In 2005 the National Rifle Association (notice the word rifle not assault weapon) was slated to bring their national convention to the city of Columbus. However, Columbus had the temerity to stand up to the gun lobby.
The announcement came five days after Mayor Michael Coleman signed legislation outlawing the [...]
The City of Columbus has started the initial phase of outlining a 2010 budget. I don’t know about other cities, but our process is laborious. It’s long and changes all the time.
From The Columbus Dispatch.
Columbus’ municipal belt is going to stay tightened for the foreseeable future, [...]
Recently I posted about a CNNmoney article that said Social Work is the most stressful, overworked and underpaid profession. Today I received an email from the National Association of Social Workers (NASW) that referenced the article.
Dear Colleague,
I am writing to ask you, and every single NASW member, [...]
COLUMBUS PUBLIC HEALTH AND FRANKLIN COUNTY BOARD OF HEALTH
Thursday, November 19, 2009
MEDIA ADVISORY
WHAT: Community based H1N1 vaccination clinics expand availability to young adults 19 through their 24th year and adults between 25 through 64 years of age with underlying medical conditions
WHO: Franklin County [...]
The Thursday night before the Michigan game, there is a tradition among students at Ohio State to jump into Mirror Lake. It’s not really a lake, it’s more like a small pond. Still, it’s a nice place to visit on a campus that sits in [...]
I am so screwed. According to CNNMoney list, the number one most stressful overworked and underpaid job in America happens to be my profession. Social Work. Checking in at number thirteen is substance abuse counseling. The subset of Social Work that I practice.
The Columbus Dispatch in a four part investigative series that ended today, reported on the fear, pain, and obstacles to justice that victims of domestic violence face. A link to the series that began Sunday can be found here.
While advocates for victims of domestic violence have [...]
The Ohio State Athletics Department has decided to change the Buckeye’s uniforms on the week of their storied rivalry with Michigan. Early returns are that the uniform does not [...]
HELPING HANDS FREE CLINIC will hold a Community based H1N1 vaccination clinics for all children, ages 6 months - 18 years, this coming Tuesday, November 17 from 5-8 PM at 1421 Morse Road, Columbus.
These community based clinics will be open ONLY to the following groups:
All children 6 months through their [...]I’ve been pretty tough on Governor Ted (I thought I voted for a Democrat) Strickland. But in the end, I’m certainly not going to vote for Kasich. So, I thought I’d share this new Strickland campaign video and a few words from the email that links to it. It’s [...]
As of today, Columbus Public Health has vaccinated 12,664 people, while the Franklin County Board of Health has vaccinated 5,908. This has been accomplished through their mobile Point of [...]
MEDIA ADVISORY – Franklin County Board of Health H1N1 Clinics
WHAT: H1N1 Vaccination Clinics
WHO: Franklin County Board of Health
WHEN:
Friday, November 13th from 1:00 p.m. – 4:00 p.m. Saturday, November 14th from 10:00 a.m. – 1:00 p.m.WHERE: Rickenbacker International Airport
2241 [...]
Ongoing faculty disputes have been an embarrassment to Ohio State. In an effort to quell this trend, OSU plans to appoint a faculty ombudsman.
The Board of Trustees approved the position at its Oct. 29 meeting at the urging of the [...]
The Columbus Dispatch is reporting that the gaming company Penn National, owner of two of the four casino’s to be built in Ohio thanks to the passage of Issue 3, does not have a clue what their profits will be.
In its first report to Wall Street since [...]
I posted here about local politicians running away from Issue 3, the recently passed constitutional amendment to allow Ohio’s four major cities to build casino’s. At the state level, due to his flip-flop on slot machines, it appears Governor Ted Strickland ran away as well.
The governor was originally against [...]
It’s Friday night and I’m tired from work and tired of talking politics… So I thought I’d post something fun. You might want to check out actor Jim Carrey’s personal web site.
Entertainment Weekly called it “A Visually Stunning Treat.”
And it is. Here’s a look.
[...]
Those who opposed Issue 3 may not go down without a fight. As I posted previously, Rep. Clyde Evans wants a new constitutional amendment that blocks the four casino’s, sets the tax rate at 60% instead of 33%, and opens up the process to build casino’s to competitive bidding.
Today [...]
After several lawmakers suggested making changes to Issue 3, the constitutional amendment that would bring casino’s to Ohio’s four largest cities, a state representative has announced a plan to make wholesale changes to Issue 3.
