The following constitute the position of The Cincinnati Beacon’s Editorial Board on the State and Local ballot initiatives for this coming election. 

Additionally, we have video footage of a representative from The League of Women Voters accompanying several of our positions, to further your understanding of the upcoming ballot. 

(If you would like to spread this link around, to promote a full knowledge of the issues prior to election day, use this Tiny URL to avoid the link breaking in the body of the email message.  The League of Women Voters promotes spreading the word, and we are happy to help!  http://tinyurl.com/yx8q6n

Also, just click on the issue number to see the full text.)

If allowed on the ballot (the details are apparently tied up in court), this initiative will improve the rights of injured workers for Workers’ Compensation claims.  We like that the initiative grants benefits to the victims of sexual assault.

VOTE YES

The Issue 1 situation has grown more complex.  While there are things, on the surface, that seem great (like benefits for those sexually assaulted, and protecting the privacy of those who have been injured), it seems there is more to the picture.  A few readers contacted us (and a reader commented below) indicating there is more to Issue 1 than appears after an initial read.  We therefore withdraw our support at this time.

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Issue 2

We don’t buy the argument that an increase in minimum wage cause significant raises in costs.  After all, we’re talking about a long-overdue increase for people working at the bottom of the socioeconomic scale.  Full time workers should be able to pay their bills!  Besides, the prices on everything won’t raise unless everyone’s wages increase, which will not be the case.

VOTE YES

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Issue 3 (Ohio Learn and Earn)

We don’t necessarily have a problem with gambling, but we don’t think this is the best plan to benefit the state as a whole. Additionally, Ohio Learn and Earn has been running what (in our view, anyway) constitutes a deceptive campaign.  Treat the voters with respect, and tell the truth!

Additionally, we want to know where the missing 15% of the money will go!  Go ahead, read the full issue linked above, and do the math.  Something seems strange, in our view.

VOTE NO

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Issues 4 and 5 are competing with one another.  If they both win, the language of 4 will cause it to trump 5.  At stake?  Smoking.  Issue 5 wants to end smoking in most public spaces, leaving exceptions for tobacco stores, family owned businesses, and private clubs.  Issue 4 would seem to leave things much like how they currently are.

We lean towards a NO for 4 and a YES for 5 for different reasons.  The non-smoking members of our board like the public health aspect; the smoking members like that small businesses could actually carve out a larger niche for themselves, should they desire.  However, we have a question about an aspect of Issue 5. 

The ballot language states:  “Create in the state treasury the “smoke free indoor air fund.” This raises our eyebrows, mostly because we don’t know precisely how much money this involves, and for what it will be used.  Google is, as of this publication, notably quiet on the issue—having indexed only a handful of sites that just mention this fact and offer no explanation about it.

So, we say VOTE NO on Issue 4, and we are WITHHOLDING our endorsement of Issue 5 until we find out the details of this fund.

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Issue 12

This is the so-called Heimlich Jail Tax.  This is a stupid idea.  Learn all you need to know at NoJailTax.org.

The Cincinnati Beacon’s editorial board unanimously says, “Hey Phil, you rich fucking asshole.  Pucker up and kiss me right here!  Kiss my ass, Phil!"*

VOTE NO

*Hat tip to Christopher P. Finney, Esq., for the crude language.

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This issue provides services to children.  If you don’t support it, you are a monster.

VOTE YES

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This issue provides funds to give hospital care to those who can’t afford it.  Of course you support that, or you are one of those crazy anti-tax freaks.

VOTE YES

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Okay, no links for the following, since they are all so similar and so numerous.  But you can see all the issues here—then just scroll down.

The following Issues, in various jurisdictions, will allowing corporate grocery chains to renew their liquor licenses. 

We would rather people support local businesses, so we OPPOSE corporate grocery chains getting renewed liquor licenses.

The Cincinnati Beacon’s editorial board unanimously says, “Hey, you rich fucking assholes!  Kiss me right here!  Kiss my ass, you fascist corporate pigs!"*

The following issue numbers are aligned with the stores named in parenthesis:

20 (Supervalu), 21 (Kroger), 22 (Meijer), 23 (Kroger), 24 (Kroger), 27 (Kroger), 29 (Kroger), 33 (Ruby Tuesdays), 34 (Kroger), 37 (Ruby Tuesdays), 51 (Supervalu), 52 (Kroger), 53 (Kroger), 55 (Kroger), 60 (Meijer) ...  Okay, I’m tired of scrolling down the list.  You get the picture.  Bottom line:  there are lots of little things out there.

Exceptions:

Issue 26, for Greenacres Art Center (Indian Hill) should have a liquor license, because we support the arts.

Issue 32 (North College Hill) gives a license to No Names Pub.  We say go for it! 

You get the picture.

*Hat tip to Christopher P. Finney, Esq., for the crude language.

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