by: Diane Benjamin “Every Tax is a Pay Cut … A Tax Cut is a Pay Raise” (So good I copied it: http://www.cltg.org/) Tari Renner does not understand that or care. He WILL propose a PROPERTY TAX increase to fund next years budget. He mentioned numerous times during this year’s budget discussions that Bloomington City […]
by: Diane Benjamin Here’s the status: – I filed a compliant against the City of Bloomington siting 5 batches of emails that were either denied or redacted. I believe the City violated the Freedom of Information Act passed by the Illinois General Assembly to insure open and honest government in Illinois. (yes, I understand the […]
by: Diane Benjamin If you didn’t look at the 2 applications turned to fill Rob Fazzini’s seat, here’s all you need to know: Diana Hauman – Look at 22. She is fully on board with spending your money downtown. Renner’s agenda. I wonder who she listed as a reference and the City redacted? (section 24) […]
by: Diane Benjamin Here is the August Calendar for events at the Coliseum: http://www.uscellularcoliseum.com/calendar-of-events/?month=8&year=2014&m=#markerdown Look at the other months too while you are there. ISU Hockey used to play at the Pepsi Ice Center, not many fans attended. The stands are NOT going to be filled with paying customers when the games are in the […]
by: Diane Benjamin The City of Bloomington management now wants YOU to know nothing about the Coliseum. Luckily there is a lot of evidence they can’t hide. The Smokehouse grill will not be opening for lunch after closing for the summer. The calendar of events is on the Coliseum website. Very few events are scheduled […]
by: Diane Benjamin I’d like to have weekends off, but news never stops. 1) Renner blames the Council Mayor Transparency was on WJBC yesterday morning. He claims Normal has a AAA credit rating because their Council will do what ever it takes. Translation: They will tax and raise fees without blinking. The Council is hand-picked […]
by: Diane Benjamin Yesterday Mayor Renner penned a Guest Commentary in the Pantagraph. Unlike the paper’s editorials, he at least signed his name. His first sentence on the revitalization of downtown says volumes: “… has the potential to boost our economic growth for generations to come”. Potential? Renner then quotes a Pantagraph editorial: “Before you […]
by: Diane Benjamin Tari’s view of government: Repeat a lie often enough and some people might believe it Don’t question me I’m right, you are wrong I can make everything perfect if pesky citizens get out of the way People have to pay more taxes, I need more money The future of Bloomington is downtown […]
The buzz about the Bloomington City employee(s) who wrote checks and took cash from the City till is this: YOU weren’t suppose to know about it. It appears somebody spilled the beans on the City to WJBC. Not sure why WJBC, seems a strange place to rat. The real questions are: Did the whistle-blower try the […]
by: Diane Benjamin The last time Mayor Transparency Renner got to appoint an alderman, he chose Joni Painter. Since she drove all the way to Chicago to attend a fundraiser for Jan Schakowsky – a self admitted socialist, we know which way her politics blow. (http://blnnews.com/2014/08/14/fly-on-the-wall-renners-pick/) Would you drive to Chicago to hear a socialist? […]
by: Diane Benjamin I’ve written MANY times about the company hired to manage the Coliseum – CIAM (Central Illinois Arena Management). Type CIAM into the search box at blnnews.com to see them. The City of Bloomington has failed in their fiduciary duty to the citizens of Bloomington by not providing over-site at the Coliseum. Concessions have […]
by: Diane Benjamin Amelia Doris Buragas declared she is running for Bloomington City Council next year in Ward 4. The seat is currently held by Judy Stearns. It’s not a secret that Tari will do whatever it takes to fund his agenda. Tari doesn’t want to be questioned. Judy Stearns gets in his way […]
by: Diane Benjamin Mayor Renner used to be really unhappy with The Grove subdivision east of Towanda-Barnes on Ireland Grove Road. He told me the City got stuck paying a lot of the bills for roads and sewers the developer should have contributed to – thanks to Tom Hamilton. Evidently he got over it because […]
