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It’s been almost 70 years since the idea of climate change was introduced to the world — 70 years of compiling data, furthering research, and building the kind of ironclad case that only science can build. And yet, there is still a very large portion of our population that dismisses it as coincidence or political conspiracy or both.

It’s difficult to argue against science, particularly in this digital age when technological advances eliminate all hints of theory from the science. However, as we’re dealing with human beings with human agendas; even when the science appears sound, people still have a difficult time seeing the truth.

The same can be said for many other threats that plague our planet and our own health and mortality, though these are not mutually exclusive. A better distinction may be direct threat, as any threat to our planet will also be a threat to us as humans. Unfortunately for everyone whose lives have been impacted, asbestos falls into the category of direct threat.

What is Asbestos

Saturday, January 19, 11am
Social Justice Park, Cleveland Avenue nd Broad Street
Sponsored by Women's March on Washington-Ohio Chapter and Women's March

January 14, 2018 // Columbus City Council voted to allow individual campaign donors to give them, and other city office holder candidates $12,707.79 per year. In the last agenda item of the night, on Tuesday 14 January, the city established one of the highest municipal caps in the state. In comparison, candidates in Cleveland can only accept $5,000, and in Cincinnati $1,100. 

All four citizen comments regarding the ordinance at the council meeting opposed the high cap, but members of Council spoke glowingly of the ordinance prior to its approval. Michael Stinziano, President ProTempore, called the ordinance "a good first step." Council President Shannon G Hardin said, "For the first time we are putting a cap on campaign contributions in the city...This legislation is a good, historic first step."

Thursday, January 17, -6:30pm
John  Glenn International Airport (Columbus airport), 4600 International Gateway
Show your support for government workers being impacted by the Trump shutdown.
Air traffic controllers, safety inspectors, scientists, TSA agents, our Coast Guard, Park Service and many other working citizens are being forced to work without pay or are furloughed due to Trump's shutdown over his racist monument.
Due to security issues this will be a "flash" event. Please make banners or signs that can be kept folded in a pocket and remain covert until rally starts. Cloth would be ideal.
It is likely we will be asked to leave. However, it is harder for them to ask a large group to leave, hence the "flash" nature.
We lend our peaceful nonviolent support to our government workers. Perhaps we will catch Representatives Stivers and Beatty on their home flights and have opportunity to ask them directly to end this shutdown.

Wednesday, January 16, 2019, 6:00 – 8:00 PM 
There will be more than a dozen groups (including GreenSpot) that will have booths and many speakers. This is a great way to connect with amazing local non-profit organizations and find out how they make Columbus a better place and how you can get involved. 
Location:  Ohio 4-H Youth Development, 2201 Fred Taylor Drive, Columbus 43210.  Facebook.  

The state has seven executions scheduled for 2019 starting with Warren "Keith" Henness on February, 13 2019. We need your help telling Governor DeWine that Keith's case is yet another reminder of the systemic flaws with Ohio's death penalty for the reasons listed below:

Keith Henness' trial lawyers did virtually no work defending him

Lead counsel logged fewer than 12 hours investigating the case during the sixteen months before trial.

Counsel did not investigate or hire mitigation specialists to defend Keith.

Lingering doubt exists today; evidence was destroyed

Both co-defendants had histories of violence, substance abuse issues, and motive for killing Richard Myers. Keith had no history of violence and no motive for the crime.

Keith's death sentence is an outlier that never should have occurred

On Moday, Jan. 14, wear red on behalf of the California Teachers Association's #RedForEd Day of Action.Sponsored by the Ohio Education AssociationOur United Teachers Los Angeles (UTLA) and Oakland Education Association (OEA) colleagues are facing tough contract negotiations and need our support. The struggle affects us all.

Florence, AZ – Federal workers may not be getting paid during the government shutdown, but the ICE deportation machine continues its grind. In Arizona, ICE officials are preparing a charter flight to Africa at the cost of $148,000--all to deport a handful of people, possibly as few as nine. The charter may leave Arizona tonight or sometime tomorrow.
 

Saturday, Jan. 12, 6:30-11pm. Whether it snows a lot or not.
1021 E. Broad St., east side door, park in front, in driveway or parking lot in back.
Come socialize and network with progressive friends! Food from Tandoori Grill and presentation by Joe Motil, candidate for Columbus City Council.
Free, no RSVP required.
614-253-2571. colsfreepress@gmail.com

Chief Jacobs is Out

So, Chief Kim Jacobs is leaving her post a few months earlier than previously expected – on February 8, 2019.

The Chief hasn’t been on the job since late October and the department has been operating under acting deputy chiefs. Officially her absence is explained by knee replacement surgery, but that didn’t stop Jacobs from showing up in full regalia at the Michigan-OSU game on November 24.

A Checkered Career

Unlike the Buckeyes, Jacobs had a really bad year.

The Department’s spokesperson was arrested on child pornography charges.

Three members of her Vice Squad were relieved of duty and in an unprecedented move, no doubt with pressure from the Columbus Safety Director Ned Pettus, Jr., Jacobs called in the FBI to investigate Columbus Vice.

A week or so prior to Vice Officer Andrew Mitchell’s controversial shooting death of Donna Dalton in his cruiser, a citizen complaint had come in against Mitchell that he was exchanging sex for rent at one of the apartments he owns.