Last night I spoke out at the Liquor Commission Meeting. I was upset at the ire which was voiced at the proposal of a $5 dollar a month rise in the cost of a Liquor License to defray such costs as policing, and an additional fee in the operation of video gaming in such establishments. The lawyer for and owner of the Lucky Seven had the nerve to object to the establishment being referred to as a “gaming lounge”. Considering the revelation that the Lucky Seven gaming lounge reported not only revenues from such gaming to be $130,000, but that it comprised over fifty percent of it’s earnings, the objection seems mercenary at best.  In addition, with such income, the Lucky Seven owner had the audacity to “cry poor” at the prospect of purchasing an ac unit for the business to bring it in line with building inspector’s demands. Another, bar owner complained that there were costs attached to running such businesses such as those he incurred in purchasing three houses to tear down to expand his parking lot. He then went on to argue that his business provides jobs to the community. At no time did it seem to register to this “businessman” that the jobs he provides to the community do not pay enough to start or raise a family, much less buy a house… which, by the way, is made that much less attainable for the sake of his own business reflected in the size of his growing parking lot! Another bar owner spoke comparing himself to Jesus in acknowledgment of his desire to speak in parable, which made no sense on any level other than that he wanted to invoke the name of Jesus in regard to himself, as he made a plea for Bloomington to become the “What Would Bloomington Do” by leading the way to a new policy among Illinois communities to do away with licensing fees altogether.

At the meeting, I only spoke to a few of the points I mention here, stepping up to the podium and signing in my name and address on the speakers list available to everyone’s view in attendance. But I feel it necessary to include some of the things said by this pasty crew of self-centered crybabies to press home the point of my suspicions at finding a dead bird placed on my front lawn early this morning. A carcass with a single hole in it’s head and left some time between 7 pm last night, after sundown, and 1:20 am.