This week, we are devoting our #GOPCThread to do a bit of myth-busting around some of the work that we do here at GOPC. And given the timing, you may see that a few of the tweets may, at first seem, a bit...off.

Not on Twitter, the thread is available online , as well as below.

Greater Ohio Policy Center Read on Twitter

This week, we are devoting our #GOPCThread to do a bit of myth-busting around some of the work that we do here at GOPC. And given the timing, you may see that a few of the tweets may, at first seem, a bit...off #AprilFools

Out with the old & in with the new! New construction is more energy efficient, less costly, & gives downtowns a whole different character. Historic preservation tax credits? How about luxury apartment tax credits instead. #GOPCThread #AprilFools

In reality, historic tax credits have been an important tool for revitalizing Ohio’s communities since 2007, preserving historic landmarks & communities’ charm, created jobs, & attracted private investment. For more info on their importance, check out: @HeritageOhio #GOPCThread

With so many employees WFH, suburbs and outlying communities will see a windfall of municipal income if pending legislation goes through. We say, about time! #GOPCThread #AprilFools

Besides, everyone’s working at home now, so no need to worry about the highways, streets, or utilities in our traditional job centers. Ohio’s municipal income tax structure is so 20th century, in fact, maybe we don’t even need municipal income taxes! #GOPCThread #AprilFools

In truth, the data is clear & few, if any, will see increased revenue if WFH employees are taxed in their domicile cities. 84% of those served by @ritaohio would lose revenue & only a handful would see gains big enough to fund a staff position. #GOPCThread

Ohio’s communities have responsibly built budgets & long term investments around municipal income taxes--a stable, predictable source, pre-COVID. While WFH will change the landscape, it’s too early to make rash shifts in tax policy #GOPCThread

Never heard of CDFIs? Join the club. That’s probably because they don’t have much of an impact in Ohio. #GOPCThread #AprilFools

FALSE! CDFIs are non-profit lenders punching above their weight. They finance afforable housing, sm. biz, nonprofits, & commercial real estate to revitalize OH neighborhoods & cities + create job growth. They leverage $5 for every $1 invested #GOPCThread

Ohio’s CDFIs are supporting great businesses and needed real estate & housing in Ohio’s distressed neighborhoods and communities. They just need more capital with high interest rates and short repayment terms to really make their lending work. #GOPCThread #AprilFools

Gotcha again! Ohio’s CDFIs are doing great work but they can only do it by taking on risk that traditional banks cannot accept. They do their best work with flexible dollars, like grants & capital with no/low interest + long repayment terms. #GOPCThread

On a more serious note, we do need to talk about how Ohio needs more roads to get us where we’re going! More highway development now! #GOPCThread #AprilFools

And another thing: walking sucks. It’s slow and you get all sweaty, YUCK! It’s high time every city stopped wasting precious real estate on things like sidewalks, crosswalks, and streetlights. Don’t even get us started bike lanes #GOPCThread #AprilFools

Come on, you new here!?! Ohio already has over 260,000 total lane miles & every new mile brings construction costs & saddles taxpayers indefinitely with maintenance costs. New road investment is also outpacing population growth in Ohio’s metros #GOPCThread

Meanwhile, the only reason walking sucks is because conscious design choices make it harder for pedestrians & cyclists to use roads. Ped. fatalities have been rising YOY in the past decade. We need solutions like #CompleteStreets to reverse this trend

Finally, investing in transportation in both urban and rural Ohio helps our seniors age in place, while attracting new residents who don’t want their first purchase when they arrive in Ohio to have to be an automobile #GOPCThread

With new greenspace being made every day, brownfields are a worry of the past! With so much land to develop, the possibilities are endless! #GOPCThread #AprilFools

In truth, development of greenspace leads to sprawl & costs more on our economies in the end. When we develop brownfields sites, we invigorate our communities with new economic activity and put contaminated property back into use. #GOPCThread

Legislation such as HB143 and SB84 promote brownfield redevelopment with a sustainable funding source for Ohio’s communities #GOPCThread

Advocating for a revitalized Ohio is tough when all of the houses are So. Close. Together. All this density. What are we, New York? No! We need to reduce density and add more parking ASAP #GOPCThread #AprilFools

Our communities should start investing out, and work their way in! Investing in undeveloped land is the way to ensure economic prosperity in our legacy cities. #GOPCThread #AprilFools

Resilient places are those that include a variety of building types, uses, & densities. Many places, like @CityofSouthBend & @covingtonkygov, are taking innovative steps to add flexibility & revitalize through city ordinances & zoning. #GOPCThread

OH #LegacyCities are an integral part of the state’s economy & revitalization efforts are most impactful in our downtowns when we bring blighted sites into productive use. A strong downtown boosts revitalization efforts in all parts of a city! #GOPCThread

We hope you had as much fun reading with our #AprilFools thread this week as we did putting it together. We’ll be back next week with more of the serious stuff you have come to expect from us on our #GOPCThread