In Franklin County, there have been 56,714 evictions filed since 2020. In 2022 there were 2,311 foreclosure-related filings. More and more residents are unhoused. The Auditors property reappraisals and property taxes are coming due and their numbers are soaring.

Columbus Mayor Andrew Ginther has given out well over $600 million in tax abatements since he became mayor. Hundreds of millions of dollars in revenue that should have gone to Columbus City Schools went into the bank accounts of corporate Columbus, developers, and others. And the burden to make up for those who don’t pay their fair share of property taxes has been placed on those who can least afford to for too long.

Ginther’s policy of giving out tax abatements in return for campaign contributions has been escalating our affordable crisis for years. It is forcing low-moderate income homeowners and seniors out of their homes. Landlords who once provided truly affordable housing are raising rents where tax abated new developments are being constructed in gentrifying neighborhoods. This forces more and more people to move and find affordable housing that doesn’t exist. 

Ohio’s Oil and Gas Land Management Commission will hold its next meeting on Monday, September 18, 2023, at 10 a.m. to consider industry applications to frack several Ohio state parks and wildlife areas.

Volunteers with Save Ohio Parks will be in attendance starting at 9:30 a.m. for a gathering, including music by singer-songwriter Jenny Morgan who has created an original music video for this campaign.

According to writer/director Howard Skora’s Freud on Cocaine, during the early days of his career Sigmund Freud was an avid user of and experimenter with coke – if, but of course, for mainly professional purposes. Indeed, there is substantial evidence to support Skora’s contention, notably Dr. Freud’s own writings, such as his 1884 The Cocaine Papers. This subject has previously been dramatized, especially in the wonderful 1976 feature The Seven-Percent-Solution, starring Alan Arkin as a rather compassionate founder of psychoanalysis, who helps Sherlock Holmes (Nicol Williamson) overcome his addiction to cocaine (see the trailer at: https://www.imdb.com/title/tt0075194/?ref_=nv_sr_srsg_0_tt_1_nm_0_q_The%2520Seven%2520Percent%2520Solution).