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Abandoned by my elected and unelected officials (unless I pay to play): The Columbus Way

Harvey J Graff

Part Two

The far greatest numbers of students want to do the right thing including obeying laws and respecting neighbors while also having fun and being in their early 20s. No one tells them that the University District is a residential, historical district with remaining homeowners, mainly with OSU connections. Or anything else of value.

Not OSU Student Life with its growing Off-Campus division. Their main activity is a periodic free food truck, with tiny participation, for grab-and-snacks, handing out brochures too late with out-of-date or incorrect information, and planting ridiculous, juvenile, often false slogan-bearing signs on private property without permission. They range from “Over 60,000 students from more than 90 countries live in the University District.” Wrong. “If you need to know something, ask Brutus Buckeye (cartoon character team mascot).” Huh? How? “Most OSU students don’t drive after having 5 or more drinks.” Isn’t that comforting?

Policy Matters Ohio and ACLU Ohio urge Ohioans to vote ‘No’ on Issue 1

Document

Both Policy Matters Ohio and ACLU Ohio support the coalition working to defeat Issue 1 — a proposed amendment to the Ohio Constitution which would double down on inhumane and ineffective wealth-based detention.

Policy Matters Ohio’s senior researcher Piet van Lier released the following statement:

“Most Ohioans believe that liberty and justice for all means everyone, no matter their race, gender, or income. But under Ohio’s cash bail system, people accused of a crime can be held in jail for days, weeks or months while awaiting trial simply because they can’t afford to buy their freedom. In fact, on any given day, more than 12,000 Ohioans are incarcerated before their trials, the majority not because they pose a threat to anyone but because they can’t afford to pay their way out of jail.

“Ohio lawmakers from both sides of the aisle recognized that holding people in jail simply because they cannot afford bail is not only unjust, it actually places more stress and strain on our communities. That’s why a group of legislators proposed a bipartisan plan to end wealth-based detention in our state.

Ralph Nader’s Urgent Appeal: Vote for Democrats

When Ralph Nader appeared on “Democracy Now!” last week, a key moment came as he responded to the final question from host Amy Goodman: “You have campaigned as an independent and a Green throughout your political life. You ran for president four times. Why now throw in your lot with the Democrats?”

Thousands of Lost Votes could affect the outcome of the Florida Election

DELAND, FL – (Nov. 1) An eye-opening new report by the well-respected, longtime election organization, Florida Fair Elections Coalition (FFEC), predicts that thousands of voters are about to accidentally lose their votes in the 2022 Governor’s race, just as tens of thousands of voters have lost their votes in that race since 2010. These votes are lost because some voters mistakenly vote for more than one candidate in the Governor’s race, something that typically happens only in the Governor’s race and the Presidential race.

Statement on Ft. Lauderdale’s Water Privatization

10/30/22
City of Ft. Lauderdale seeks to privatize the drinking water of the Central Broward Region to a foreign corporation. The city owns and operates the Fiveash Treatment Plant, serving Ft. Lauderdale, Oakland Park, WIlton Manors, Lauderdale-By-The-Sea, Sea Ranch Lakes, Port Everglades, and portions of Davie and Tamarac. The reason for the proposed public-private partnership (P3) is to build a new treatment plant at the Prospect Wellfield, just west of the Executive Airport, in the flight path at the end of the runway. This will involve replacing a two-mile drain well currently in use at the Prospect site, installing miles of pipes to connect the new location to present infrastructure, plus multiple studies, approvals, and permits required for building a water treatment plant so close to an airport.

