I just got a tip that Tari Renner came close to creating an International incident while in Japan. He didn’t realize one of the hosts spoke English. Anyone with information needs to contact me! blnnews@yahoo.com Sources are of course protected! I hear the people on the trip are afraid to talk because it might damage […]
By: Diane Benjamin Nothing coming from this Council or Tari’s Downtown Task Force should surprise anybody. Vote for Big Spenders and you get the same policies that has the State with $15 Billion in unpaid bills! (after the tax increase) The people Tari appointed to plan downtown spending think just like him. (Are any on […]
By: Diane Benjamin Before Tari took a “medical related” leave, he publicly announced his support for Daniel Biss – Democrat candidate for governor: Recently Biss announced his running mate: Chicago Alderman Carlos Ramirez-Rosa If Chicago Alderman isn’t bad enough, Rosa is a member of the Democrats Socialists of America: http://chicagoist.com/2017/08/07/chicago_dsa_convention_helps_build.php Maybe Tari’s support of Biss explains […]
A Facebook poster reported seeing Tari at Target Sunday moving along quite briskly. _____________________________________________ By: Diane Benjamin The story broke on July 30th of Renner’s personal use of a government Purchasing Card. https://blnnews.com/2017/07/30/do-we-have-a-prosecutor/ On August 16th WGLT did this story of the Council being concerned about Renner’s erratic behavior. Reading the story though shows them […]
By: Diane Benjamin Deficits are just fine with the Bloomington City Council because they can tax you. It doesn’t matter if you can’t afford it, they have needs – you have the money. Only David Sage realized that last night – years late, but better late than never. He voted against hiring the Downtown Bloomington […]
By: Diane Benjamin Wasn’t it only a few weeks ago Tari Renner was so overworked as mayor he wanted a full-time assistant? He must have been exaggerating since now he thinks he can take a leave of absence for some “medical related” reason for an indeterminate time. Since the Council did nothing when Tari Renner […]
By: Diane Benjamin Since the Council has been deadly silent over holding Tari Renner accountable for his latest antics, we can only assume they think Renner’s behavior and ethics is very much becoming of local public servants. Will they start calling people “nasty” and “liars” next? I guess that’s what we can expect. It’s been […]
By: Diane Benjamin Downtown Bloomington is going to get more of your money tonight: Just at this one meeting the History Museum gets $145,000 (https://blnnews.com/2017/08/27/bloomington-supports-friends-with-your-money/ ) and the DBA doesn’t need to support itself. You get 2 new employees with gold-plated benefits and pensions! Another $289,305 sucked out of your wallet! See the DBA […]
By: Diane Benjamin The Bloomington City Council is meeting tonight, but nothing is on the agenda about the Renner media blitz spreading misinformation. The only people discussing enforcement of the law will be citizens – should they choose to make public comment. The meeting begins tonight at 5:30. If the City Council wants to hold […]
By: Diane Benjamin Even though inspectors seem to be scrutinizing the homes of Renner critics looking for violations (sometimes on the wrong street), Tari wasn’t fined for this violation: This is the document the citizen who filed the complaint was told to pick up in person. It was emailed after protest: UNFOUNDED DOC The name […]
By: Diane Benjamin The City of Bloomington can’t legally withhold documents that existed before the State Police announced their investigation, but they are trying to keep me from finding the truth anyway. Did they really think I wouldn’t write about it? I filed a FOIA request for the all General Ledger Accounts pertaining to Sister […]
