Residents would be hired for public works projects in all 88 counties
COLUMBUS - State Reps. Mike Foley (D-Cleveland) and Nickie J. Antonio (D-Lakewood) today unveiled legislation to create new jobs and put 5,000 Ohioans to work on public works projects around the state. The workers would perform a variety of beautification and infrastructure projects, from demolishing or rehabbing vacant homes to planting trees to street cleanup.
"The Ohio Works Progress Administration would put Ohioans back to work making a living wage, and would be a stark contrast to the Republican's 'jobs' budget that is filled with lobbyist handouts and controversial abortion language," Rep Foley said. "The OWPA would pay the 5,000 workers $27,500 annually for their work. This is a REAL JOBS OHIO bill."
The program is modeled somewhat after the WPA of the 1930's that helped lift the United States out of the Great Depression. It would allot 50 workers per county, and require two artists per county be employed as artists in residence.
"It's time for Ohio to again be the national leader in a creative approach to "working" our way to economic vitality. With this bill Ohio can take a page from the job programs of the Depression and get Ohioans working now until the labor market is restored," said Rep Antonio.
The OWPA would employ Ohioans to do jobs such as:
- Residential home construction, deconstruction, weatherizing homes and buildings, maintenance and repair, lead and asbestos removal
- Recycling, trash sorting and landfill maintenance
- Soil and water conservation projects
- Disaster clean-up
- Lake and waterway repair and conservation
- Trail maintenance and clean-up in parks
The OWPA would be a not be an executive agency, but its director would be appointed by the Governor.
Comment on Disqus