March 29 2024

The Becker Report – March 2024

Beckerisms

RIP

Brigid Kelly

My heart sank when I learned that my former colleague, Brigid Kelly, recently entered hospice. At only 40 years old, she died on March 26, 2024.
During the four years we served together in the Ohio House of Representatives, Brigid and I were not only on opposite sides of the aisle, but also on opposite sides of every major issue.
Regardless, I found her to be a sweet lady with a ready smile, and easy to work with. She always fought for the principles that she believed in and I always respected her for that. Brigid was a statesman and a skilled legislator who knew how to work across the aisle to get things done for her constituents.
Rest in Peace. Brigid Kelly will be missed by many; including me.

March 19, 2024 GOP Primary Election (22.6% turnout in Clermont County)

Congratulations to the winners in contested races! (Clermont County and District or Statewide)

Donald Trump for President 80.6%/79.2%
Bernie Moreno for US Senate 55.7%/50.5%
David Taylor for Congress 42.9%/25.4%
Melena Siebert for Court of Appeals 49.3%/50.4%
Greg Simpson for State Central Committee 55.2%/53.6%
Jean Schmidt for State Representative 51.6%
Bonnie Batchler for Commissioner 61.8%
Tim Rudd for Recorder 50.2%

Union Township Update

Click here to see the Union Township 2023 Annual Report
Click here for the 2024 Union Township Farmer’s Market vendor information.

Upcoming Events

April 9 – Union Township Trustees meeting at the Civic Center at 6 PM.
April 9 – The Union Township Police Department, in collaboration with Mercy Health – West Clermont HealthPlex, is offering a Women’s Self-Defense Class. Contact Sgt. Chris Wilson at CWilson@union-township.oh.us
April 13 – Join Union Township Police, in partnership with Crime Stoppers, for a free Drug Drop & Paper Shred event: furniturefair.net/pages/shred
April 18 – April 19 – Spring Junk Days at the Union Township Service Department, located at 4312 Glen Este-Withamsville Road from 7 AM – 5 PM.
April 20 – Spring Junk Days at the Union Township Service Department, located at 4312 Glen Este-Withamsville Road from 8 AM – 3 PM.
April 23 – Union Township Trustees work session at the Civic Center at 6 PM.

Need a job?

Police and fire/EMS jobs are available. Send resume to Cory Wright CWright@union-township.oh.us

What can you find at the Union Township Civic Center?

US Post Office
US Congressman Brad Wenstrup’s office
Union Township Zoning office
Meeting rooms available for UT residents to reserve
Gymnasium available for UT residents to reserve
Amphitheater for concerts, plays, and available for UT residents to reserve
Farmers Market every Friday from 4 -7 PM during the summer and early fall
West Clermont School’s administrative office
Senior Services office
Friendly people who serve the public with a smile

Call 513-752-1741 or visit www.union-township.oh.us for more information

Union Township welcomes new and growing businesses

Some of the below may be pending trustee approval:

Outback Steakhouse is “firing up” a new restaurant near Meijer’s where the old Starbucks and a video store used to be. It will seat 187, have a drive through for pickup, and is expected to open in mid-May. The “stakes” could be high and profits are expected to “sizzle.”
Grocery Outlet is constructing a new store in the old Bed, Bath, and Beyond location in the Eastgate Pavilion near Best Buy and expect completion in September. They are expecting to “produce” profits.
Panda Express is looking to raze the car wash next to the Union Township library and build a new location there. It’s an “appetizing” venture. The overpass construction is delaying their start date. The earliest will be spring with completion seven months later.
Mercy Health urgent care center is under construction in the Jungle Jim’s parking lot in front of LaRosa’s. They’ll soon be repairing “broken” bones, skin, and more.
i love noods: noodles, dim sum, and bubble tea will soon be open in the Jungle Jim’s shopping center. Who doesn’t love “noods”?
Children’s Hospital is under construction in the Ivy Pointe area near TQL. Our concerns have been “healed.”
Wawa will be taking over the old Mt. Carmel Kroger location. Rah-rah to Wawa for taking over a shuttered business. They expect demolition to begin in the Spring and completion early next year.
Alfaa will be building on an empty lot on the corner of Aicholtz Road and Eastgate Blvd. I’m wondering if they sell alfalfa sprouts?
A small strip mall is coming to the corner of SR 32 and Mt. Carmel Tobasco Road on Yates Lane. I expect them to be rolling in dough soon.
The old Valero on the corner of Ohio Pike and Bennett Road is under new ownership. They will be tearing down the old building and constructing a new convenience and wine store. The previous condition of the property was certainly something to whine about.
A Hilton Hotel has been perpetually under construction near the Hampton Inn and Meijer’s. They have made certain “accommodations” and residents can “sleep well” knowing that construction has recommenced and is expected to open soon.
Honda East will be “shifting gears” to “rev up” sales by expanding their operations in Cherry Grove. They might “tire,” “brake,” and “shock” you, but they are “on a roll.” Wouldn’t it be nice if they offered free samples? Construction is expected to begin in late spring or early summer with completion in late 2024.
PetSuites is “grooming” a new location on Old SR 74 next to Office Max. Construction is nearly complete.
TQL will be adding an additional 1,000 jobs at its sprawling UT campus. The new southern wing will look similar to their recently added northern wing. The project is “trucking” along. “Total Quality” will be a “Logistic” requirement.
Kroger has “crushing” plans to demolish Sears and build a new 123,722 square foot Kroger Marketplace store detached from the mall. The store will include a Starbucks, drive through pharmacy, expanded deli, expanded bakery, a Murray Cheese section, sushi, expanded adult beverage section, apparel, home goods, expanded grocery section, and a Kroger fuel center with 18 fuel pumps. The fuel will be on the recently shuttered Wendy’s side of the parking lot. The northeast side of the store will have a parking area for on-line pickup. The current Kroger store on Eastgate Boulevard will likely close in coordination with opening the new Kroger Marketplace store. All plans are currently on hold pending litigation with the owner of the Eastgate Mall.

