Local
This is a moment of outrage. While we knew that SCOTUS turning back the clock on Roe was likely, we must not back down!
Join us tonight 5-7pm, Tuesday, May 3, at the Supreme Court of Ohio, 65 S. Front St., downtown Columbus.
Wear green and bring signs!
My sad tales continue with new elements added every day. In chronological order, they are, so far:
First, leaders of other Columbus neighborhoods contact me. They first affirm that the analysis I presented for the University District parallels their area’s experience. They meet with me individually for cooperation, counsel, and conversation. So far, they include Weinland Park, Franklinton, and New Indianola. I encourage them to write their districts’ experiences for the Columbus Free Press.
Second, the court case of two long-time University District homeowners against NorthSteppe Realty was dismissed by the magistrate. After first court-ordered telephone “mediation” and then “in-person face-to-face conversation” without mediator or magistrate predictably failed, with no opportunity for discussion, presentation of our case, or a hearing, the magistrate dismissed the case. We learned about this accidentally days after the decision, later receiving a form letter with no explanation. For this, we had to pay a fee. I have filed a strenuous objection. I am advised, however, that the magistrate is within his rights to deny our rights.
This past Saturday morning, as a cool rain fell in the Near East of Columbus, a small group of get-out-the-vote canvassers huddled under a tree waiting for US Senate candidate Morgan Harper to show and give a pep talk.
Ohio’s most consequential statewide primary vote in recent memory was three days away, and her campaign workers had planted several fluorescent pink signs with “Morgan Harper” framed by the outline of Ohio.
Not far from here in an aging red-brick apartment building – that was once affordable – a window squeaked open. From inside someone shouted, “Who’s running?”
The group of canvassers and campaign workers sighed. If there’s one primary candidate that’s going to truly represent the Near East with meaningful policies, it’s Morgan Harper. But once again it appears the monster that is APATHY has risen to marginalize who is arguably the best candidate in both the Democrat and Republican primaries.
Sunday, May 1, 1pm
Blendon Woods Metro Park, Dogwood Shelter
COWC is a non-profit organization that educates, empowers, and advocates for and with low-wage and immigrant workers in Central Ohio. Your support allows us to keep fighting wage theft, make sure workers know their rights, and push for policies that protect workers. We also have a "ticket" option for those can't make it in person on May 1st, but still want to donate in solidarity at the link below!
This event is sponsored by some incredible community partners: Policy Matters Ohio, International Union of Painters and Allied Trades DC-6, Ohio Federation of Teachers, Central Ohio Labor Council, and the law firm of Wentz, McInerney, Peifer & Petroff, LLC.
Part Two
The bigger picture
NorthSteppe/Stickney is only the most egregious of the offending organizations among its peers. Almost as large and faulty is HomeTeam Properties, which has purchased property on false grounds (including the house next door to ours). It also claims in printed booklets that list all its properties that it is OSU Student Housing. As with NorthSteppe, it is not. Owner-occupiers receive these fraudulent mailings in our boxes addressed to “OSU student.” Simple record checking would prevent that. My direct inquiries to HomeTeam never result in an answer or an apology. OSU appears unwilling to protect its own interests.
Not only are HomeTeam houses typically in disrepair, they also refuse to provide sufficient trash and recycle containers or instruct their tenants on the law or their responsibilities. For example, the house beside ours—formerly home to a faculty family of five— has eight single residents. HomeTeam provides one trash and one recycle bin. My wife and I, a family of two, have the same number. (A small landlord across the street does not even arrange for a recycle bin.)
Google recently announced its new post-pandemic work policy, requiring employees work in the office for at least three days a week. A survey of over 1,000 Google employees showed that two-thirds feel unhappy with being forced to be in the office three days a week, and many intend to leave.
Google recently announced its new post-pandemic work policy, requiring employees work in the office for at least three days a week. A survey of over 1,000 Google employees showed that two-thirds feel unhappy with being forced to be in the office three days a week, and many intend to leave.
Google recently announced its new post-pandemic work policy, requiring employees work in the office for at least three days a week. A survey of over 1,000 Google employees showed that two-thirds feel unhappy with being forced to be in the office three days a week, and many intend to leave.
In the Thursday, April 28 Columbus Dispatch, an article reported that Mayor Ginther’s office had lobbied the Citizens Commission on Elected Officials Compensation to boost the pay of whomever would become mayor in 2026 by 14% in addition to cost-of-living adjustments (COLAs). Joe Motil, former Columbus City Council candidate and longtime community advocate who has begun circulating petitions to run for Mayor in 2023 states that, “Mayor Ginther apparently believes that record-breaking monetary compensation justifies the central purpose of serving as a public servant. And the fact that Ginther’s office would use pressure to influence the commission’s recommendations is an unethical abuse of power. Instead of Ginther and his office spending valuable time lobbying his hand-picked members of the compensation commission for a possible raise, they should be lobbying officials of Intel and the Columbus Partnership to invest in our affordable housing crisis.”