Local
Local, State, and National Activists Demand Community Involvement in Oil Refinery Fire Investigation
A coalition of Ohio environmental & community activists is demanding that the Ohio EPA include community members in their investigation of the impacts from the fire at an GFL Environmental Inc. oil refinery on the city’s Northeast side on November 21st.
The coalition, which includes Black Environmental Leaders Action Fund & Black Environmental Leaders Association, Columbus Stand Up, 350, Ohio Working Families Party, Green Worker Alliance and Sierra Club, stands in solidarity with residents throughout Central Ohio who are consistently subjected to environmental risks stemming from a lack of corporate accountability.
On behalf of the coalition, Morgan Harper from Columbus Stand Up stated, “The Ohio EPA should conduct a thorough investigation that includes community members to fully understand the harm stemming from the fire to ensure GFL Environmental covers the costs of remediating those harms.”
Today’s announcement by Environmental Court Judge Stephanie Mingo that she would recuse herself from hearing the City of Columbus v. Wilson 845 LLC (Greyhound/Baron’s) case should be of no surprise. And the residents of the Hilltop neighborhood who have been trying to do everything in their power to shut down the Greyhound/Barons bus terminal on North Wilson Road since July can thank their newly re-elected Mayor Andrew Ginther for breaking the law.
As Mayor, Andy Ginther is a party to City of Columbus v Wilson 845 LLC et al 2023 EVH 060592. As disclosed by Judge Stephanie Mingo on December 8, Ginther called the personal cell phone of Judge Mingo with specific needs on the case.
Tuesday, December 12, 2023, 10:00 AM
Ohio House Bill 308 would do that! Nuclear power is dirty, dangerous, and expensive and now must be funded almost entirely by the public! Don’t let the legislature saddle the public with radioactive waste and paying for nuclear power!
YOUR HELP IS NEEDED! Written testimony opposing Ohio House Bill 308 is needed by 10 am on Tuesday, Dec. 12.
For talking points, the Ohio Nuclear Free Network’s information sheet is here: OHIO HB 308 Turns Nuclear Waste Green.
Suspicion
Sara was on her way to Annie’s house. She was listening to DJ Kurt Bishop on her pink transistor radio, holding it to her ear to hear it better as the cars and buses roared past her on Long Street. Sara hated that it was pink, she asked for a blue one, but knew better than to say something negative about it to Shelia. Better to be pink then to have it taken back for being an “ungrateful brat.”
Sara and Annie had made plans to walk to Franklin Park and hang out. It was Saturday and the day was sunny and bright, so it would be packed with people. Annie liked to sit and people watch, as she called it. They would point out a person and then make up stories about who they were and what their lives were like. Annie always made up nice stories. The people were always successful, loved by many and beautiful. Sara’s stories were, what she felt, more realistic. The people had problems, they suffered great tragedies and harm and sometimes, to make it really interesting, they knocked people off, you know, murder.
The December Free Press Second Saturday Salon was held on December 9 over Zoom.
Listen to the recording here.
Mark Stansbery of the Free Press Board, introduced the speake Vina Colley. She related to us how she used to work at the Piketon Gaseous Diffusion Plant. She found that workers there, including herself, were not protected from radiation while at work. She complained about it and began to be suppressed by her employer.
On an aquifer, the plant has been contaminating the Ohio River in addition to the workers, the surrounding community, and several schools – one that was shut down because so many children had died. It is a cancer cluster and Vina herself has many physical problems as a result of her job. Also affected are the Scioto River, the Beaver Creeks, and many external sites.
Sunday, December 10, 2pm
Old First Presbyterian Church, 1101 Bryden RoadI
Community Organizing Center is organizing and readers are coming from a variety of voices: Interfaith Association, Ohio Immigrant Alliance, First Congregation, Scioto Valley Presbytery, and others. We have held an annual marking of the declaration for 30 years, but this year is the 75th year. We are recording the reading and will post it.
Saturday, December 9, 7-8pm, this event will be occurring via Zoom
Theme: Corruption, radiation, and death
Vina Colley will speak about her experience as a worker at the Portsmouth Gaseous Diffusion plant in Piketon, Ohio, and her work for nearly three decades to expose the alleged radioactive contamination and cover-ups at the plant.
A “question-and-answer” period will be included.
If you have announcements for the progressive community, let us know at <colsfreepress@gmail.com>.
If you have any announcements for the progressive community, contact us at <colsfreepress@gmail.com>.
This event will be preceded by a Memorial for David Zirkle, beginning at 6:30pm at the same Zoom link.
Please use this Zoom link to join this event.
Hosted by Columbus Free Press.
WSYX ABC 6 broke a story today claiming “Court docs accuse Columbus mayor of pressuring judge to shutdown Greyhound Barons bus terminal.” https://abc6onyourside.com/news/local/columbus-ohio-mayor-accused-of-ex-parte-conversations-with-judge-central-ohio-elected-offical-greyhound-baron-bus-terminal-case.
Ginther and his administration believe they are outside of the law and permitted to influence judges as they please. This is just one more proven example of corruption that runs rampant at City Hall and why I campaigned to create an Office of Anti-Corruption if elected.
Friday, December 8, 8pm
Natalie's,945 King Ave Columbus, OH, United States, Ohio 43212
A night to remember! A reunion show of a concert that took place at the iconic Little Bros venue (formerly located in Columbus, Ohio) on 11/24/2001, hosted by the previous owner, Dan Dougan! Live music from X-Rated Cowboys, CG2, and Willie Phoenix!
Food & Bar: Our full food and drink menu will be available before and during the show. If you have Standing General Admission tickets, a limited menu of pizza and fries will be available to order from the bar.
Thursday, December 7, 2023, 2:00 – 3:00 PM
At this week's huddle, we'll metabolize the Dec 6 webinar, "Not Just Cop City, Issues at the Heart of the Movement" webinar series. We'll also review what we've done, who's doing what, and what's coming up to Stop Cop City. Join us to get activated or to jump back in. Unitarian Universalists.