Columbus on the Record
Ohio Campaign 2026 - The Money Talks
Season 21 Episode 38 | 26m 46sVideo has Closed Captions
A look at how campaign donations are shaping the races for Ohio governor and US Senate.
With an open governor’s seat and control of the U.S. Senate at stake, candidates running for major office in Ohio this year are attracting lots of donations. We'll also discuss the tax policy positions of the candidates for Ohio governor, an effort to convert the at-large Columbus City Council to district representation and the privacy debate over Flock data-capturing cameras.
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Columbus on the Record is a local public television program presented by WOSU
Columbus on the Record
Ohio Campaign 2026 - The Money Talks
Season 21 Episode 38 | 26m 46sVideo has Closed Captions
With an open governor’s seat and control of the U.S. Senate at stake, candidates running for major office in Ohio this year are attracting lots of donations. We'll also discuss the tax policy positions of the candidates for Ohio governor, an effort to convert the at-large Columbus City Council to district representation and the privacy debate over Flock data-capturing cameras.
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Columbus on the Record is available to stream on pbs.org and the PBS app.
Providing Support for PBS.org
Learn Moreabout PBS online sponsorship>> MONEY TALKS IN THE 2026 OHIO CAMPAIGN.
>> WELCOME TO COLUMBUS ON THE RECORD.
WITH AN OPEN GOVERNOR'S SEAT.
.
AND CONTROL OF THE US SENATE AT STAKEÖ CANDIDATES RUNNING FOR MAJOR OFFICE IN OHIO THIS YEAR ARE ATTRACTING LOTS OF DONATIONS.
IN THE RACE OF US SENATE SHERROD BROWN HAS DONE BETTER THAN JON HUSTED.
OVER THE LAST FEW MONTHS BROWN HAS RAISED $14 MORE THAN TRIPLE HUSTED'S 4 MILLION DOLLARS.
IN THE RACE MILLION.
FOR GOVERNOR THE CANDIDATES HAVE RAISED CLOSE TO THE SAME AMOUNT OF MONEY.
VIVEK RAMASWAMY GOT A HEAD START, BUT AMY ACTON HAS OUTRAISED HIM SINCE JANUARY.
TO DISCUSS THIS TOPIC, LET ME INTRODUCE THIS WEEK'S PANEL.
.
REPORTER JESSIE BALMERT FROM THE USA TODAY OHIO NETWORK.
REPUBLICAN STRATEGIST BOB CLEGG.
.
AND PROGRESSIVE ACTIVIST MORGAN HARPER.
>> WE WILL START WITH YOU, DOES THE GAP IN FUNDRAISING, DIRECT FUNDRAISING BETWEEN BROWN AND HUSTED DOES IT WORRY REPUBLICANS?
>> I LOOKED BACK TO 2024.
RAISING ABOUT $97 MILLION THAT YEAR AND MORENO HAS OPPONENT RAISED $26 MILLION.
IT DID NOT MAKE A DIFFERENCE.
SO THEN I LOOKED AT 2022 WITH JD FANS AND TIM RYAN, RYAN RAISED $57 MILLION AND JD VANCE RAISED $5 MILLION.
>> IS THAT BECAUSE A LOT OF THE MONEY WAS GOING TO OUTSIDE GROUPS INSTEAD OF THE CANDIDATES DIRECTLY IN THOSE YEARS?
>> 20 OR 30 YEARS THAT WOULD HAVE BEEN A BIG GAP THAT A COMMITTEE COULD NOT MAKE UP.
NOW, WE HAVE ALL OF THE OUTSIDE GROUPS.
I TEND TO BELIEVE THOUGH, IN THE U. S. SENATE RACE, MONEY MEANS A LITTLE LESS BECAUSE IT IS FEDERALIZED.
WE HAVE TWO CANDIDATES THAT ARE WELL KNOWN.
GOVERNOR'S RACE, IT WILL BE A DIFFERENT STORY, TWO NEVER HELD PUBLIC OFFICE, THEY WILL HAVE TO DEFINE THEMSELVES BUT THEY ARE ALSO GOING TO HAVE TO DEFINE THEIR OPPONENT.
>> IS IT EASIER FOR DEMOCRATS TO RAISE MONEY THIS CYCLE?
DONALD TRUMP IS IN OFFICE, JUST LOST THE WHITE HOUSE, DEMOCRATS SEEM MOTIVATED IN A LOT OF WAYS?
>> IT DOES SEEM THERE IS A LOT OF ENERGY AMONG THE BASE TO PARTICIPATE.
WE ARE SEEING IT IN SOME OF THE FUNDRAISING.
BUT I AGREE WITH BOB AND WHAT Y'ALL ARE SAYING, IT WILL NOT BE SUFFICIENT FOR A COUPLE OF REASONS, ONE, OUTSIDE MONEY, HELLO, CITIZENS UNITED.
ANYTHING GOES, AND CAN GO, ELON MUSK WEIGHED IN ON THIS ONE.
