By: Diane Benjamin These pictures were sent to me by a reader. This tent city is on Center Street in Normal across from where Steak and Shake used to be: . Note: Sugar Creek is much higher after yesterday’s rains. The reader was not only concerned about the trash but also wondered where all the […]
By: Diane Benjamin Below is the opening paragraphs on the Safe Harbor (Salvation Army) website: https://www.homelessshelterdirectory.org/shelter/il_salvation-army-safe-harbor-shelter In order for the Safe Harbor staff to assist clients in need of services, it is expected that all individuals receiving Safe Harbor services will work, to the best of their abilities, to better their situation and seek more permanent housing […]
By: Diane Benjamin You can’t see any of the Public Comments because the camera never changed to show them. You can only hear them. Even though City Code prohibits holding meetings on a Federal or State holiday they did. (Chap 2 Sect 15) Maybe staff had the day off except for a rookie called in […]
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By: Diane Benjamin Entire agenda: https://d3n9y02raazwpg.cloudfront.net/cityblm/f7169b76-5bbe-11ee-ae13-0050569183fa-d854eb82-3702-4140-9de6-ac3a8e3f379d-1721418738.pdf The Council will authorize spending $6,841,961.14 to resurface the below: . The regular agenda is filled with downtown TIF actions. I wonder if anybody will mention how much the City will throw in? The Front and Center building and People’s Bank aren’t going to demolish themselves and the property […]
By: Diane Benjamin 1) Since Cody Hendricks accepted campaign contributions from 2 labor unions, City code prevents him from voting on any Project Labor Resolution that will benefit unions. How is that not a Conflict of Interest? Of course he can’t render a fair opinion. See this story for sources and details of the contributions: […]
By: Diane Benjamin Did the wind last night affect the downtown campers? Did garbage blow everywhere? Was refuge provided to the people living in tents? If you are in the area please let me know! The Bloomington Council held a Committee of the Whole meeting last night. The first Public Comment was by Surena Fish […]
By: Diane Benjamin The part of Constitution Trail where tent city is located now looks more like a garbage dump. Homeless people don’t trash their home, these people don’t care because they are mentally ill. More downtown business owners need to speak up, I hear stories of threats and crimes happening. Stay silent – lose […]
By: Diane Benjamin Various people have sent pictures of tents along Constitution Trail but they were taken from a vehicle and difficult to see. Since I was in town today I went to take my own. The trail from Lincoln street east of Evergreen cemetery appears to stop/start there. No sidewalks or parking so I […]
Anyone else hear the rumor Normal is busing their tent dwellers to Bloomington? . .
By: Diane Benjamin The actual City Council meeting was only about 30 minutes long. The video is about 43 minutes because the City plays commercials before and after now. Surena Fish spoke at Public Comment. The downtown business owners held a meeting last night with the Bloomington police concerning the problems with vagrants downtown. Listen […]
By: Diane Benjamin Below are the tents right next to Constitution Trail and Evergreen Cemetery – h/t a reader. I’m told the tents under the bridge have disappeared! More pics from the original tent city:
By: Diane Benjamin Tent city isn’t only in the original location. I hear more tents are located under the bridge south of downtown, pics needed readers! I hear another tent city is in Normal along Division St. Send pics of that one too. Tents have also spread east behind Pipe Works. This pic doesn’t show […]
By: Diane Benjamin Two things before I get to Tent City: Two versions of what is happening with the people camping downtown: City Manager Jeff Jurgens reported Monday night there have been 80+ people there. He also reported this: Now listen to Surena Fish’s Public Comment. She claims the encampment simply relocated. The video was […]
By: Diane Benjamin There was only one Public Comment – Marty Seigel. She spoke about local zoning policy. She is against the local “pack’m and stack’m” policy that has been promoted across the country for at least a decade. There is no proof housing becomes more affordable by encouraging developers to build infill apartment buildings. […]
By: Diane Benjamin City Manager Jeff Jurgens showed this slide at the last council meeting. All of these groups are working on a solution to the tent city. Jurgens stated more organizations might be added: From Public Commenters at meetings the problem isn’t homelessness. The people living in tents downtown aren’t allowed in shelters because […]
