Local

Two recent local news stories offer compelling, if baffling, insight into the priorities of the media in and around Columbus. On August 22, the media descended on Ohio State University to learn the future of Urban Meyer following the football coach’s handling of a domestic abuse scandal involving one of his assistants.

Two days later, the same news outlets failed to appear at the Franklin County Board of Elections to learn the fate of a citizens’ initiative to protect Columbus, and thus Central Ohio, from the toxic and radioactive dangers of fracking. During this hearing, the board would decide whether to place on the ballot the Columbus Community Bill of Rights (CCBOR) proposal to “establish a community bill of rights for water, soil and air protection” from fracking operations and its waste. Strangely, the same media that comprehensively covered Meyer and his football program demonstrated little interest in an issue that affects the health of all Central Ohioans and their environment.

Crazy Rich Asians has been hailed as a possible game-changer, being the first Hollywood movie in 25 years to feature a predominantly Asian cast. As a harbinger of a more-inclusive future, though, I’d rather look to a smaller film called Searching.

Directed and co-written by Aneesh Chaganty, it’s the story of a widowed father desperately trying to learn why his teenage daughter has suddenly disappeared. This new entry is unusual for two reasons. First, the plot unfolds almost entirely on computer screens as the dad searches the girl’s social-media outlets for clues. And second, the dad is an Asian-American named David Kim (played by Star Trek’s John Cho). 

The offbeat casting seems almost as revolutionary as the offbeat filmmaking.

In last month’s least surprising news, media sources are reporting that the 2019 Rock on the Range Music Festival will not be moving to Three Creeks Metro Park from its existing home at Mapfre Stadium. The annual festival, which features an assortment of post-grunge, nu metal and a smattering of classic rock (collectively “butt rock”) had reportedly been considering a new site in light of the possible relocation of the Crew to Austin, Texas. According to a statement, the Metro Park decided not to host due to concerns over infrastructure and the fact that “butt rock fans are a bunch of dumb animals who will piss all over themselves and try to eat the trees like beavers.”

&Juice Co. has three locations around town and has a fantastic variety of 100 percent vegan juice blends as well as allergen-friendly (gluten-free/nut free, seed-based alternative) options in Columbus. I was positively impressed by their brunch at their Italian Village/4th Street location this past weekend.

If your idea of brunch includes a gluten-free waffle, a grilled cheeze sandwich, an Italian style marinara chickpea-based “meatball” sub, a carrot and lox bagel, or a supercharged infusion of fresh juice, this place is for you. Brunch happens every other weekend.

They have a variety of toasts, too: avocado, hummus, deviled “egg” (tofu) salad and an ever-changing list of specials. All produce is 100 percent source identified organic, most coming from within 20 miles – and they are a minority woman-owned business.

Only one smoothie has honey that can be substituted for agave. This is a great, open space with an inviting clean atmosphere, community seating, and peaceful music in the background.

To accomplish something means that you have successfully achieved what you set out to do when you started a task. If you accomplish something you are a person that has done well, typically because of study or practice. It takes hard work and dedication to accomplish anything successfully in life and on the job.

Columbus Police Department Chief Kimberley Jacobs is one of those people who has accomplished many tasks in her career. She joined the CPD in 1979 and was promoted to Commander in 1995. She moved to Deputy Chief in 2009 and has been in her current position as Chief of Police since 2012. She was the first woman to be promoted to each of those positions.

One woman is willing to sacrifice for the good of the Democratic Party.

Another woman is not.

Betty Sutton, the Democratic candidate for lieutenant governor, originally was a candidate for the gubernatorial nomination.

In the early polls she was running neck-and-neck with Richard Cordray. She would have made history as the first women elected governor of Ohio.

Political leaders and party insiders sat down with her and asked her to make a significant sacrifice. Give up her campaign for the state's highest office and become Cordray's running mate.

She accepted.

One insider told me that Betty Sutton was willing to defer her own ambitions for the good of the party and to increase the chances that a Democrat will win.

This contrasts with 2010 when several Democratic state officeholders declined a relatively safe race for re-election and ran for higher office only to lose and drag down the rest of the ticket with them.

Wednesday, September 5, 2018, 7:00 – 8:30 PM JVP members are inspired by Jewish tradition to work together for peace, social justice, equality, human rights, respect for international law, and a U.S. foreign policy based on these ideals.  All are welcome.   Note new location:  Columbus Public Library, Main Library, Meeting room 3A, 96 S. Grant Ave., Columbus 43215.  Parking available in the library garage.  For more information please contact,  centralohio@jvp.org. 

Columbus citizens voted five times not to spend public taxes on private sports arenas like Nationwide. So why is the Greater Columbus Arts Council (GCAC) trying to extort taxpayer dollars under the guise of supporting “arts and culture” to bail out the Columbus Blue Jackets and the Nationwide Arena boondoggle?

The first open forum on GCAC’s proposed 7 percent ticket tax faced stiff opposition Wednesday night, August 22 at the Vanderelli Room art gallery and event space with standing room only. The ticket proposal would place a 7 percent increase to all Columbus cultural and sports events except for high school and college sport events.

The tax is estimated to generate $14 million a year. GCAC is straightforward in their fronting for the Arena’s needs. Point Four of their handout entitled “The Proposed Ticket Fee Helps All of Columbus and Franklin County” specifically states that the tax will “…fund up to $4 million annually in efficient, essential renovations to Nationwide Arena, to maintain the facility and attract major concert shows, and sporting events that add so much to our economy and quality of life.”

Tuesday, September 4, 6-8pm, Franklin County Municipal Court, 373 S. High St.

Come out to the Pig Roast Against Prison Slavery, a solidarity event with the #August21 National Prison Strike!

This event will be a community gathering outside of the Franklin County Municipal Court where there will be:

• Food and drinks available for all in the area

• Information, scripts, phone numbers, and other materials provided by the Central Ohio Incarcerated Workers Organizing Committee [IWOC] for you to participate in phone zaps and letter-writing campaigns at the event to support prison strikers

• Short speak-outs from people about the importance of the 2018 Prison Strike

• A papier-mâché pig in a police hat that we will “roast” after you drop a note inside about why you want to set flames to prison slavery

Hosted by Central Ohio Incarcerated Workers Organizing Committee [IWOC] and Black Queer and Intersectional Columbus [BQIC].