In addition to approving $500,000 for a women’s volleyball team (owned by a rich millionaire) and also raising the rates for water your Columbus City Council was also the scene of an emotional apology by Councilmember Emanuel Remy.

Fantastic. He admitted what everyone already knew. He is a loud and aggressive bully, but has been taking a management class (paid for by your taxes) that will likely not change his core problem that he has no empathy for other people.

This is the man hand-picked by City Council President Shannon Hardin to represent his constituents’ needs and solve their problems. All of this goes back to Hardin pushing aside a Black woman and community advocate just to get Remy into City Council. He’s there and there’s nothing that Hardin is going to do about it other than ignore him.

With that being said we have to ask the question: who paid the $84,700 to the staff member that he verbally abused?

You did. Your hard-earned tax dollars paid the settlement for his abusive behavior.

What could the city have done with the money instead?

1. Provided 2,566 free turkeys for Thanksgiving (at $33/15 lb. turkey).
2. Fed 19,929 children a free school lunch (at $4.25/meal).
3. Kept open 56 days of a winter warming center (at $1500/day)
4. Offered 282 hours of free legal aid (at $300/hour)
5. Given 70 households emergency winter utility assistance (at average of $1200/household)
6. Provided 564 families a free child car seat (at $150/seat)

It’s not always about how much money you have, but how you use it. To our City Council there’s always an unlimited amount available, only because it’s not their money. There’s always a way to cut property taxes for real estate developers. There just isn’t any money to correctly fund the public schools or help the homeless.

This was his mistake. Emanuel Remy has apologized. Because he is a man of honor and respect he will lead by example and do what is right. He owes the city $84,700.

Anytime you see him buying liquor at Easton just ask him for the money. He’s a rich realtor plus his part-time salary and gold-plated health care from City Council. He can afford it. Most people can’t.

OK, you’re not going to pay? Fine. Get to work to write and pass a new rule that requires city employees to pay so when or if it happens again the city isn’t left holding the bag for the mistakes of City Council or the Mayor. You apologized. Pay what you owe the city, or get a new rule passed to never let someone get away without reimbursing the city again.

It's our money. You’re wasting it. You work for us.