By: Diane Benjamin Mayor Mwilambwe and alderman Cody Hendricks didn’t bother to attend last night. Public comment by a resident who lives close to the Tent City in downtown Bloomington: These illegal campers are terrorizing area residents and requiring many public safety resources. Welcome to socialism, the camp should have been disbanded the first day. […]
By: Diane Benjamin Pulled from the Consent Agenda was approving a Community Change Grant from the EPA who is handing out $20 billion. (Inflation will continue as the Feds spend money they have to print) The money isn’t free, it’s still taxpayers who will be responsible for the debt. Bloomington wants $20 million, most of […]
By: Diane Benjamin If you’ve ever watched a council meeting you know why I call him Mr. Giggles. Those giggles hide the fact that he’s a big government guy and pushes a progressive (communist) agenda. Can’t Bloomington do better? https://www.wglt.org/local-news/2024-04-15/mwilambwe-to-run-for-2nd-term-as-bloomington-mayor?fbclid=IwAR0pqO6wAXClBrJMohOXCUvF6sQlDT4B1FNa2HwPj3OwLAA2m1M6xwqZS5Y Mwilambwe to run for 2nd term as Bloomington mayor Excerpts: Mwilambwe said he wants to […]
By: Diane Benjamin h/t a reader Another reader just sent this pic: Remember Public Safety is a high priority! Your taxes paid for the fire department response. 😁 Spraying water:
By: Diane Benjamin The cameras worked last night. A new voting system actually worked last night. Bloomington now has TWO tent cities. Another one sprung up under the Center Street bridge – according to a Public Comment (19:45). The reason people are illegally living in tents in downtown Bloomington is because the first person was […]
Is this why Tim Gleason is leaving? Tent City growing! H/T a reader
By: Diane Benjamin From the City of Bloomington website: https://www.bloomingtonil.gov/departments/human-resources That statement means the BEST person applying for a job isn’t the one that gets hired. Bloomington chooses employees based on race, gender, etc. Going woke isn’t going to bankrupt them like many companies before them – they can always get more money from you! […]
By: Diane Benjamin Any response from District 87? https://blnnews.com/2024/03/12/d87-fire-this-bloomington-fireman/ You thought your kids matter at school? Tent City continues to grow, it has spread to the old Pantagraph building. On Monday the Bloomington City Council will hear plans for the downtown streetscape. Maybe they can “tent” multiple blocks! It will be glorious!
By: Diane Benjamin The Council held an Executive Session last night, the mayor stated it was to discuss Tim Gleason. Considering he told WGLT he wanted the opportunity to counter the Arizona offer, that’s likely what was discussed. Gleason just got a 5% raise in September: https://blnnews.com/2023/09/11/tonight-gleason-gets-a-raise/ The mayor also stated Bloomington has momentum. “Momentum” […]
By: Diane Benjamin Tonight’s agenda: https://d3n9y02raazwpg.cloudfront.net/cityblm/f6f358da-5bbe-11ee-ae13-0050569183fa-d854eb82-3702-4140-9de6-ac3a8e3f379d-1709935302.pdf In case you missed this story: https://www.wglt.org/local-news/2024-03-07/bloomington-city-manager-is-a-top-candidate-for-arizona-job The only reason tent city still exists in downtown Bloomington is because the far left screamed at the City for planning to disband it. Some laws are okay to break which means all laws are okay to break if leadership is intimidated […]
By: Diane Benjamin I get tips frequently, mostly people forget to take pictures or aren’t able because they are driving. If you can stop and get a picture, please do! Visual is always better. 1) With the severe winds over the weekend I hear the tent city in downtown Bloomington had garbage blowing everywhere. A […]
By: Diane Benjamin There was a Township meeting before the Council meeting, Council doesn’t start until 59:00 on the video. This item on the Consent Agenda was pulled before the meeting: . The documentation says this Review Board hasn’t had a case since August of 2011 after being established in 2011, but that didn’t keep […]
By: Diane Benjamin The Council met yesterday afternoon after canceling Monday night’s meeting due to ice. It was short even with 3 Public Comments. Just hit play below to hear the first two. The new hockey owners made a brief presentation with slides that aren’t on video. The person who films at night usually switches the view so people […]
By: Diane Benjamin The City of Bloomington wants $1.1 million more from you, the library wants $309.4 thousand more all while your government is sitting on RECORD high reserves. Of course they use the same graphic as every other year to show they aren’t why property taxes chase people out of Illinois: It appears every […]
