Local

Today marks a sobering milestone in the fight for government transparency and civic freedom in Ohio: exactly 228 days have passed since final briefs were submitted to U.S. District Judge James L. Graham on December 5, 2025, in the critical federal lawsuit Brown v. Yost. ​As we await Judge Graham's ruling on the permanent injunction, the systemic harm caused by former Ohio Attorney General Dave Yost continues to cast a long shadow over the state's democratic landscape. 

​"For 228 agonizing days, the fundamental constitutional rights of Ohio citizens have been held in limbo," stated Cynthia Brown, Chair of the Protecting Ohioans' Constitutional Rights Committee. "Dave Yost’s routine weaponization of his office to repeatedly reject citizen-led initiatives is a direct assault on the First Amendment and the democratic process itself. By blocking amendments designed to eliminate unearned shields like qualified immunity, Yost chose to protect a broken system over the people." ​

Many are aware private equity has purchased thousands of single-family homes in Columbus and now renting them at rates many struggle to afford. 

Arguably worse is how these private equity companies such as Homes for America, VineBrook and Blackstone have been keeping a dirty little greedy secret: They are deliberately leaving a substantial number vacant during Columbus’s unprecedented housing affordability crisis. 

Mayor Ginther and City Council have echoed time and time again: We need to build more housing. Yet they have never called out how private equity is deliberately keeping an unknown number “homeless,” so to speak. 

“Private equity treats them like stocks is the best comparison,” says Jordan McLaughlin, who’s leading the grassroots effort Evict Private Equity Columbus, and pictured above. “Think of them as a place to plant their money. Wait for a while for the market price to increase and then sell it. They don’t want to put someone in there who they think can destroy the property and lower its property value.”

Jeni's is generously hosting an Ice Cream Social fundraiser from 5-7 pm on Monday July 20 at the Clintonville location (4247 N. High St.) ! Come grab some scoops, chat with other worker center folks, and know that 25% of all purchases help fund our work!

----
¡Jeni’s Icecream está generosamente organizando una recaudación de fondos de helados de 4 a 7 pm el lunes 20 de julio en la ubicación de Clintonville (4247 N. High St.)! ¡Ven a disfrutar de unos helados, charlar con otros miembros del centro de trabajadores y saber que el 25% de todas las compras ayuda a financiar nuestro trabajo!

 

Sunday, July 19, 2026 - 03:30pm
Goodale Park

The Flock audit finally came out, and if you’re as pissed as we are, come out to Goodale on 7/19 at 3:30 to make some noise and fight back!

Rally against surveillance!

Three months ago on April 7, 2026, Will Klatt, who sits on the Clintonville Area Commission, made a public records request to the City of Columbus regarding the “Zone In” initiative. The first substantive response was not provided until July 6, 2026 – approximately 90 days later. That delay is well beyond what Ohio’s Public Records Act requires. Ohio law requires public offices to make records available within a reasonable period of time, and a delay of this length, absent a compelling explanation, appears inconsistent with those statutory obligations. Klatt intends to pursue legal action on Monday (7/20) against the City of Columbus.

After more than three months without receiving the requested records, I believe the City has failed to comply with its obligations under Ohio’s Public Records Act (ORC 149.43). The request relates to records connected to the Zone In Columbus zoning code update, including materials, data, and communications used in the development of that process.

Haga clic aquí para español - Click here for Spanish

I will never forget a college student named Matt who worked with me part-time shortly before the 9/11 terrorist attacks. One day, just for fun, I asked him if he could name the five states that border Ohio. He looked at me and said, "Are you trying to make me look stupid?"

I replied, "Not at all. I'm just testing your knowledge and thought it would be fun to play a little trivia."

He relaxed and then asked, "Is Michigan one of the states?"

I smiled and said, "You're right, buddy!"

Matt later told me that he had never been outside Ohio. I was truly saddened.

Nevertheless, most Americans value staying informed. However, keeping up with the news, elections, and current events can be more time-consuming and exhausting than ever. Even so, many Americans still believe that staying informed is an important part of their civic duty.

Friday, July 17, 2026 - 11:45am
On the plaza in front of the Ohio State Capitol

This Saturday, July 18, will mark EIGHT YEARS since the last execution in Ohio.

To mark this occasion and add to the mix of available colorful images and video used by the media covering this issue, please join with Ohioans to Stop Executions, Death Penalty Action and others.

We'll make brief statements, offer prayer, and everyone can participate in tolling our bell 56 times to symbolically "note the 56 times Ohio fell short of our highest ideals by unnecessarily killing prisoners." 

Wear your OTSE or other anti-death penalty t-shirt if you have one! This is a VISIBILITY ACTION!  If you are clergy, wear your identifying items.

Editor's Note:
Today, the Our City, Our Say coalition submitted over 23,000 signatures for a petition to amend the Columbus charter so that only residents from each district will elect their member of Columbus City Council. 

Currently, Columbus has city council districts in name only, electing all 9 city council members through at-large voting in citywide elections, a system that favors candidates selected by political insiders and backed by big money. However, Our City, Our Say is committed to building a system where every neighborhood and vote matters by putting the power in the hands of the people of Columbus. 

“Submitting these signatures and getting this amendment on the ballot in November proves that organizing can overcome the entrenched power of concentrated wealth that has long dictated the terms of politics and governance in Columbus,” said Maitland Neff, a volunteer signature gatherer who collected over 1,500 signatures. 

Thursday, July 16, 10:15am
Columbus City Hall, 90 W. Broad St.

We're meeting at City Hall tomorrow morning to turn in the more than 23,000 signatures you've helped us collect over the last few months. Can you join us?

Our City Our Say will submit petition signatures to the Columbus City Clerk in support of its proposed charter amendment. Before the filing, organization leaders and supporters will be available to discuss the initiative, the signature collection effort, and the next steps in the ballot qualification process.

BRING (optional): We'll have signs on hand for supporters, but you are also welcome to bring your own. If you represent any coalition partner organization(s), please feel free to wear your organization and/or union swag!

Our City, Our Say is a broad, nonpartisan coalition of your neighbors. We’re coming together to build a city that belongs to all of us by shifting power from Columbus insiders to the people and neighborhoods in Columbus.

Ohio is home to some of the most respected healthcare institutions in the world. Cleveland Clinic is consistently ranked among the world's best hospitals, while The Ohio State University Wexner Medical Center is nationally recognized across multiple specialties. Yet despite these achievements, Ohio ranks near the bottom nationally in overall health value—worse than any other state in the Midwest—and some communities experience life expectancies that rival those of the world's poorest countries.

How can a state renowned for world-class medicine fail so many of its citizens?