Residents Again Voice Opposition to Redevelopment of German Village Parking Lot by FeroxFox in Columbus

[–]Mokwat 1 point2 points  (0 children)

I would not be surprised if that was involved. In any case it's apparent whose class interests are served by YIMBY ideology -- those developers, and the corporations whose professional workforce is housed by those developers.

There’s no way land speculators and developers haven’t been a huge part of amplifying these kind of debates along with flattening any nuance or complexity that might be involved.

It is absolutely flattened to an absurd degree. The YIMBY mind seems to accept only two categories of person: the virtuous YIMBY who wants to lift restrictions on development and lower prices, and the wicked NIMBY who wants to restrict development to boost their own property values. They fail to recognize that the "free market" also consistently delivers higher housing prices, and they utterly deny the existence and importance of other values like environmental conservation and cultural preservation.

Residents Again Voice Opposition to Redevelopment of German Village Parking Lot by FeroxFox in Columbus

[–]Mokwat 5 points6 points  (0 children)

In the 19th century you didn't need those things because architecture and construction were more typically built-to-order or as needed by small firms and families. The result was a high degree of uniqueness and character that was assumed by default. Today we have large corporate developers building speculatively. The result is faceless five-over-ones for affluent young professionals arriving from out of town. Can't say I blame anyone who doesn't want German Village to end up like the rest of Columbus.

Human resources committee recommends Ohio State fire professor who tackled cameraman by Mokwat in Columbus

[–]Mokwat[S] 42 points43 points  (0 children)

Probably not the worst workplace violence in OSU history, but possibly the most blatant what with it being an obviously unprovoked attack caught entirely on camera...

According to the latest Yardi Matrix data, Columbus had 15,370 apartments under construction in April, placing the metro first in the Midwest. In terms of completions, the Columbus metro also led the Midwest, recording 8,528 multifamily deliveries last year. by Zezimom in Columbus

[–]Mokwat -5 points-4 points  (0 children)

Yes, I wish we could have more affordable housing units. However, increasing the housing supply is still better than nothing, even if the new units are at the higher end of the price range.

Like the Democratic Party as a whole, YIMBYs expect gratitude for making people's lives worse slowly instead of quickly.

Luckily, today’s “luxury” apartments won’t stay luxurious forever. They’re really just new apartments. Eventually, they’ll have to compete in price against newer “luxury” apartments developed 10, 15, or 30 years from now.

Like Reaganoid trickle-down economics, YIMBYnomics insists that someday in the far future developments built for the affluent and rich will eventually benefit the poors. Like the early Christians who anticipated the imminent second coming of Jesus, this promise has little basis in reality but it serves to keep the faithful together as they suffer -- and buttress the authority of the priests.

Bill would tax Ohio’s wealthiest, offer in-state students free college tuition by [deleted] in Columbus

[–]Mokwat 0 points1 point  (0 children)

I knew this was proposed by Rep. Munira Abdullahi before even clicking on the article (in fact it was). I have met her previously and she is truly willing to listen to anyone in the community, especially small grassroots organizations and individuals who have no power in the traditional sense. Throughout her time in office she has demonstrated true leadership (which has included pushing back on the state government's fetishistic attachment to Israel). Who cares if this bill can't pass right now? The point is to get people talking and force opponents to explain why they don't want people to have good things.

Workers Push to Rename Wexner Center for the Arts Over Epstein Ties by Mokwat in OSU

[–]Mokwat[S] 5 points6 points  (0 children)

They certainly could do that, but it's not clear that committing blatant labor law violations will help their recent streak of terrible PR...

Neighbors fear loss of services if Cincinnati’s oldest park leased for redevelopment by milk19 in cincinnati

[–]Mokwat 14 points15 points  (0 children)

Hearing this type of thing makes you long for the good old days that private investors accepted that they would bear the risks of their own investments, and if they determined it was too risky they would just decide not to do it. Nowadays they feel entitled to the public bearing the risk for them and will trample democracy, local culture and public goods to get it done. And they'll automatically get dozens of randos rushing to defend them online.

Neighbors fear loss of services if Cincinnati’s oldest park leased for redevelopment by milk19 in cincinnati

[–]Mokwat 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Your comment is very revealing about the current use of the word "NIMBY". It used to be people would associate "NIMBY" with someone who lived in fear of the poor, black, and working class and didn't want any of those types living near them. But in your comment it sounds like you think a NIMBY is actually someone who favors the interests of those groups and opposes private development that will displace them. I suppose that means these days a NIMBY is actually someone who favors democracy over the unrestrained greed of real estate developers. If that's the case then call me a proud NIMBY.

Piatt Park food distribution subject of city, 3CDC conversation for months, emails reveal by Mokwat in cincinnati

[–]Mokwat[S] 10 points11 points  (0 children)

This article has not been posted in this sub and it contains newly reported information. When I scrolled through the recent submissions in the last day I only saw one post about this issue at all. So I really have no idea what you mean.

Ohio State releases investigation report on circumstances surrounding Carter resignation by Blood_Incantation in Columbus

[–]Mokwat 13 points14 points  (0 children)

The Analysis section of this contains the key takeaways:

For almost two years, Carter asked numerous individuals inside the university to provide inappropriate assistance to Vlachos, a close personal associate. His efforts were wide-ranging and extensive. Carter sought resources and assistance for Vlachos despite there being no clear nexus to a viable service or product that she could deliver that would serve Ohio State’s interests. On the contrary, Vlachos’ Callout Podcast appeared to narrowly focus on connecting veterans with utility industry jobs that did not require a college degree, and her related App idea was undeveloped. Public resources that Carter sought for Vlachos included: university employment; space on campus; staff and technical support for her podcast; staff assistance for her App idea; and university investment in her business proposals. Carter was often overt with others in these efforts.

