News

There’s no argument about one thing in looking at the results of the off-year elections: Republicans had a very bad day. We can all argue about what that means for the future, but there’s no way not to see this as anything other than an ass-whipping. Democratics won governor races in both New Jersey and Virginia, and they did so by beating the poll predictions by 6 and 10 precent. These were also victories of women candidates over men, which is an accomplishment in and of itself in these dark days. Zohran Mamdani won with a decisive majority over the former governor and longtime political lion of a New York State political dynasty. He is the youngest major there, as well as first Muslim, Southeast Asian, and former resident of Africa. He is also a socialist and will now be the socialist mayor of the largest US city since a socialist was mayor in Milwaukee, Wisconsin. That’s not all. California’s Governor Newsom won his controversial ballot referendum approving the redistricting that will give Democrats an opportunity to pick up five seats in the midterms to counter Trump’s efforts in Texas, North Carolina, and other states.

80 percent fear rising electricity costs

A recent poll by Sunrun, the nation's largest residential solar installer, finds that 81 percent of those surveyed have experienced power outages within the past year and 80 percent of U.S. homeowners worry data centers will drive up their electricity bills.

The company surveyed 1,000 homeowners nationwide. The findings point to a public bracing for a strain on the existing utility system and actively considering energy alternatives.

The survey reports 68 percent of homeowners doubt utilities can keep up with rising energy demand in their region

While homeowners expect things to get worse, they report that outages are already widespread:

• 81 percent experienced at least one outage in the last year
• 60 percent saw up to three
• 71 percent expect more outages over the coming year
• Only 11 percent felt "very prepared" during the most recent grid interruption

Enphase now supports fully off-grid system

In reading the updated Oct 17 VOTER GUIDE from the Columbus Dispatch it’s important to notice the choice of words author Jordan Laird used to describe the UNDEMOCRATIC VOTING SYSTEM our city uses for City Council.

“Under Columbus' unusual district system, first rolled out in 2023, all nine city council members are elected citywide.”

“Unusual.” UNUSUAL is the word that Jordan Laird used. Why? Because it only favors the party in power and because candidates are forced to run a city-wide campaign. Remember the earlier primary of three candidates? Vogel won District 7 that time. The citizens that live in District 7 have already chosen him to be their next member of City Council; not Ross. It’s the MOST CREATIVE GERRYMANDERED SYSTEM INVENTED and it eliminates all competition from grassroots candidates (unless you have money). Franklin County Democrats LOVE IT since they normally don’t have to spent a single dime to get their “endorsed candidate” elected.

This Nov 4, Columbus Mayor Ginther is betting that you won’t read the ballot when voting on the 1.9 BILLION DOLLAR BOND ISSUE. All of the Opportunity City Political Action Committee mailings and commercials CLAIM that it won’t raise your taxes by a single penny. That’s true… because it’s a lot more.

Bond Issue 5 - $27 per $100,000

Bond Issue 6 - $27 per $100,000

Bond Issue 7 - $45 per $100,000

Bond Issue 8 - $49 per $100,000

Bond Issue 9 - $42 per $100,000

$190 total for each $100,000 in home value

Mayor Ginther’s golf partners want MORE OF YOUR TAX DOLLARS so they can buy another condo in Aspen. His wealthy friends, like the Haslams, LOVE FREE MONEY from Columbus tax payers who will foot the bill for cheap “affordable housing.” They get cash grants to pay for new apartments that they can raise rents on every year and become even more rich. THIS ISN’T ABOUT CHARITY. This is pure greed disguised as helping the middle class of Columbus.

Why wasn’t this done in Phase 1 of Zone-In?

Because they wanted expensive hi-rise buildings for the rich more than anything else (makes them more money).

While most new presidents would like to use their influence to make America a better country for all, Donald Trump is not that kind of leader. Instead, he has chosen to use his position to enact personal vendettas against anyone judged to be his enemy.

