Columbus, OH — The Ohio Environmental Council (OEC) Action Fund strongly encourages voters to vote NO on Issue 7, a ballot initiative that will move public money into the hands of a private company.
The following statement can be attributed in full or in part to Heather Taylor-Miesle, President of the OEC Action Fund:
“The OEC Action Fund strongly encourages Columbus voters to vote no on Issue 7. The proposed ballot initiative may look beneficial to Columbus’s environment and its residents, but really it will short-circuit the city’s ability to fight climate change.
“Issue 7 calls for the egregious transfer of $87 million from the city's general fund to a privately-held corporation. Vague ballot language makes it difficult to know where Columbus taxpayer funds would go, however the numbers are clear. Issue 7 would likely cause massive cuts to city services, including programs that benefit our environment.
“Issue 7 represents nothing more than a corporation that has placed itself in a position to pocket taxpayer dollars under the guise of clean energy. But in truth, the city has already created programs to cut pollution and create jobs: Clean Energy Columbus and the city’s forthcoming Climate Action Plan. We urge Columbus voters to vote no on Issue 7 because it distracts from what we actually need to do to create an equitable, renewable future.”
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Press inquiries? Contact ebacha<at>theoec.org.
The OEC Action Fund, a 501c4 organization, seeks to protect and enhance the environment, economic viability, and health of all Ohio communities by expanding access to public lands, advancing critical environmental priorities, holding policy makers accountable, and electing environmental champions.
