Columbus City Council 2016 Year in Review
HEALTH
Council Fights Opioid Abuse: Columbus City Council and
Columbus Public Health joined Equitas Health to provide Naloxone for those who
cannot afford it or do not have insurance. With the increase in opiate abuse
throughout Ohio, this drug, partnered with drug rehabilitation services, will
help tackle the opiate crisis in the community.
Eastside
$250,000 Treatment Center Investment: City Council provided $250,000
in funding to Alvis, a nonprofit organization that provides treatment and
counseling for victims of human trafficking and substance abuse.
Tobacco
21: Tobacco use is the foremost preventable cause of premature death in
America and causes 500,000 deaths annually. To help curb initiation of
adolescent smokers, President Pro Tem Priscilla Tyson sponsored legislation
requiring retailers to obtain a license for selling tobacco products and
product paraphernalia and prohibit the sale of those items to individuals under
the age of 21.
Local
Food Action Plan: It is predicted that the current generation of
kids won’t live longer than their parents. Chronic diseases such as diabetes
are increased among Americans due to poor access to healthy food and a lack of
education. Columbus’ Local Food Action Plan was created as a response to this
problem. The food plan wants to create a more sustainable local food system to
improve our community’s eating habits and knowledge of healthy eating.
COMMUNITY
New
Glenwood Recreation Center: The Glenwood Recreation Center reopened in
April 2016 with a new $7.7 million facility.
Vacant to
Vibrant: The Parcels
to Places pilot project showcased the creative ideas of community members to
transform vacant land into areas that positively contributes to their
neighborhoods. The City provided $60,000 of the total $185,000 to the 8
finalists of the competition.
Car Seat
Safety
Did you know, 9 out of 10
parents do not install their car seats in correctly, increasing the risk of a
child’s life being taken in the event of a car accident. City Council approving
additional $20,000 in funds, Columbus Public Health’s car seat program increased
its number of monthly classes from 8 to 11. The program provides information on
proper car seat installation and checks to ensure participants car seats are
installed properly in their own vehicles.
SOCIAL
EMPOWERMENT
Barbershop Books: Barbershop Books was created to increase the
literacy of young African American males from ages 4-8. Council provided
funding to create 15 reading stations with a total of 150 books in local
barbershops.
Charter
Review: In August, Mayor Andrew J. Ginther and City Council announced the formation of a Charter Review
Committee. The Committee met at recreation centers throughout the City and now
is working on recommendations on the structure and make-up of Council.
PUBLIC
SAFETY
Islamophobia Resolution: In November, Council adopted a resolution
condemning religious intolerance and Islamophobia. This resolution supports the
City’s continued promotion of diversity and belief that discrimination against
a religion is unacceptable. Columbus is home to countless people who practice
the Islamic faith who contribute to our City and should feel welcomed.
Planned
Parenthood Buffer: In June, Councilmember Elizabeth Brown sponsored
an ordinance to amend Chapter 2317 of Columbus City Codes. The additional provisions
protect health care workers and patients attempting to access health care and
reproductive health care facilities and to do so free from obstruction and
harassment. They also prohibit harassment and/or obstruction of health care and
reproductive health care facilities. Doing so would be a violation of which is
subject to a charge of misdemeanor in the first degree.
ECONOMIC
GROWTH
IKEA Groundbreaking: The new IKEA store is planned to have its grand
opening in the summer of 2017. The store broke ground in May 2016. The Swedish
store plans to sell to over 210,000 Central Ohioan customers.
Small Business Incubator: In October, Columbus City Council
approved the City of Columbus Entrepreneurship Business Case Program, a joint
partnership between City Council and The Ohio State University Center for
Innovation and Entrepreneurship. The pilot program was designed to help small
business owners, non-profit organizations and aspiring entrepreneurs create,
capture and deliver value to their communities.
Ohio Health Admin Offices:
In September, OhioHealth
committed to achieve an employment level of 2,533 full-time, noncontingent,
non-seasonal jobs within the Olentangy River Road Corridor. Additionally,
OhioHealth will invest approximately $7,300,000, over five years, towards
community initiatives that include community-based pre-natal and women’s health
care services, substance abuse prevention and treatment services, the OhioHealth
Primary Care Mobile Medical Home and health literacy programming.
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