UPDATE: Gahanna city council in the hot seat

Last night Gahanna city council met to discuss a resolution to support Issue 2. It drew a lot of attention as over 50 citizens of Gahanna flocked to the meeting to display their opposition to this resolution.

We are informed by sources that council members were inundated with emails opposing any reoslution in support of issue 2. The level of opposition clearly had an impact. 4 of the 6 council members (1 was absent) indicated that they oppose the resolution. No one offered any amendments. The vote on the resolution is scheduled to take place next Monday, October 17th.

Citizens can lobby too!

We know that David Brennan and Michele Rhee hired lobbyists to get their agenda in front of the Republican controlled legislture, and inserted in SB5 and the budget bill. We also know that lawmakers hearing from teachers, and other concerned citizens, got many of the most eggregious provisions removed. But now there's pressure to perform a double-back-flip-U-turn and put these terrible measure back in the budget.

There's still time and opportunity for citizens to lobby their represenatives. If you are a member of OEA, tomorrow is a scheduled lobby day. (Link - bottom, left). If you want to attend, meet at Renaissance Columbus Downtown Hotel at 50 N. 3rd St., Columbus, Ohio – The briefing will start at 9:00 a.m.** (map).

JTF will be coming along, we hope to see you there. Together we'll change some minds!

**If you have a distance to travel, check with your local or regional association. Busing is being provided, along with parking and lunch if needed. Also, vallet parking at the hotel is available and a voucher for it will be given to you when you sign in.

News for March 8th, 2011

The Columbus Dispatch brings a report of not just teachers and support staff under attack and fighting back, but also police and firefighters too

About 4,000 police and firefighters rallied last night with the national presidents of their unions int Veterans Memorial.
[...]
Chuck Canterbury, national Fraternal Order of Police president, said in a statement, "Ohio has gone further to negatively impact police and firefighters than any other state currently considering collective-bargaining reform."

Gongwer reports on the planned Workers' Rally:

Opponents of the bill scheduled a demonstration on the West Plaza of the Statehouse from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. Tuesday, as Gov. Kasich speaks inside to a joint legislative session. "Let Governor Kasich know he cannot attack the middle class and balance Ohio's budget on the back of hardworking people," said a flyer from Stand Up For Ohio

You can follow todays' State of the State speech @jointhefutureOH on Twitter.