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Is Columbus ready to Ban the Box

Ex­offenders are told by society to make positive changes upon release in hopes of bettering their lives and the lives of those around them. Living, thriving and surviving as a supposed “free” ex­convict, ex-­offender, ex-­felon or whatever the label is, is very difficult to do when no one wants to give a second chance to a person even with seriously valuable skill sets, especially in this economy.

   What happens when more than qualified ex­offenders are turned down by companies, organizations, and sometimes entire professions due to a past conviction? Ex­convicts often resort back to criminal activities in order to make money to take care of themselves and/or their families. Lack of job opportunities is a direct result of a high recidivism rate (rate at which felons keep going in and out of prison). Though some former felons can get their records expunged, they still have to “check the box” on a job application asking “Have you ever been convicted of a felony?”

Trolley Barn lingers in court

The Franklin Park Trolley Barn, an 1880s era historic brick trolley barn complex located at the corner of Oak Street and Kelton Avenue one block south of Franklin Park, went through yet another stage in this saga which has been dragging on since its first appearance before Environmental Court in 2005. On March 5th, the Environmental Court certified a $30,000 judgment in favor of the City of Columbus, which gave the city standing to initiate a foreclosure process. The judgment lien came about through a September 2012 court agreement whereby the City agreed to allow the Trolley Barn’s owner, Minnie McGee, six months to list the property at $500,000. (The Franklin County Auditor website lists the market value at $189,000.) In exchange, McGee agreed to the certification of a $30,000 judgment should the property not be sold by March 5th. The property was not sold during that period, and the judgment was certified last month as a result.

Zoo levy faces opposition

Franklin County voters will be faced with Issue 6 on their May ballots. Issue 6 proposes a permanent 1.25 mil property tax levy, which amounts to a 110 percent property tax increase from the amount the Columbus Zoo and Aquarium is currently receiving in Franklin County property taxes. If Issue 6 passes, the additional money would enable the Zoo to build a downtown satellite facility, expand the aquarium, build a new animal hospital and make other improvements. Franklin County voters have passed four zoo levies since the first in 1985. The last levy, in the November 2004 presidential election cycle, passed handily ­­ winning approval of its 10­year, 0.75 mill operations and construction levy by a vote of 312,998 – 154,205 (67 percent – 33 percent). In that levy campaign, the Zoo put a Eurasian eagle owl on display at High Street and 15th Avenue as part of the Zoo’s advocacy on behalf of the levy request. This year, the Zoo has trotted out a black footed penguin and cheetah cubs at Columbus Zoo and Aquarium. Tom Stalf, Zoo President and CEO, points to the zoo’s outreach programs and says the zoo is “leading, inspiring and connecting people to animals.”

Hemp in Ohio: Unforgettable!

On an unforgettable day in November 2012, a handful of activists met to reconsider cannabis ­related ballot initiatives in Ohio. They saw a new path forward in the framework of the defunct Ohio Medical Cannabis Amendment, but something was missing. Then, one of them rose and proclaimed one word, Hemp! He penned his inspiration into “the right to produce and sell non ­psychoactive Cannabis, also known as hemp, for industrial use including, but not limited to, paper, fuel, foods, building materials and clothing.” That was a game changing moment for what is now the Ohio Rights Group and its quest to place the Ohio Cannabis Rights Amendment on the ballot. The addition of hemp – really the reunification of the whole Cannabis plant – expanded the team of supporters to include farmers, manufacturers, distributors and environmentalists alike. This is because hemp can be used to make almost anything that is currently comprised of cotton, timber or petroleum, and do so in an earth ­friendly way. From biodegradable plastics, to biomass energy, to food and beverages, to hygiene products and to medicine, paper and textiles, hemp is truly one plant with many uses.

The New Jim Crow, same as the old Jim Crow

In 1965, the United States finally became a democracy. The minimal standard for a democracy is that there are at least two political parties, the entire adult population has the right to vote, and the vote is fairly counted.

   The Voting Rights Act of 1965 finally enforced the right of black Americans to vote, primarily in the states of the old Confederacy. Historically, blacks had been subject to impediments to voting ranging from lynching, beating and intimidation – to paying a poll tax, passing a literacy test, and subjected to “white­only” primaries.

