City of Bloomington Budget Update
Bloomington City Council are in the midst of approving the 2022 City Budget. Last evening, Council discussed 4 department budget proposals, including: Bloomington Transit; Bloomington Utilities; Bloomington Fire Department; and, Bloomington Police Department. All were approved with increases from the current year’s budget, except for the Police Department, as Council felt the Mayor’s 9% proposed increase was not enough to satisfy the demands of the department.
The BPD is currently staffed only at 88% of its authorization, and this number includes those still in training and on leave. Several Council Members spoke toward the need for additional sworn Officers, while the Mayor’s proposal only included funding for 5 new Officers and a handful of new Community Service Specialists.
Council rejected the proposed increased, seemingly, in hopes to see the budget reworked for additional Officers and higher pay included into the numbers; however, the vote was only 0-4, with 5 abstentions. Council Members Matt Flherty, Kate Rosenbarger, Isabel Piedmont-Smith, Sue Sgambelluri, Jim Sims all abstained, leaving questions as to their commitment to properly fund our Police Department.
Indiana Attorney General succeeds at U.S. Supreme Court
On Tuesday, the U.S. Supreme Court agreed with Attorney General Todd Rokita that there was no legal basis to the Biden administration’s challenge to delay the reimplementation of the Trump administration’s Remain in Mexico policy. Attorney General Rokita led an amicus brief in the Supreme Court this week, joined by 15 other attorneys general, to support Texas and Missouri’s challenge. Attorney General Rokita’s office also filed an amicus brief last week in the Fifth Circuit, challenging the Biden administration’s lax immigration policies. AG Rokita issued the following statement:
“Enforcing our immigration laws to secure our Southern border is the only correct response during a time when hundreds of thousands of Central American migrants, who are not being tested for COVID, are attempting to cross through Mexico to illegally enter the United States. The costs of revoking this policy would have made it easier for human traffickers, drug cartels, smugglers and violent criminals to harm U.S. citizens. Fortunately, Indiana common sense prevailed at the high court this week.”
The IU Cinema Under the Stars
IU Cinema is teaming up with campus and community partners to present some of your favorite films in an outdoor setting. Make new friends, dodge the undead, wander through outer space, and attempt to save a hundred or so dalmatian puppies. All screenings will take place at IU Memorial Stadium, and will allow viewers a unique cinematic setting, featuring films for movie lovers of all ages, including:
- Sept. 16: “Wall-E“
- Sept. 23: “Princess Mononoke“
- Sept. 30: “101 Dalmatians“
- Oct. 7: “The Mummy“
- Oct. 14: “What We Do in the Shadows“
For additional information on these IU Cinema programs and more, visit the IU Cinema website.