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In my 40 years of dealing with city hall, I have never seen so many elected officials and bureaucrats sell out the good of the public for personal gain and political survival. This $25 million taxpayer rip-off, theft of public parkland, bootlicking, underhanded dealings and propaganda filled circus is the kind of mindless debacle that puts Columbus on the map as one of the most corrupt and unethical cities in the U.S.
This unscrupulous behind the scenes criminal act ranks right up there with Redflex, the Ohio Health 315 West North Broadway ramp, The Little Turtle Roadway Project, and Ginther’s illegal ex parte phone call to Judge Mingo.
In June of 2023 and June of 2024 legislation was passed by City Council and signed off by Mayor Ginther to allocate $1.6 million for architectural and engineering services for the development of McCoy and Gender Road Parks. Council members Bankston, Doran’s, and Hardin served on the Recs and Parks committee in 2023. Councilman Wyche served as vice chair in 2024.
Ohio Immigrant Alliance just released, “Ending Immigration Jail in Ohio: How and Why,” a report that breaks down the concept of immigration jail into simple terms; provides examples of successful community organizing to end ICE jail contracts in Ohio; and offers recommendations for a more logical and humane policy.
From May 23-30, organizers are planning a week of action to end ICE jail, with interfaith vigils in Seneca, Mahoning, and Geauga Counties, and more in the works.
Happy 420 to my cannafriends and families! Today, we celebrate our favorite plant and the help, healing, and happiness that it has afforded so many for so long. Cannabis (aka marijuana) has come a long way over the last few decades and made many positive marks on the lives of its afficionados. Let’s review a few.
The Waldos. No Free Press article about 420 would be complete without first mentioning the Waldos. Here’s an excerpt from the April 2021 Mary Jane’s Guide:
There's no clearer example of Columbus City Council's complete unresponsiveness to the needs of our neighborhoods than the proposed giveaway of a Southside community park and $50,000,000 of taxpayer dollars to Jimmy and Dee Haslam in an attempt to lure a women's soccer team to Columbus.
Council is set to vote on this proposal Monday evening April 20th, so your letters of opposition are needed right now. (Councilmembers Green and Day-Achauer, to their credit, have spoken out strongly against this proposal; the rest of the councilmembers have not yet indicated how they will vote.)
Tell the City Council today: vote NO on this bad deal.
The proposal would commit $25,000,000 from city funds, with another $25,000,000 from Franklin County, to support the National Women's Soccer League proposal being submitted by the Haslams -- the billionaire owners of the Crew, the Cleveland Browns, and potentially the new team in Columbus.
Saturday, April 18 9am-12pm
The Point at Otterbein University, 60 Collegeview Rd, Westerville, OH 43081
Repair Cafés are free meeting places and they’re all about repairing things (together). In the place where a Repair Café is located, you’ll find tools and materials to help you make any repairs you need. On clothes, furniture, electrical appliances, bicycles, crockery, appliances, toys, et cetera. You’ll also find expert volunteers, with repair skills in all kinds of fields.
Visitors bring their broken items from home. Together with the specialists they start making their repairs in the Repair Café. It’s an ongoing learning process. If you have nothing to repair, you can enjoy a cup of tea or coffee. Or you can lend a hand with someone else’s repair job. You can also get inspired at the reading table – by leafing through books on repairs and DIY.
https://www.repaircafe.org/en/about/
Electronic Recycling by AVAY. Check our their website for the list of acceptable and unacceptable items!
Volunteer During Earth Month
It is also a great opportunity volunteer a few hours of your time and effort to assist in the community. Even though we are almost halfway through Earth Month, there are still over 65 volunteer opportunities available in central Ohio through the end of April. Many are workdays at neighborhood community gardens and urban farms. There are also litter cleanups and beautification projects.
Residents of Franklin County are invited to a community event that raises awareness about the 10 most prevalent cancers affecting the region.
Presented by Teacher of Men and sponsored by the Zangmeister Cancer Center, the event will take place on April 18, 2026, from 10 AM to 4 PM at the King Arts Complex, 835 Mt Vernon Ave, Columbus, OH 43203.
The event will bring together local doctors, cancer survivors, and experts to share vital information, personal stories, and resources for prevention and early detection. The spotlight will be on the top 10 cancers impacting Franklin County: Prostate, Breast, Lymphoma, Pancreatic, Leukemia, Colorectal, Liver, Melanoma, non-Melanoma skin cancers, and Gynecologic cancers.
A Community United Against Cancer.
Attendees will have the opportunity to hear firsthand testimonies from survivors and participate in open discussions with medical professionals. Topics will cover the latest advancements in screening, treatment, and support services, as well as the importance of genetic counseling and understanding hereditary cancer risks.
Highlights Include.
Wednesday, April 15, 2026 - 6:30pm
Endeavor Brewing and Spirits, 909 W 5th Ave #2, Columbus, OH 43212
Knowledge is Power is an inclusive and accessible group of progressive learners who are working to educate ourselves about the issues facing us today. From Central Ohio politics to climate change, we are arming ourselves with knowledge to actively work to better our world. More importantly, we are building community and supporting each other in these challenging times!
YOU ARE INVITED TO JOIN US! We meet monthly all around Central Ohio to discuss a topic chosen by the group members. We offer multiple ways to access materials for each topic, from books and articles to podcasts and documentaries– because everyone learns best in different ways! Check us out at https://www.mobilize.us/indivisiblecentralohio/ and use the search option to search for Knowledge is Power.
Nosh, cocktails, imbibes and the other bachelorette lifestyles are often intertwined with Democratic, progressive politics and Columbus culture.
I spent winter 2026 with Tariq Ali’s catalog and a beer bong.
Spring is Sprung.
Columbus Vegan Dining Week is April 19-25th.
- Please elaborate about Columbus Vegan Dining Week.
Columbus Vegan Dining Week (CVDW) is a citywide celebration of vegan and plant-based dining during Earth Week. It highlights local restaurants across Central Ohio offering great vegan options — whether that’s a full vegan menu or a special plant-based feature. It’s a fun way for the community to explore new spots and support local restaurants during the week.
- Who organized Columbus Vegan Dining Week?
CVDW is organized by about a dozen local Columbus Animal Advocates volunteers. We are also partnering with Project Animal Freedom for this event as well.
The anti-ICE protester arrested by Columbus police outside the immigration enforcement’s hotel during its “Operation Buckeye” surge into the community had his charges dismissed by Franklin County prosecutors.
Kevin Logan (pictured above) was told by prosecutors he didn’t need to show in court on Monday, but he did anyway to hear for himself that the charges were dropped.
“Nobody would even make eye contact with me, so nobody actually said anything despite my attempts to engage them in eye contact,” said Logan who by all accounts was the most vocal of protestors at ICE’s hotel during those fateful nights.
He was charged with squealing his tires, a misdemeanor, and something he claims was a fabrication on the part of Columbus police. He was given a second charge, obstructing official business, which Columbus police and prosecutors never fully explained. The Ohio Revised Code states: “No person…shall do any act that hampers or impedes a public official in the performance of the public official’s lawful duties.”