By: Diane Benjamin Illinois Law requires every level of government adopt an Ethics Ordinance. Even though it has been brought to Bloomington’s attention, they do not have an ethic ordinance on their website. When asked who the Ethics Officer is – I believe we were told David Hales. I did find this on the City […]
By: Diane Benjamin From last Monday night at City Hall: The Bloomington City Council wouldn’t need to meet at 5:00 pm if they weren’t trying to control every aspect of your life. Meetings would be a lot shorter! You wouldn’t need to feed them either. Monday was pizza, I wonder where the leftovers went? Does […]
By: Diane Benjamin Tari Renner has been making the media tour to justify the use of government funds on his girlfriend’s plane ticket to Japan. It’s amazing how WJBC and WGLT can let Renner spout anything and never challenge his statements. This morning Tari was on WJBC. He claimed his girlfriend’s ticket was bought as […]
By: Diane Benjamin Proving once again the law is a weapon in the hands of those in power who choose to use it: Jason Chambers referred the Town of Normal’s case against Scott Preston for expense reports he turned in, and Normal paid – to the Appellate Prosecutors Office. Normal failed to enforce policies of turning […]
By: Diane Benjamin Since last night Tari called comments made by citizens about the Japan trip lies, I have no problem calling his statement lies. Just hit play below to hear him. First, he claims the Chief Legal Officer said he did nothing wrong. Who is the Chief Legal Officer Tari? Jeff Jurgens or somebody […]
By: Diane Benjamin If you question Mayor Renner or publicly disagree with his actions on any subject – YOU will get attacked. I’m sure you remember when he attacked me: https://blnnews.com/2015/02/11/tari-attacks-me-again-not-in-our-town/ I talked to a reporter tonight who told me about another vile email Tari sent a couple of weeks ago, but he didn’t know […]
By: Diane Benjamin If you’ve been following the Japan Sister Cities saga, you already know about this expense: That was only a partial payment! That’s a total of $5,365.00. Tari hasn’t said a word about this one, but at the Open House last night he and Margot floated that she should get a refund because […]
By: Diane Benjamin Normal came really close to ending their tyranny when Chris Koos was almost defeated in April. Renner didn’t get Modified Wards, but now that he’s reelected, nothing is going to stand in his way. The Council certainly won’t – gee they approved his girlfriend’s ticket to Japan! No, nobody is looking out […]
Tari pretended he didn’t know Parker at the Open House. David Parker: Not a good way to start your career as a politician. Do we have nothing but Democrat lies to look forward to until November of 2018? David Parker is running for the McLean County Board District 9 – no surprise: As a Democrat! […]
By: Diane Benjamin We have no idea how many people went on the Japan trip. We’ve heard numbers as low as 19 to over 35. The names of those on this trip have not been produced under FOIA. We have no idea who paid and what the total cost was – other than the bills […]
By: Diane Benjamin Not only illegal, it’s breaks the City PCard policy. AND – more than one City employee (which Tari is) broke the policy. Note the date – May 12th. From documents obtained by FOIA, this purchase was on the PCard held by Beth Oakley, Executive Assistant to somebody. She violated State law and […]
By: Diane Benjamin The following Press Release was sent today by the City of Bloomington. It has a couple of problems though! Who gave Tari the award? Did he award himself in his hotel room? I predict a GLOWING Pantagraph article! ___________________________________________________ From: Nora Dukowitz <ndukowitz@cityblm.org>Date: Wed, Aug 9, 2017 at 11:19 AMSubject: Press Release: MAYOR RECEIVES […]
By: Diane Benjamin We know who the liar is Tari.