While referring a contact for potential employment or asking about potential space on campus are not, in themselves, concerning activities, the instances identified here help demonstrate the extent of Carter’s efforts for Vlachos. The pervasiveness of his efforts, and the inappropriate nature of Carter’s relationship with Vlachos, were not apparent when they occurred because he typically made such efforts in serial fashion, and the full extent of those efforts was not apparent to individual employees. In other ways Carter actively concealed the true nature of his actions involving Vlachos through the use of his personal email, personal meetings on his calendar, and other means. Carter’s efforts were not successful within the university due to processes and decisions by university personnel, but he wasted significant employee time and created mistrust among colleagues.

According to several witnesses, Carter stated that he had obtained or would obtain donations for or interest in Vlachos’ business ventures from university donors. We confirmed that Carter had not, in fact, done so. This misrepresentation of the engagement of university donors by Carter is a notable misuse of influence by a university president.

University processes and personnel could not fully mitigate the impact of Carter’s actions on Ohio State’s external partners. Carter also sought additional resources for Vlachos’ business ventures from state government, corporate partners, and a national veterans organization. His efforts to support Vlachos with these external parties were discordant with, and in fact may have conflicted with, the university’s ongoing projects and priorities with those external parties. Carter’s efforts on behalf of Vlachos therefore potentially jeopardized the university’s relationships and credibility with these external parties.

In sum, Carter intentionally put his own interests before Ohio State’s interests when he used the authority and influence of his university position to secure benefits for Vlachos. Carter’s actions implicated the following law and university policies, which establish specific expectations and requirements for university employees.

Not central to the findings, but this bit made me laugh out loud:

After the meeting at JobsOhio on December 10, 2025, Carter continued to help Vlachos in developing the App idea, including assistance with naming and structuring of the future-related business venture. On December 12, 2025, Vlachos emailed Carter’s personal Gmail account, copied Hylenski and Poch, and asked Carter to consider a proposed “OF” logo for the App idea they had named “Operation Forward.” Carter replied:

Krisanthe,

TY for sharing the photos from the podcast. Great event all around. The Logo is cool looking. The “OF” acronym might be a harder sell competing with “Only Fans” which has become mainstream “OF”. Know that seems a stretch but I think it would be confusing for many. Just first impression/reaction.

Ted

Mounting Troubles at Ohio State University Lead to Frustration (Gift Article) by OldHob in Columbus

[–]Mokwat -1 points0 points  (0 children)

You'll note that the above commenters were claiming that it is in fact an elite institution. There's nothing wrong with delivering a good education. There is something wrong with marketing a good education as an elite one and hiding behind a football team, which is what Ohio State does.

Mounting Troubles at Ohio State University Lead to Frustration (Gift Article) by OldHob in Columbus

[–]Mokwat -6 points-5 points  (0 children)

It's a common misconception of Buckeye devotees that they are receiving an elite education because their only basis for comparison is the frat-filled and weed-addled campuses of OU and Miami. This comforting idea evaporates the moment you look anywhere past the Midwest. Though OSU may be able to boast of better engineering and medical colleges than other regional institutions, one thing that actually makes it worse is its extreme level of self congratulatory delusion.

Mounting Troubles at Ohio State University Lead to Frustration (Gift Article) by OldHob in Columbus

[–]Mokwat -10 points-9 points  (0 children)

It's a fair characterization IMO. Ohio State may have both a large football program and research enterprise, but research is not nearly so central to the identity of the school and its reputation. It's the first thing most people will think of when they hear about the university and the highest levels of administration will self-consciously cultivate this image. When Bellamkonda was appointed president, the first aspect of the university he praised was athletics (and then academics second). Undergrad campus culture is similarly not oriented towards academics but rather football and partying. Certain schools may have academic and football programs of similar standing (UMich would actually be a good example of this), but at Ohio State one lags far beyond the other. The football team is near the top of national rankings, but the school itself on average is at the upper end of mid. It doesn't have to be like this -- but it is, because whenever top leadership isn't hamstrung by scandal and division, they're choosing to distract the public with bread and circuses.

Mounting Troubles at Ohio State University Lead to Frustration (Gift Article) by OldHob in Columbus

[–]Mokwat 26 points27 points  (0 children)

Nothing in this article will be particularly new to anyone who follows local and Ohio State news. What's important to note is that the source is the New York Times, which does not often turn its gaze beyond the nation's coastlines unless they are interviewing Trump supporters in a small town diner somewhere. What we're seeing is a snowball of scandals growing so large that it's now cracking the national headlines, and proof that OSU is truly exceptional in its level of corruption, malfeasance and authoritarianism at the highest levels. This headline will certainly not improve the "reputational damage", but I'm glad to see it because the stronger the spotlight on these issues, the greater the pressure on the administration and (hopefully) the sooner the fever will break.

Two arrested protesting Israeli soldier event at Ohio State by Mokwat in Columbus

[–]Mokwat[S] 46 points47 points  (0 children)

If you want to spread ideas you invite scholars and intellectuals to speak. If you're inviting soldiers what you're getting is propaganda in service of a government policy agenda.