Buckeye Beat: March 2020
Here are some of the biggest stories from our state in March!
Ohio Townhall on Climate Change
A unique trio of lawmakers are calling for steps to be taken to help the Earth’s changing climate.
Former Ohio governor John Kasich, former Ohio secretary of state John Kerry and former California Governor Arnold Schwarzenneger held a panel discussion on March 9 at Otterbein University.
The three politicians were representing Kerry’s non-profit foundation called World War Zero, which brings together people of different jobs and political parties to fight climate change.
They were trying to show that people from both sides of the aisle are concerned about environmental issues. They discussed renewable energy and fracking. Fracking is the process of pushing fluid into rocks below the earth’s surface to open them up and remove oil or natural gas. Fracking can cause both air and water pollution.
Kerry said he wants to continue having World War Zero-led discussions in other states and on social media.
Photo credit: Karen Kasler / Statehouse News Bureau
Ohio Primary
Sticking with politics, Ohio did not have its primary election on March 17th as previously scheduled.
Department of Health Director Amy Acton ordered it to be postponed as a health emergency, citing concerns about crowded polling places possibly allowing the coronavirus to spread easily.
The decision came around 10 p.m. the night before the primary was supposed to be held.
To vote, citizens must now request a ballot and mail it to their county’s boards of elections. Ballots must be mailed by April 27 or delivered in-person by the 28.
Photo credit: Karen Kasler / Statehouse News Bureau
Geneva-on-the-Lake Erosion
Because the primary was postponed, issues and levies that were on the ballot are still in limbo. A levy is a tax collected from people who live in a certain area.
One village with a levy on the ballot is Geneva-on-the-Lake, located right on the shores of Lake Erie in Ashtabula County. And lately, that shoreline has been causing problems for this town. The water has eroded up to 55 feet of the shoreline. That’s a dangerous risk to the public, as it’s getting closer to sewer lines, gas lines, and water pipes.
If voters pass the levy, it will give the park service funds to deal with the severe erosion. Now, officials will have to wait until ballots are processed in a month, or even longer.
Photo credit: Tim Dubravetz / ideastream
