35 Just North UCC members & friends joined thousands for the BREAD Action Meeting at the Celeste Center at the Fairgrounds May 10. It was the first full in-person gathering since 2019 with plenty of room and ventilation. We met with several elected officials. Several officials failed to show up, but BREAD does not give up.
Restorative Justice
We celebrated progress for Restorative Practices in Columbus City Schools which keeps more teens in school learning and out of prison.
Employment: One Linden Cooperatives
We celebrated progress with One Linden Cooperatives which is creating worker owned businesses providing employment options.
Gun Violence and Police Relations
BREAD has new reasons to be hopeful that Columbus Police will meet with national experts and set up call-ins to reduce gun violence.
Environmental Justice
Significant progress was made on the new urban forest and canopy issue as council member Elizabeth Brown committed to work on a public tree ordinance, to develop a private tree protection ordinance, and to meet quarterly with BREAD. Mature Trees help prevent flooding by retaining ground water, purify the air and provide relief from increasing heat. This also aligns with the Columbus Urban Forest Master Plan approved in 2021.
Affordable Housing
Both Franklin County Commissioner Erica Crawley and Columbus Councilmember Shayla Favor failed to attend to respond to BREAD request for more Affordable Housing. Our work continues. We are requesting that 1/3 of the American Rescue Plan dollars go to the the Affordable Housing Trust, targeting families of $30,000 or less. We are asking a reaffirmation of a housing plan that developers set aside affordable housing units.
BREAD has been working for justice in Columbus for 25 years. Just North has for 25 years worked with BREAD for a just place.
Jo Anne Nay Interim BREAD Team Coordinator
Dive deeper: the BREAD 2021 Annual Report
More updates: the BREAD Facebook feed