IT IS VERY IMPORTANT ESPECIALLY FOR DEMOCRATS TO BE SUPER CLEAR IN OUR MESSAGING, I THINK PAYING FAIR SHARE IT IS A SOLID POLICY IDEA.
IT IS CLEARER.
I JUST THINK THAT WE HAVE TO STAY FOCUSED ON THE DIFFERENCE FOR US WILL BE PEOPLE TURNING OUT TO VOTE AND WHAT ARE GOING TO BE THE MESSAGES THAT MOST CLEARLY MOTIVATE THEM TO DO THAT.
>> SHOULD, SHOULD RAMASWAMY BE NERVOUS?
HE GOT OFF TO A HEAD START, NOMINATION, THE NOD EARLY FROM PRESIDENT TRUMP, THE REPUBLICANS BOWED OUT.
HE RAISED A LOT OF MONEY EARLY ON.
IT SORT OF LEVELED OFF NOW.
AND AMY IS BEATING HIM IN THE FUNDRAISING.
>> YES.
I THINK SHE IS COMPETITIVE FOR AN UNKNOWN CANDIDATE.
THAT RAMASWAMY HAS PERSONAL WEALTH AND HAS LOANED THE CAMPAIGN $25 MILLION AND COULD CERTAINLY ADD TO THAT AS HE IS A BILLIONAIRE.
WE WILL SEE.
ALSO THIS WEEK, SUPER PACK THAT IS SUPPORTING HIS BID GOT DONATIONS FROM OTHER BILLIONAIRES, TRILLION AIRES OR DONATIONS OF $20 MILLION.
A LOT OF MONEY FLYING AROUND IN THIS RACE >> IT IS DANGEROUS TO GET INTO ELON MUSK'S HEAD.
>> OH, YEAH, I WOULD NOT TRY IT.
>> I FIND THE DONATION ODD, THEY BUTTED HEADS BACK WITH THE EARLY DOGE AND THE CUTTING SPENDING THING.
$5 MILLION TO A TRILLIONAIRE IS IS NOT POCKET CHANGE, IT IS LIKE LINT.
HE HAS PLENTY OF MONEY.
WHY DID HE GIVE?
>> I THINK HE WANTS TO SEND A MESSAGE THAT HE IS SUPPORTIVE OF, YOU KNOW, FREE MARKET.
ESPECIALLY WITH WHERE THE DEMOCRATS ARE GOING THESE DAYS WITH THE SOCIALIST THING.
I THINK MUSK SEES THAT WE GOT TO PROTECT CAPITALISM HERE IN THE UNITED STATES AND HOW DO YOU DO THAT?
BY ELECTING THE RIGHT PEOPLE.
I THINK HE IS JUST TRYING TO MAKE A STATEMENT WITH THAT.
>> THE CAMPAIGN IS OUT WITH A SOCIAL MEDIA MEME.
CAN IT HELP IN THE MESSAGE BILLIONAIRE IS OUT OF TOUCH?
THAT IS WHAT SHE IS TRYING TO LABEL RAMASWAMY AS.
>> THERE ARE ANGLES WITH MUSK.
WE DON'T HAVE TO IMAGINE THAT.
A LOT OF PEOPLE ARE NOT HAPPY WITH WHAT HE WAS DOING IN THE ADMINISTRATION OR A LOT OF WHAT HE IS DOING AND HIS COMPANIES, I ALSO THINK THAT IT IS IMPORTANT FOR HER TO REALLY FOCUS IN ON THIS CORRUPTION MESSAGE.
NOT JUST THAT HE IS WEALTHY IT IS THAT HE ALSO IS CORRUPT.
AN EXTENSION OF WHAT WE ARE SEEING IN WASHINGTON.
THROUGH POLLING, PEOPLE ARE NOT HAPPY WITH HOW MUCH CORRUPTION IS HAPPENING.
>> YOU RAISED THE MONEY AND THEN YOU ARE GOING TO SPEND IT.
RAMASWAMY, SPENDING A LOT OF MONEY ON THE ADS IN THE PAST FOUR OR FIVE MONTHS, THE PACK SUPPORTING HIM WITH A LOT OF NEGATIVE ADS.
AND AMY HAS NOT SPENT THE MONEY SHE HAS RAISED AT LEAST ON TV.
>> IT IS INTERESTING WHEN AMY DECIDES TO START SPENDING SUBSTANTIAL AMOUNT OF MONEY THAT SHE WILL NEED TO ON ADVERTISEMENTS DEFINING HERSELF OR RAMASWAMY.
I KNOW THE CAMPAIGN IN GENERAL HAS BEEN LOOKING LIKE IT QUOTES FROM HIS PRESIDENTIAL BID AND SO FORTH.
I WOULD EXPECT THOSE TO SHOW UP IN ADS GOING FORWARD.
>> THIS IS YOUR BUSINESS, PLACING ADS, WHERE DO YOU PLACE ADS THESE DAYS?
