Columbus is asserting itself as a major regional and national city. Its growth projections are kind of startling.
Right now, slightly more than two million people live in central Ohio. The Mid-Ohio Regional Planning Commission projects the region will add more than 700,000 residents in the next 25 years. That鈥檚 a 33% increase.
So the question is, where is everyone going to live and work. Will we have enough water and electricity and who are we going to live around?
To peer into the future, we talk with two people who have been tracking these changes for years. We speak with Lisa Patt McDaniel, CEO of Aspyr (formerly known as the Workforce Development Board on Central Ohio) and Michael Wilkos, senior impact director at the United Way of Central Ohio.
Snollygoster Of The Week
This week, it goes to U.S. Rep. Joyce Beatty, a Democrat who represents Columbus. Last month, she missed a key vote that nearly killed President Trump鈥檚 effort to cut foreign aid and money for public media.
It turns out she missed it because of hip replacement surgery. Last week, Beatty had eye surgery. But this time, she made it back to Washington to vote against Trump鈥檚 tax cut and spending cut bill.
To highlight her commitment to Congress and her district, House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries produced a TikTok Video in which Jeffries stands behind Beatty, who is seated in a wheelchair with an eye patch and cane.
The video produced mixed reactions. Many called on the 75-year-old representative to retire. Other people praised her for returning to D.C. while recovering from the surgeries. We鈥檒l see how this plays out. But that video was pretty shrewd.
For that, Congresswoman Beatty gets our Snollygoster of the Week award.
If you have a suggestion for our "Snollygoster of the Week" award, a question or a comment, send them to snollygoster@wosu.org.