The Angry Democrat

Ohio keeps building outward, but what happens to the cities, neighborhoods, roads, sewers, schools, and housing stock we leave behind?I sat down with Jasson Farrier, the Ohio Housing Nerd, to talk about suburban sprawl, rising property taxes, aging infrastructure, restrictive zoning, and why older Ohio communities can struggle to maintain infrastructure built for populations much larger than they have today. We also get into property rights and zoning. Should homeowners have more freedom to add an efficiency apartment, build a tiny home, convert a single-family house into a duplex or triplex, or even operate a small neighborhood business on their property? Could giving property owners more flexibility help older communities add housing, attract residents, expand their tax base, and make better use of infrastructure that already exists? And then there is the bigger question: How long can cities respond to declining populations and aging infrastructure by asking the remaining taxpayers for more money? We discuss property taxes, housing affordability, old versus new construction, development incentives, and whether Ohio needs to fundamentally rethink how its communities grow. A big thank you to Jasson Farrier for having me on and for another great housing conversation. jassonfarrier.comWatch Jasson’s channels:Ohio Housing Nerd: YouTube @ohiohousingnerdHousing Nerd: YouTube @housingnerd

Democrat Maria Jukic is challenging Republican Congressman Dave Joyce in Ohio’s newly redrawn 14th Congressional District. But can any Democrat overcome the district’s enormous Republican advantage?Matt Diemer examines the candidates, the new congressional map, campaign finances, policy positions, and the political reality facing Jukic in November.Dave Joyce has served in Congress since 2013 and reportedly holds approximately $3.1 million in campaign cash. Jukic, a former Euclid City Council member, has approximately $33,000 available. The financial difference is substantial, but the district’s Republican lean may be an even greater obstacle.Read the complete comparison at The Angry Ohioans:https://www.theangryohioan.com/Follow The Angry Democrats:https://www.theangrydem.com/Stay Angry.

Ohio counties can sell delinquent property-tax debt to private investors, giving counties immediate revenue while leaving struggling homeowners to deal with interest, fees, and the possibility of foreclosure. I sat down with Jasson Farrier, the Ohio Housing Nerd, to break down how Ohio’s tax-certificate system works, why a relatively small delinquency can become a much larger debt, and what this means for homeowners across the state. We also discuss the scale of Ohio’s property-tax problem, the Supreme Court’s recent Pung v. Isabella County decision, and Ohio House Bill 493, which could restrict future tax-certificate sales involving owner-occupied homes. The bigger question: should counties be able to turn a homeowner’s financial hardship into an investment opportunity for a private company? Stay AngryFollow The Angry Democrat: Read and subscribe to The Angry DemocratFollow The Angry Ohioan: Visit The Angry OhioanWatch Jasson Farrier — The Ohio Housing Nerd: Ohio Housing Nerd on YouTubeMore housing and real-estate content: Housing Nerd on YouTube

Did Congressman Max Miller try to enter the Cuyahoga County Fair with two other people without paying admission?Matt Diemer and Laura discuss an allegation sent to Matt by someone claiming to have direct knowledge of what happened at the fair. According to the tip, Miller allegedly expected free admission because he is a member of Congress.The allegation has not been independently verified. We did not contact Miller, his campaign or the Cuyahoga County Fair for confirmation. We are discussing what was reported to Matt and why the incident, if accurate, creates terrible public perception for an elected official.Matt also received an allegation involving Ohio State Representative David Morgan. By contrast, Democratic State Representative Sean Brennan reportedly paid the general admission price without an issue. Brian Poindexter, who is running against Miller, was also said to have paid for admission.The entire situation seems unnecessary. Miller reportedly has more than $1.2 million in his campaign account, and admission connected to campaign activity may potentially qualify as a campaign expense if handled in accordance with campaign-finance rules.Matt and Laura discuss whether this was entitlement, a misunderstanding, concern about campaign expenses or simply an unverified political story designed to embarrass Miller.Even if the allegation is true, this is not a major scandal. It is stupid, petty and completely avoidable.Read Laura’s reporting at Whisper Campaign:https://whispercampaign.substack.com/Follow The Angry Democrats:https://www.theangrydem.com/For Ohio reporting, subscribe to The Angry Ohioans.Stay Angry.