YOU WATCH WORLD CUP THEY ARE THERE, AND ALL OF IT.
>> "WHEEL OF FORTUNE" ALWAYS.
BUT, IS TV, IS IT AS EXPENSIVE FOR CAMPAIGNS?
>> OH, YEAH, NOT PUTTING AS MUCH.
>> YOU HAVE TO PICK THE RIGHT THING ON TV.
SPORTS, BIG ON BROADCASTS, BROADCAST HELD UP BUT IT, IT IS SPORTS.
IT IS SPECIAL EVENTS T. IS NOT BUYING, YOU KNOW, COMEDY PRIME TIME OR ANYTHING LIKE THAT.
YOU GOT TO DO STREAMING.
HAVE TO DO STREAMING SO MANY PEOPLE ARE, YOU KNOW, NOT ON CABLE.
THEY ARE NOT WATCHING BROADCASTS, THEY ARE STREAM FIGURE IT IS NETFLIX OR PARAMOUNT OR WHATEVER.
SO, THAT IS WHERE THE MONEY HAS TO BE SPENT NOW.
JUST GOT TO SPEND MORE OF IT IN A LOT OF DIFFERENT PLACES.
>> ALL RIGHT.
>> WELL, WE WILL BE SEEING THEM, NO DOUBT.
ON THE PHONES, ON OUR TVs IN OUR SLEEP.
ANYWAY.
>> VIVEK RAMASWAMY THIS WEEK LAID OUT SOME TAX CUT PRIORITIES AS HE PICKED UP THE ENDORSEMENT OF THE OHIO CHAMBER OF COMMERCE.
RAMASWAMY PROMISED TO EVENTUALLY ELIMIATE OHIO'S INCOME TAX.
AND HE VOWED TO MORE IMMEDIATLEY ELIMINATE OHIO'S TAX ON CAPITAL GAINS.
COMBINED THE TWO TAXES BRING IN ABOUT $10.
5 BILLION A YEAR.
WHICH IS ABOUTTHIRD OF THE REVENUE OHIO NEEDS EACH YEAR TO BALANCE ITS BUDGET.
AMY ACTON PROMISES TAX ACREDITS FOR LOW AND MODERATE INCOME OHIOANS .
.
AND A CHILD TAX CREDIT.
HER PLANS COULD COST UP TO A BILLION DOLLARS.
EITHER CANDIATE HAS OFFERED SPECIFICS ON HOW THEY WOULD PAY FOR THEIR PROPOSALS.
FIRST TO THE CAPITAL GAINS ELIMINATION, NOT REALLY A SURPRISE.
WHAT IS, YOU THINK, RAMASWAMY REASONING WITH DOING AWAY WITH THAT TAX?
>> THIS IS A TAX YOU PAY ON STOCKS AND LIKE KIND OF OTHER LARGE PURCHASES.
LARGELY BENEFIT THE WEALTHIEST OHIOANS IN THE STATE THOSE ARE THE PEOPLE THAT TEND TO HAVE THOSE TYPES OF INVESTMENTS, HIS PITCH IS IF YOU KEEP THESE PEOPLE HAPPY THEY WILL BRING THE JOBS TO OHIO AND THEY ARE GOING TO INVEST IN THE STATE AND NOT TAKE THEIR BUSINESSES ELSEWHERE.
SO, CAPITAL GAINS IS SOMETHING HE WOULD LIKE TO ELIMINATE INCOME TAX ON IN THE FIRST BUDGET AND ON THE INCOME TAX GENERALLY, OVER 8-10 YEARS.
IT IS KIND OF IN LINE WHAT OHIO REPUBLICANS HAVE BEEN DOING ANY WAY.
>> HE WOULD JOIN SOUTH DAKOTA AND WYOMING IN DOING AWAY WITH OUR CAPITAL GAINS TAX?
>> YEAH.
STEAL JOBS FROM SOUTH DAKOTA AND WYOMING?
>> STEALING A LOT OF MILLIONAIRES AND BILLIONAIRES FROM WYOMING THEY ARE ALL IN JACKSON HOLE.
BUT, I MEAN WE CAN SEE, LOOK AT THE STATE OF NEW YORK.
THEIR TAX POLICY IS, IT IS CAUSING ALL THESE WEALTHY INDIVIDUALS TO FLEE THE STATE.
AND WHAT DOES THAT MEAN?
IT MEANS YOUR TAX REVENUE GOES DOWN.
SO, WE CAN'T AFFORD THAT HERE >> OHIO.
I WOULD LIKE TO KEEP THE MONEY HERE.
ALSO, STUDIES HAVE BEEN DONE THAT CAPITAL GAINS CUTS LEAD TO MORE GROWTH BECAUSE THEY TAKE THAT MONEY AND SPEND IF OR INVEST IT IN THEIR BUSINESS.
MOST OF THESE GUYS OR A LOT OF THESE GUYS ARE BUSINESSMEN.
THEY TAKE THE PROFIT OFF OF IT AND PUT IT BACK IN THE COMPANY THAT MEANS MORE JOBS.
