17.5%: Share of Ohio households facing undue energy burdens, without even considering heating fuel costs. That is one of many reasons Climate & Sustainability Researcher Molly Bryden delivered proponent testimony on House Bill 197, which would establish a pilot program for community solar in Ohio. She was among dozens delivering in-person or written testimonies in favor of the bill.
58,000: Number of school-age Ohio children who were unable to access needed health care, according to the 2020-21 National Survey of Children’s Health. Youth, Education & Opportunity Researcher Tanisha Pruitt, PhD, shared this on a panel at the 2024 Hispanic Legislative Visit Day. The panel shared insights on health, education, school counseling, public benefits, and economic development, along with solutions and the great work done within each field to help improve resources for Latine youth and families.
51st: Ohio’s rank, among all the states and D.C., for Publicly Funded Childcare eligibility for kids 0-5. In other words, last place. Childcare is an issue that effects everyone, but the consequences of a failing system often fall on women. That is why we focused our table at the Women’s Fund of Central Ohio’s Keyholder event on our Ohio’s Childcare Crisis report. The Keyholder 2024 program featured Joy Harjo, three-term United States Poet Laureate, in conversation with local author Maggie Smith. Our team had an excellent time chatting with attendees prior to the program!
$2 Billion: Projected new annual earnings generated by raising the minimum wage to $15 by 2026. That’s according to economist Michael Shields’ recent Raise the Wage report, which investigates the potential impact of the minimum wage ballot initiative for which advocates are now collecting signatures. The proposal also ends separate treatment for tipped, disabled, and young workers. However, lawmakers have introduced their own $15 minimum wage bill that would do away with these additional protections, slow down the increase, and make it easier for legislators to revoke or change it at any time. Shields told News 5 Cleveland that a constitutional amendment is the better option.
4: Number of Ohio’s 10 largest occupations that paid their median worker so little they would qualify for and likely depend on food aid to feed a family of three. This is among the many findings in Michael Shields’ annual analysis of employment data from the Bureau of Labor Statistics. His recommendations include raising the minimum wage to $15, supporting working parents and employers with a robust childcare system, and passing pro-worker policies like those in our New Way Forward platform — all of which would make Ohio a better place for working people.
71K: Number of people held behind bars in Ohio last year — the vast majority of whom will eventually be released. Senate Bill 198 would offer the bare minimum of support for people returning home from prison: some basic documents necessary for getting a job, which is one of the most effective ways to ensure a person isn’t re-incarcerated. For Cuyahoga County’s Re-Entry Week 2024, Communications Director Ben Stein published an op-ed about SB 198, Michael Shields spoke on a panel about collateral sanctions.
Action items
Show support for community solar (while those opposed to it deliver their testimony). On Wednesday, May 8, meet solar advocates in the Statehouse rotunda at 10:15, ahead of the 11:00 hearing. (Can’t make it to Columbus on Wednesday? Click here to email committee members about why they should support community solar!
Listen to the new episode of What’s Good Ohio?!: “What’s Good with The Democracy Collective.” Host Sarah & temporary co-host Ben (PMO comms team takeover!) talk with Kirby Broadnax and Teralawanda Aaron about Cleveland VOTES’ Democracy Collective program.
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Follow us on Reddit, where we’re trying out a new way of engaging with activists, organizers and advocates from all over the state, and beyond!
Head to the Statehouse to support child care providers as they demand funding for a 21st century child care system in Ohio. Join the Day Without Child Care on Monday, May 13th! RSVP here.
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Lame duck is an opportunity for legislators to act on data centers (and more)