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March 28, 2024

City of Bloomington loses handwritten FOIA lawsuit; writes check –

By John Kraft & Kirk Allen

On March 26, 2015

BLOOMINGTON, IL. (ECWd) –

A local watchdog by the name of Diane Benjamin, from blnnews.com, has won a pro se lawsuit she filed against the City of Bloomington for their unlawfully withholding public records and other violations of the Freedom of Information Act.

The Court ordered production of records and payment of the fess/costs incurred by Diane Benjamin.

The interesting part of this entire story, is that it all started out with a handwritten Complaint (below) filed at the McClean County Courthouse. She was the first person ever to file a Freedom of Information Act lawsuit in McClean County history. While she did eventually file a typed amended complaint, all the resources and funds the city threw at this lone citizen failed, and Diane came out the victor.

Diane is a shining example of how one person can make a difference, all that is needed is the will to stand up do what is right.

Diane was the key that lead to all the exposure of HFS and the Boston boat ride parties by state employees, not to mention the $180 Million dollar no bid contract with CNSI through Michigan.  While simply walking her precinct she ran into a person who had a story to tell.   A state worker who knew what was happening was wrong! She listened!  Now, from that one discussion, multiple federal investigations are well under way!

One person can make a difference! 

Read her article on this court victory over Mayor Tari Renner and the attorneys for the City of Bloomington here…

Ladies and Gentlemen, feast your eyes on the historical first FOIA lawsuit in McClean County history:

[gview file=”https://edgarcountywatchdogs.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/03/BloomingtonFOIAlawsuit.pdf”]

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5 Comments
  • Gerard H Schilling
    Posted at 13:25h, 26 March

    Diane is a hard working Patriotic class act. Congratulation Di.

  • Dave
    Posted at 13:50h, 26 March

    Awesome!

  • Lake Lady
    Posted at 05:04h, 28 March

    Diane,how about visiting Arcola?

  • Danni Smith
    Posted at 13:06h, 25 September

    Where is Kelly Krapf a Quinn appointee in all this? This article published a few years ago:

    BANKRUPTCY IS A BONUS
    Dear Governor Pat Quinn;

    I just read about Kelly Krapf aka Kraft, your new hire for the position of Executive Director of the Illinois Sports Facilities Authority. I am so sorry the Right and the Left are attacking you for your sensible decision. Just because the 39 year-old declared bankruptcy on $102,500. credit card debt, some Nordstrom stuff, is not a good reason for them to question your appointment.

    I think she will be perfect. Kelly Krapf aka Kraft’s respect for other people’s money is identical to Madiganrespect for taxpayer’s money. She knows how to overspend and Maddy knows how to overpension. Their harmonizing ideologies spawn and spew identical results. Kelly and Maddy fully understand shortfalls are caused by lack of revenue, not misappropriations, so all they need is more money. Both know this is corrected via the legal confiscation of the assets of others. And, you can’t surpass her personal experience of fending off creditors with countless recitations of, “I will pay you next week,” or “I lost your invoice,” or “You lost my check.” Her skills can only benefit Illinois.

    In “credit and collections” lingo, those who do not pay their bills are called “credit criminals.” Mr. Quinn, please ignore a babyish, private corporate culture rule that reads: do not hire a credit criminal to control the money. Your individual logic is right on so give Kelly the keys to the strongbox. Kelly’s background is Illinois’ culture, so what more could we Illinoisans ask for? Illinois has cultured lots of criminals, and some are in jail and some are on their way. In Illinoisspeak, it’s pronounced “Chicago Way.” Most of the citizenry of Illinois have been unable to learn the language so they are seeking other cultures, elsewhere, anywhere elsewhere. Are good Dems rich Dems?

    Some remaining residents of Illinois are concerned that Kelly will misuse her access to the taxpayer’s checkbook to help Madigan or Barry or maybe, herself. This is a paranoid reaction. That could never happen. That has never happened. True, there are some jailed pols, but they were sent to Federal pens for littering Lake Shore Drive and peeing in the lake, not stealing.

    Rahm Emanuel, a Mayor and notindicted criminal, thinks you should hire someone “with proven experience in cost savings and efficiencies.” Ignore him, Pat. Remember, doubters can always FOIA. Anita Alverez did not lose Daley’s nephew’ murder file for years. Jeannette Neibauer does not have a shredder. Public documents are safe. Plus, Dick Durbin is purging that blasted Tea Party. He said, “The Tea Party is responsible for this unsolvable fiscal insolvency.” Any missing dollars or documents, you know, the Tea Party took it.

    So what if Kelly Krapf signed a few defaulted charge slips? She can do that for Illinois, too. That has nothing to do with her morals or handling state money. She is a just the thing for Illinois politicians, in whom we trust. People are flocking to our sanctuary. Illinois is a beautiful melting pot of flockers, fleecers and fleers. Fiscal prudence is annoying in Illinois. I love Illinois government. I’m staying. Pols, throw my limitless revenue into your projected budget.

    Please, everyone, give Kelly a chance. Handling your own money is a different skill set because it’s not handling your own money. Kelly and Madigan’s Illinois think alike: gain and shaft someone, obtain and shaft someone, acquire and shaft someone. Who better to do more crap in Illinois than someone named Krapf and a proven “Krapf” record?

    • jmkraft
      Posted at 13:11h, 25 September

      Please publish where this article came from …

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