The moral case for funding K-12 education
Education is a fundamental right and a cornerstone of a just and equitable society. In Ohio, as elsewhere, the quality of education profoundly impacts the opportunities available to students, shaping their futures and the broader community’s well-being. Adequate school funding is not merely a fiscal issue but a moral imperative, essential for ensuring every child […]
We’ll be keeping an eye on the Ohio Supreme Court
This piece was previously published on Cleveland.com and is reprinted here with permission. The Ohio Supreme Court has a responsibility to check unconstitutional, extremist legislation and uphold the will of voters. Justices will have ample opportunity to live up to that responsibility in 2025: Preemption and local control State and local governments both are charged with advancing […]
Targeting air pollution could help reduce childhood asthma
This piece was previously published on Cleveland.com and is reprinted here with permission. In his last State of the State address, Gov. Mike DeWine promised to address the root causes of childhood asthma. Supporting Ohio’s childcare programs — where children play, grow and learn — and targeting air pollution in their communities would be a great place […]
For most, the big increases in local property values won’t translate to a bunch more taxes
This piece originally appeared on Cleveland.com. Homeowners across Cuyahoga County have blanched over the big increase in assessed values of their properties, delivered this summer by the county in the regular revaluation of properties. But how much more will we be paying overall in property taxes? The surprising answer is: Not a whole lot. How […]
Doing the Work: Ohio Latino Affairs Commission
Hispanic and Latino Ohioans help shape the social and cultural fabric of their communities and contribute to economic development. The latest census data show that there are more than 16,000 Hispanic-owned businesses across the state. Hispanic Ohioans currently make up 4.4% of the state population; they are one of the few groups coming into Ohio, a state that has […]
More jobs don’t necessarily mean better ones
This piece was previously published on Cleveland.com and is reprinted here with permission. Every year, Policy Matters Ohio examines how well the economy is working for working Ohioans. On paper, employment and wages in 2023 were better than they have been in a long time. But how the economy looks on paper doesn’t always match the experience […]
The moral case for funding higher education
All Ohioans, no matter what they look like or how much money they have, deserve to go as far as their dreams and abilities take them. Access to higher education improves economic security and contributes to a robust workforce. A well-educated workforce is essential for economic growth and competitiveness. Higher education produces skilled professionals who […]
Ohio needs to take a permanent break from the sales tax holiday
This piece was previously published on Cleveland.com and is reprinted here with permission. At the end of July, Ohioans will be bombarded with ads promoting a newly-expanded tax gimmick that has been panned by experts across the political spectrum. Both the Tax Foundation, a conservative research group, and the Institute on Taxation and Economic Policy, a progressive think tank, have […]
6 Reasons Collective Bargaining Matters
Download the printable factsheet! When you set out to organize your workplace, or sit down at the bargaining table, knowledge is power. We’ve pulled together some of the most important economic data for organizers and bargaining teams to know, so you can win the best possible contract for your unit. Unions are popular! 67% of Americans […]
Care response also needs community
This piece was previously published on Cleveland.com and is reprinted here with permission. CLEVELAND — It’s promising that non-police response for people experiencing behavioral and mental health crises is coming to Cleveland, funded by the Alcohol, Drug Addiction and Mental Health Services Board of Cuyahoga County with a $1.7 million pilot. Known locally as care […]
We need to provide better support for Ohioans returning from prison
This piece was previously published on Cleveland.com and is reprinted here with permission. It’s Reentry Week in Cuyahoga County, dedicated to raising awareness about how we support (and too often fail to support) Ohioans who return home after being incarcerated. First, some facts about the people we imprison: Ohio held 71,000 people behind bars in […]
Income tax repeal would gut the budget to benefit the wealthiest
This piece was previously published on Cleveland.com and is reprinted here with permission. Ohio lawmakers have introduced legislation to eliminate the state’s personal income tax. This tax repeal would be devastating for Ohio. Not only is the proposal a budget-busting blunder, but it would also make Ohio’s tax system even more inequitable. In fiscal year […]