Ohio Congressman Max Miller publicly released hundreds of private messages, recordings, photographs, and court-related documents while attempting to defend himself against allegations made by his ex-wife, Emily Moreno.The Dropbox folder included private information about their two-year-old daughter and an unredacted image showing her undressed. Moreno’s lawsuit alleges that the image showed the child’s genitalia. Miller and his attorney dispute that characterization, but attorney Aaron Minc acknowledged that the image should never have been released and accepted responsibility for the error.Matt Diemer and Laura Rodriguez-Carbone examine how such sensitive material reached the internet, whether Miller adequately reviewed what he released, and why he has not taken more personal responsibility as the child’s father.They also discuss the important distinction between an irresponsible disclosure and an intentional effort to exploit a child. The release was reckless and avoidable, but that does not establish that Miller intentionally distributed sexual material involving his daughter.Emily Moreno is now suing Miller and Minc, seeking damages for the alleged disclosure. Miller denies the underlying abuse allegations and says the photograph has been taken out of context.Read The Angry Democrats:https://theangrydem.comRead Ohio political coverage from The Angry Ohioans:https://theangryohioans.comRead Laura Rodriguez-Carbone at The Whisper Campaign:https://whispercampaign.substack.comSubscribe for political analysis willing to criticize everyone, including our own side.#MaxMiller #OhioPolitics #OH7

How did Francesca Hong lose Wisconsin’s Democratic primary for governor after leading David Crowley by 31 points in the final Marquette poll?Matt Diemer and Laura Rodriguez-Carbone examine Crowley’s extraordinary campaign comeback, his endorsement from outgoing Gov. Tony Evers, the financial collapse of Sara Rodriguez’s campaign, millions in outside spending, and the absence of endorsements from Bernie Sanders and Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez.But Democratic establishment involvement is only part of the explanation. Matt and Laura debate Hong’s campaign decisions, her past comments about Thanksgiving and policing, and whether progressive candidates sometimes weaken popular economic policies with language that alienates voters they need to win.The discussion then turns to the larger challenge facing Democrats: how to fight for universal healthcare, working people, public education, and economic reform while building a broad coalition that is comfortable with patriotism and proud to carry the American flag.The episode closes with a warning about political polling. Hong finished almost exactly where Marquette’s final poll placed her. The poll’s major failure was David Crowley, who rose from 7% to nearly 40% after several candidates withdrew and Democratic leaders consolidated behind him.Read The Angry Democrats:https://theangrydem.comRead Ohio political coverage from The Angry Ohioans:https://theangryohioans.comRead Laura Rodriguez-Carbone at The Whisper Campaign:https://whispercampaign.substack.comSubscribe for political analysis willing to criticize everyone, including our own side.#FrancescaHong #DemocraticParty #WisconsinPolitics

The Democratic establishment spent heavily trying to stop Abdul El-Sayed in Michigan. Democratic voters chose him anyway.Matt Diemer and Laura Rodriguez-Carbone examine El-Sayed’s narrow victory over Haley Stevens, the outside spending that flooded Michigan’s Democratic Senate primary, Chuck Schumer’s declining influence, AIPAC’s role, and what the result says about the growing power of progressives and the Democratic Socialists of America.They also discuss Donavan McKinney and William Lawrence winning Michigan congressional primaries, Cori Bush losing her comeback campaign against Wesley Bell, and Third Way’s planned $15 million effort to counter the DSA through 2028.Then the conversation turns to Ohio, where Democratic gubernatorial nominee Amy Acton announced her support for Issue 3, the Republican-backed constitutional voter ID amendment. Ohio already requires photo identification to vote, raising questions about why Acton supports putting those requirements into the state Constitution and whether she is repeating Tim Ryan’s failed strategy of adopting Republican positions to attract voters who may never cross party lines.Are Democratic voters moving left, rejecting incumbents, or simply demanding candidates who accomplish something? And how much money will Democratic organizations waste trying to control the answer?Read The Angry Democrats:https://theangrydem.comRead Ohio political coverage from The Angry Ohioans:https://theangryohioans.comRead Laura Rodriguez-Carbone at The Whisper Campaign:https://whispercampaign.substack.comSubscribe for political analysis willing to criticize everyone, including our own side.