Friday, August 24, 10:30 am
Columbus, Ohio, Franklin County Board Of Elections, 1700 Morse Rd, Columbus, OH 43229

Concerned citizens are invited to a special meeting of the Franklin County Board of Elections (BOE), Friday, August 24 at 10:30am, the Columbus Community Bill of Rights attorney Terry Lodge will present the legal arguments in support of the Columbus Community Bill of Rights ordinance to clear its passage on the November ballot. Once on the ballot, all Columbus voters will have a voice in protecting their water.

After the citizen-led initiative qualified with enough signatures and was approved by the Columbus City Council to go on the ballot, a single Columbus citizen, Loretta A. Settlemeyer filed a protest with the BOE. It has been discovered that she is a legal assistant at the law firm Bricker & Eckler LLP, a firm that has been involved in other attempts by residents throughout the state to protect their communities from oil/gas projects. Her attorneys will present her case as to why her single voice should be allowed to take away the voices of all other Columbus voters.

Why is the Greater Columbus Arts Council (GCAC) shilling for the Columbus Blue Jackets and the Nationwide Arena boondoggle? The first open forum on GCAC’s proposed 7 percent ticket tax faced stiff opposition Wednesday night, August 22 at the Vanderelli Room art gallery and event space with standing room only. The ticket proposal would place a 7 percent increase to all cultural and sports events only in Columbus except for high school and college sport events.

The tax is estimated to generate $14 million a year. GCAC is straightforward in their fronting for the Arena’s needs. Point Four of their handout entitled “The Proposed Ticket Fee Helps All of Columbus and Franklin County” specifically states that the tax will “…fund up to $4 million annually in efficient, essential renovations to Nationwide Arena, to maintain the facility and attract major concert shows, and sporting events that add so much to our economy and quality of life.”

One hopes that human wisdom and ethics will continue to grow, but unlimited growth of population and industry on a finite earth is a logical impossibility.

Today we are pressing against the absolute limits of the earth’s carrying capacity. There are many indications that the explosively increasing global population of humans, and the growth of pollution-producing and resource-using industries are threatening our earth with an environmental disaster. Among the serious threats that we face are catastrophic anthropogenic climate change, extinction of species, and a severe global famine, perhaps involving billions of people rather than millions. Such a famine may occur by the middle of the present century when the end of the fossil fuel era, combined with the effects of climate change reduce our ability to support a growing population.

A new book

I would like to announce the publication of a book addressing these problems, entitled “Population and the Environment.” The book may be freely downloaded and circulated from the following links:

Two fires within 24 hours at Rumpke’s Columbus Recycling Facility has prompted the need for another reminder – please watch what you are putting in your Rumpke recycling and trash containers.   “We are incredibly proud of our team members for following the proper protocol and quickly containing the fires,” said Randy Broadright, area safety manager, Rumpke. “The safety of our team is always a top priority, which is why we urge everyone to recycle appropriately. Items such as propane tanks, batteries and full aerosol cans continue to be an issue for us. These items are not accepted in our recycling program and prove to be very hazardous, often resulting in fires that are started in our trucks as they transport material to the recycling center or at the facility itself.”   The two fires, which were caused by a full aerosol can and a lithium ion battery, were contained and extinguished by Rumpke employees.   Rumpke accepts the following items for recycling: • Plastic bottles and jugs (please empty, flatten and reattach the lid) • Cartons • Glass bottles and jars (any color) • Aluminum and steel cans • Empty aerosol cans (with lids and tips removed)

Today, members of a newly formed citizens coalition entitled A.R.T. (Advocates for Responsible Taxation) announced its opposition to the proposed 7% ticket tax in the city of Columbus.  The A.R.T. membership consists of a diverse group of area residents who are united to prevent an unneeded and unwarranted massive new tax that threatens the middle class while shining the light on this special interest driven new tax.

Attend the public meeting to oppose the ticket tax tonight:

Wednesday, August 22, 5:30-7:30pm
Vanderelli Room, 218 McDowell St. (Franklinton)