Rep. Clyde Evans, R-Rio Grande, unveiled a new constitutional amendment that would tax casinos at a [...]
Issue 3 the constitutional amendment that would place casino’s in Ohio’s four largest cities passed with 53 percent of the vote yesterday. Lawmakers are already discussing changes to the amendment.
Franklin County was the only county slated for a casino to vote down the proposal. Columbus Mayor Michael Coleman said this.
[Coleman] [...]
Recently, I halfheartedly suggested that Cleveland Browns coach Eric Mangini should be given more than half a season as the Browns leader. Mostly because I did not want to see the Browns make a knee jerk reaction and rid themselves of a [...]
This kind of late, but I just got the email today and noticed the media advisory had been released on October 30, 2009. As Lisa of Glass City Jungle I believe has correctly pointed out here, leave the [...]
I posted previously about how Issue 3 may hurt charitable organizations by making their fund raising illegal. Those who support Issue 3, the constitutional amendment that would place casino’s in Ohio’s 4 largest cities have been adamant that this was not true. But Dan Gilbert, one of the two [...]
Today Columbus Mayor Michael Coleman came out against Issue 3. The constitutional amendment that would place casino’s in Toledo, Columbus, Cincinnati, and Cleveland. It does not appear that Coleman is against gambling, he just thinks it needs to be implemented correctly.
“I think casino gambling, if it’s going to occur in [...]
Former London Ohio football coach and Christian evangelist Dave Daubenmire testified today at the hearing of John Freshwater. The Mt. Vernon school teacher who was fired for promoting Christianity and burning crosses into students arms. He was also accused of keeping a Bible on his desk, having Christian posters in [...]
The Columbus Dispatch has a story regarding a 17 year old Muslim girl who converted to Christianity and fled to Florida because she thought her father would kill her. In response, some person named “bird dog” wrote the following.
How many more 9-11 type attacks is it [...]
Here is a copy of the press release:
COLUMBUS PUBLIC HEALTH
Monday, October 26, 2009
MEDIA ADVISORY
WHAT: First Children H1N1 Vaccination Clinic Scheduled
WHEN AND WHERE: Wednesday, October 28, 2009
[...]
I received an email from The Franklin County Democratic Party (FCDP) promoting a rally for Issue 3. I was not aware they were supporting this cause and I am not happy. This image was in the email.
To add insult to injury, they have me [...]
Quick post. Because I thought this is one of those things that makes sense and I would hope all sides could agree on.
Senator Sherrod Brown has introduced legislation to add hearing aids for seniors to Medicare.
Brown’s office says that 30 percent of people 65 or older and 47 percent [...]
A poll conducted by the Institute for Policy Research at the University of Cincinnati shows that casino gambling continues to have solid support. The poll was commissioned by eight Ohio daily newspapers.
Despite an increasingly contentious campaign, the lead for the casino issue on next week’s statewide ballot has dropped only [...]
Filings made public today by the Ohio Secretary of State show that Issue 3 backers raised substantially more money than their opponents. The reports cover the period from July 1 to October 14.
What’s amazing to me is the funds come from just four entities.
Cleveland Browns coach Eric Mangini has already faced intense criticism just six games into his tenure. But this is weird. The venerable music magazine Rolling Stone has trashed the coach. The Columbus Dispatch is reporting that an article by Matt Taibbi calls Mangini,
Augustus Gloop, the [...]
Columbus Public Health and the Franklin County Board of Health have announced two free vaccination clinics for the H1N1 virus tomorrow and Wednesday.
These are for three at risk groups. Healthcare workers who provide direct service, [...]
A U.S. News and World Report article Politics as a Laughing Matter by Kenneth T. Walsh does a good job of laying out how the satirical skewing of our president’s have made them more laughable and human. I think this is good. One of [...]
The Columbus Dispatch is reporting that a 14 year old Columbus boy has died of the H1N1 virus. This is the second death from H1N1 in Columbus. He died last night at Nationwide Children’s Hospital. Additional information was not available.
“As a parent, my heart goes out [...]
Two alert readers have highlighted concerns surrounding Issue 3 that I believe could use a little more illumination. Bill commented:
I’m surprised no one is commenting on the fact that the 33% tax rate is one of the lowest of any state allowing gambling, AND that PA has a 67% tax [...]
Churches in Ohio have always been against gambling proposals. They were against the last four attempts to bring gambling to Ohio.
The Ohio Council of Churches opposes slot machines and casinos as an unsound and unhealthy means of providing revenues for government programs. Statistics from other venues indicate that over [...]