>> MORGAN, IT IS A SIMPLE MESSAGE.
ELIMINATE THE INCOME TAX, ELIMINATE THE CAPITAL GAINS TAX.
AMY, MUCH MORE NUANCE, HARD TO EXPLAIN HOW HER TAX CUTS WILL BENEFIT THE AVERAGE OHIOAN.
>> I THINK BEING MORE CLEAR IN THE ATTACK OF THE WEAKNESSES, WHAT ACTUALLY RAMASWAMY ARE LEADING TO.
IT IS AGAIN THE THEME OF BILLIONAIRE TAKE OVER OHIO AND PICKING UP ON SOMETHING BOB SAID.
PEOPLE LEAVING NEW YORK, I DON'T KNOW, THERE WAS A STORY THIS MORNING ON YOUR RADIO STATION AND THEY ARE TRYING TO RUSH TO NEW YORK.
HOW IN THE HECK ARE PEOPLE GOING TO BUILD JOBS IN THE STATE IF THEY ARE NOT WELL EDUCATED AND HOW DO YOU DO THAT WITHOUT TAX REVENUE?
I REALLY WONDER.
SO, BEING ABLE TO TAKE IT BACK IT WILL BE CLEAR TO HIGHLIGHT THE IMPACTS OF THE POLICIES THAT HE IS MAKING SO IT IS NOT A POLICY BACK AND FORTH.
>> I THINK THE PROBLEM THAT WE GOT WHETHER WE START TALKING ABOUT THIS IS THAT WE CAN TALK ABOUT CAPITAL GAINS, WE CAN TALK ABOUT TAX CUT BUT IT IS PERSONAL PROPERTY TAX THAT IS REALLY THE TAX THAT IS GOING TO MATTER IN THIS RACE.
AND, I DON'T THINK EITHER, BOTH CANDIDATES WANT TO LOWER THEM BUT THEY DON'T SAY HOW THEY ARE GOING TO LOWER THEM.
THEY DON'T SAY WHERE THE MONEY IS GOING TO COME FROM TO MAKE UP FOR THE LOST REVENUE TO LOCAL GOVERNMENT AND SCHOOLS AND EVERYBODY ELSE.
THAT IS GOING TO BE THE REAL STICKING POINT IN THIS CAMPAIGN.
AND, THEN, WHICH CANDIDATE IS ABLE TO ADDRESS THAT ISSUE MORE CLEARLY AND WITH IDEAS OF HOW THEY ARE GOING TO FUND IT.
IT IS GOING TO BE THE ONE THAT IS GOING TO COME OUT AHEAD ON THE TAX ISSUE.
>> GOING TO FUND IT, JESSE IS RAISE OTHER TAXES THAT YOU WANT TO ELIMINATE THAT I DON'T THINK WE ARE TALKING ABOUT ANYMORE IT IS $24 BILLION.
IT IS A LOT OF MONEY.
YOU WILL HAVE TO RAISE SALES TAX OR SOMETHING DOWN THE ROAD.
>> CERTAINLY WHETHER FOLKS WERE TALKING ABOUT ELIMINATING IT ENTIRELY.
THAT WAS THE MESSAGE.
INCREASE SALES TAX OR INCOME TAX TO FILL THIS HOLE.
AND, SO, RAMASWAMY IS TALKING ABOUT TAKING IT TO LEVELS AT THE END OF COVID PANDEMIC WHICH, AGAIN, THAT LACKS A LOT OF DETAIL AND THEN, AMY IS TALKING ABOUT HOMESTEAD EXCEPTIONS THAT COULD BENEFIT SOME OF THE MOST NEEDY PEOPLE, BUT NOT LIKE A WIDESPREAD SOLUTION FOR PROPERTY TAX CONCERNS, SO, YOU ARE RIGHT.
THERE HAS BEEN A LOT MORE FOCUS ON INCOME TAX AND PROPERTY TAX AND EVEN THOUGH THAT IS WHAT OHIOANS HAVE LARGELY BEEN COMPLAINING ABOUT.
>> MORGAN, NOW RAMASWAMY WANTS TO ELIMINATE THE STATE INCOME TAX THAT IS 2.
57% NOW AND THE CAPITAL GAINS TAX BUT THAT IS NOT THE ONLY TAX THAT OHIOANS PAY.
BOB MENTIONED PROPERTY TAXES, CITY INCOME TAXES, THERE IS METRO PARK LEVIES, COLUMBUS STATE WANTS TO PUT A LEVY TO PAY FOR FREE TUITION.
IT IS SO COMPLICATED TAX CUTS DO NOT EFFECT A LOT OF PEOPLE WHEN IT COMES DOWN TO IT >> YEAH.
THAT IS WHERE I THINK IT IS IMPORTANT TO AVOID THIS TAXATION FOR TAT.
I DON'T THINK IT WILL COME OUT IN OUR FAVOR.