by: Diane Benjamin I was looking for something else when I found an old email from now Mayor Renner. This is from BEFORE he won. 3 tax increases and massive spending increases later, did you get what you voted for? Tari Renner <tarirenner88@yahoo.com> 2/12/13 to me Hello Diane! Thanks for thinking of me! Things are […]
by: Diane Benjamin How many Letters to the Editor has the Pantagraph refused to print supporting the Cities 92.9 flamingo campaign? Yesterday the Editorial staff wrote urging Bloomington to get busy fixing up downtown. It shouldn’t be a mystery why: They want to sell their building and there is currently no market for it. They have […]
by: Diane Benjamin A comment made by Mayor Renner at the end of Monday’s meeting has been bothering me ever since. Watch the video stating at 1:18:33. It’s short. . What is the point Mayor? Not in Our Town? What is not going to happen in our town? You have no facts, so what’s the […]
Buzz has it Renner has already hand-picked an opponent for next year’s city election to take on Judy Stearns. He picked Joni (Johnny) Painter, the fan of socialist Jan Schakowsky, so more of the same is coming! Can you imagine a Council where only Alderman Lower ever asks questions? Eight potted plants can vote […]
by: Diane Benjamin Your house isn’t worth as much as last year – according to the National Association of Realtors. See this link: http://www.realtor.org/sites/default/files/reports/2014/embargoes/2014-q2-metro-home-prices/metro-home-prices-q2-2014-single-family-2014-08-12.pdf or click on the picture to enlarge. The value of your house is down 8.8%. Or maybe just cheap homes sold. . Local and State governments are killing you. They […]
by: Diane Benjamin If you believe government always acts in your best interests, don’t bother reading this post. There is a lot more to the presentation by the Ecology Action Center at last nights Council meeting. The presentation starts on page 611: http://www.cityblm.org/Modules/ShowDocument.aspx?documentid=7126 The oral presentation didn’t use any troubling words, but the written copy […]
by: Diane Benjamin I moved to the Bloomington-Normal area in 1980. McLean County was a solid conservative arena of small government and low taxes. Those days are gone. When clear rules about the role of government do not exist, government makes up their own. Even local Republicans no longer believe in limited government. Taxpayers expect […]
by: Diane Benjamin I’m noticing a pattern. The same roads must be resurfaced frequently. A 7-year-old parking garage is falling apart. The west side fire station, that has never been used, leaks. The pattern is showing itself again at tonight’s Council meeting. Work needs to be done at Evergreen Lake. Only 1 bid was received. […]
by: Diane Benjamin Did you ever wonder where Mayor Renner got the idea that Bloomington needed a Communications Manager? Try Normal: http://il-normal.civicplus.com/Directory.aspx?did=18 Staff Name Title Email Phone Fedden, Sandy Administrative Secretary sfedden@normal.org (309) 454-9503 Heffernan, Sally Assistant City Manager sheffernan@normal.org (309) 454-9504 Peterson, Mark R. City Manager mpeterson@normal.org (309) 454-9777 Reece, Pamela Deputy City Manager […]
by: Diane Benjamin The professor has been trying to convince citizens for a year to invest a lot of money downtown because downtown is the future. Tari claims millennials are dying to live downtown. He claims strip malls are dead, just trust him, he is smart. Looks like the facts differ Tari. Here’s an article, […]
by: Diane Benjamin Not only is buying the property south of the library for $250,000 on the agenda for the Monday City Council meeting, there’s more! One of their SECRET MEETINGS (Executive Session) is scheduled for 5:45. Guess what the topic is: What does it take to stop the spending? A hotly contested budget was […]
by: Diane Benjamin Monday night the Council will be asked to approve buying the property south of the current library. This item is on the CONSENT AGENDA which means nothing to see here, sit down, shut up and vote. Council members can pull items from the Consent Agenda for discussion. I bet this one gets […]
by: Diane Benjamin Look at the schedule of events for the Coliseum: http://www.uscellularcoliseum.com/calendar-of-events/?month=6&year=2014&m=#markerdown June: Highschool graduation 3 day Jehovah Witness convention 2 day Lomis Brothers Circus July: Chris Tomin/Brandon Health Feast Bash August: Crossfit Competition September: 2 ISU Hockey games 1 Thunder Hockey game October: 7 ISU Hockey games 4 Thunder Hockey games How is […]
