Local
The bridge across the Olentangy River between Columbus City Hall and the Ohio Supreme Court building was filled with demonstrators demanding that Ruth Bader Ginsberg's dying wish be granted: that the confirmation of a new US Supreme Court Judge to replace her wouldn't happen until after the 2020 election results are finalized. People held signs Saturday afternoon (October 17) at the downtown intersection that read: "Ruth, Justice, and the American Way," "Keep Abortion Legal," "Stop Racism Now," "Let's All Tweet - Hold the Seat!," "Stop the War on Women," and "Hey GOP - Our Country called and wants our Democracy back!" There were lots of supportive car horns honking throughout the demonstration.
Saturday, October 17 from 12 PM to 1:30 pm
85 Marconi Blvd. (Federal District Courthouse, Southern District) in Columbus, OH
There will be a Sign-Holding event to honor Ruth Bader Ginsberg and demand that the seat she vacated remain unfilled until after the 2020 election results are finalized. Let the people decide. Corner of Marconi and Broad, near the Federal District Courthouse, Southern Division. Sidewalk only. No permit sought. I will have some masks and hand sanitizer. No sign-making materials. Please bring YOUR great sign and a friend!
In a virtual press conference today, Policy Matters Ohio unveiled a proposal to clean up and rebalance Ohio’s upside-down tax code.
Join us on Friday, October 16 at 7pm for “The Unity Soiree,” A (Virtual) Community Celebration benefiting KYC [Kaleidoscope Youth Center]!
This is a free streaming media event, happening here on Facebook and on YouTube, featuring performances from artists like K. Daniel, community awards honoring outstanding people and organizations, a silent auction, and much more!
Check out kycohio.org/unitysoiree for more information!
Your support of the Unity Soiree will help KYC provide safer and affirming environments, plus resource and housing support, for thousands of LGBTQIA+ young people in Ohio!
Please RSVP for this event by using this link and then clicking “Going.”
Hosted by Kaleidoscope Youth Center.
Backstage at the Lincoln, the Lincoln Theatre’s local artist showcase series, offers audiences the extraordinary opportunity to be seated on stage for a uniquely intimate performance experience set against the hand-painted grandeur of the Lincoln’s rare, Egyptian Revival-style interior design. Per the Governor’s order, capacities will be limited to 15% of capacity and patrons will be asked to follow safety protocols including socially distanced seating and mandatory face coverings. Patrons can also choose to purchase a virtual ticket which will enable them to watch the performance online.
All performances begin at 7pm at the Lincoln Theatre (769 E. Long St.). The schedule is as follows:
October 22 – KaTanya Ingram
A self-professed street performer, KaTanya Ingram has been serenading the streets of Columbus for more than 11 years. She will share her personal journey through a set of select songs from some of her favorite musical influences including Whitney Houston, Aretha Franklin, Stevie Wonder, Etta James, and more.
November 12 – Sydney McSweeney
A Note on COVID-19 and Voting
In-person voting may look different this year in response to COVID-19. Be sure to check your polling place in advance, as it may have changed. You may also be required to wear a face mask, and there will likely be markers to keep you distant from the other voters. If you have questions, be sure to check with your county’s Board of Elections. For more information about voting by an absentee ballot, read this article.
Turn on the news or read a newspaper today and you will see political candidates and public officials making the rounds throughout the country trying to earn your vote. While the issues and formats are much different today, those candidates and public officials are participating in America’s time-honored tradition of democracy.
National Institutes of Health (NIH)
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC)
U.S Food and Drug Administration (FDA)
These are America’s prestigious medical research center, health protection agency, and the agency that controls and supervises our food safety, medications, and vaccines. They are three agencies within the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS), whose mission is to “enhance the health and well-being of all Americans by fostering sound, sustained advances in the sciences underlying medicine, public health, and social services.” They are three of the longest standing pillars of scientific strength, providing decades of comfort to Americans as voices of protection, research, and fact.
Fear and divisiveness have impugned these pillars of scientific strength, and have cast doubt upon their work.
Joe Motil's public testimony given at October 12 Columbus City Council meeting regarding the creation of a Northeast Community Reinvestment Area:
The creation of this Community Reinvestment Area (CRA) reeks of the same special treatment and sole purpose of giving a favored developer a tax abatement while trying to disguise it as a tool to encourage development in a risk-free area of Columbus. This CRA is similar to those given to luxury real estate developers Wagenbrenner for creating a CRA at the Quarry and Grandview Crossing and Preferred Living for the Kenny & Henderson CRA. All three are located in risk free development areas and were established for the sole purpose of providing developers an unnecessary 15-year 100% tax abatement for their new housing projects.
This November, voters in Columbus -- the 14th-largest city in the country -- will decide on Issue 1, while voters in Grove City -- Central Ohio’s largest and fastest-growing suburb -- will decide on Issue 10. Both initiatives would enact Community Choice Aggregation for 100 percent renewable energy.
If approved, Issue 1 and Issue 10 would allow each city to obtain bulk purchase rates for electricity for all eligible residents and businesses, without raising taxes or electric bills. By pooling together their electricity demand, Columbus and Grove City could get a better product for the same or lower price.
But there’s more. Through Community Choice Aggregation, these cities could work with a utility that’s ready to build out a local supply of renewable energy – new solar and wind projects that would create good-paying jobs in manufacturing, construction, and maintenance here in Ohio.