First of all, let me say I have no idea what the issues are in this confrontation. I do not know anything about the Mayor of Portsmouth other than he is a democrat and nothing about the blogger who evidently is a former professor and not a fan of the [...]
Those of us who work in the social work field see evidence everyday of the growing poverty among Ohioans. Now 2008 U.S. Census numbers confirm this. The Census says the poverty rate for Ohio was 13.4%. The cities have been hit particularly hard. Nationally, of the ten cities with the [...]
The Northwest Civic Association is asking Mayor Coleman to reinstate free yard waste pickup by October 1, the same day the .05 percent tax increase goes into effect. In order to solve the budget crisis, Columbus ended free yard waste pickup on January 31. They initiated a voluntary program [...]
If Issue 3 passes, it appears the State of Ohio may have unknowingly spent $750,000 to clean up a piece of land that may be home to a new casino. Originally, Plaza Properties planned to use the former site of Jaeger Machine just west of Huntington Park for condominiums, retail [...]
Opponents of Issue 3 want Franklin County Prosecutor Ron O’Brien to investigate the pro-casino campaign. They want to know how a copy of an ad that had yet to be aired ended up in the hands of a Time Warner Cable employee. That employee has since been fired.
The ad that [...]
Through the Brady Center I have learned about an organization of over 450 mayor’s who are trying to rid their cities of illegal guns. Amazingly, the NRA is targeting many of these mayor’s and spreading lies about the organization. All of the [...]
The December 2009 issue of U.S. News and World Report selected Columbus as one of the 10 best affordable places to retire. Here are some of the reasons they cite.
Abundant green spaces Four season climate Impressive syline Ohio Theatre (Reduced ticket prices for seniors) Columbus Museum of Art (Seniors $8) Columbus Zoo, nations top ranked [...]
For the first time in over a year, Central Ohio’s unemployment rate dropped.
Hopefully, this is a sign that the economy is improving and the stimulus package is working.
Source: A corner turned? [...]
The League of Women Voters of Ohio (LWV-Ohio) has come out in opposition to Issue 3. The constitutional amendment that would allow casino’s in Cincinnati, Columbus, Cleveland, and Toledo.
The LWV-Ohio feels that taxes in Ohio should:
1. Be fair and equitable
2. Provide adequate resources for government programs while allowing flexibility [...]
This from the National Association of Social Workers.
This week, the House of Representatives is expected to vote on H.R. 3221, the Student Aid and Fiscal Responsibility Act of 2009, also referred to as the
“Student Aid Bill”, which passed out of committee in late July by a vote [...]
Beulah Park owner Charles J. Ruma has sued Penn National Gaming who is behind the proposal to put casino’s in Ohio’s four major cities.
Penn National signed an agreement to help Ruma get approval for slot machines at Ohio’s seven horse racing tracks and agreed not to engage [...]
The Columbus Dispatch is reporting that while all seven horse racing tracks have paid the initial $100,000 filing fee to have video slot machines, only two have paid the full $13 million installment fee that was due today. They were Raceway Park in Toledo and Northfield Park [...]
Today The Other Paper has an excellent article where Coach Dave Daubenmire says some wacky things.
Daubenmire is the Quran burning, fetus displaying, gay bashing, birther, who is currently stalking Congressman Zack Space. But get this. He’s a good guy and I would like him if I got [...]
This according to a poll by CNN.
Two out of three Americans who watched President Obama’s health care reform speech Wednesday night favor his health care plan, a 14-point gain among speech-watchers, according to a CNN/Opinion Research Corp. national poll.
Some republicans have pointed out that is the same surge Bill Clinton [...]
A 20 year old woman became the first casualty of the H1N1 virus in Franklin County. Kelsey Young died Thursday morning after giving birth to her daughter a week earlier. Young felt flu like symptoms and went to the hospital. The baby was delivered prematurely in the hope that the [...]
In Ohio, new laws are subject to a referendum by the voters, budget appropriations are not. In order to bypass this requirement, Governor Ted Strickland (I thought I voted for a democrat) is saying that because slot machines for horse racing tracks are in the budget, they are [...]
Now that Governor Strickland has given them an opening, Ohio’s horse racing tracks are asking for concessions on placing video slots at the tracks. This from The Columbus Dispatch.
The racetracks are pushing the lottery for several concessions, including:
• Limits on fines assessed against slots operators who break [...]
The Columbus Dispatch is reporting that Ohio’s five public pension plans are losing billions due to the declining stock market and health care costs.
