Updates
1) Woodland Meadows. The buildings are still there. Columbus has been granted the authority to raze them, but the next several updates will all still be about a collection of abandoned buildings. First of all, Jorge Newbery and his attorneys are apparently considering an appeal of the most recent ruling. I personally have no idea what could possibly be gained, even if they won their appeal, but that's just me. Next, a new entity moves to the forefront, as the Bank of Oklahoma forecloses on the property. Part of me wonders, in a rhetorical and somewhat hyperbolic way, whether or not they'd be better off simply walking away, if the value of the asset is actually greater than the potential liabilities. For instance, the next step by the city is to inventory the asbestos present in the 122 buildings. Who knows how much has already been released in the process of scavenging the wires and pipes? Finally, does anyone have any experience with Columbus City Attorney Richard C. Pfeiffer Jr.? If he's not actually a condescending right-wing something-or-other (update - and of course he's not, he's a Democrat who's held various offices ranging from judge to State Senator, and I blame sleepiness for not putting two and two together before posting), then he has a legitimate bone to pick with the Dispatch for making him sound that way.
2) GIRFOF. The Getting It Right For Ohio's Future Amendment will be the subject of a series of meetings around the state held by The Campaign For Ohio's Future (ht to who else?, Pho). My impression is that this is meant to be the first wave of volunteer organization for the signature drive. The first round of meetings includes a Columbus session:
February 21 5:00 p.m. Educational Service Center of Franklin County, 2080 Citygate Drive, Columbus, OH 43219
3) Streetcars and Hockey. I don't like to blog about things that I know other people are already doing a better job on, so... If you would like continuing updates on the progress of the downtown Streetcar project, you should be watching Columbus Retro Metro, which not only is tracking the Columbus project, but tracking streetcar-related stories from Metro Areas around the country. If you want to read what a lefty blogger from Central Ohio thinks about the Columbus Blue Jackets, you can wait for crumbs here, or read the Neutral Zone Trap, the new blog from the former proprietor of Creative Class Warfare.
This leaves me free to blog about stuff like Pat Tiberi's comments on the anti-surge resolution. Which I'll be doing tomorrow.