The Columbus Coalition for Rent Control (“the Coalition”), a local nonprofit organization advocating a citizen ballot initiative, filed more than 4,200 petition signatures with the Columbus City Clerk at 11am on Tuesday, October 3, seeking a vote on a legislative proposal designed to empower citizens and encourage property owners and residential landlords to moderate rental price increases.

The group has determined that it will cease collection of petition signatures and will withdraw the petition, instead asking the City Council and council candidates for election to enact the legislation, which the Council could do on any Monday. Members of the Coalition released the following statement:

As youth violence continues to rise in Columbus, and parents of teenagers are “begging and pleading” with legal and elected authorities to arrest and lock them up (WBNS TV “Mother of son who keeps stealing cars: Please lock him up” September 27, 2023) what options are these parents being provided with if any?

As mayor of Columbus, I will allocate $3 million into our Columbus Public Health Departments budget that will provide grants to families to obtain behavioral health and social supports through the OhioRise program.

“Well, what you wanna do?” I asked Jean again. 

We were still standing in the same spot. Wasting time. For all we knew the shooter was watching our butts while here we stood in plain sight, like dummies, because of her.

Jean took one more look towards the alleyway and one look up the street before responding.

“Ok, let’s look, but after we look, we got to hurry home before Mom comes looking and embarrasses us by beating us all the way home.” I sure didn’t want that to happen to us again. Once in life is enough to have to live down.