Columbus City Council approved 25 million dollars (your tax dollars) and McCoy Park (your property) to the Haslam Sports Group and survey teams have already begun work.
- Amazing how quickly the survey began right?
- Almost as if they were already prepared and available.
In fact, the McCoy Park sign was removed a few weeks ago.
Officially the sign was hit by a car although there doesn’t appear to be a police report available. After Haslam announced that McCoy Park would be the new practice facility for his women’s soccer team the sign disappeared.
Welcome to the corporate ownership of Columbus City Hall.
The Mayor and City Council might attend every photo opportunity, but they spend ten times that amount of time courting the rich and powerful to fund their political ambitions.
The Haslam Sports Group wanted McCoy Park and no other location was ever up for debate. They played the mayor and City Council like a Stradivarius violin to get what they wanted. Money is what the politicians of City Hall listen to; not people.
Total given to Mayor Ginther: $220,874.30
Total given to President Hardin: $32,458.67
But just because you aren’t President of City Council doesn’t mean that your cooperation isn’t necessary when former Mayor Coleman picks up the phone to call. To really influence City Hall it’s best to spread a few dollars to other members of City Council:
Total given to Councilmember Lourdes $1000
Total given to Councilmember Bankston $1000
Total given to Councilmember Dorans: $833.33
Total given to Councilmember Remy $833.33
Votes on City Council are an orchestration that would have made Sergei Prokofiev blush. Thanks to the U.S. Supreme Court ruling of Citizens United it might be legal to give unlimited amounts of money to a politician, but that doesn’t make it right.
Ever Wonder How this Happened so Fast?
Money. Columbus City Hall is swimming in money with campaign donations.
That kind of power buys access to talk, email and influence the people who make decisions.
Ever Email the Mayor or City Council, but Never Get a Reply?
That’s because you haven’t bought your own politician like the rich and powerful.
The best part is that buying a Columbus politician is easy and affordable (for a billionaire everything is affordable).
If I was a billionaire I might donate a few thousand dollars to the Mayor and City Council. At least then they might return my emails or phone calls.
Ask Your Wife for $1000 and See What Happens?
It’s not unusual to ask my wife for a few extra dollars if I know she is going to the bank. Imagine if I asked her for $1000 or $5000?
She would naturally ask me why I needed the money.
We might be married, but she isn’t stupid.
Nobody Accepts this Amount of Money without being Indebted.
Remember that the next time you see the Mayor and members of City Council at a photo opportunity.
Everyone knows that with the right amount of money anybody can win any election. It’s even easier at the local level as in Columbus.
These are not campaign donations because someone believes in the leadership of the Mayor or City Council.
Put lipstick on a pig; it’s still a pig. Oink!
Jimmy Haslam III
Ginther 8/20/19 $1200
Ginther 11/16/21 $13,700
Ginther 12/20/22 $6750
Ginther 10/2/23 $15,499
Ginther 8/27/24 $15,499
Ginther 1/15/26 $16,615.17
Hardin 10/16/19 $6,646
Hardin 10/20/21 $5,000
Hardin 11/3/23 $2,500
Lourdes 10/18/21 $500
Bankston 10/18/21 $500
Susan “Dee” Haslam
Ginther 8/20/19 $1200
Ginther 11/16/21 $13,700
Ginther 12/20/22 $6750
Ginther 7/3/23 $15,499.63
Ginther 8/27/24 $15,499
Ginther 12/22/25 $16,615.17
Hardin 10/16/19 $6646
Hardin 10/20/21 $5,000
Hardin 11/3/23 $2500
Lourdes 10/18/21 $500
Bankston 10/18/21 $500
Peter Edwards Jr
3/15/21 Ginther $4233.33
4/27/22 Ginther $7,000
8/23/23 Ginther $15,499
11/16/21 Ginther $4233.33
10/30/25 Ginther $17,000
1/12/26 Ginther $16,615
3/15/21 Hardin $4166.67
3/22/21 Dorans $833.33
3/15/21 Remy $833.33
Whitney Haslam Johnson
Ginther 8/20/19 $2600
Ginther 11/17/21 $5000
James Johnson
Ginther 11/17/21 $5000
David Jenkins Haslam Sports Group Executive
Ginther 9/27/22 $1,000
Information from the Columbus City Clerk. Pete Edwards Jr is one of the owners, along with the Haslams, of the Crew, and now the Columbus NWSL team. He is a doctor and son of Peter Edwards Sr., founder of the Edwards Companies. Brother of developer Jeff Edwards.
Full Disclosure
If you would like to donate $500 to the Columbus Free Press or myself I will reply to your email and/or phone call just like the Mayor and City Council. Unlike them I don’t have gold-plated health insurance or a guaranteed pension, but I’ll return your phone calls for a lot less money.