High Density High End Housing - Instead of Family-Friendly Affordable Housing - At Any Cost

Joe Motil

When and where is non-conforming high density new development appropriate? For several years now, residents from across Columbus, especially in urban neighborhoods (but not limited to) have been at odds with developers and city officials on this question.

For example, the University District’s Pavey Square initially proposed to demolish an entire city block of historic structures and replace them with a 10-story apartment complex. A 5-story 117-unit apartment building at South 18th and Oak Streets in Old Towne East brought concerns from nearby residents about height and density. And most recently, the fight over the Pizutti proposal to re-develop the former Giant Eagle site in Schumacher Place with a 262-unit 62-foot-tall mixed use apartment complex. Although zoning variances were  approved by Columbus City Council, the project has been allowed to proceed but the re-zoning is being appealed in the courts by nearby homeowners. Many more examples of contentious developments could be added to this list.

Lone Black juror in Henry Green civil rights trial felt “pressured,” Judge declares mistrial

Drawing of cops at the trial

Retired Army and Air Force Reserve Sergeant Adrienne Hood waited five years and five months to prove to a jury that Columbus Division of Police officers Zachary Rosen and Jason Bare used excessive force causing the death of her son, Henry Green V, during the summer of 2016. 

After the first full day of deliberation on Tuesday at the federal courthouse in Columbus, the three men and five women on the jury claimed they could not reach a consensus. US District Judge Edmond A. Sargus, Jr., instructed them to return the next day and try again. Two jurors left the courtroom in tears.   

The following morning the only Black juror explained to the judge that she and other jurors felt pressured by some of the jurors. She insisted that she was not going to change her vote. Sargus sent her back to the jury room to work toward a consensus one more time. 

From Pegasus to Blue Wolf: How Israel’s ‘Security’ Experiment in Palestine Became Global

 

The revelation, a few years ago, that the US National Security Agency (NSA) has been conducting mass surveillance on millions of Americans has reignited the conversation on governments' misconduct and their violation of human rights and privacy laws.

 

Until recently, however, Israel has been spared due criticism, not only for its unlawful spying methods on the Palestinians but also for being the originator of many of the technologies which are now being heavily criticized by human rights groups worldwide. 

 

AFI FEST 2021: Film Review

 

The AFI Fest returned to Hollywood for live, in-person screenings and events, although there was also a virtual component for watching many of the feature, documentary, short, indie, studio, and foreign productions that Los Angeles’ largest annual film festival is presenting in 2021. Some of the screenings were accompanied by talent who introduced and/or spoke about their films when they were shown at the TCL Chinese Theatres in Hollywood. Here are reviews of some of the films I saw:

MEET THE PRESS FILM FESTIVAL AT AFI FEST

According to the AFI’s website: “In partnership with NBC’s Meet the Press, these short documentaries spotlight compelling stories about pressing issues facing our society with conversations moderated by NBC News journalists.” Meet the Press, of course, is the long running TV program where newsmakers are questioned by a moderator and a panel of journalists hold forth on topics of the day. Accordingly, all of the nonfiction films screened at AFI Fest in collaboration with Meet the Press were topical in nature, and this is the fifth year that MTP participated as a media partner of AFI.

National Defense and Dead Children

A new defense budget looms. Maybe we’re running out of wars to fight, but no matter. The proposed figure before Congress is bigger than ever: $778 billion.

Webinar: Nonviolence in a Violent World: Making a Difference Through Direct Action and Civil Disobedience

Sit in
Thursday November 18, 2021 at 8 pm EST
The Green Party Peace Action Committee (GPAX) will be presenting this webinar with speakers directly involved in these struggles followed by Q & A.  

The webinar comes at a critical time when the system is tightening its grip and people are looking for creative ways to fight back. The Extinction Rebellion is blocking streets in New York City and the Veterans for Peace are doing Civil Disobedience-CD in Las Vegas over “killer Drones.” Direct actions are taking place across the country with a coalition of dozens of environmental organizations doing mass CD in Washington DC with over 600 arrested and Indigenous leaders occupying the Bureau of Indian Affair. Protesters have blocked the Miami Port to demand an end to Haiti deportations and continuing actions are taking place to stop Line 3. 

Webinar: Nonviolence in a Violent World: Making a Difference Through Direct Action and Civil Disobedience

Sit in
Thursday November 18, 2021 at 8 pm EST
The Green Party Peace Action Committee (GPAX) will be presenting this webinar with speakers directly involved in these struggles followed by Q & A.  

The webinar comes at a critical time when the system is tightening its grip and people are looking for creative ways to fight back. The Extinction Rebellion is blocking streets in New York City and the Veterans for Peace are doing Civil Disobedience-CD in Las Vegas over “killer Drones.” Direct actions are taking place across the country with a coalition of dozens of environmental organizations doing mass CD in Washington DC with over 600 arrested and Indigenous leaders occupying the Bureau of Indian Affair. Protesters have blocked the Miami Port to demand an end to Haiti deportations and continuing actions are taking place to stop Line 3. 

Left-leaning activists tried but Ohio GOP keeps state in gerrymandered MAGA stranglehold

Maps

The grassroots Ohio Citizens Redistricting Commission (OCRC) slammed Ohio Republicans on Tuesday following the release of their updated congressional map proposal which would make 13 of the Ohio’s 15 congressional districts favor the GOP in a state already trending conservative and more MAGA.

The OCRC and other voting rights activists say the updated map was tweaked behind closed doors and rushed into an Ohio Senate vote which easily passed. (The updated map pictured above left.)

“The passed map fails to uphold any of the basic tenets of a fair map – it does not keep our communities together in representative, sensible districts. It does not reflect how we vote, giving the GOP 80% of our seats in a state where they win just 54% of the vote,” said OCRC spokesperson Katy Shanahan to the Free Press. “It dilutes the power of communities of color to elect representatives of their choosing. It does not live up to the promise or demands of our reform nor the letter of the law.”

Busting Myths: An Open Letter to the Ohio Democratic Party: Where are you and why have you lost touch with D/democracy?

Logo

Two and a half months ago, I published this letter to the editor in the Toledo Blade, Aug. 29, 2021: 

 

Where is the Ohio Democratic Party?

“Where is the Ohio Democratic Party? Commentators like me address Ohio’s unusually severe gerrymandering and the outpouring of partisan, often dark-money and questionably legal campaign contributions for the right-wing Republican dominance in the state. This is certainly true. 

“But there is another reason: the seldom discussed absence of the state Democratic Party. To speak for myself: I am literally bombarded with emails and postal mailings (despite the failings of USPS) for the national Democratic Party (in many different forms), progressive advocacy groups (MoveOn and CommonCause, for example), and more traditional groups like the ACLU. I have never heard from the Democratic Party of Ohio. I receive mailings, including personal notes, from only one elected Democrat, Sen. Sherrod Brown.  

“I have attempted to contact the state party and reached out to candidates ranging from Tim Ryan and Nan Whaley to District 15’s Allison Russo. I have never received a response.” 

OH-Statewide Meeting with Morgan Harper, Updates on HB 109, Fair Districts

Details about event
Wednesday, November 17 7:30 – 8:30pm EST

Join us online with our special guest Morgan Harper who is running in the Democratic Primary for US Senate 2022

We will also be getting updates on Fair Districts from Trevor Patrick Martin and HB 109 - the anti-protest bill - from Rev. Joan VanBecelaere.

Plus we will be unveiling our latest project: Transforming the Party in Ohio. Will Petrik from Rep Your Block will be with us to discuss.

RSVP to find out even more!

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