The boards of these funds are to meet with the Ohio Retirement Study Council on Sept. 9 to discuss [...]
I have posted many times about the Mt. Vernon science teacher who burned a cross into student Zachary Dennis’s arm with a device that clearly stated it should not touch human skin. If you want background, type in Freshwater into the search box.
Today the students family accepted a settlement from [...]
I just found out in an email from the National Association of Social Workers (NASW) that there is an international treaty which has been around since 1979 that protects woman’s rights and the United States is the only democratic nation that has not signed it. It’s called the [...]
The proposal to place casino’s in four Ohio cities may have unintended consequences. At least that’s what Governor Ted Strickland and Attorney General Richard Cordray believe. They say Issue 3 limits casino style gambling to just the four sites in Toledo, Columbus, Cincinnati, and Cleveland. However, the gambling lobby disagrees.
Donald [...]
Thursday from 5:30pm to 8:30pm the House of Hope will honor their 50 years of existence with the annual “Celebration of Hope” silent auction and dinner. Former Columbus mayor Greg Lashutka will be the featured speaker.
The House of Hope is a six month residential program for men who suffer [...]
The Franklin County Alcohol Drug Addiction and Mental Health Board (ADAMH) is planning to cut funding to providers for the rest of 2009 and in 2010. On August 25, 2009 the [...]
The saying has always been follow the money. For years money has flowed to the republican’s in the Ohio House of Representatives because they had the power. Now that the power belongs to the democrats, donors are switching party allegiance.
That’s great because it currently [...]
On August 4th, residents of Columbus approved Issue One, a tax increase designed to save city services including hundreds of police. Did the City of Columbus wait to dismiss a racially sensitive case involving a young African American until after the passage of Issue One?
Today, 19 year old Derris Lewis [...]
From: Ohio Attorney General Richard Cordray [mailto:info@ohioattorneygeneral.gov]
Sent: Tuesday, July 21, 2009 10:05 AM
To: sowens@columbuslibrary.org
Subject: Scam alert: Watch out for “Cash for Clunkers” schemes
Greetings,
During tough economic times predatory business practices seem to pop up everywhere. And the latest scam that has come across my desk is one that [...]
Today, the House of Representatives approved another two billion dollars for the “Cash for Clunkers” program.
The House of Representatives voted to provide an emergency $2 billion for the “cash for clunkers” program on Friday…
The funds were appropriated at the expense of other legislation.
The House shoved [...]
In an article on their web site The Columbus Dispatch is reporting tonight that after an EPA review, some cars that were eligible for the “Cash for Clunkers” program will not be reimbursed by the government due to changes by the EPA. In addition, some who previously [...]
The “Cash for Clunkers” program appears to be working in Central Ohio. This is the government program that will give you up to $4500 for your clunker if you buy a new more fuel efficient auto.
Dealers across central Ohio report strong turnout for the incentive, which began in earnest [...]
You have to check out the press page for Republican city council candidate Matt Ferris. It is incredibly misleading.
First, he just released a new poll showing that the citizens of Columbus do not support the proposed .5 percent levy scheduled for an August 4th vote. However, the poll [...]
Ohio Governor Ted Strickland says that slot machines will bring an extra one billion to school funding over time. But already the General Assembly has taken the estimated $933 million expected from slot machines away from the education budget. They did this by reducing funding for education from the General [...]
At the beginning of June I posted about a new web site the supporters of Issue 1 had created. At the time I said the site looked new and there wasn’t much information.
Well that has changed. Issue 1 is the .05 percent levy that will help continue services to [...]
Yesterday, former losing candidate for mayor Bill Todd (R) and long time city auditor Hugh Dorrian (D) debated the tax levy once again. This is part two, you can see my post about part one here. The debate was sponsored by the Franklin County Consortium for Good Government.
Todd [...]
Franklin County announced plans to add two more drug courts. Already common pleas has a drug court and there is also a mental health court. These courts are designed to identify persons whose criminal activity is a result of addiction or a psychological problem. Clients are monitored closely and are [...]
The Gambler’s finally win. They almost always do.
State leaders agreed yesterday to place thousands of electronic slot machines at Ohio’s seven horse racetracks
That’s because like bankers and insurance companies they are smart enough to use your money and not their own.
Now after four failed [...]
The Columbus Crew champions of Major League Soccer (MLS) were invited to the White House by President Obama. They will meet with the president on Monday.
It’s not clear how many MLS teams have been asked to the White House to meet the president. But one Crew player remembers [...]