A BETTER ROUTE TO CONSIDER SOME OF THE PROACTIVE POLICIES THAT ARE EASIER FOR THE PUBLIC TO UNDERSTAND TO WRAP YOUR HEADS AROUND.
WE HAVE SEEN IT IN OTHER RACES AROUND THE COUNTRY.
PLAN FOR HEALTH CARE.
CHILDCARE, THERE IS A LOT OF THING THAT GO INTO CREATING A SOLID LIFE FOR PEOPLE IN OUR STATE.
AND EASY FOR PEOPLE TO UNDERSTAND.
>> THE MESSAGE FOR PROPERTY TAXES IS, IT IS A BIG HIT.
ESPECIALLY FOR FOLKS WHO PAID OFF THEIR MORTGAGE AND GET THAT BILL DIRECTLY EVERY YEAR.
INCOME TAXES IS 2.
5% YOU DON'T SEE IT UNTIL YOU GO TO FILE YOUR TAXES AT THE END OF THE YEAR.
PROPERTY TAXES HIT YOU IN THE FACE EVERY YEAR.
>> YES.
>> AND SENIOR CITIZENS ARE THE ONES THAT GET THE HARDEST WITH IT BECAUSE THEY ARE ON A FIXED INCOME AND THEY USUALLY OWN THEIR HOME AND LIVE IN THEIR HOME.
SO, YOU KNOW, WE MAY HAVE TO, YOU KNOW, THERE STILL IS A BALLOT INITIATIVE OUT THERE THAT COULD GO ON THE BALLOT THAT WOULD COMPLETELY ERASE PROPERTY TAXES OF ANY KIND.
AND I THINK, YOU KNOW, EACH OF THE CANDIDATES SHOULD BE ASKED IF OHIO DOES AWAY WITH PROPERTY TAXES, WHAT IS YOUR PLAN TO TRY TO MAKE UP THAT MONEY?
>> WE WILL SEE.
COULD BE ON THE BALLOT NEXT YEAR.
THAT IS WHAT THEY ARE SAYING.
>> COLUMBUS VOTERS THIS FALL COULD DECIDE WHETHER TO CHANGE HOW CITY COUNCIL MEMBERS ARE ELECTED.
RIGHT NOW ALL NINE MEMBERS MUST LIVE IN NINE CITY COUNCIL DISTRICTS, SO THEY ARE SPED OUT AROUND THE CITY, CITYWIDE.
THAT CAN LEADWHAT HAPPENED LAST YEARÖ A COUNCIL MEMBER CAN STILL WIN A SEAT EVEN IF VOTERS IN THE TODISTRICT WANTED A DIFFERENT CANDIDATE.
THE NEW PROPOSAL CALLS FOR A TRUE ALL-DISTRICT ITY COUNCIL.
EACH DISTRICT WOULD ELECT ITS OWN COUNCIL MEMBER.
THE CANDIDATES WOULD NOT RUN CITY WIDE.
THE GROUP OUR CITY, OUR SAY THIS WEEK SUBMITTED 23,000 SIGNATURES, DOUBLE THEOF VALID SIGNATURES THEY'D NEED TO QUALIFY FOR THE BALLOT.
NUMBER YOU ARE THE LEADER THE GROUP.
THE THINKING IS THEY LIVE IN THE DISTRICTS IF THEY RUN CITYWIDE KEEP THE BIG PICTURE IN MIND.
[ LAUGHTER ] >> THAT IS THE THEORY.
[ LAUGHTER ] >> THAT IS THE THEORY.
>> YES.
WHAT IS BETTER ABOUT A TRUE ALL- DISTRICT CITY COUNCIL?
>> THERE IS EASY BECAUSE IT IS RECENT.
I HAVE HAD A LOT OF CONVERSATIONS WITH PEOPLE OVER THE PAST COUPLE OF MONTHS ABOUT THIS ISSUE.
IT COMES DOWN TO A COUPLE OF THINGS, ONE, WHEN YOU HAVE TO RUN FOR THE DISTRICT IT MAKES IT A LITTLE EASIER TO RUN AS SOMEONE WHO MIGHT BE MORE OF A GRASS-ROOTS CANDIDATE.
AND THEN, TWO, ONCE ELECTED THEN YOU ARE ABLE TO FOCUS A LITTLE BIT MORE ON YOUR DISTRICT.
EACH DISTRICT I THINK HAS 200,000 PEOPLE VERSUS THE $1 MILLION PEOPLE WE HAVE IN THE CITY OF COLUMBUS.
YOU KNOW, TURNS OUT, ONE OF TWO OF THE LARGEST 50 CITIES IN AMERICA THAT HAS THE SYSTEM AT LARGE.
IT IS US AND TUCSON.
HOW MANY PEOPLE DOES TUCSON HAVE?
$350,000 PEOPLE.
--350,000 PEOPLE.
