Local
Progressive voters in central Ohio know that they should take the time to investigate the candidates and issues before they cast a ballot in the March 17 primary election. Being an educated voter is essential for the democratic process to work.
But people have very busy lives. Work and family obligations can take a lot of time and energy. It’s even harder if you’re a single parent, or you have to work several low-paying jobs to make ends meet. It’s much easier to vote with the sample ballot that the Franklin County Democratic Party mails to your home and distributes at your polling location.
The FCDP sample ballot lists the party’s candidate endorsements for the U.S. House; the Ohio House, Senate, and Supreme Court; and local offices, including the FCDP Central Committee who represent the 152 wards in Franklin County.
The sample ballot doesn’t encourage voters to educate themselves about the candidates and issues. It includes one simple directive: “Vote for every endorsed Democrat on your ballot.”
In other words, trust us. We’re looking out for what’s best for you, your family, your community, and the nation.
Nothing like an impending apocalypse to let us know what’s truly important to our politicians. We commend Gov. Mike DeWine for his much-needed actions fighting the coronavirus, but he hasn’t forced the closure of the state’s casinos, which, as we all know, are a hotbed for seniors.
“I am surprised the state hasn’t closed casinos if the City of Columbus has closed the libraries,” says Eddie Hamilton, who’s running a Franklin County Democratic Party Central Committee seat this Tuesday in Ward 29, an area roughly from South High to Lockbourne, and along Rt. 104. “There are hundreds of people in a casino at any given time and they don’t clean the machines thoroughly.”
Freep tried to reach out to the Governor’s Office but did not hear back. However, the Governor’s Office on Thursday said they could enforce their ban on “public gatherings” of more than 100 people, and casinos are not exempt.
Friday morning we spoke to a representative at Hollywood Casino and they said at this time their casino is exempt from the 100 people ban, and thus their doors are open.
A new bill, House Bill 538, was introduced that would automatically ban abortion in Ohio following a decision by the U.S. Supreme Court overturning or severely limiting the Roe v. Wade decision. Addressing this new legislation, NARAL Pro-Choice Ohio Executive Director Kellie Copeland said: “Abortion care is fundamental to equality and autonomy. Representative John Becker, Senator Kristina Roegner, and their ultra-conservative cronies despise those personal freedoms and want to make people in Ohio bend to their will. We won’t do it. Every person deserves to be able to make their own reproductive health care decisions so they can chart their own paths and futures. All people deserve quality affordable abortion care in their communities without stigma, shame, or delay.” Copeland continued, “It’s every Ohioans’ human right to make their own decisions about their bodies, their lives, and their futures. The abortion restrictions we’re seeing debated at the Ohio Statehouse and at the U.S. Supreme Court would deprive people of their ability to make their own health care decisions.
A new freely downloadable book
I would like to announce the publication of a book, which discusses the most serious dangers which the world faces today. The book may be freely downloaded and circulated from the following link:
http://eacpe.org/app/wp-content/uploads/2020/03/Linked-Dangers-to-Civilization-John-Scales-Avery.pdf
Contrasting rates of change
Cultural evolution depends on the non-genetic storage, transmission, diffusion and utilization of information. The development of human speech, the invention of writing, the development of paper and printing, and finally, in modern times, computers and the internet: all these have been crucial steps in society's explosive accumulation of information and knowledge. Human cultural evolution proceeds at a constantly accelerating speed, so great in fact that it threatens to shake society to pieces.
Wed, March 11, 6:30pm
First UU Church, 93 W Weisheimer Rd.
We invite you to join the Ohio Poor People’s Campaign in Columbus on Wednesday, March 11th for the Mass Poor People’s Assembly & Moral March on Washington (June 2020) Mobilization Meeting to learn more about this generationally transformative event and how you and your organization can organize a delegation to attend and ensure that Columbus is fully represented in DC on June 20, 2020.
RSVP:
Sunday, March 8, 9am-4pm
Strongwater Food and Spirits, 401 W. Town St.
We couldn’t think of a better day to get the Columbus community together to celebrate women of color. In 2020, we are determined to Take Up Space. This International Women’s Day attendees can look forward to a day full of motivating words from community leaders, thought leadership on how to be a good ally, explore the work of local artists, and more.
For the full agenda and tickets, please visit:
https://creatingsafe.space/events/takeupspace-2020
Just say no. It had such a quaint ring to it, hearkening back to a simpler time when some thought that binary choices – black and white – could be applied to substance use. In today’s political climate, no has switched to yes, as illustrated by a majority of presidential candidates who now support a spectrum of cannabis legalization policies. Some, though, like Mike Bloomberg, Joe Biden, Republicans and the Trump administration are stuck in another time. Their supposed concern? Research, or a perceived lack thereof.
Planning for ComFest 2020 is in full stride. It’s almost spring and before long the community’s greatest event will return to Goodale Park showcasing Columbus’ rich cultural, music and arts scene. And of course, ComFest promotes and celebrates the city’s thriving and influential progressive community. Education, organizing, activism and community involvement are vital components of ComFest during the three days in June, as well as throughout the year. “Living Every Day the ComFest Way” guides ComFesters and has positively impacted the open, welcoming, tolerant and progressive city Columbus is today.
ComFest is guided by its Statement of Principles and Mission Statement:
ComFest Statement of Principles
The Community Festival is guided by its Principles. The Principles are statements of what the members believe is basically important. They are:
We think that people ought to work for the collective good of all people rather than for personal gain. We support cooperation and collective activity rather than competition and individual profit.