Tag: Rivian

Written by Diane Benjamin - editor

Three things you need to know

Rivian deliveries are now delayed until July 1st: https://www.autoweek.com/news/green-cars/a36556537/rumor-rivian-r1t-pickup-delayed/ EPA is using fictitious data to claim Global Warming: https://climaterealism.com/2021/05/epas-new-climate-change-indicators-publication-misleads-on-heatwaves/ WEEK TV has a story on Wednesday night’s District 87 School Board meeting, unfortunately no video of the parents speaking but they are in the story: https://week.com/2021/05/26/district-87-parents-voice-concerns-over-covid-rules-and-curriculum-focus/

Written by Diane Benjamin - editor

Two more things

By: Diane Benjamin 1) Ford’s F150 electric battery weighs 1800 pounds: https://jalopnik.com/ford-f-150-lightnings-battery-alone-weighs-as-much-as-a-1846925168?fbclid=IwAR08fR6H4a8DHjuzzpJ_sqKd6V4gazHoDIzIvDlw95456SYxszgtXlbBUkc That is the weight of a Volkswagen Beetle. Is Rivian’s the same? What happens to your car if you get hit by one of these tanks? 1800 pounds is just the battery. 2) The Pantagraph printed a picture of a Rivian employee charging […]

Written by Diane Benjamin - editor

Truth must lie somewhere

By: Diane Benjamin Remember this Pam Reece email: This isn’t the only time Reece implies (or flat out states) spending $5 million+ to lay water lines on top of Bloomington’s isn’t to steal providing water to Rivian from Bloomington. I wonder how she explains this email: That brings me to this email from August of […]

Written by Diane Benjamin - editor

More lies for Normal taxpayers

By: Diane Benjamin More emails the Normal taxpayers need to see. Note the date, Rivian never requested water from Normal. The Town of Normal is trying to talk them into it. Pam Reece has said OVER and OVER spending $5 million+ for water lines on top of Bloomington’s is for future economic development. The email […]

Written by Diane Benjamin - editor

Chris Koos: Desperato

By: Diane Benjamin Remember the Eagles song Desperato? That should be the Chris Koos theme song. He has NOTHING to run on so he is now personally attacking Marc Tiritilli instead of addressing the issues. Chris is a divisive leader because he knows people don’t want the things he wants. Marc Tiritilli is running to […]

Written by Diane Benjamin - editor

Think Pam Reece Lied?

By: Diane Benjamin Remember the $5 million water project Normal has in the budget? Stan Nord asked many times why this project is in the budget. Normal is running water lines on top of Bloomington’s. The only answer he ever got from Pam Reece was: 1) Nobody has requested water service 2) It is for […]

Written by Diane Benjamin - editor

What Mike Matejka left out

By: Diane Benjamin https://www.pantagraph.com/opinion/columnists/mike-matejka-normal-election-potholes-vs-progress/article_b11f20fe-e830-5d01-bc84-d912acc37bf5.html Anybody know why the guy who voted to build the Coliseum gets to write a column in the paper? Better yet, why does anybody listen to him when he not only voted against the will of the people but has never apologized for his taxpayer fleece? Of course Mike is campaigning […]

Written by Diane Benjamin - editor

Rivian: Not the nice guys

By: Diane Benjamin A total of 28 companies are now together to force Washington DC to mandate ONLY electric vehicles sales by 2030. Rivian is one of them: https://carbuzz.com/news/tesla-joins-forces-with-rivian-and-lucid?fbclid=IwAR1YXsy5C8YHQnRkDVCHzySENQ_LlyCPIfarQdNj-lFG7vPd2F52hXTv6_E Rivian wants to force you to buy a ridiculously priced vehicle because they produce it. How about we all grow radishes and get a law passed […]

Written by Diane Benjamin - editor

Normal: 7:00 meeting Part 2

By: Diane Benjamin Much of the meeting was spent talking about the 3/31/2020 financial statements and the financial trends report. Neither are on-line yet, so they aren’t worth discussing much here. Many accolades were thrown at staff for doing a good job preparing for the audit. I agree, but isn’t that what they get paid […]

Written by Diane Benjamin - editor

More emails: Kathleen Lorenz

By:  Diane Benjamin Watch a Normal Council meeting.  Kathleen Lorenz will attempt at least one to convey that Stan Nord has no idea what he’s doing.  In emails she is even worse.  Below are a few choice picks – from FOIA: Response from Kathleen: This issue isn’t dead, I’m just waiting for more information.   How […]

Written by Diane Benjamin - editor

Normal: Incompetence and More

By:  Diane Benjamin Normal’s IT staff continues to show their incompetence.  The Live Stream video and the posted recorded video are TINY.  Early in the meeting the audio would go out, reappear, and go out again. Why does the Town of Normal tolerate employees who aren’t capable of doing their job?  I’ve lost track of […]

Written by Diane Benjamin - editor

Update: Ford icing plans with Rivian

By:  Diane Benjamin This news just broke, more information should be available later today or tomorrow. Ford kills Rivian deal with Lincoln (for now) amid economic challenges during pandemic See this story:  https://www.freep.com/story/money/cars/ford/2020/04/28/ford-rivian-deal-lincoln-coronavirus-pandemic/3042670001/ Update: Another story:  https://www.theverge.com/2020/4/28/21240212/ford-lincoln-cancel-rivian-suv-ev-coronavirus-pandemic-investment  

Written by Diane Benjamin - editor

Daring Diversity – how much it cost

By:  Diane Benjamin The Town of Normal decided to let Chemberly Cummings throw her own event.  According to media reports, 175 overall attended and only 75 attended the keynote speaker’s address. I know from emails I received by FOIA some City of Bloomington employees attended. This story has information about the sessions:  https://blnnews.com/2019/09/20/this-explains-the-divide-in-america/ Keynote speaker […]

Written by Diane Benjamin - editor

New Rivian Story – Automotive News

https://www.autonews.com/manufacturing/ev-startups-grapple-huge-cash-demands Since most of you are capable of reading, read the article yourself.  This is the most wide-ranging article I’ve seen to date. Automotive News is a more reliable source for information than the press that doesn’t specialize in the auto industry. The road signs have been replaced: Maybe some people can’t read! Do you […]

Written by Diane Benjamin - editor

Is Ford regretting investing in Rivian?

By:  Diane Benjamin I love reading a site called Michigan Capital Confidential.  It isn’t run-of-the-mill boring news, these guy actually investigate.  Most of their investigations pertain to Michigan, but a lot of what they find applies to politics in Illinois too. A story today mentions Rivian and Ford’s investment.  The bottom line is:  Unless government […]

Written by Diane Benjamin - editor

Why Stan and Karyn voted NO

By:  Diane Benjamin Last night’s Normal Town Council meeting was an hour long.  The longest debate was over changing the name of a major road again.  It used to be Diamond Star Parkway, now Mitsubishi Motorway, it will be getting it’s third name. Stan Nord questioned the impact to not only the businesses in the […]

Written by Diane Benjamin - editor

Normal spending+ Monday night

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 […]

Written by Diane Benjamin - editor

Merry Christmas Rivian!

By:  Diane Benjamin Remember this?     https://blnnews.com/2018/12/14/more-on-normal-for-monday/ I filed a FOIA request to find out what it is. This is not one, but TWO Rivian vehicles purchased with  money stolen from the taxpayers of Normal. Supporting local businesses can’t be the goal since Normal spent more than $25,000 for gift cards at the anything-but-locally owned […]