   So extreme was the racial apartheid in the South that the law created a new job category: armed federal registrars.

   Congress’ commitment to the Voting Rights Act has been overwhelming and steadfast. In 2006, the U.S. House of Representatives renewed the Voting Rights Act by a vote of 390­33, and by a vote of 98­0 in the U.S. Senate.

Be part of the solution: Why Water Matters

You may have seen or read ads for Britta water filtration systems that shows plastic bottles lined up end to end along a coastline. The narrative tells us that the number of water bottles that are thrown away could circle the Earth 50 times – an astounding 38 BILLION bottles. It’s a mind­ boggling number! And that’s not the only problem with bottled water. The amount of oil used to make these bottles annually would power one million cars for a year. Environmentally, aside from oil use, bottle water extraction has a huge impact on local water resources. The “Big Three” culprits in this crisis – Coke, Pepsi and Nestle – are getting access to water both in the form of city water and underground water resources at a huge cost to local communities around the world. People have seen their wells dry up and lakes and rivers run dry. In one case the corporation is paying 1/64 cents for a gallon of water, selling it at a huge profit, $1 per gallon. In Sacramento, in 2009, Nestle signed a contract with the city for access to city water for $0.71 for 748 gallons of water! This example is not unique.

A new era of urban agriculture is dawning in Columbus

For urbanites who have already been bit by the gardening bug, there is no need to wait. There are many community gardens and urban farming programs that will appreciate your assistance. Earth Day is a great day to get started. Green Columbus puts on a weeklong event for community organizations to host volunteers to beautify the land in various ways. From gardening to trash pickup, any type of work offered is greatly valued. Four Seasons City Farm and Franklinton Gardens are among the many urban gardens that are hosting volunteers. Four Seasons City Farm is a non­profit organization “dedicated to revolutionary food production and community ­building” in and around the near east side of Columbus. Started in the early growing season of 2004 as part of a ministry of the Old First Presbyterian Church, the City Farm vision has expanded to include fourteen lots in the city, including a one­acre “New Freedom Garden” on East Mound Street at Carpenter.

The Free Press loves animals and urges “no” vote on issue 6 “New Zoo” levy

If you liked Columbus City Schools’ 24 percent tax hike proposal last November (and most people didn't), you will love the Columbus Zoo’s 110 percent tax hike proposal coming this May. Voters overwhelmingly rejected the school’s proposed Issue 50 property tax levy boondoggle, and should do the same with the Zoo’s proposed Issue 6 property tax levy over­reach. Have these publicly­funded agencies lost their collective minds?

Old/New Law disparity

In a visit to the United States in 1842, Charles Dickens was appalled by our prisons, where a man never left his cell (except to the exercise courtyard) for the duration of his sentence, never got word of his family or news of the outside world. An alternative type of prison was the Silent, which permitted to mix with one another while working during the day…but forbade them to communicate. Fortunately, today’s prisons offer interaction, exercise, education, libraries, family visiting, correspondence and nowadays even a controlled email. But, Ohio’s prisons fail to offer release to prisoners who have 20, 30, 40 years in, because of a cruel parole board. Prisoners continually come to their hearings with a raft of programs they have taken, stellar behavior records (“18 years ticket­free”), volunteer hours, family support, a job waiting. They would seem models of rehabilitation and ideal candidates for parole, but the parole board invariably rules that, “due to the serious nature of the crime” – which will never change, although the person can and usually does – the inmate needs to serve another three or five years.

Monarch Migration and Mazdar: A pre­vegan story and dreams of a vegan world shift.

I was just reminded of a memory after hearing someone's hilarious story of kicking the ice off of the grill of a car that he later realized was not his, when he saw the actual owners of the car looking at him like "Hey man, WTH?" My story is about my best friend and I as we were driving through the desert in Southern California on our way back from our first trip to Las Vegas. We were 20, too young to drink or gamble, but we did have a blast while I was home on leave from my USAF tour in Germany. Headed in the same direction we were, I was awestruck by the beauty of the monarch butterfly migration as they passed through the area in what seemed like a fantasy. What a stunningly wondrous sight of millions and millions of orange and black butterflies peacefully fluttering by as they silently headed south for the winter escorting us on our journey.

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