Last week former Republican Mayor Buck Rinehart came out in support of the .05 percent tax increase for Columbus. Now six other influential members of the GOP have followed suit.
Franklin County Engineer, Dean C. Ringle Former Franklin County Commissioner, Dewey Stokes Former Columbus School Board member, Terry Boyd Former Columbus School Board member, [...]Thanks to Mother Jones for this, but I think it originates from this site The Modern Voice. Some may find this funny. But suggesting that young women ought to believe that oral sex is like eating a hamburger demeans all of us. I think it [...]
Some video of a rally at the statehouse yesterday objecting to cuts in treatment for mental and alcohol and drug addiction.
Source: The Columbus Dispatch
[...]Past Columbus Republican Mayor Buck Rinehart today endorsed the proposed .5 percent increase in the city tax.
Rinehart is the first high-profile Republican to come out in favor of the tax increase.
“I know a lot of my Republican friends will be angry,” Rinehart told The Dispatch this afternoon. “But I asked [...]
On several occasions Ohio Gevernor Ted Strickland said he would not raise taxes. It appeared democrats and republicans in the General Assembly agreed. But now comes this. Today Grandview Heights Democrat Ted Celeste said…
…23 other states have raised taxes already, and 13 more are considering it.
“A number of states have [...]
For a few years I lived in southeastern Ohio and I voted several times for current governor Ted Strickland in his races for the U.S. House of Representatives. I did so under the assumption that he was a Democrat and at least shared some of my ideals. I voted for [...]
The Columbus Chamber of Commerce today voted to support the .5 percent increase in the city income tax.
The group’s board of directors voted this morning to endorse the Aug. 4 ballot measure, which would raise the city’s tax rate from 2 percent to 2.5 percent.
John Freshwater, the Mt. Vernon teacher accused of burning a cross into a student’s arm has filed a lawsuit. He is currently involved in a public hearing after being dismissed by the school board and is also part of a lawsuit by the parents of the student whose arm was [...]
The Columbus Dispatch, a conservative newspaper, has endorsed the .5 percent income tax hike proposed for the August 14th ballot.
To keep Columbus strong and enhance its future, city voters need to support Issue 1 in the special election Aug. 4.
The Dispatch appears to get it.
For several [...]
For background on this subject read my posts about the new yard waste program here and the possibility of a trash collection fee here.
In an online chat today at The Columbus Dispatch web site, Mayor Coleman said if the August 4th levy passes the city [...]
I know it’s a first amendment issue. Bill Todd has the right to talk. But why is anybody listening? Former republican candidate for Columbus mayor Bill Todd today criticized the proposed tax increase of half a cent as misleading. He then went on to mislead voters.
Todd says that the [...]
The City of Columbus has warned that if a proposed hike in the income tax is not approved on Aug. 4, more cuts will be made. Here is a list of the proposed cuts in city services.
• Eight more recreation-center closings would leave just 10 of 30 in operation.
• After-school [...]
Last week many directors of social service agencies were told that their budgets would be cut by 44% rather that the 8% they had been told. They were understandably upset. You can read about it in the post below this one.
Now apparently the city is rethinking the cuts.
Development Director Boyce [...]
Social service agencies who contract with the city of Columbus to provide needed services to those in great need feel they were misled. Originally city council approved a budget that cut their funding by 8%. However, recently the city gave them a big surprise.
The funding period runs from Feb. 1 [...]
Owners of the Columbus Blue Jackets say they have lost $ 80 million dollars over the last seven years. Part of the problem is they do not generate enough revenue from the arena since it is privately owned. Therefore, they have asked Franklin County to purchase the Arena by adding [...]
I fondly remember my years at The Ohio State University College of Social Work. But right now two men are making the place a laughingstock.
Professor Rudolph Alexander sued Dean William Meezan and Ohio State because he felt he was being discriminated against. Now Alexander has filed two more complaints [...]
Alaska Governor Sarah Palin turned down 28.6 million dollars in stimulus money.
“Alaskans and our communities have a long history of independence and opposing many mandates from Washington, D.C, ” she proclaimed.
Mother Jones
This after the state has already accepted $930 million from Washington D.C. Way to be independent. Shockingly, you are [...]
Tammy Webb of Milford Center, Ohio has been charged with driving under the influence three times in six days. In addition, her lawyer appears uninformed when it comes to addiction. He keeps making sure that he uses the word prescription when discussing the charges.
Javier Armengau, a Columbus lawyer representing Webb, [...]
