Welcome to the June Mailbag

Answering the readership's burning questions as we ease into a long-awaited break on Capitol Square.

Welcome to the June Mailbag, where I attempt to answer the readership’s most burning questions about Ohio politics, life, romance, or anything else.

I won’t lie. I’m burned out after another depressing budget cycle that featured, among standard rob-the-poor-to-give-to-the-rich policies, the state defunding the Foundation for Appalachian Ohio to seed the lobbying business of one of Speaker Huffman’s closest allies.

I’ll have more on Sunday Creek Horizons lobbying firm at a later date. Because these creatures of ill repute just robbed a beloved institution serving the poorest Ohioans while calling it an “investment” in the region.

If I didn’t answer your question, I apologize. I prioritized non-political questions for a change of place and palate cleanser before we hit the weekend.

As always, reader questions are in bold while my responses are in standard text. Some questions have been lightly edited for grammar, syntax, or clarity.

If you didn't/couldn't live in Columbus, what part of Ohio would you want to live in? You can't be a homer and say Marion.

To be clear, I would not choose to live in Marion even if that were an option. I love my hometown, but that chapter is closed.

To the question, I am a Big City Guy. I’d probably choose to live in Cincinnati. If I went the smaller-town route, I’d go with Xenia, the hub of a vibrant network of bike paths that make it easy to access Dayton, Columbus, or Cincinnati.

Would you ever do a cameo video?

Well… if that’s something you would want, absolutely.

Shoot me an email and tell me what you want, and I can get that turned around in a timely fashion.

I won’t charge you anything, either.

Does Senator Jon Husted have CTE?

If he had a brain? Almost assuredly.

But Husted, who has a rotted corncob where his brain is supposed to be, reminds me of the old Lyndon B. Johnson quote about Gerald Ford: “He's a nice guy, but he played too much football with his helmet off.”

And in Husted’s case, he’s not even a nice guy.

Is Ohio experiencing a population exodus? I’ve been seeing a lot of For Sale/For Rent signs in my central Columbus neighborhood.

The buying market has definitely slowed. But Hilltop Husband still gets numerous mailers a week from institutional investors trying to purchase her house for thousands of dollars above market price.

I don’t think Columbus is undergoing some mass exodus. I think the massive population projections that regional authorities have propagated over the years may have overstated things just a bit. Especially since that Intel plant ain’t ever getting built.

Name a few of your guilty pleasure snacks, foods, beverages, vices!!

I honestly don’t have vices anymore. I don’t smoke, drink, or do any illegal drugs. After 20 years in that game, it’s been a wise decision to give my body (and mind) a break.

About as exciting as I get anymore is drinking two cans of Celsius back-to-back in the Statehouse basement before I get to work.

As for foods, I probably eat more chicken tacos than 90 percent of Mexican immigrants in Columbus. It’s one of the perks of living on the West Side—a quality street taco is never more than a stone’s throw away.

On the beverage front, I am partial to the Zanzibar Latte (hot or cold) with oat milk from Black Kahawa Coffee Patio.

If I’m going to eat a little treat… a pistachio croissant from Parable or a peach cornetto from Three Bites Bakery.

What’s the best way to tell the Republican junta that runs this state you’re moving out of Ohio due to their shitty policies?

You mean, something that wouldn’t land you in prison?

You should come to Capitol Square in September and tell them to their faces. I’d love to film that—it’d do well on social media. They can easily ignore any other efforts to contact them through email or the office phone.

However, don’t think they’ll have an epiphany or feel any empathy. These guys have zero problem with making Ohio dumber, poorer, more polluted (and inherently, whiter) as long as they get to rule over what’s left.

Do you have any streaming/TV show suggestions?

Some recent shows I enjoyed:

• Dark Winds (AMC)

• Mobland (Paramount+)

• Black Sails (Starz)

• Kin (BBC — you’ll need a VPN to put you in the United Kingdom).

• Love and Chains (Amazon)

Other classics I’d recommend to anyone who hasn’t seen them:

• Justified

• Better Call Saul

• Breaking Bad

• The Americans

• The Shield

• The Wire

Who else could be the Lieutenant Governor for the Notorious Conman? If it isn’t Senate President Rob McColley, then who do you think?