Local

Joe Motil, former Columbus City Council candidate and outspoken critic of Columbus City Council’s decades-long charade of its musical chair schemes to maintain control and power of City Council, has announced the selection of running mates who will join Team Hardin on the ballot this November.            

Motil states that, “Although the Hardin, Tyson, Mitch Brown nominating committee that is listed on their Declaration of Candidacy Petition technically made the selection of Nick Bankston and Lourdes de Padilla to replace Tyson and Brown, this whole scheme was developed months ago by those who control city hall and Franklin County Democratic Party leaders. This was a lame attempt to hoodwink the citizens of Columbus into believing the two replacement candidates were not appointed and are not part of the club. Columbus voters know better.”

When Ohio legislators passed the historically corrupt House Bill 6 (HB6) in 2019, they forced all Ohioans to pay more on their electric bills to bail out the Ohio Valley Electric Corporation’s (OVEC) two dirty, inefficient, and outdated coal plants in Ohio and Indiana for the next decade. These plants are major contributors to air pollution in and around Ohio, and are major emitters of greenhouse gases that exacerbate the climate crisis. Ohioans shouldn’t be forced to pay extra to make their own air quality worse, especially during a global respiratory pandemic!

Now Ohio legislators have the opportunity to do the right thing and pass Senate Bill 117 (SB117), a piece of legislation that would repeal the financially burdensome and environmentally foolish bailout of the OVEC plants in its entirety. This bipartisan legislation would protect Ohioans and hold the OVEC owners responsible for their own bad financial decisions.

Columbus Stand UP! alongside a coalition of central Ohio organizations, have delivered a letter to elected officials demanding answers about the April 7th explosion at the Yenkin-Majestic Paint Corporation. The blast killed one person, injured eight, and spewed ash and other debris over area homes. 

“Homes and businesses shook, and residents were breathing in toxic air for days,” the letter reads.“The long-term effects on the water and soil in this predominantly Black neighborhood are still unknown.  It has been one week since this fatal incident, and all residents have received from their elected officials are ‘concerns,’ ‘prayers,’ and promises of ‘conversation.’ We are ready to begin the conversation.” See attached for full letter.

The letter has been signed by Columbus Stand Up!, Simply Living, Columbus Socialist Alternative, Freedom BLOC, Ready for 100 Columbus, Students for a Democratic Society, Ohio State University chapter, Ohio Sustainable Business Council, and Our Revolution Central Ohio.

Cincinnati, OH:Plaintiffs from seven Ohio counties, representing Rights of Nature laws and other measures protecting local democracy from corporate special interests, filed an appeal to the Sixth Circuit in a federal civil rights case against the State of Ohio. Oral arguments will be presented tomorrow, April 20.

This follows the filing of briefsagainst the plaintiffs by American Petroleum Institute, Ohio Chamber of Commerce and Ohio Oil and Gas Association.

Oral arguments are scheduled for Tuesday April 20, 1:30 pm EST and can be listened to here: https://www.ca6.uscourts.gov/live-arguments

April 20, 2021

Happy 420! Lamenting last year’s largely cancelled “4:20 on 4/20/2020.“ Here are selected bites of fresh cannabis news sliced from the headlines, with a sweet Ohio twist. Sources are linked.  

Your 420 History Lesson

Monday, April 19, 2021, 7:00 PM
Join the A-Z team as we explore the intersections of labor and our plastics crisis. Learn how workers involved in plastics production AND environmental nonprofit workers fighting plastic industry pollution can stand in solidarity for workers’ rights and healthy communities. Register here. 

Days after Miles Jackson and Daunte Wright were murdered by police, this incident was recorded in a grocery store.

Video

First-hand accounts revealed that this cop was kneeling on this man's back because he stole a bottle of alcohol. The cop was kneeling on it in such a way that the man was not able to put his hands behind his back, and he punched him prior to recording. Also, an employee related that people get caught for stealing all the time and never treated like this. So, the police can call things procedure, but predictably pick and choose to whom what procedures are used.

At least four Black people watched this in horror (one is off camera) wondering if they are witnessing the next murder. The Black community literally feels safe *nowhere*: not in their homes, cars, certainly not walking their dogs, not in daylight or at night. There are at least four white people doing nothing and one employee who laughed about it.

Sunday, April 18, 2021, 5:00 - &:00 PM
This year the Simply Living Annual Meeting will be a virtual dinner. Meet our new executive director, Cathy Cowan Becker, along with new board members and staff, and hear about the new initiatives we have planned for the coming year. We will also be honoring Claus Eckert of Green Columbus who will receive the Carol Fisher Award for Community Service, as well as recognizing Rita Haider as Outstanding Volunteer, Lisa Kreischer as Outstanding Staff Member, and Savannah Smith as social media amplifier. We have also added the Momentum Award for organizations, and will recognize Sunrise Movement Columbus Hub for their momentum in the sustainability movement. We encourage you to order takeout from one of our restaurant affiliates - stay tuned for details! Register for this online event here.

Saturday, April 17, 10-11:15am

This on-line event requires advance registration

The 2020 First Energy scandal was unprecedented in scale, yet the big money involved symbolizes the consistency in which the wealthy corporate entities shape public policies, preempt local control, and prevent Ohioans from having our voices heard and our needs met.

It doesn’t have to be this way, and it shouldn’t be this way. Hear from strong pro-democracy state legislators and friends and supporters of Move to Amend about efforts to fight corruption in Ohio.

Speakers

• Ohio Senator Nickie Antonio

• Ohio Representative Mike Skindell

RSVP for this event by using this link.

Hosted by Move to Amend Ohio.

Saturday, April 17, 11am – 12:30pm
The quality of our food has determined the success of human life. Join us for an amazing panel of women who have empowered themselves with Cannabis and food to enhance their health and economics. Learn about their journey and gain insight on how you can take advantage of the biggest opportunity in the Cannabis industry.
Moderated by:
Kevin Greene, Dr. Bridget Williams
Cost:  Free
Click Here To RSVP
Click the link above to let us know you’re coming!
LIVE STREAM VIA ZOOM
**You must RSVP to receive the Live Stream link**
Media Inquiries directed to:
kevingreene@csceducation.com