All articles authored by Zachary J. Gittrich, unless otherwise noted.
More COVID Confusion at McLean County Jail
01/23/2022 | According to the latest data, the Jail Medical staff is reporting that as of the 12th, 79 inmates were positive with COVID-19. (VIEW FULL ARTICLE)
Notes on McLean County Jail Part 11
01/12/2022; UPDATED: 01/21/2022 | On December 16th, 2021, McLean County Sheriff Jon Sandage announced that a new outbreak of COVID-19 had struck the jail. (VIEW FULL ARTICLE)
New Surveillance Tools for Bloomington Police
01/11/2022 | Bloomington Police are set to receive a new set of surveillance tools to add to their arsenal. (VIEW FULL ARTICLE)
Bloomington Council Tables New Surveillance Tech for BPD
01/11/2022 | On Monday’s Bloomington City Council meeting, one item placed on the consent agenda was pulled and tabled until next month. (VIEW FULL ARTICLE)
01/05/2022 | With the demise of the DSA BloNo, many on the Left are wondering what Leftists organizations exist and how to join them. (VIEW FULL ARTICLE)
Mummified Corpse Taken Off Life Support: DSA BloNo
12/24/2021; UPDATED: 1/4/2022 | DSA BloNo votes to dissolve itself for one year! DSA BloNo is defunct for the foreseeable future and no organizing will be occurring within its spaces. (VIEW FULL ARTICLE)
Afro-Soc Caucus Condemns Abusive Behavior From DSA BloNo
12/12/2021 | For the second time in two months, the Afro-Soc Caucus of BloNo DSA is publically calling out alleged abusive behavior by BloNo DSA members. (VIEW FULL ARTICLE)
Responses to a Measured Sequel: DSA BloNo
11/23/2021 | There were several responses to renewed criticism of the Bloomington-Normal chapter of the Democratic-Socialists of America (DSA BloNo). (VIEW FULL ARTICLE)
Mayor Mouse Finally Appoints a Replacement to Ward 6 Vacancy
11/07/2021 | Mayor Mwilambwe chooses local capitalist De Urban to replace democratic-socialist Jenn Carrillo as Alderperson of Ward 6. (VIEW FULL ARTICLE)
Notes on McLean County Jail Part 10
10/27/2021 | Sheriff Sandage continues to choose to withhold tablet access to inmates in retaliation for the McLean County Board’s vote to table a contract update with Inmate Communications Solutions (ICS). (VIEW FULL ARTICLE)
Jenngate & DSA Blono: A Measured Sequel
10/18/2021 | It’s taken months to properly analyze the situation and its aftermath, only to come to the conclusion that serious fissures exist on the BloNo Left that may take years to heal. (VIEW FULL ARTICLE)
Sandage Justifies CALLOUS Retaliation Against Inmates
10/16/2021 | Sheriff Jon Sandage finally responded to news he took access to computer tablets away from inmates. (VIEW FULL ARTICLE)
McLean County Board Votes to Renegotiate Jail Contract | Sheriff Retaliates Against Inmates
10/15/2021; UPDATED: 10/16/2021 | McLean County Board loudly stood up against further profiting off of inmates in the local jail. However, in retaliation for not getting his way, Sheriff Jon Sandage petulantly removed inmate access to tablets. (VIEW FULL ARTICLE)
Bloomington Residents FURIOUS Over Perceived Mayoral Nepotism
10/12/2021 | Bloomington residents appeared in force in opposition to the announcement that Mayor Mwilambwe is thinking of appointing former-Alderperson Karen Schmidt to the vacant ward 6 seat. (VIEW FULL ARTICLE)
Bloomington Mayor to Nominate LOSER to Fill Ward 6 Seat
10/10/2021 | It’s been 40 days since Jenn Carrillo was forced to give up their council seat. (VIEW FULL ARTICLE)
Sheriff Pushes to Add Tablets For Inmates to Jail Contract
10/06/2021 | The updated contract will allow the County to profit even more off of inmates. (VIEW FULL ARTICLE)
Notes On McLean County Jail Part 9
10/05/2021; UPDATED: 10/06/2021 | At today’s McLean County Justice Committee meeting, county board members will be reviewing an update to their existing contract with Inmate Communications Solutions, a company that profits off of telecommunications services to correctional facilities. Currently, the County generates 6-figure profit off of this contract. (VIEW FULL ARTICLE)
Bloomington Council Member Forced To Resign
07/19/2021 | Bitter-sweet news for the BloNo Left. Ward 6 Bloomington Council Member, Jenn Carrillo pulls a Sarah Palin by resigning from their elected position only half-way through. (VIEW FULL ARTICLE)
Notes on McLean County Jail Part 8
05/07/2021 | For a second month in a row, Sheriff Jon Sandage was a no show at the McLean County Justice Committee meeting May 4th, 2021. (VIEW FULL ARTICLE)
Green Top Hiring: Workers Beware!
04/24/2021 | Workers should think twice about applying for a job at Green Top Grocery. (VIEW FULL ARTICLE)
Alderperson Carrillo: A Measured Response
05/06/2021 | Ward 6 Alderperson Jenn Carrillo wrote a series of (allegedly) “loving agitations” about DSA BloNo on the blog JustBloNo.net. Little did people know, apparently Alderperson Carrillo has experienced some tension with the local DSA chapter. (VIEW FULL ARTICLE)
Tensions Escalate at Green Top, but Workers Aren’t Backing Down
04/17/2021 | Whatever your feelings about the severity or subjectivity of the allegations against Green Top Grocery, it is fascinating to see a quarter of a business’ labor force activated in this way to fight for control of the workplace. (VIEW FULL ARTICLE)
Green Top Grocery Strike Continues
04/15/2021 | For a second day, Green Top Grocery workers withheld their labor in protest. (VIEW FULL ARTICLE)
Green Top Grocery: Workers Allege Hostile Work Environment
04/15/2021 | Local grocery co-op Green Top Grocery is facing several complaints by workers. Workers allege a hostile working environment, violations of Illinois labor laws, & retaliation against whistle blowers. (VIEW FULL ARTICLE)
Local Election Results 2021: Neo-Liberalism Reigns Supreme in BloNo
04/13/2021 | April 6th, 2021 was a devastating blow to Bloomington-Normal’s Left. All four candidates in the People First Coalition finished last in their races. (VIEW FULL ARTICLE)
Local Fascist Owned by Zoomers
03/15/2021 | Local Neo-fascist John Reed thought he was just going to slide into an elected position on the District 87 School Board. That was before a group of District 87 Zoomers clapped back and effectively destroyed whatever infinitesimal chance Reed thought he had. (VIEW FULL ARTICLE)
Bloomington City Council: Policing & Police Accountability
09/24/2020 | Interviews with Bloomington elected officials on policing & police accountability. (VIEW FULL ARTICLE)
