A SPECIAL MESSAGE FROM COUNCIL PRESIDENT SHANNON G. HARDIN
Columbus and cities across America are fighting a two front war: COVID-19 & systemic racism. I know many in our city are tired from fighting.
However, after seeing our community take to the streets, I'm filled with hope. I’d rather folks feel tired and have the opportunity for real change than for the status quo to persist. This week, Council held a hearing with the Community Safety Advisory Commission on their recommendations to improve public safety in our city. The expertise and commitment of those community members fills me with hope.
I’m hopeful because my own path to represent this city as a gay, black man is full of protests and uprising. Protests get results. As I reflect upon my position in life, I'm thankful for the people who have moved mountains. Not just the national figures who paved this path but local leaders like Joyce & Otto Beatty, Mayor Coleman, Janet Jackson, Ben Espy, Jerry Hammond, Ray Miller, Charleta Tavares, Steve Shellabarger, Mary Jo Hudson, and so many more.
I'm hopeful because this moment is an inflection point in the fight against the pandemics of COVID-19 and racism.
Sincerely,
Shannon G. Hardin
City Council President
Columbus Public Health is now offering free, drive-thru or walk-up COVID-19 testing in partnership with Mount Carmel Health, OhioHealth and The Ohio State University Wexner Medical Center.
Anyone in the community with symptoms can now get a free test, Monday through Friday, from 9AM to 4PM, at Columbus Public Health, 240 Parsons Ave. Call 614-645-1519 to schedule an appointment. Physician referral is not required.
The Council team continues its efforts to gather valuable insight on the issues, concerns and priorities of residents to draft legislation to build a stronger Columbus for all.
Your voice drives our work. So, make your voice heard. Use the form below to submit your questions, concerns and ideas to Council. Each submission is sent directly to Council to inform legislation and policy decisions.
We greatly value your input and hope you take a moment to share your thoughts.
City Council will conduct the next regular meeting on June 15, 2020, at 5PM. The virtual meeting will address COVID-19 concerns while conducting City business. Click here to view the revised meeting schedule.
Ohio Revised Code prohibits closed public meetings. However, COLUMBUS CITY COUNCIL STRONGLY DISCOURAGES RESIDENTS FROM ATTENDING THE MEETING IN PERSON. In consideration of social distancing guidelines, the capacity in Chambers will be drastically reduced, and masks will be required for those who choose to attend.
Council meetings are live-streamed on CTV, the City’s YouTube channel and Facebook. Residents can also listen live. Call toll-free 1-650-479-3207, access code: 160 769 2968.
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All CCS high schools will hold virtual graduation ceremonies that will be streamed during the week of June 22-27. Each ceremony will be broadcast on the Columbus City Schools Facebook page and YouTube channel, the Columbus Educational Access Channel, and WCBE 90.5 FM.
Click here to view complete schedule.
The graduation ceremonies will have a special commencement speaker of national renown, short remarks from Superintendent Talisa Dixon, their principal, and each school’s valedictorian or chosen student speaker.
The District will also stream virtual completer ceremonies for Career Tech students at Columbus Downtown High School (June 18) and the Fort Hayes Career Center (June 19). More details and the complete schedule is available at ccsoh.us/classof2020.
A MESSAGE FROM THE OHIO OPIOID EDUCATION ALLIANCE
Ohioans deserve great credit for how we’ve come together to flatten the curve of coronavirus infections, but we must also be mindful of the consequences of the behaviors we are adopting to keep our communities and families safe. Social distancing is necessary, but personal isolation poses mental health challenges. The increased use of prescription pills and surge in liquor sales we’ve witnessed over the past couple months are all too telling.
Many mental health experts fear that the coronavirus pandemic will continue to lead to increased mental health and substance use crises. Central Ohio has already felt the effects. In Franklin County in early April, there were 12 overdose deaths in a 24-hour period, only to total 62 overdose deaths in the county for April 2020. And unfortunately, during a 48-hour period in mid-May, 12 more fatal overdoses occurred in Franklin County.
Humans are designed to deal with crises through the fight-or-flight response. But when a stress is not short-lived – such as the COVID-19 pandemic, with no defined end in sight – our bodies continue to produce stress hormones, which transition from being helpful to harmful.
The nation and Ohio are fighting two health crises, and one is only exacerbated by the other. There remains a plane full of Americans that die each day from an opioid overdose, and we must remind ourselves that for every one opioid overdose death, there are 10 admitted for treatment, 32 who visited the ER, 130 who are dependent on opioids and 825 nonmedical users.
Talk to your children and loved ones about the dangers of opioid misuse and safely secure or dispose of your prescription medications. For more information, visit dontliveindenial.org
About the Ohio Opioid Education Alliance
The Ohio Opioid Education Alliance is a coalition of business, education, nonprofit, civic and government organizations formed by the Alcohol, Drug and Mental Health (ADAMH) Board of Franklin County to educate and prevent young Ohioans from misusing and abusing opioids.
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention works 24/7 keeping America safe from health, safety, and security threats, both foreign and domestic. Whether diseases start at home or abroad, are chronic or acute, curable or preventable, human error or deliberate attack, CDC fights disease, and supports communities and citizens to do the same. Visit the CDC website for current information on COVID-19
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