Buckeye State Blog - City Politics

Please Comment - Streetcars of Columbus Ohio

Dion — Fri, 28 Mar 2008 16:45:31 -0700

Today the Columbus Dispatch reported that,

"Hockey fans, concert goers and people who drive Downtown would pay the biggest share if Columbus goes ahead with a $103 million streetcar line on High Street."

Taken off the hook in the financing plan endorsed yesterday by Mayor Michael B. Coleman: hotel guests, diners and bar patrons, movie buffs and people in the cheap seats at the new Columbus Clippers baseball stadium.

Coleman plans to send a proposal to the City Council before the end of the year in which the city would add a 4 percent surcharge on tickets to most concerts and sporting events within six blocks of the streetcar route.

Another 4 percent surcharge would affect people parking in lots and garages along the line from Downtown to Ohio State University, and parking-meter rates in the area would rise an average of 75 cents per hour.

Does anyone here in Columbus think this is a bad idea?

Will it just benefit the Short North and OSU proposed route or will it benefit the whole city?

I'd like to learn everyones thoughts.

Mayor Coleman and the DNC Day of Action

Coleman for Columbus — Fri, 27 Jul 2007 11:13:13 -0700

If you are having trouble viewing this e-Newsletter, click here.

Will you help Columbus Democrats make history?

Tomorrow will be the biggest municipal Day of Action Columbus has ever seen - but only with your support! That's why I'm urging you to join us at ODP Headquarters on Saturday, July 28th at 10a.m. and help us make history.

To make sure we all have a fun and safe Day of Action, here are a few tips for Saturday:

» Be sure to wear comfortable shoes and clothes

» If you have a cell phone, consider bringing it so we can keep in touch

» Please park in a surface lot near ODP - we don't want you to get a ticket

» We'll have everything else you need

» We're on - rain or shine

Tomorrow will be a historic show of strength for you, me and other Columbus Democrats. And I know the Mayor and Council members Mentel, Tavares, Ginther, Tyson, and Craig can't wait to see you there.

In victory,

Bryan Clark
Director of Communications and Field

p.s., Don't forget to RSVP to bclark@ohiodems.org or 614-221-6563 x202.

Coleman for Columbus
271 E. State St.
Columbus, OH 43215
PH: (614) 221-8476
Fax: (614) 221-2407
www.colemanforcolumbus.com

Paid For By Coleman For Columbus, Donald J. McTigue, Treasurer
550 E. Walnut St., Columbus, OH 43215

Are Bill Todd and the ORP sexist or just a bunch of dicks?

2010 Buckeye — Mon, 04 Jun 2007 09:20:50 -0700

Promoted from the forums. Looks like 2010's got a bit of spunk to him today. In the future I suspect you'll see a lot more of stuff like this on the frontpage. If Todd wants to inherit the "blackwell" crown, we'll sure as hell treat him like Blackwell. - Jerid

Let’s say you’re the Department of Development and you’re looking for a workforce development specialist. The best person for the job has 20+ years of directly-relevant experience. So you hire that person, right?

Seems pretty simple.

But, Bill Todd, the Republican candidate for Mayor of Columbus, disagrees. Todd thinks the wife of a political figure couldn’t possibly get a job on her own. In fact, he said Frankie Coleman had no business being hired by the Ohio Department of Development because she was not "eligible, competent or qualified."

What’s worse, the heir-apparent of the Ohio Republican Party, State Rep. Kevin Dewine, repeats this baseless – and seemingly sexist – attack in the Plain Dealer yesterday.

Let’s look at the facts about Mrs. Coleman's qualifications.

From 1983-88, Frankie Coleman directed job training at the precursor to ODJFS. She moved on to Executive Director of the Private Industry Council, Inc. from 1988 to 2000. Then she worked as Director of Community Relations for The Ohio State University and Director of Diversity, Inclusion and Work Life Planning at OhioHealth.

In January 2000, just prior her husband's first term as mayor, this is what the Small Business News had to say about Frankie Coleman:

Her husband, Mike, may be mayor-elect, but she's got the upper hand in the business community right now. Her role in linking available workers and labor-starved employers will continue to make her one of the more powerful forces in dealing with the local job glut.

Not qualified? Really? She has been working in workforce development for nearly 25 years. Yet corrupt Republicans, like Bill Todd, have pushed the tired "she's not qualified"refrain into their echo chamber because she is the wife of a politically important Democrat.

The level of desperation here is shocking. We always knew Bill Todd would be a dirty candidate with his long history of nasty, mudslinging politics. But to attack the Mayor and his wife so early and so viciously--and with what can easily be construed as sexist overtones--reeks of a campaign reduced to grasping at straws.

It's Official

Decker — Mon, 22 May 2006 07:56:19 -0700

From the Forums - Good luck buddy !, staff

Every year I learn more about politics. I grew up in Butler County on an unincorporated stretch of country/ suburbia, what the kids are calling "exurbia" these days. My first election was the presidential contest of '92. After growing up in the shadow of Cincinnati, Controversy Capital of the Midwest, it was a thrill to see Clinton step up after 12 years of Reagan/Bush. I became more aware of the House, issue advocacy and national politics, but moved around a lot as a student. At the end of '99, my wife and I settled down on the Hilltop, Columbus' westside.

Like most other Americans, or at least voting Americans, I focused on politics at the national level. I didn't realize how much I was missing. Every November for the past six years has revealed more and more of what's going on around me. My neighbors have taught me a lot. The Ohio blogs have become a tremendous resource. I've also learned a lot from the Greater Hilltop Area Commission. And I feel like it's time for me to give back.

On June 24 at the annual Bean Dinner, Hilltop residents will be voting in four commissioners. It's a three year term without compensation to the GHAC, who act as community advocates for the Mayor's office and Columbus City Council. I'm going to be on the ballot (as Joe Decker, not grandpaboy). Wish me luck.

(posted earlier at grandpaboy)

Hilltop Activism

Decker — Wed, 05 Apr 2006 20:48:46 -0700

Of all the ~~Charlie Browns in the world~~ neighborhoods in Columbus, Hilltop is the Charlie Browniest.

As I mentioned the other night, people at the Greater Hilltop Area Commission meeting are upset by Mayor Coleman's decision to take over Fire Station 17 for the new Health Center. Now they've organized.

Three things you can do:

1. Sign our petition: http://www.petitions.ws/petition.php?id=81

2. Send a short e-mail to the City Council President Matt Habash in care of his aide Todd Dieffender: tfdieffenderfer@columbus.gov

3. Ask at least 3 friends to do the same

These people have a great point. If the choice is a blighted, crumbling structure or a vibrant, useful building, what sense* does it make to continue ignoring the blighted, crumbling structure? It would be like not turning the channel when Columbus News Center comes on channels 6 & 28. Or not throwing something at the screen when you see Johnny D. Or not throwing up a little in your mouth when "talent" Gabe and Yolanda giggle like a couple of Elmo dolls. Or...

Well, you get the idea. Go. Do something. What are sitting around here for?

(cross-posted at grandpaboy)