By Howard Packowitz
BLOOMINGTON – Bloomington Mayor Tari Renner is accusing his detractors of engaging in “physical accosting” and “physical intimidation” of elected officials, and he says he doesn’t know what can be done to soften the tone of an caustic political environment.
Renner presided over his first city council meeting since taking a leave of absence for medical reasons in late August.
“We’ve had physical accosting, physical intimidation of elected officials,” Renner said.
“We’ve frivolous complaints, multiple lawsuits. Those cost time, energy, money, and frankly, it discourages good people, just not now, but in the future, from wanting to run and service,” said Renner.
PODCAST: Listen to Scott’s interview with Bloomington City Manager David Hales.
https://audioboom.com/posts/6379878-david-hales-bloomington-city-manager-10-10-17
The mayor stood up and applauded the council for making responsible policy decisions, while he said others stood on the sidelines lying about what aldermen are doing.”
“It’s easy to sit on the sidelines, and make up, frankly, lies, things that are not true,” said the mayor.
“But, we’ve had a city council who has done great things, and I want to stand up and give a standing ovation to my city council,” Renner said.
Renner faces intense scrutiny as Illinois State Police investigate the use of a city government credit card, and city government is accused of not doing enough to prevent the alleged theft of one-point-one million dollars by the former management team that ran the city owned downtown sports arena.
Outside City Hall, Regina Noland held signs calling for the arrest of Renner and City Manager David Hales, who’s leaving next month to become Joliet’s city manager.
Inside, former council member Judy Stearns lamented taxpayers will never see the return of the stolen money, and frequent Renner critic Scott Steimling (SOUNDS LIKE RHYME) expressed disappointment the council didn’t kick Renner out of office.
Howard Packowitz can be reached at howard.packowitz@cumulus.com