by: Diane Benjamin The TAXPAYERS of Bloomington have around $4,000,000 invested in a Fire Station on the west side that has NEVER been used. It leaks. The station is fully outfitted, complete with a kitchen. It is being left to decay because the City of Bloomington can’t afford to staff it. The TAXPAYERS of Bloomington […]
by: Diane Benjamin Bloomington’s gas tax goes into effect tomorrow – Four cents more per gallon! Bloomington thinks you should blindly pay any taxes they want you to. The good news is Normal has NOT passed a Motor Fuel tax! Mayor Koos will try to sneak it in when they think you won’t notice, so […]
by: Diane Benjamin Transparency in Bloomington means City Hall decides what they want you to see, then they celebrate posting documents they claim you want to see. Mayor Renner has an agenda from which he plans to take no detours. He doesn’t care what you think and he doesn’t like being challenged. Many of the […]
by: Diane Benjamin You campaigned in a suit with a bow tie, but you come to Council meetings in a golf shirt? You claim running Bloomington is like running a corporation, but you and SOME Council members don’t have respect for the office by at least by dressing the part? It’s difficult to take you […]
by: Diane Benjamin Tari Renner BELIEVES he can raise your taxes anytime he wants. He just doesn’t want you to remember he did. Sorry Tari, just because the Pantagraph and WJBC won’t remember or report, I will. The votes on the 3 new taxes for the City of Bloomington are shown below. The Aldermen who […]
by: Diane Benjamin I’ve written a lot of articles on the Coliseum. Mayor Transparency doesn’t want to talk about, he claims it’s here now and we have to do whatever we can to make it a success. David Hales promised a full review back when the Council was asked to approve changing the Hockey Team […]
by: Diane Benjamin Tari Renner is going to spend your money on downtown Bloomington! He isn’t open to any discussions or debate. Renner fervently believes Bloomington will cease to exist unless people move downtown. Hint Tari: Call some votes for spending more downtown – it will make it much easier to defeat your potted plants […]
by: Diane Benjamin Did you notice Alderman Rob Fazzini didn’t think the meeting was important enough to stay long? He had to run to Normal to testify before their Council about his new project – turning garbage into jet fuel. Instead of representing his ward, he left for personal reasons. He plans to make money […]
by: Diane Benjamin Tari Renner wants a hotel and conference center in downtown Bloomington. Period. Citizens have already paid $30,000 for a study that showed an $18,000,000 gap between what it would cost and what it will be worth. Renner was not deterred. Last night Renner claimed again that developers are flooding his office for […]
by: Diane Benjamin Besides trying to justify you paying for a hotel and conference center in downtown Bloomington, tonight the Council will be told how the City can save $200,000 a year. You pay! $200,000 is pocket change to the City. $150,000 for flamingos, an estimated $250,000 a year for food and travel, $30,000 for […]
by: Diane Benjamin When Tari Renner was running for office, he stated all public documents should be posted on the City website. Watch the video – he almost seemed like he meant it: . I wonder why I received TWO denials in 1 week for Renner emails? They are public documents, unless you are hiding […]
by: Diane Benjamin Mayor Renner really hates criticism. He also hates discussing issues. He is the new dictator of Bloomington. Renner is very upset about the Cities 92.9 Flamingo campaign. He is so upset he had the new Communications Manager, Nora Dukowitz, write an email to the station. I hope they post it on their […]
by: Diane Benjamin As I previously reported, Aldermen Sage and Schmidt decided staff are leaving the City of Bloomington because of the Council. See this post: http://blnnews.com/2014/07/08/bloomington-who-is-hiding-what/ Sage and Schmidt no longer represent the citizens of their Wards. The same goes for the other potted plants who would jump off a cliff if David Hales […]
