Declaration by the German Initiative Lay Down Your Arms, on the anniversary of the Russian invasion of Ukraine, February 16, 202

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The ballot for this coming November 7 may offer another monumental chance for progressive voters in Columbus to take needed action – and this in case, to ensure legal and safe access to abortion. This week the Ohio Physicians for Reproductive Rights and Ohioans for Reproductive Freedom announced they are joining together to place a citizen-initiated constitutional amendment on November’s 2023 statewide general election ballot.

The jointly drafted amendment will be similar to a constitutional amendment approved by Michigan voters last November.

A distinction between the two is the Ohio Physician for Reproductive Rights is mostly backed by 1,400 doctors and healthcare professionals while Ohioans for Reproductive Freedom is a coalition of statewide reproductive rights and justice organizations such as the ACLU of Ohio, Abortion Fund of Ohio, New Voices for Reproductive Justice, Ohio Women’s Alliance, and Planned Parenthood Advocates of Ohio.

Details about event

Saturday, Feb. 18, 7-11pm
Old First Presbyterian Church, 1101 Bryden Rd.
$5 requested donation
All ages community mixer with live jazz and poetry, snacks, treats, fun games, contests, lively conversation.
 

Our Jam-packed GREEGREE #126 starts with NY’s JULIE WIENER reporting from the NY legislature on hackable voting machines.

Ohio’s RACHEL COYLE tells us about the astounding trial in Columbus about the $61 million a nuclear utility slipped to the speaker of the Ohio House to get a $1 billion bailout for two atomic reactors.

The question, says Rachel, is whether in the world of Citizen’s United, it is perfectly legal to buy (or rent) a state legislature. 

“You couldn’t write a movie better than this,” she says.  It’s a trial to legalize bribery, with major national repercussions. 

PACO FABIAN then tells us about the successful and impactful progressive campaigning of OUR REVOLUTION.

We merge in the possibility of using referenda to help get out the grassroots vote, particularly on the issues of Choice, Gerrymandering, Marijuana and Expanding Medicaid. 

Our Revolution also focuses on raising the minimum wage, as was tried in California, demanding clearer messaging.

LORENZO CANIZARES gives us the news from Peru, where a Revolution is definitely not being televised.

Ohio Statehouse

February 15, Desiree Tims, President and CEO of Innovation Ohio, condemned House Joint Resolution 1 (HJR1), a proposed constitutional amendment that increases the passage thresholds of new amendments to 60% of the vote, up from a simple majority.  

“HJR1 is a blatant power-grab by special interests and corrupt politicians, which seeks to undermine our democracy and silence the voice of the people,” said Tims. “This amendment shreds our costitution as we know it and is a direct attack on the rights of Ohio voters. We condemn it in the strongest terms possible.”

A similar proposal from the last General Assembly, HJR6, failed to receive enough support in the Ohio legislature and eventually died in lame duck session. HJR1, however, contains more limits to citizen-driven ballot initiatives and creates unnecessary burdens to signature gatherers. 

Harvey J Graff

The mayor’s, city council’s, and Columbus Police Department’s chiefs’ uninformed, misleading commentaries and mismanagement of public safety would be comic if they were not often deadly.

Much is captured in two current events: the legally irrelevant and self-promotional devotion to what I renamed Colemanville (formerly downtown Columbus) in city council’s passing on Feb. 6, 2023 a resolution that has neither merit nor authority, setting a speed limit of 25 mph in the small, ragged downtown area. (See Graff, “Columbus searches for its Downtown with historical, urbanist, and developers’ blinders,” Busting Myths, Columbus Free Press, Dec. 22, 2021; “Still searching for Downtown: ‘Ideas considered for Downtown plan,’” Busting Myths, Columbus Free Press, Aug. 14, 2022)

Details about event

Thursday, February 16, 7-10pm, Club Diversity, 863 S. High St.  

Join us for our DSA happy hour! We will be meeting on the third Thursday of each month at 7pm at Club Diversity at 863 S. High St. This will be an informal get together to meet, hang out, talk shop, and enjoy the camaraderie! Non-members are welcome to join and learn more about the chapter.

Hosted by Columbus DSA [Democratic Socialists of America].

Facebook Event

For a whole year, Israel has struggled in its attempts to articulate a clear and decisive position regarding the Russia-Ukraine war. The reason behind the seemingly confused Israeli position is that it stands to lose, regardless of the outcome. But is Israel a neutral party?

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