IT WAS NOT A TOUGH CASE TO MAKE TO THE PEOPLE IN THE COMMUNITY TO CONVINCE THEM IT IS A GOOD IDEA AND GET THEM TO SIGN BUT ULTIMATELY WE HAVE A CONVERSATION FROM HERE UNTIL NOVEMBER.
>> YOUR OPPONENTS ARE GOING TO SAY ALL DISTRICT CITY COUNCIL IT IS GOING TO BE GRIDLOCK.
NOT IN MY BACKYARD, DISTRICT REPS CITY COUNCILMEMBERS WILL BE CONCERNED ABOUT THEIR PART OF THE CITY AND THE CITY WILL BE STUCK WITHOUT THAT BIG PICTURE THINKING, WHY NOT A HYBRID SYSTEM, A LITTLE BIT OF BOTH?
>> YEAH, ONE, WE WANT TO SEE CHANGE THAT IS WHAT WE HEARD FROM A LOT OF PEOPLE ON THE GROUND.
THESE DISTRICTS WERE ALREADY DRAWN, ACTUALLY, BY THE CITY SO WE WOULD NOT HAVE TO GO THROUGH A MAP DRAWING PROCESS.
I THINK WE ALL EXPERIENCED THAT AT THE STATE LEVEL HOW COMPLICATED AND BELABORED AND LEADS TO NOTHING THAT CAN GET.
BUT, AGAIN, YOU STILL HAVE TO PERSUADE PEOPLE TO VOTE, RIGHT?
IF YOU WANT THINGS FOR YOUR DISTRICT YOU HAVE TO TALK TO ANOTHER PEOPLE ON COUNCIL, YOU HAVE TO CONVINCE THEM TO VOTE, YOU HAVE TO BUILD COALITION, THAT IS WHAT WE END UP CALLING DEMOCRACY.
I DON'T THINK WE SHOULD BE AFRAID OF THAT.
A LOT OF INCENTIVES FOR PEOPLE TO WORK TOGETHER ACROSS DISTRICTS AND, AGAIN, THE DISTRICT REPRESENTATIVES THEMSELVES WOULD HAVE A MUCH BETTER IDEA OF THE PRIORITIES ARE WITH THE CONSTITUENTS.
>> REPUBLICANS ARE SHUTOUT CITY HALL.
AND, THIS, HOW DO YOU FEEL ABOUT THIS ALL DISTRICT CITY KIND OF, YOU DON'T LIVE IN THE CITY, ALL DISTRICT COUNCIL SIT WITH YOUR PARTY?
>> WELL, I MEAN, FOR YOU.
>> YEAH.
I MEAN, THE WHOLE THING STARTED WITH THE DEMOCRATIC ESTABLISHMENT.
WANTING TO SET UP A SYSTEM.
THEY KNEW THERE WAS, YOU KNOW, 10 YEARS AGO THIS WAS STARTING TO GET A MORE DISTRICT THING AND THEY KNEW THEY HAD TO ANSWER IT SO THEY COME UP WITH THIS RIDICULOUS SYSTEM OF HAVING DISTRICT COUNCIL PEOPLE BUT ELECTED AT LARGE.
AND THE POINT OF IT WAS TO KEEP OUTSIDERS OUT.
I THINK IN THE BEGINNING IT WAS REPUBLICANS AND INDEPENDENTS.
WE SAW JUST LAST FALL IT IS NOW MORGAN'S SIDE OF THE PARTY, YOU KNOW, THEY ARE TRYING TO KEEP OUT.
PROGRESSIVE SIDE.
AND, IT IS, IT IS PROTECTING THEIR TERRITORY.
IT IS MAKING SURE THAT THEY ARE NOT HELD ACCOUNTABLE.
WE HAVE SEEN A LOT OF PROBLEMS WITH CITY HALL OVER THE YEARS.
IF YOU HAVE AN OUTSIDER WHO IS NOT PART OF THEIR DEMOCRATIC ESTABLISHMENT GROUP YOU MIGHT HAVE ACCOUNTABILITY BEING BROUGHT IN.
I THINK WHAT IS GOING TO HAPPEN IS, AND I AM SURE MORGAN AND HER GROUP DISCUSSED IT.
I THINK A CITY COUNCILMEMBER WILL PUT OUT A PROPOSAL TO DO A HYBRID LIKE TOLEDO HAS.
SIX DISTRICTS, SIX AT LARGE.
I DON'T KNOW IF YOUR GROUP WILL BE HAPPY WITH THAT.
IT IS AT LEAST BETTER THAN THE RIDICULOUS SYSTEM THAT WE HAVE TODAY.
>> STATE LEGISLATURE DOES NOT HAVE ANY AT-LARGE HOUSE MEMBERS OR AT-LARGE U. S. SENATE MEMBERS.
SO, IF, IT WORKS THERE EVEN THOUGH YOU ARE INTEREST AND LOYALTY IS TO YOUR DISTRICT YOU HAVE TO WORK WITH OTHER LAWMAKERS?