When James Comey was FBI director in 2016, he appeared to be a Trump ally when he suggested that the investigations into Hillary Clinton's activities might have to be reopened. This announcement, shortly before the 2016 presidential election, might have swayed enough votes away from the Democratic candidate to give the Republicans a victory. However, any goodwill between Trump and Comey disappeared when the FBI director considered opening up investigations against Trump, so then Comey was fired.

Now, the president is demanding that the Department of Justice prosecute Comey for for possibly lying to Congressional committees.

John Bolton, who used to be Trump's national security advisor, has recently been indicted by the Department of Justice (DOJ) for allegedly possessing classified Defense department documents. He was likely targeted because of negative comments he made about Trump in his recent book.

Vote November fourth?
Gerrymandered Columbus.
Not democratic. 

Money rules this town.
Big cash cha-ching. Buy some votes.
Ginther loves to golf.

CCS? No clue.
Board happy with their two stars.
Yep... they all hate change.

Defund CCS?
The rich need a new condo.
Aspen isn't cheap.

It's one party rule.
They love their perks and power.
They should work for us. 

Vote Vogel or Ross?
She doesn't pay her tickets. 
She's above the law.

Billions for the bond!
Ignore the homeless. Too bad.
Have no empathy. 

Corruption tastes great!
Columbus needs an audit.
You must vote Remy.

Build cheap. Build fast now.
Wall Street owns Columbus. Ouch!
No plan. No problem. 

With three open seats on the Board of Education and no incumbents defending them, November 4 isn’t a sleepy local race. There are six candidates, and the winners will be faced with helping rescue Columbus City Schools from its toughest stretch in decades. A $100 million budget deficit, plummeting enrollment, collapsing public trust and a growing rift between union teachers and the District’s administration.

It’s a reset moment that will determine whether Ohio’s largest District stabilizes, shrinks, or fractures entirely. Again, six candidates are vying for three seats, and their divisions mirror Columbus politics itself.

“Establishment” Democrat Party-endorsed slate:

● Patrick Katzenmeyer — husband of former City Councilmember and YWCA CEO Elizabeth Brown, and son of retired Greater Columbus Arts Council CEO Tom

Katzenmeyer. Katzenmeyer works for the developer the Pizzuti Companies, and his campaign funded by the Columbus Education PAC, which is a mix of CEOs and business leaders from Grange Insurance, Kokosing Construction and Mount Carmel Hospitals.

Ohio lawmakers will vote this Wednesday October 29 on
Ohio House Bill 188 which calls for investing $10 million of
our tax money into Israeli bond. That means if the bill
passes, Ohio taxpayers would have effectively loaned
Israel $10 to use how it sees fit.

Therefore, I want my Ohio State Rep. to vote against Ohio
House bill 188 that could be used to fund the current
Israeli genocide with my tax money.

I should note here that on November 21, 2024, the
International Criminal Court (ICC) issued arrest warrants
for two senior Israeli officials, Benjamin Netanyahu, the
Crime Minister of Israel, and Yoav Gallant, the former War
Minister of Israel, for the war crime of starvation as a
method of warfare and the crimes against humanity of
murder.

The Republicans who control state government in Ohio
have a deep political and ideological affinity for Israel.
Ohio politicians regularly get free propaganda trips to

Israel paid by the Israeli lobby to meet with Israeli officials
and offer statements of support for Israel.

Renewable Energy thumps fossil fuels over past 12 months

Despite significant policy headwinds imposed by the Trump administration, new electrical generating capacity from renewable energy continues to significantly outpace that produced from fossil fuel sources.

In the past 12 months, power generation from wind, solar and batteries increased by over 55,000 MW. Generation from fossil fuels actually declined by 1,400 MW during the same time period. Solar and batteries accounted for 82 percent of all new power added to the grid. Generation from natural gas actually grew by a modest 3,300 MW since last October, but this growth was offset by a decline in generation from coal and petroleum-based fuels.

Electricity from nuclear power essentially held constant during the past year, and no new nuclear power plants are currently under construction.

Data centers likely to cause electricity blackouts and disruptions

Energy regulators and executives are warning that the build-out of artificial intelligence data centers has significantly increased the risk of electricity disruptions and blackouts.