Move, Councilor Crabb—Get Out of the Way of Progress

At a time when Columbus has a real opportunity to bring long-overdue growth to the South Commons area—a part of our city that has sat underutilized for years— we cannot afford to let political posturing or misplaced motions stall progress.

At the April 8 Columbus Council meeting, Councilor Charmaine Crabb made a motion to place a referendum on the May 2026 ballot, asking citizens to vote on the economic development plan for South Commons.

Let’s be clear: City Council already has voted to designate the land for commercial use. The groundwork has been laid. This isn’t about transparency—it’s about delay.

Councilor Crabb claims she wants to “hear from the citizens.” What she’s really doing is creating a bureaucratic roadblock that could delay this project by at least three more years, as the legislative delegation won’t reconvene until 2026. In the meantime, jobs are lost, opportunities missed and the momentum we’ve built starts to evaporate.

Let’s not confuse democracy with dysfunction. The Development Authority of Columbus exists to handle projects of this scope. It was created to issue bonds, attract private investment and build the kind of economic engine that powers a city forward. And yes—some of that work must remain confidential until the time is right. You can’t negotiate development deals with a megaphone and 200,000 opinions. That’s not strategy—that’s chaos.

Which brings us to an even bigger question: Where is Councilor JoAnne Cogle, the elected representative for District 7, where South Commons is located? Why isn’t she leading the charge to bring progress to her district? Why is she silent while another Councilor tries to derail one of the most promising development efforts we’ve seen in years?

And let’s not forget: Cogle’s predecessor, Evelyn “Mimi” Woodson, who served District 7 for 27 years, is still fighting for the economic development of South Columbus. Her advocacy didn’t stop when she left office. She continues to speak up, because she understands what this project means for jobs, quality of life and long-term investment in a community that has too often been left behind.

This isn’t a new idea. It’s an ongoing vision shared by leaders who have long cared about this community. In fact, former Councilor’s “Pops” Barnes and Judy Thomas also supported this project. These two veteran public servants, respected for their years of principled leadership, understood that this initiative meant real growth for South Columbus—new jobs, better amenities and stronger neighborhoods. They didn’t just vote for the project—they recognized its promise.

And let’s be honest: the inconsistency here is hard to ignore. It is interesting that the same Councilors—Toyia Tucker, Byron Hickey, Charmaine Crabb and JoAnne Cogle—who now want to “slow things down” and “take two weeks to listen to the people” before moving forward, showed no such patience just over a month ago. When the NAACP and the Interdenominational Ministerial Alliance asked Council to delay seating John Anker as the replacement for Councilor Judy Thomas—to allow time for public input—they refused. Back then, they insisted it had to be done immediately.

So, what changed?

This is more than political gamesmanship—it’s hypocrisy. It’s the kind of selective listening that betrays the public’s trust. When delay becomes a tactic, it’s not about inclusion—it’s about control. And in politics, as history shows us, delay often leads to defeat.

Here’s the truth: You can’t say you're for economic opportunity while actively working to slow it down. You can’t claim to represent the people while ignoring the mechanisms already in place to move projects forward. And you definitely can’t block a train and then complain that it’s not moving.

Councilor Crabb, to paraphrase rap artist Ludacris, and with all due respect:
Move. Get out of the way... of progress.

Let’s build the future—not bury it in ballots.