>> YEAH, AND I THINK YOU SEE JUST A VARIETY OF OPINIONS, OBVIOUSLY, THEY ARE A REDISTRICTING PROCESS.
THERE ARE MEMBERS OF THE OHIO LEGISLATURE THAT THE LEADERS THE LEGISLATURE DO NOT AGREE WITH AND YOU HAVE THAT KIND OF BACK AND FORTH BETWEEN MEMBERS.
EVERYONE SOMETIMES WITHIN THE SAME PARTY.
>> SO, WHAT IS YOUR NEXT STEP ON THIS, MORGAN?
I AM CONFUSED.
DOES COUNCIL HAVE TO AGREE TO PUT IT ON THE BALLOT BEFORE IT GOES ON THE BALLOT?
>> THEY HAVE TO CERTIFY THE SIGNATURES AND THEN IT WILL GO ON THE BALLOT AND BOB IS RIGHT, COUNCIL HAS THE ABILITY TO REFER THINGS TO GO THE BALLOT WITHOUT SIGNATURE-GATHERING PROCESS.
ONE OTHER THING THAT I WOULD MAKE ON COMPS, COMPARISONS, A LOT OF THE SUBURBS THEY HAVE DISTRICT REPRESENTATION.
FROM HERE WE WILL IT TALK TO AS MANY PEOPLE AS POSSIBLE.
GET MORE INFORMATION, GET INVOLVED.
MORE THAN ANYTHING, AGAIN, BUILDING OFF OF SOMETHING THAT BOB SAID.
IT IS NOT A NEW ISSUE, THE POWERS AT BE TRIED TO FEND IT OFF AS MUCH AS POSSIBLE AND NOW IT IS TIME TO GET SERIOUS.
>> OVER THE PAST COUPLE OF YEARS CAMERAS POWERED BY SMALL SOLARPANELS POPPED OCCUPY ON CITY STREETS.
THEY ARE LICENSE PLATE SCANNING CAMERAS.
CATCHING PASSING CARS AND THEY FIND PEOPLE SUSPECTED OF COMMITTING CRIMES.
PRIVACY EXPERTS WORRIED ABOUT THE CAMERASES AND WHAT THE COMPANY DOES WITH THE RECORDING AND THE DATA.
WE FOUND IT WAS, LICENSING DATA WAS USED.
THE MAYOR ORDERED THE POLICE TO STOP SHARING THE DATA STATEWIDE.
WHAT DO YOU THINK ABOUT HAVING A CAMERA CAPTURE EVERY PLATE THAT GOES BY?
EVERY DAY?
CAMERA?
I WAVE, YES.
>> YEAH, YEAH, YEAH.
>> THIS IS SOCIETY TODAY.
I MEAN, LET'S LOOK AT RING CAMERAS THAT INDIVIDUALS HAVE ON THEIR FRONT PORCHES.
LOOK AT WHAT IS PICKED UP THERE.
FROM MY VIEWPOINT THE GOOD THING IT IS BEING USED TO SOLVE CRIMES.
A MURDER THAT OCCURRED, YOU KNOW, JUST LAST WINTER AND THEY WERE ABLE TO USE THE CAMERAS TO FIGURE OUT THAT THE MURDER WAS THE EX-HUSBAND LIVING OUT IN ILLINOIS.
SO, THEY WOULD NOT HAVE BEEN ABLE TO DO THAT WITHOUT THAT TECHNOLOGY.
THE QUESTION IS, DO WE WANT TO DO AWAY WITH SOMETHING THAT IS KEEPING OUR PEOPLE SAFER?
JUST BECAUSE IT IS BEING USED FOR OTHER PURPOSES.
>> SO, WHERE IS THE BALANCE, MORGAN, BETWEEN SAFETY, THE POLICE SAY THEY SOLVED 60% OF THE MURDERS USING THESE CAMERAS OR SOMETHING LIKE THAT.
A BIG NUMBER.
WHERE IS THE BALANCE?
>> I AM CURIOUS WHAT THE RATE WAS BEFORE USING THE CAMERAS.
I DON'T THINK WE CAN DENY CAMERAS PICK UP MORE INFORMATION THAN WITHOUT A CAMERA.
>> BUT, WE CAN BE DISCERNING ABOUT WHICH COMPANIES WE WORK WITH AND THE POINT OF TECHNOLOGY.
A TRASH COMPANY HAD PEOPLE THAT WORKED THERE THAT WERE USING THEIR TECHNOLOGY TO ACCESS VIDEOS OF CHILDREN IN INAPPROPRIATE WAYS AND THEY DID NOTHING ABOUT IT.
SO, I THINK WE SHOULD HOLD OURSELVES TO A HIGHER STANDARD.
>> IT HAS BEEN A STATEWIDE ISSUE BEFORE.
WITH THE RED LIGHT CAMERAS AND THE STATE LEGISLATURE GOT INVOLVED.
KYIV LAND DOES AS WELL.
WHERE ARE THE STATE PACKERS?
IS IT ON OUR RADAR YET TO USE THE PUN?
