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Today was #ohiolovestransitday, and in the last 24 plus hours, I rode @cotabus to the @mayor_ginther #stateofcbus, @franklintonfridays and @400.square, plus up through @theohiostateuniversity, @expcville, and @worthingtonohio. #COTAmovesus #expcols #lifeincbus 🚌🚌🚌🚌🚌🚌🏫🏡🏠🌇🌃 https://www.instagram.com/p/B8ksXv_gpvsO3pYPjev5OKhM5EVNfrHJQZ3TDc0/?igshid=1iy0k7t3s58iu
Equity and Prosperity Highlight Ginther’s State of The City Address
by Bryan A. Curtiss
Equity and Prosperity were the highlights of Columbus Mayor Andrew J. Ginther’s State of the City Address on Thursday night at historic West High School in the Westgate neighborhood in the Hilltop, which was prominently featured in Ginther’s address.
The theme of Ginther’s Address was about equity. As soon as Ginther said, “Equity is the corner stone of my administration,” protesters disrupted the speech by demanding action. According to reports from local media sources, the protesters were shouting out the names of African-Americans who were gunned down by Columbus Police Officers.
Ginther said, “I see you and I hear you, and I look forward to meeting with you, to hear your voices” to quell the protests from further disrupting Ginther’s address in a packed school auditorium.
After the protesters were escorted out of the Auditorium by Columbus Police Officers, Ginther continued his speech by saying, “Dissent is of the highest form of patriotism”.
In his speech, Ginther talked about equality, from combatting the housing crisis and the opioid crisis, to combatting the racial barriers in our community, such as improving the city’s toxic police/community relations. “It’s time for us to discuss the long-term effects going forward, and to explore Racism as a public health crisis,” Ginther said about the racial inequality in Columbus.
Neighborhoods have been the core of the Ginther Administration from the beginning. Ginther announced big plans for Linden, that are part of the One Linden Plan. Construction is in progress for a new Fire Station 16 on Oakland Park Avenue in North Linden. Homeport will be working on a “Downtown Linden” project at the corner of Cleveland and Myrtle Avenues. $ 20 Million will be invested in an overhaul of the Hudson Street Thoroughfare as part of the One Linden Plan.
On the other end of Linden, there will be a fresh grocery store at the corner of Cleveland and Chittenden Avenues that will open in November, that will be similar in nature to the Fresh Market 4 All People on Parsons Avenue. The $ 1.5 Million Project will include Prescriptions and Health Screenings, and fresh produce. The Charitable Pharmacy of Central Ohio and Nationwide Children’s Hospital are partners of this project. “I want to replicate the success in Linden in every neighborhood,” Ginther said.
Last month, Ginther laid out the City’s plan for The Hilltop. At the Address, he laid out several plans for the Hilltop to improve the quality of life on the West Side. Ginther announced a new Substation will be built on Sullivant Avenue that will also double as a Neighborhood Pride Center. The new Substation will include real-time crime tracking, along with a Community Garden and a basketball court. $ 10 Million will be invested in streetscape improvements along Sullivant Avenue, which will include updates on pavements, street signs, traffic signals, bump outs, and street lights. Ginther added that flower pots will be added to “beautify” Sullivant Avenue. The Mid-Ohio Food Collective will be a partner in a community garden at Wheatland Farm, which will include a community center and a fresh market that will supply fresh food to the Hilltop community.
Ginther announced that he will commit resources to combat human trafficking on Sullivant Avenue with partnerships with organizations that will provide support, treatment, and resources for the victims, along with raising awareness. Ginther announced that there will be a “24 hour, seven day Drop-In Sanctuary Night for those who are being trafficked” on Sullivant Avenue.
As mentioned in last year’s State of the City, housing was the biggest challenge that was addressed. Ginther continued that message from last year, by investing $ 33 Million for 1,300 new units for families making less than $ 75,000 a year, while using $ 50 Million to double the affordable housing units in Columbus by 2025. In addition, Ginther announced that the Columbus Downtown Development Corporation will include affordable housing in Downtown by the end of 2020. “The Columbus Downtown Development Corporation has committed to building 100 affordable units, with half going to families that make less than $ 46,000 a year.
In other State of the City News: - Ginther announced the expansion of the Community Land Trust to Weinland Park and Milo-Grogan. - A new Mobile Suboxone Treatment Unit, which Ginther said, will “meet addicts where they are” and directs opioid addicts “on a path to recovery”. - Ginther announced a Community Choice Aggregation Issue that may be on the November 2020 Ballot. If passed, it would provide 100 percent renewable energy power, with wind and solar energy in homes by 2022. - Dr. Beverly Stallings Johnson has been appointed as the new director of The Diversity and Inclusion Office of the City of Columbus. - Ginther reminded people to take part in the 2020 Census, which will determine the number of seats in U.S. Congress, State House, and Federal Funds (such as Medicare, Medicaid, Free Student Lunches, and SNAP/Food Stamps). “Those who are missed are the ones whose voices need to be heard,” Ginther said in regards to the importance of the Census.
