Taking To The Streets

Top of Mind

Pride, Protest, and the Columbus Tradition of Showing Up

Last weekend, downtown Columbus did what it does best: celebrate and dissent. Pride flags flew high on High Street. Protest signs waved at the Statehouse. And between the glitter and the fury, a familiar rhythm played out, this city shows up when it matters.

While 700,000 people packed downtown for the 43rd annual Columbus Pride March, just 24 hours earlier, activists rallied on the Statehouse lawn under the banner of “No Kings.” Their message? No fascism, no dictatorship, no going quietly.

It wasn’t just about this election or the current president. Organizers say they’re staying laser-focused on where they can have the most impact: right here in Ohio. Protesters from Cincinnati and Cleveland are already planning to return July 4 for another demonstration, because nothing says “land of the free” like a peaceful protest on Independence Day.

Of course, protest isn’t new here. Columbus has a long, loud history of showing up, with signs, chants, marches, and the occasional grandmother walking halfway from Cleveland to fight electric rate hikes.

Take your pick:

• In 1961, 7,000 Ohio State students marched to the Statehouse after the university declined a Rose Bowl invitation.
  

• In 1970, a group of women protested midi-length skirts outside Lazarus, while a Quaker group used the moment to read aloud the names of Vietnam War dead.
  

• In 1972, hundreds of bikers rode from downtown to Whetstone Park to demand more bike trails.
  

• In 1982, about a thousand marchers took part in Columbus’s first officially named Gay Pride Parade.
  

• In 2020, downtown became a national focal point for Black Lives Matter protests in the wake of George Floyd’s murder./

Between those decades? Native American groups are protecting sacred sites. Fathers’ rights groups are rallying for better treatment in custody cases. Rallies for peace, for war, against nuclear testing, and yes, even in favor of income tax hikes to protect senior services.

The Statehouse lawn has heard from nearly every corner of civic life. And often, those voices have changed the conversation.

Whether it’s about fashion, fascism, or fundamental rights, Columbus has always made one thing clear: we protest, therefore we are.

Scarlet Letter Trivia

Question: According to the Storefront Safety Commission, What percentage of cars hitting buildings are crash-and-grab robberies?

A. 12%
B. 6%
C. 17%
D. 21%

In the News

Why Cars Hit Buildings in Columbus, Ohio

If it feels like cars are crashing into Columbus buildings at an alarming rate — that’s because they are. So far this year, 37 vehicles have made surprise entries into Central Ohio storefronts, porches, living rooms, and lobbies, blurring the line between traffic pattern and demolition derby. It’s become such a recurring spectacle that you half expect to see “Drive-Thru Closed” signs at coffee shops without drive-thrus. But here’s the kicker: that number might only scratch the surface.

Does this happen elsewhere?! YES.

In April 2022 The Storefront Safety Council completed an exchange of data and methodologies with an arm of Lloyd’s of London, the largest insurance market in the world. Lloyd’s found that their data was valid and credible and that their collection methodology gave them such high confidence that their collection of data concerning vehicle-into-building / storefront crashes should be used by researchers and risk managers as “source data” given the lack of any other available data sets involving private property accidents in the United States.

Lloyd’s concluded in their remarks that the data, as complete as it is, reflects only a fraction of the total of storefront crashes that occur every single day: At the most conservative, it appears that the SSC database captures 1 in 12 incidents (8.33%)

Storefront crashes occur more than 100 times daily, and if we are only tracking 8%, that means the problem is actually WAY bigger than we thought…

So what now? Well, unless every building in Columbus suddenly installs bollards and barriers like a presidential motorcade route, we’re left relying on better data, better planning, and the occasional miracle. The Storefront Safety Council may be tracking the tip of the iceberg, but the real fix will require more than spreadsheets. Until then, if you're opening a business in Central Ohio, maybe skip the corner unit and ask your insurance rep about “vehicular incursion coverage.” It's apparently... a thing.

The Langham Has Entered the Chat
Grandview just got grander

If you’ve ever stared into your beige apartment walls and thought, “What if my home had a golf simulator, a hydrotherapy spa, and Lululemon Training Mirrors?”—good news: someone in Grandview has been listening. Meet The Langham, Preferred Living’s newest foray into luxury-meets-convenience living, where your hallway might be nicer than most boutique hotels.

Tucked off Chambers Road, Langham isn’t just another apartment complex—it’s a curated experience. One- and two-bedroom suites come with smart home tech, under-cabinet lighting (goodbye sad overheads), and actual space for that “work-from-home” lifestyle we’re all pretending is temporary. Think timeless elegance meets LED efficiency.

And the amenities? Let’s just say you won’t need to “find something to do.” The pool terrace has temperature control and all-season cabanas. There’s a 24-hour fitness center outfitted with Peloton bikes and mirrors that literally talk to you. Prefer to caffeinate and spectate? The resident lounge brews Starbucks. Want to feel competitive but stationary? There’s a retro arcade, billiards, and virtual golf. Plus: package lockers, EV charging, and enough planned events (hello whiskey tastings and bouquet workshops) to keep your social life humming.

Bonus: Preferred employers like teachers, medical staff, Chase employees, and military get perks. Because nothing says “thank you for your service” like covered garage parking and a media room.

Location-wise, Langham is dangerously well-placed. You’re minutes from the Short North, Arena District, and OSU, with easy access to green space when you need to escape the city buzz. Think bike trails in the morning, Schott concerts by night, and Goodale Park picnics whenever.

Trivia Answer

B. 6% - To no one’s surprise, the most significant chunk is user Error at 21%. User error and pedal error combine for 41% of all recorded cases.

Signing Off