Crime Down, Sherrod Out, and "Cheap Apartments"...

It’s beginning to look a lot like… a safer Columbus? Apparently, yes. In an unexpected turn that we can only describe as “unusual for a mid-sized American city,” violent crime in Columbus is down a solid 41%. Homicides alone have been cut by more than half, dropping a jaw-dropping 51%. If you’re thinking it sounds almost too good to be true, you’re not alone.

So, what’s Columbus’s secret? Apparently, it’s a cocktail of increased community engagement, data driven patrols, and believe it or not an actual reduction in people settling their disputes like extras in a Wild West film. Columbus PD has launched initiatives like Operation Under Triple Digits (yes, that’s really the name) aimed at keeping homicides under the 100 mark. So far, it’s working better than anyone might’ve expected. Local communities are stepping up, too, with programs focused on youth mentorship, conflict deescalation, and connecting at risk folks to resources. The takeaway? Columbus is finally investing in prevention, not just arrests.

Even local businesses are chipping in: one donut shop is offering free coffee and snacks to police officers, encouraging them to spend just a little more time in certain areas. Call it caffeinated crime fighting. Police visibility has increased without causing undue panic good for business and, evidently, good for our streets.

Still, some skeptics are holding their breath. Crime stats have a funny way of “improving” in election years, and it’s not lost on anyone that these impressive figures make local officials look like miracle workers. Columbus PD’s ambitious “Operation Under Triple Digits” seems designed to keep homicides lower than your monthly internet bill. Is it sustainable? Can Columbus continue to put the brakes on rising crime, or are we in the eye of the storm, only to have 2025 slap us back to reality? For now, Columbus residents can enjoy the holiday season with one less thing to worry about. Just in case, maybe keep those Ring cameras on.

Ohioans are no strangers to election drama, but this time around, the tension was thick enough to cut with a gerrymandered ballot. After 18 years in the Senate, Democrat Sherrod Brown is out, and Republican newcomer Bernie Moreno is in, barely squeezing by with 50.6% of the vote. This is Moreno’s first time in the Senate hot seat, but he’s no stranger to the limelight (or, to be fair, the luxury auto market). The Senate seat flipped red, sending ripple effects across Ohio and marking a notable shift in the swing-state narrative that’s defined Ohio for decades.

Ohio just traded Sherrod Brown’s work boots for Bernie Moreno’s polished wing tips. With Moreno at the helm, the question is: will he bring change or just more jargon about blockchain and “Ohio values”? For now, Ohioans are bracing for the ride. His victory speech equal parts business pep talk and call to conservative arms set the tone for what might be a bumpy ride.

If you’re in the market for an affordable apartment, Columbus might just be the place to be at least, for now. While the average U.S. rent has climbed to a daunting $1,631 as of October 2024, Columbus holds out with a median rent of around $1,217. That’s significantly below the national average, and compared to Hawaii’s staggering $2,418 monthly median, it almost feels like a bargain. Meanwhile, Alabama, with a $925 median rent, shows Columbus still hovers somewhere in the middle yet far below the eye-watering prices in coastal hubs.

But it’s not like Columbus renters aren’t feeling the pinch. Rents here, like everywhere else, have steadily climbed, outpacing wage growth. Nationwide, rents have spiked by 31.4% since before the pandemic, while wages have only grown 20.2% over the same period. Inflation and rising mortgage rates have added fuel to the fire, pushing people into the rental market and driving prices even higher. In cities like New York, Phoenix, and San Diego, the gap between wages and rent increases has hit historic levels, making Columbus’s current affordability a rare and vanishing perk.