Local
Columbus Mayor Andrew J. Ginther declared in the annual State Of The City address "The state of our city is strong." He touted development projects across the city such as the One Linden Plan, a master plan for Hilltop, the opening of the Franklin Jubilee Market last May, a new police substation to be built near the Lazelle Woods Community Center, and "record resources" being spent to pave the city.
The mayor painted a picture of growth and prosperity borrowing from Experience Columbus' statistics that visitors spent 7 billion in Columbus in 2017, and he referenced the Mid-Ohio Regional Planning Commission estimate that over "40,000 people moved to the region in 2018."
In his speech, he announced a plan to invest $3.8 million in 2019 to build new affordable homes and keep them affordable through a land trust in areas around Columbus including in Franklinton and on the South Side. "If mobility is the great equalizer of the 20th century, let us leverage it," he said.
Saturday, February 2, 2019, 5:30 – 9:00 PM
From the Muslim Ban, advocacy & legislative efforts, and record-breaking amount of civil rights cases, CAIR-Columbus has had your back. We ask you to come support our work as we prepare for another year of resistance. Speakers: Nihad Awad, National Executive Director of Council on American-Islamic Relations (CAIR), Imam Johari Abdul Malik, Director of Outreach at the Dar Al-Hijrah Islamic Center in Washington D.C., Ilhan Dahir, writer, researcher, and civil liberties advocate, and Preacher Moss, Comedian/Writer and Founder of ‘Allah Made Me Funny.” Tickets $35.00/person. Location: The Ohio Union Archie M. Griffin Grand Ballroom, 1739 N. High St., Columbus. More information and tickets here.
After a second public hearing where citizens again strongly opposed the amount as way too high, Columbus City Council unanimously enacted a $12,707.79 annual limit on contributions to candidates for city offices. Council member Michael Stinziano, a lame duck who leaves office Feb. 22, was the only member at the hearing.
Citizens speaking there denounced the limit as a sham benefiting incumbent officeholders and big-money donors under the guise of protecting the public. Speakers generally supported an amount between $250 and $3000, which is more in line with the limits in comparable cities.
They said a lower limit would motivate candidates to seek support from and represent regular citizens instead of a small group of wealthy donors.
An ineffective limit favoring incumbents and easily avoided
Joe Motil, a longtime community advocate for fairness and equality for Columbus neighborhoods was told by Mayor Andrew Ginther’s office that he was not permitted to represent the Columbus Chapter of the NAACP’s Labor & Industry Committee at the upcoming Construction Trades Career Fair at the Fort Hayes Career Center. The event is being sponsored by the City of Columbus and several other construction trades and related organizations. Mr. Motil serves on the Chapter’s Executive Committee and was recently appointed as Chairman of the Labor & Industry Committee. Furthermore, Joe has worked in the commercial construction industry for 39 years and is retired from Laborers Local 423. For the past 13 years he has worked as a construction safety manager and currently oversees the safety of the $355 million Mt. Carmel Grove City Hospital construction project for Hunt Construction.
Wednesday, January 30, 9am-6pm
Amber Evans, local community activist, has been missing since Monday evening. We are still searching for our beloved friend. People who love Amber are welcome tomorrow between 9am and 6pm at Jacob's Porch 45 E 13th Ave - food donations are welcome and trained support will be present Text 614-427-1938 for food or other donations. Schools will be closed so young people are welcome. Please stay warm and safe, if you need emotional support please call or text 614-434-6175.
Tuesday, January 29, 2019, 6:30 – 8:30 PM
This will be an open meeting for the community to learn about our work in 2018 as well as to discuss our work in 2019. Location: Columbus Mennonite Church, 35 Oakland Park Ave., Columbus 43214. For more information contact centralohioworker@gmail.com.
Wright State University (WSU) teachers returned Monday morning at 9am to the picket line for the second week one day after Ohio’s State Employment Relations Board (SERB) rejected the university’s claim that the strike is unlawful. In a rare Sunday meeting, SERB found “the strike is authorized.” The next day by 9:30am 75 strikers had already assembled at the university’s main entrance.
The American Association of University Professors-Wright State University (AAUP-WSU) Contract Administration Officer Professor Noeleen McIlvenna, who has acted as the de facto communications director for the strike campaign said last week people “were feeling a little nervous” to be seen supporting the strike. Support grew throughout last week as people saw others were participating. “Once the SERB declared it bogus the last fear is gone. Now it feels like the world is supporting us,” McIlvenna said.
Monday, January 28, 7am
St. Sephen's Episcopal Church, 30 West Woodruff
Wright State Faculty are striking against the administration’s failure to negotiate with their union, AAUP, which represents them.
Wright State Administration, claiming financial woes (which were caused by the administration itself), is trying to attack the organizing rights and other benefits of the faculty.
The Administration has carried out a campaign of smears against the union, and lies to mislead the student body to prevent solidarity from growing.
However, the faculty are struggling, and they deserve our full support. Solidarity on the picket line will be essential support for them in their strike.
We will be organizing carpools to get to the pickets in Dayton (1 hour drive) in the morning Monday with plans to return to Columbus by noon. We will be meeting for pickup at St. Stephen’s Episcopal Church Parking Lot at 7 AM Monday.
If you can give rides, please contact us. It would be much appreciated.
Stan & Ollie is an entertaining story for all viewers, but it’s a special treat for anyone who’s seen old Laurel and Hardy flicks. Besides being physically transformed to look like these iconic comedians, stars John C. Reilly and Steve Coogan do a great job of incorporating the pair’s mannerism into their portrayals.
Reilly’s Oliver Hardy is especially spot-on, right down to his eye-rolling exasperation at his friend’s antics. Coogan’s Stan Laurel is slightly less recognizable, but that’s partly because he’s revealed to be the duo’s leader, the hard-working guy who creates their routines and arranges their business deals. It seems the real-life Laurel had little in common with the simpleton he played in films and onstage.
Screenwriter Jeff Pope bases the story on an actual tour Laurel and Hardy undertook in the UK in 1953, a few years after their cinematic career had faded to black.