Citywire
By Erin Norris and David S. Lewis |
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COTA to Raise Fares in 2010
The board of the Central Ohio Transit Authority recently voted to increase rates for fixed-route transit in 2010. A representative for COTA stated that the increased rates would help ensure an "equitable ratio between the fare paid by the customer and the amount subsidized by taxpayers." The fare for local and express routes will not rise dramatically, with 25 cent and 50 cent increases, respectively; however, monthly unlimited passes will cost between $5 and $16 more, and seven-day passes will cost $4 more. Transfers will remain free, and ADA cardholders will continue to ride fixed-route service for free. The hike has not been received well by the public, which has recently expressed disappointment in COTA's reliability and service. One frequent rider and downtown resident said, "I can't believe [they] are going to make me pay more when I can't even count on my bus being here on time." This will be the first increase since 2006, when Franklin County voters approved doubling the county sales tax allotted to COTA.
Editor's Take: While COTA's raised rate will still be the same or less than the rates for other major cities in the state, and less than most major cities in the U.S., now is a terrible time to raise the cost of much of anything. Those dollars and cents do add up, after all. Complaints of reliability, as well as unacceptable behavior on the crowded buses, are sure to be fueled as these rate increases take effect. At the same time, COTA has launched new services, such as the Night Owl line service, and seems to be trying hard to provide reasonable service while not shifting the burden of mass transit from those who ride it to those who don't.
Obesity Projected to Cost Ohioans Billions
Ohioans concerned with the cost of health care should consider the expensive effects of obesity in the state. Ohio continues to hold one of the highest obesity and morbid obesity rates in the country, and a new study from Emory University warns that unless more is done to limit this trend, more than half of the state's residents could be in the obese category by 2018. The study states that this would bring the estimated cost of obesity-related healthcare up to $16 billion. This could cost taxpayers an extraordinary amount of money, as health issues worsened by obesity - such as diabetes and heart disease - could almost double the cost of healthcare for overweight and obese citizens. Obesity is often correlated with poverty, and the expenses for government-sponsored programs, such as Medicare and Medicaid, will only rise. Columbus itself is rated the eighteenth fattest city in America, and while education and awareness of the detrimental effects of an unhealthy lifestyle are of major importance, health professionals continue to state that personal motivation is the most effective method in offsetting this trend.
Editor's Take: As the New Year approaches, focus on making fewer empty resolutions... try to make only one, if necessary, that you can commit to. Although losing weight is one of the more cliche resolutions, for many it can be one of the most important, as well. I speak from some experience, as I was obese as a child and young adult. Losing my weight was easily one of the most beneficial things I've ever done for myself - and very much worth the effort. Try competing with friends for weight-loss achievements - most friends are all-too-eager to call you "fatty" when you come up short for motivation. Or, try rewarding yourself with ridiculously expensive clothing purchases when you reach goals on time.
National Immigration Reform Group Comes to Ohio
The Reform Immigration for America Coalition, a national campaign to protect immigrant workers and promote responsible immigration reform, has recently established itself in Ohio. Of the estimated 12 million undocumented immigrants in the U.S., Ohio is home to about 65,000. While this does not put the state near the top of the list in immigrant population, it is certainly a pressing issue, and the group is pressing Ohio's congressional delegation to take action. Ohio's janitorial and food service industries are of particular interest, as they contain a relatively higher number of undocumented immigrant workers. In targeting Ohio, the group hopes to encourage employers and lawmakers to promote and facilitate citizenship, arguing that the current trend of exploitation is not only ethically detrimental, but places a significant stress on the state's economy.
Editor's Take: Immigration is a hot-button issue for many, including members of ethnic minorities who have immigrated illegally. It affects a broad cross-section of political and sociological issues, from outlining flaws in labor regulation, to law enforcement, to fair taxation. RIAC supports allowing illegal immigrants to earn their citizenship while here illegally, an amnesty-based approach that has been hotly contested under the previous Bush, Jr. administration, but President Obama has also said that tearing apart families and detaining or deporting parents in the night is the wrong way to go. We must remain aware of the dangers and influences of xenophobia while protecting our rights and privileges as citizens, also ensuring that our safety is never compromised by laxity at the nation's borders, or our state's.
Originally Published: December 1, 2009
