Saturday Stats
Posted March 23, 2024 in eNews
Numeric news from Policy Matters
1000x: Factor by which you should multiply the revenue projections we reported in last month’s eNews for the downtown Cleveland tax increment financing (TIF) plan. We erroneously reported that the city expects as much as $7.5 million in increased revenue. We should have said $7.5 billion. We regret the error — but we don’t regret stopping by City Council to raise a few tough questions for proponents of the Shore-to-Core-to-Shore plan. Check out the full written testimony from Zach Schiller. (ICYMI: Zach set the stage for this week’s encounter when he questioned the TIF plan on Sound of Ideas earlier this month.)
3,000: Number of jobs by which Ohio still falls short of our all-time record, based on revised jobs data covered in this month’s JobWatch from economist Michael Shields. That big downward revision isn’t unusual, but it is more evidence of a troubling trend: Most of Ohio's COVID recovery happened when federal and state governments were acting aggressively to drive job growth. The recovery lost steam as lawmakers wound down most of those supports.
97.5%: Share of transgender youth who, five years after transitioning, still identify as trans or nonbinary, according to a 2022 study from the American Academy of Pediatrics. Although “detransitioning” is rare, the DeWine administration plans to collect personal medical information on trans kids in a way that makes it appear more common. As data wonks, we’re irked by sloppy data — but as human beings, we’re sickened by this and other proposed rules that, if passed, will harm trans kids and adults, especially Black trans Ohioans. We expressed our concerns this week in public comments by Bree Easterling and Kathryn Poe.
$800M+: Amount spent on cleanup by Norfolk Southern Railway, as of last month, after allowing their train full of toxic chemicals to derail in East Palestine, Ohio. It's been a year since the disaster, and residents are still feeling the effects. In the latest episode of What’s Good Ohio!?, we caught up with Timothea Deeter, an environmental organizer and East Palestine resident, to get the latest on how her community is coming together to demand accountability.
$8.5B: Amount of federal subsidies awarded to Intel as part of the CHIPS and Science act. Combined with their eligibility for $11 billion in low-cost loans, that adds up to a very good week for the corporate giant — despite the announcement that their plans for a new fabricator plant in New Albany will be delayed by at least two years.
$20B: Estimated cost of that project. CHIPS Communities United issued a press release this week, calling on Intel to use some of that money to protect water and air in New Albany and the surrounding communities, and respect workers’ rights to organize on the job . For a closer look at the potential environmental costs of Intel’s presence in Ohio, check out this op-ed in the Columbus Dispatch.
Action items
Join us at the Cleveland International Film Festival for a screening of It’s Basic, the new documentary about the impact of guaranteed basic income programs on families around the country. Tickets are on sale now! Use the code POLICY for $1 off each ticket. (Can't make it to Cleveland? It's Basic will be available to stream from April 14-21.) Stay tuned for more details...
Listen to episode 3 of the new season of What’s Good Ohio?!: “What’s Good with East Palestine” with Timothea Deeter.
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.
Apply to join the team at Honesty for Ohio Education! They’re accepting applications for a Communications and Programs Director.
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