dave Shields were against […]
By: Diane Benjamin Chemberly Cummings didn’t bother to attend, of course nobody said why. That led to some problems later with only 6 voting members. A tie vote would have meant an item failed. Numerous items were pulled from the Omnibus agenda – all these things used to sail through and were never questioned before […]
By: Diane Benjamin Citizens of Normal can expect more backroom deals and handouts to friends because most of the Normal Trustees didn’t get the message from the last two elections. Voters can permanently get a representative government in 2021. Meanwhile Stan Nord and Karyn Smith are by themselves expecting fiscal sanity. The excessive spending trying […]
By: Diane Benjamin Yes, this will be a love fest of local elitists. It will be difficult to stay awake, but you need to hear what these people have planned for your life. They wouldn’t have jobs if they didn’t plan for you, so they will be spending your money with or without your permission. […]
By: Diane Benjamin Veterans risk their lives to protect our freedom and liberty. Locally they have to fight just to not be ignored. 1) Remember the story of the disabled vet with a service dog who just wanted to teach? https://blnnews.com/2019/02/21/disabled-vet-ada-and-juvenile-detention/ He is able to teach now and he is assisting with the Veterans Court. […]
By: Diane Benjamin Kathleen Lorenz claims to be a Republican, so does Scott Preston. It is Republicans like these that made me leave the Republican Party years ago. The days of voting for party are long gone. Base your vote on the CHARACTER of the candidate, not the party. Both Lorenz and Preston know Normal’s […]
See part 2 here: https://blnnews.com/2019/09/16/part-2-why-chemberly-isnt-fit-to-serve/ By: Diane Benjamin The almost 11 minute speech Cummings gave announcing her candidacy for a seat in Springfield made it clear she isn’t running as a public servant. If you watch Normal Town Council meetings you see the same thing. If you missed Chemberly proclaiming herself “the royal fortress”, watch […]
By: Diane Benjamin Make sure you read to the bottom! 1) Remember the deal Terri Ryburn got for the property at 305 Pine Street? Rent for her to live there is $120 a year Normal paid off her mortgage – $228,550.50 + another $5000 Normal bought the lot next door for $24,000 Terri gets to […]
Part 2: https://blnnews.com/2019/06/04/normal-part-2/ By: Diane Benjamin Before Stan Nord and Karyn Smith were elected, Normal’s Council meeting last night would have lasted 3 minutes. There was no business on the agenda to be discussed. A Trustee would have motioned to pass the Omnibus Agenda the others would have fought over who could “second” it the […]
By: Diane Benjamin Before I answer that question, local democrats and independents need to know the local democrat party is following the same course as the national party – moving so far left it’s difficult to see them as anything but socialists veering straight toward communism Keep in mind, Illinois People’s Action was the group […]
By: Diane Benjamin See this previous story: https://blnnews.com/2019/02/22/will-bloomington-elect-socialists/ If you didn’t think the Normal Town Council is already socialist – it could get worse. I really appreciate socialist Sonny Garcia posting on social media which candidates fit that plan: He listed the candidates voters need to avoid: Alex Campbell, Joel Studebaker, and Pat Turner. The […]
By: Diane Benjamin Someplace on the video is Tim Gleason claiming working with Normal is a high priority. I really don’t want to re-watch it again to find the exact spot. Meanwhile, Normal is poaching two Bloomington businesses: Farnsworth and AFNI. Both plan to relocate in the new controversial Uptown Circle building. Normal is also […]
By: Diane Benjamin Stan is running for the Normal Town Council. Meet him tonight! He actually wants to hear from you, unlike the current Council.
By: Diane Benjamin http://www.normal.org/ArchiveCenter/ViewFile/Item/3156 Explanation needed: Understand now why the Chamber endorses who they endorse? More employee benefits at your expense:: Rivian! Is the first floor still empty? Did anybody report how many bikes are actually used? Consult on what? Does anybody else pay dues? Ever see a report? Remember Bloomington’s Downtown Association that dissolved? Paying […]
By: Diane Benjamin Monday night the Normal Town Council will vote to themselves raises. They won’t take effect until May 1st. Anybody not up for election will be voting for themselves if they win reelection in two years, which is silly to pay at different rates. Those elected in April get the raise. Even weirder, […]
Press Release November 18, 2018 Stan Nord to run for Normal Town Council Stan Nord is pleased to announce his candidacy for Normal Town Council in the consolidated election on April 2nd, 2019. He has prepared the necessary filings and is excited to start the campaign process. He looks forward to presenting his views on […]
I’m not capable of extensive reading and writing thanks to the concussion. I have no idea when I will be or if I will ever feel like doing it again. If you want to see what Normal is up to Monday night, here’s the link: http://www.normal.org/ArchiveCenter/ViewFile/Item/3107 I was appalled to hear the success of schools […]
By: Diane Benjamin At the last meeting of the Normal Town Council citizens showed up to protest the latest development plan for Uptown: https://blnnews.com/2018/10/16/normal-citizens-showed-up-no-minds-changed/ Two speakers decried the plan to destroy more historic buildings. The Council didn’t care and passed the plan anyway. There is now a petition on-line to save the mural: https://www.change.org/p/town-of-normal-city-council-save-the-mural-save-our-money It […]
