The Columbus City Council unanimously voted on Monday to end an executive order from Democratic Mayor Andrew Ginther that food trucks and carts in the Short North area of the city close at midnight.
The Columbus City Council rescinded the order less than three weeks after unanimously approving the recent city curfew.
Columbus City Council approved the order following an incident where a man was shot and killed in the same area late last month, and 10 people were injured in an earlier May 6th shooting incident that resulted in police officers firing their weapons.
According to Ginther, he also asked other Columbus businesses to close at midnight to “reduce violence.”
Members voted on Monday to rescind the midnight curfew and to allow mobile food vendors in the Short North to once again operate until 2:30 a.m. starting this weekend.
The Columbus City Council said it is confident that going forward, the Short North will be a safe location for Ohioans to enjoy but that the council can reinstate the limitations at any time.
Council Member Emmanuel Remy told the council, “Food carts are not the cause of violence in the Short North. It’s that simple.”
“It is time now to repeal this executive order to allow these small businesses to thrive once again,” Remy said.
Ohio Right to Life President Michael Gonadakis criticized the executive order saying that Mayor Ginther’s curfew request failed small businesses.
“Columbus, you will never be a “major league” city with these Clowns in Office. Dear small businesses you survived Covid, BLM (Black Lives Matter) riots, inflation, and now your reward is to be shut down again. Your mayor has failed you yet again,” Gonadakis said.
The rescindment of the executive order follows Ohio House Republicans introducing legislation to prohibit municipalities from implementing curfews with certain exceptions.
HB 180, sponsored by State Representatives Jeff LaRe (R-Violet Twp.) and D.J. Swearingen (R-Huron), states, “No county that has adopted a charter under Article X of the Ohio Constitution or municipal corporation shall impose a curfew except a curfew for persons under eighteen years of age or a curfew in response to a clear and present emergency, as determined by the legislative authority of the county or municipal corporation.”
According to Swearingen, the Ginther-imposed city curfew directly contributed to the need for this legislation.
“One of my priorities has always been to alleviate economic burden on businesses. This legislation will ultimately protect Ohio small businesses from being penalized for crime in their cities,” Swearingen said.
Under the legislation, municipalities can still impose curfews for individuals under 18 or in response to a state of emergency.
The legislation is currently under review by the Ohio House Government Oversight Committee.
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Hannah Poling is a lead reporter at The Ohio Star and The Star News Network. Follow Hannah on Twitter @HannahPoling1. Email tips to [email protected]
Photo “Columbus City Council Meeting” by City of Columbus.