"Neighborhoods, Technology, Prosperity Highlight Ginther’s State of the City”
Bryan Curtiss, Writer
Hope for the Future was the primary theme of Mayor Andrew Ginther’s State of the City Address on Thursday night at Columbus East High School.
After an unconventional approach of the State of the City in 2018 with five separate Town Hall Conversations, the State of the City returned to its traditional pomp and circumstance format in 2019.
“I am Columbus, and so are you,” Mayor Ginther said as he opened his fourth annual State of the City Address.
Prosperity and the Future were among the main topics that were addressed by Ginther in his speech, ranging from neighborhoods, to the Smart Cities Initiative, to diversity and inclusion.
The Smart Cities Initiative once again was highlighted as one of the accomplishments happening in Columbus. The Smart Columbus Innovation Center opened last summer along the Scioto Mile at Civic Center Drive. Smart Columbus is the driving force of technology in Columbus. A new app, in partnership with Smart Columbus, Molina, and CareSource will be developed to assist expectant mothers.
Ginther addressed the access of technology, stating that every resident should have the opportunities to be engaged with the advances of technology.
“All of our resident deserve fast Internet access,” Ginther said. “Digital inclusion for everyone is key for our city. Equitable access is key.” Ginther pledged to expand high-speed internet to all Columbus neighborhoods to improve digital literacy training and to remove barriers so we can all be engaged.
While the technological growth was lauded, one serious issue was addressed as the City was in the midst of rollercoaster temperature, Climate Change, as Columbus is part of the Bloomberg’s American Cities Climate Challenge.
“Climate change is a social justice issue, and we will address this in the City of Columbus.”
Ginther’s top priority in his first term as Mayor has been neighborhoods, with two in particular – Linden and the Hilltop having the higher priorities for growth and redevelopment after decades of decline and neglect.
In Linden, OneLinden, the community blueprint for Linden was launched in October. The blueprint tackles issues such as transportation, housing, health and safety, education, retail, and workforce development. The North Columbus neighborhood saw a population decline of 8,000 from 1960 to 2010, and the neighborhood has one of the highest infant mortality rates in Franklin County.
“This was created by the community, for the Community,” Ginther said.
Mayor Ginther paid tribute to Linden community leader Clarence Lumpkin, who passed away earlier this week at the age of 94. Lumpkin, a long-time resident of Linden, was nicknamed “The Mayor of Linden” due to his contributions of making the Linden area a strong community.
“Mr. Lumpkin made me a better public servant for the community,” Ginther said.
Ginther added that local workers will be part of the construction of the Linden Community Center in North Linden, and the nearby Sports Park on the site of MAPFRE Stadium.
“Columbus workers deserve to build a part of their city,” Ginther said.
Ginther added that the City and the Department of Neighborhoods have met with developers in regards to creating housing and commercial development opportunities in Linden.
In the Hilltop, the Hilltop Early Childhood Education Center has opened, focusing on early childhood education for pre-school children to be prepared for Kindergarten. Ginther chose The Hilltop for the launch of Early Childhood Development because of the neighborhood’s lowest number of higher education population.
Ginther announced that there will be a new facility in the Hilltop that is in partnership with Doug Moore, former NBA star and West High graduate Michael Redd, the Boys and Girls Club of Columbus, and Columbus City Schools. This new facility will be located next to Highland Elementary School and the nearby J. Ashburn Community Center, and provide an educational campus between the three buildings for children and their families in the community to share space, along with resources.
The City of Columbus is currently developing a Master Plan for The Hilltop, similar to the one in Linden, which will be revealed later this year.
Ginther addressed changes to the City’s Tax Abatement, Campaign Finance Limits, and Retaliatory Eviction laws, which were passed in January. The latter law addressed a crippling issue in the City as Columbus has the seventh highest eviction rate in the country. City Council addressed it by changing city codes on retaliatory evictions in January.
The retaliatory eviction law prevents residents from being evicted by landlords in retaliation for code violations. The Self Help Resource Center, located next to the Franklin County Eviction Court served more families in the Fourth Quarter of 2018 than all of 2016 and 2017 combined. “It is small change with big impact,” Ginther said on the Self-Help Resource Center, which helps residents and families facing eviction.
Ginther discussed the $ 50 Million Bond Issue which will be on the May Primary Ballot, which would fund affordable housing, which is a joint effort for Columbus and other Franklin County suburbs. Ginther called the Bond Issue a challenge. “We are up for the challenge,” Ginther said. $ 8.3 Million would go into the City of Columbus Land Trust, with $ 7.2 Million going to develop homes in Franklinton, the South Side, the Near East Side, and Weinland Park, in a project that was initiated by City Council President Shannon G. Hardin. Ginther referred to affordability as “the great equalizer” with equitable access to mobility, which would lead to easy access to amenities and resources.
“Affordability is the great equalizer of the 21st Century. Let us leverage it for all of our neighborhoods,” Ginther said.
Also at the State of the City, Ginther recognized the Greater Columbus Sports Commission for hosting the NCAA Women’s Final Four last year, and recognized outgoing Columbus Police Chief Kim Jacobs, who is retiring on February 8.
Yum #stateofcbus
This #stateofcbus focused HEAVY on community and the youth! Very good event!