By: Diane Benjamin The following FOIA request was due today. How difficult is it to look up who paid the City? Browse the General Ledger! Remember, Tari claimed from Japan that I was lying and he was going to sue me for stating the truth – the City paid for his girlfriend’s ticket: Got […]
By: Diane Benjamin If you violated any of the above you would be prosecuted? Would the City ignore ordinance violations? Does this regulation matter? Page 14: http://www.cityblm.org/home/showdocument?id=274 […]
By: Anonymous All over Bloomington-Normal, no one is talking about the worst kept secret. It seems almost everyone knows, but no one is talking. State Farm is planning to downsize, likely before year-end. This is no secret. In fact, it’s echoing throughout the halls of the insurance giant, as well as the local business community […]
By: Diane Benjamin It’s time to review Tari Renner’s history as Mayor: Tari is the only mayor in Bloomington’s history censured for his foul language on this site. See the comments to this story: https://blnnews.com/2015/02/10/does-tari-know-that-judy-isnt-running/ Tari has an extensive history of attacking anyone who doesn’t agree with him – especially women. See this story for […]
By: Diane Benjamin Police: Police Officers have a LOT of discretion in who gets a ticket, who gets their car searched, and who gets hauled off to jail. You respect their authority under the law and they will respect you. You act like a jerk and you will be treated like a jerk if you […]
By: Diane Benjamin In the interest of sustainability and providing you with time-saving instant news – this is a FOUR IN ONE story. 1) When your news comes from mornings with WJBC, don’t believe what you hear. Scott Laughlin has a problem with facts. Hey Scott: The Democrats lost their super majority in the Springfield […]
By: Diane Benjamin Previous stories: https://blnnews.com/2017/07/30/do-we-have-a-prosecutor/ https://blnnews.com/2017/07/31/tari-responds/ The City of Bloomington pays a small fortune to be members of the IML (Illinois Municipal League) and attend their conferences. Tari and Jeff Jurgens even spoke last year about the “new media and watchdogs”. I’m sure they have seen this the below. It isn’t me accusing Tari […]
By: Diane Benjamin This is the original post by the Edgar County Watchdogs: Bloomingtons Mayor Renner Has City Pay For Girlfriends Japan Trip This morning they posted another story – after Tari Renner left his comment on my site. ( See Tari Responds ) Remember the Pekin Mayor who was convicted of credit card fraud? Read the […]
By: Diane Benjamin Evidently Tari is still reading this site contrary to his claims. Or maybe one of his minions contacted him about last night’s story: https://blnnews.com/2017/07/30/do-we-have-a-prosecutor/ He couldn’t stop himself from calling me a liar and threatening to sue: He fails to explain how the charge for Margot’s ticket got on the PCard statement […]
This story has been updated several times. See BlnNews.com for more By: Diane Benjamin The biggest obstacle to cleaning up the corruption in Illinois is finding a prosecutor. The Good ‘Ole Boys club is alive and well at all levels. See this story from the Edgar County Watchdogs: More Govt Gun Running-We Need Outside Prosecutors […]
Did Tari Know a large crowd was coming? It matters. By: Diane Benjamin The Bloomington Police Department was told loud and clear last night they were a huge problem. I wonder how many officers today are questioning why they are willing to die on the job to protect and serve people who despise them. I […]
By: Diane Benjamin The Illinois Senate needed one Republican to vote with the Democrats to override Gov Rauner’s veto of the income tax hike. They got one: Dale Righter. Madigan got MORE Republicans than he needed to pass the tax hike in the House – 15 of them. (Including Bill Mitchell and Mike Unes from […]
By: Diane Benjamin We have an A+ rating from the Illinois Policy Institute for transparency. – Tari Renner Did is more applicable Tari. Proof: The Attorney General found Renner and the WHOLE Council guilty of violating the Open Meetings Act by discussing Metrozone in secret. They were ordered to release the audio of the meeting […]
Just a few stories most media ignores: History of Illinois Fiscal Crisis (Hint: both parties are at fault) https://www.illinoispolicy.org/reports/the-history-of-illinois-fiscal-crisis/ Austin’s Complete Streets Nightmare (Austin went with buses, since few ride buses here – local government is forcing bike lanes) http://www.texasturf.org/2012-06-01-03-09-30/latest-news/2113-austin-s-complete-streets-policy-a-complete-nightmare?mc_cid=1b7d77465e&mc_eid=26ab1cd66c Renner didn’t sign on – Koos did Update: Renner did sign – he […]
By: Diane Benjamin Capitalism has lifted millions of people around the globe out of poverty. It’s the perfect formula for success: I have a widget that you want. You give me something of value for the widget. Both of us are happy. With the Internet, exchanging things of value is possible across the globe. If […]
By: Diane Benjamin We wouldn’t be talking about bike lanes on busy streets if Bike Blono wasn’t pushing for them. Bike Blono members voted for and helped elect Tari Renner because he supports their agenda of promoting the use of bikes for all transportation. (Beats fixing the roads!) That brings me to the Planning Commission […]