>> SEE WHAT YOU DID THERE, MIKE.
[ LAUGHTER ] >> THEY ARE ON BRACK SO WE HAVE NOT HAD A CHANCE TO ASK THEM.
WOULD NOT BE SURPRISED.
LAWMAKERS LIKE TO STEP IN AND HAVE A STATE-WIDE STANDARD WE WILL SEE IF THE RED LIGHT CAMERAS WERE SOMETHING THAT WE WENT BACK AND FORTH ON AT THE STATE LEVEL FOR SOME TIME.
CLEVELAND JUST EXTENDED USE OF THEM FOR ANOTHER SIX MONTHS.
WE WILL SEE.
>> WHAT ABOUT SHARING THE DATA WITH OTHER POLICE AGENCIES, BOB?
OR IS THAT --SHOULD THEY KEEP IT IN HOUSE?
>> I HAVE A CONCERN ABOUT THAT, MIKE.
ONE OF THE THINGS IS DEPARTMENT OF HOMELAND SECURITY.
AND, NORMALLY YOU WOULD SAY, IT IS GOING TO BE IMMIGRATION, NO, UNFORTUNATELY WE HAD A CRAZY GUY UP IN MT.
VERNON WHO WAS INVOLVED IN DOING A MASS SHOOTING AT THE WHITE HOUSE ON THE FOURTH OF JULY.
SO, I MEAN, ONCE AGAIN, I MEAN, HOW MUCH DO WE WANT TO COMPROMISE OUR SAFETY BECAUSE OF HOW THE CAMERAS ARE BEING USED?
I THINK IT SHOULD BE USED FOR THINGS LIKE THAT.
I MEAN THAT IS THE PURPOSE OF THEM.
>> MORGAN?
>> YEAH.
GUARDRAILS MATTER A LOT.
DON'T HAVE A LOT OF FAITH HOW DATA IS MANAGED BY THE GOVERNMENT FOR SURE, AGAIN, OTHER COMPANIES OUT THERE.
IT IS SUPER PROBLEMATIC >> THIS TECHNOLOGY THEY CAN TRACK YOU ON THE PHONE IT HAS BEEN AROUND PLEASE CRUISERS FOR A LONG TIME.
DRIVING BY AND SCANS LICENSE PLATES T IS HERE AND HOW TO MANAGE IT .
>> NOW, I WANT TO MAKE SURE KROGER, GIANT, EAGLE MERGER THAT WILL EFFECT A LOT OF US.
SOMETHING TO KEEP ON THE RADAR.
PROPOSED IT WILL HAVE TO GO TO REVIEW.
IT IS KIND OF A FUN TOPIC BECAUSE IT IMPACTS ALL OF US.
>> THE STATE OF OHIO ANNOUNCED THEY WILL TAKE $1 MILLION TO HELP THE 16 CHILDREN THAT WERE FOUND IN TERRIBLE, DEPLORABLE CONDITIONS AND I KNOW IT CRITICIZED GOVERNMENT USING IN AREAS THEY SHOULD NOT BE, THIS IS AN AREA GOVERNMENT SHOULD BE INVOLVED AND THEY ARE AND A GOOD SHOUT OUT TO OUR NEW ATTORNEY GENERAL ANDY WILSON, WHO HAS DONE A GREAT JOB IN HANDLING THAT WHOLE CASE.
>> ALL RIGHT, JESSI E WITHIN THE EXPLOSIVE DIARRHEA AND THE WILDFIRE SMOKE IT MIGHT BE BEST TO STAY INSIDE AND CELEBRATE NATIONAL ICE CREAM DAY ON JULY 19th.
>> TRY TO AVOID IT.
TRY TO.
YES.
>> [ LAUGHTER ] >> CONGRESS IS CONSIDERING MAKING DAYLIGHT SAVING TIME PERMANENT.
FOR HERE IN OHIO THAT WOULD MEAN WE DON'T SEE THE SUN UNTIL 9:00 IN THE MORNING.
I SAY WE SHOULD GO TO STANDARD TIME THAT WAY KIDS CAN GET TO THE SCHOOL BUS WHETHER IT IS STILL DAYLIGHT IN THE DEAD OF WINTER AND, FOLKS MY AGE AND OLDER CAN SEE AC/DC AT NIGHT IN THE SUMMERTIME AND IT WILL BE DARK WHEN THE CONCERT >> THAT'S COLUMBUS ON THE RECORD FOR THIS WEEK A HAPPENS.
REMINDERÖ TO CHECK OUT THE WOSU NEWS YOU TUBE PAGE.
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THERE YOU CAN SEE AND SHARE EVERY EPISODE OF THIS PROGRAM.
GO TO YOU TUBE AND SEARCH WOSU NEWS.
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YOU CAN ALSO WATCH US ON DEMAND AT WOSU.
ORG AND THE PBS APP.
FOR THE CREW AND OUR PANEL, I'M MIKE THOMPSON, HAVE A GOOD WEEK.
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