By Mike Matejka
Is there a marriage counselor in the house? No, I’m not having any problems at home. I’m just wondering if there is a counselor who can bring the Bloomington Mayor and city council together in a quiet setting, with a soft fountain playing in the background, to help them unite and move our community forward.
Due to current law, the council and Mayor can only meet privately under very limited terms. A way is needed for them to hash out their differences and come together. Mayor Renner won a sweeping re-election victory this past Spring. That victory and a new council seem lost in a stalemate.
To my friend Mayor Tari Renner, with all due respect, please, no more e-mails, especially late at night. E-mails and Facebook posts too quickly get in the public eye. Every time someone touches a nerve with you, take ten deep breaths, conjure a scenic plateau or placid lake, and then write a reply. On a piece of paper – a piece of paper you put in your desk for 24 hours and then look at it again. Before replying, take a deep breath, conjure that scenic plateau or placid lake, and ask yourself, “Do I really want to see this out in the public eye?” If not, take out your frustration and rip that paper into tiny scraps and toss it away.
To the City Council – the mayor is the leader. Show him support, offer to help, do whatever you can to assist. Offer to appear for him at the numerous events a mayor gets invited to. Take time with him and build up the confidence so you can speak honestly. Let him vent behind closed doors, knowing what is shared stayed in the room.
Bloomington has so much potential and so many challenges. As sales continue to flow electronically, all local retailers and governments are hurting from the Amazon model. These budget shortfalls need work. The mayor has put forward some grand proposals for downtown Bloomington – they might not all work, but a united front could make significant progress toward revitalizing our central core. Internet sales are wounding the once prosperous retailers along the Parkway. Some serious thought is needed on how the city rebounds and devises a 21st century vision.
With the current turmoil, an employer might look at Bloomington and scratch it from their prospect list. Mayor Renner was elected for the next three years. Hopefully the Mayor and the council, along with a supportive community, can lead us forward productively.
Mike Matejka is the Governmental Affairs director for the Great Plains Laborers District Council, covering 11,000 union Laborers in northern Illinois, Iowa, Nebraska and South Dakota. He lives in Normal. He served on the Bloomington City Council for 18 years, is a past president of the McLean County Historical Society and Vice-President of the Illinois Labor History Society.
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