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Landlord v. Tenant is a special GLT investigative series exploring low-income rental housing in Bloomington-Normal:An aging stock of low income housing in Bloomington-Normal is causing ongoing tension between tenants and their landlords. Twin City landlords are cited more than 3,000 times a year for housing code violations. Because of their age, many low income rental units are in chronic disrepair. Compounding the problem is that Bloomington and Normal each have only two housing inspectors to oversee more than twenty thousand rental units. And there is little pressure on landlords to change.

Bloomington's Planning, Zoning Chief Leaves For Job Near Chicago

City of Bloomington

The city of Bloomington is losing its top planning and zoning official.

Tom Dabareiner’s last day as Bloomington’s community development director will be Oct. 20, he said. Dabareiner is leaving for a new job with the same title at a city in Chicago’s western suburbs, closer to his family.

“One of the great things about my job is no matter where I'm working, I get to learn new places and meet new people, and I get to contribute to the community using my experience,” Dabareiner said. “This was also my experience in Bloomington. I wish everyone here the very best and brightest future.”

In Bloomington, Dabareiner oversaw the city’s building safety, planning and zoning, economic development, code enforcement and rental inspections, fire inspections, and Community Development Block Grant (CDBG) work. He joined the city in 2014.

He's the second member of Bloomington's executive staff to be leaving his job. City Manager David Hales recently accepted a new job in Joliet.

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Ryan Denham is the digital content director for WGLT.
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