Save the Date: SoFar Pop-up Concert November 11

Band playing on stage

Sofar Sounds, Columbus (Where It All Vegan Friendsgiving)
Friday, November 11, 8pm-10pm
Olde Town East (Event Location Sent to Attendees who Purchase Tickets 36 Hours Before)
Tickets: $18
Event Link
Our unique events happen in a range of venues, and we’ll send you the specifics around 36 hours before the show.  
You’ll see 2 or 3 short sets from incredible performers from all musical genres, and sometimes even spoken word, comedy or dance. Each show’s lineup is curated by our artist booking team to be diverse and varied. Grab your ticket and get ready to discover your new favorite artist!
Head over to our YouTube channel to check out past shows and see some of today's biggest artists who played small, intimate Sofar shows along their journey!

 

 

JD Vance: The ultimate Jekyll & Hyde

Alien creature with words The Great Replacement theory

JD Vance is on the precipice of becoming the next US Senator from Ohio, and how this came to pass has Ohio Dems facing another nightmarish defeat.

Whether it was Trump’s endorsement, an injection of campaign cash from gay-libertarian billionaire Peter Thiel, or Tim Ryan’s late campaign blunders, the bottom line is: Vance has become MAGA’s most visible representation in Ohio.

Who would have guessed the kid from Middletown, saved by that community’s Children Services, would be drinking from Trump’s (cool aide) strategy? Power and fame are powerful drugs, too apparently.

Miniature Halloween Village at Streetlight Guild

Skeletons playing in a band

Monday, October 31 until 8pm
1367 E. Main St., Columbus

We are once again decking out Streetlight Guild for Halloween, featuring a room-length miniature Halloween village, and this year our exhibit will be DOUBLE the size!

Families can come tour the village and our upstairs art galleries for free. We’ll be giving away candy bags for all, and those who come in costume get an extra gift! A family-friendly exhibit that’s only up for four days, so come get your trick-or-treat on in a safe and spooky environment!

FOR SENSORY SENSITIVE VISITORS:
We've set aside some hours on Sunday 10/30 from 11 am - 1 pm for visitors with sensitivities to noise and flashing light. We'll have the sound and flashing lights on the exhibit turned off, and ambient lighting will be turned up. We also won't have scary people in costumes at that time.

Friday 10/28: 5-8
Saturday 10/29: 12-8
Sunday 10/30: 11am - 1pm, 2pm - 5pm
Monday 10/31: 5-8
Admission: Free

ADA compliant!
The Halloween Village will take up the whole first floor, which is wheelchair accessible.

Abandoned by my elected and unelected officials (unless I pay to play): The Columbus Way

Harvey J Graff

Part One

On Wednesday, September 28, after an early morning medical appointment, I planned a day of writing, punctuated by coffee with a friend and my daily walk. I have books and essays in progress. Instead, I spent most of the day emailing and responding to city staff—that minority with the courtesy even to acknowledge my communications—and talking on the phone with one department head who attempts to explain to a confused resident what specifically his neighborhoods department actually does.

I began with my regular requests/reminders to a long list of City Council legislative aides; members of the City Attorney’s office; and various department heads to respond, or at least confirm receipt, to a growing roster of basic City issues, City failures, and criminal offenses especially in my residentially-zoned University District. The University District is not unique.

Hands off Haiti demonstration

Logo

Sunday, October 30, 3pm
Ohio Statehouse

Facebook Event

On October 30th at 3PM, protest with us at the Statehouse to stand in solidarity with the Haitian people and demand that the US does not intervene! No to US intervention, Yes to the Haitian people’s sovereignty! 

The Haitian people are intensifying their struggle against looming imperialist intervention with sustained militant demonstrations in defense of their country’s independence. Many thousands protested October 21 in the country’s capital Port-au-Prince, attempting to march on the U.S. embassy. They faced fierce repression from police loyal to the illegitimate government of de-facto Prime Minister Ariel Henry.

The demonstration took place on the anniversary of the death of Jean-Jacques Dessalines, a hero of the Haitian Revolution who remains an icon of the country’s ongoing fight to defend its sovereignty. The Haitian Revolution shook the world at the onset of the 19th century – the first successful slave rebellion to establish a republic terrified the rich and powerful. Haiti has been under constant attack ever since.

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