2024 Union Township Trustees Meeting Video

March 12, 2024 Business meeting (3h 39m) Executive session (41m) This was the Terrace Ridge case.
February 27, 2024 Business meeting (2h 17m) Executive session (1h 24m)
February 23, 2024 Special meeting (2 minutes) Executive session to interview Fire Chief candidates (4h 8m)
February 5, 2024 Special meeting (1 minute)
January 9, 2024 Business meeting (2h 16m)
January 2, 2024 Reorganization meeting (53 minutes)

Event Calendar

Disclaimer: All events, locations, and times are subject to change.

April 1
Union Township GOP meeting at the Civic Center at 7 PM.

April 8
AMT meeting at the UT Library on GEW Road at 6:30 PM.

April 9
Union Township Trustees meeting at the Civic Center at 6 PM.

April 9
The Union Township Police Department, in collaboration with Mercy Health – West Clermont HealthPlex, is offering a Women’s Self-Defense Class. Contact Sgt. Chris Wilson at CWilson@union-township.oh.us

April 13
Join Union Township Police, in partnership with Crime Stoppers, for a free Drug Drop & Paper Shred event: furniturefair.net/pages/shred

April 17
Clermont County GOP meeting at HQ in Batavia at 7 PM.

April 18 – April 19
Spring Junk Days at the Union Township Service Department, located at 4312 Glen Este-Withamsville Road from 7 AM – 5 PM.

April 20
Spring Junk Days at the Union Township Service Department, located at 4312 Glen Este-Withamsville Road from 8 AM – 3 PM.

April 23
Union Township Trustees work session at the Civic Center at 6 PM.

Video Central

Victor Davis Hanson “He’s The One Behind Everything” (7 minutes)
Don’t Walk, RUN! Elderly Man With Poor Memory DOESN’T Need A Cognitive Test?!? COME ON, MAN! (14 minutes)
Don’t Walk, RUN! JOE BIDEN VS. REALITY!! (11 minutes)
Tucker Carlson Responds to Joe Biden’s State of the Union Address (16 minutes)
Don’t Walk, RUN! The State of the Union Address Was a Trainwreck! (15 minutes)
Don’t Walk, RUN! FACT-CHECKING MSNBC’s CHRIS HAYES (16 minutes)
Tucker Carlson Everything You Need to Know About January 6th (40 minutes)
Western Lensman: This is actually happening! (2 minutes)
Don’t Walk, RUN! Trump Made the Media LOSE THEIR FRICKIN’ MINDS!! (19 minutes)
Dominic Frisby: Everyone, yes everyone, is far right! 😂 (3 minutes)
Don’t Walk, RUN! HERE WE GO AGAIN… (12 minutes)
An Easter Hallelujah Cassandra Star & her sister Callahan (5 minutes)

Full length movies
2,000 Mules 1h 26m
Let My People Go (2h 17m)

BeckerGOP YouTube Channel

Presentations and discussions at the Union Township Trustee meetings

Concealed Carry Part 1 – January 11, 2022 (9 minutes)
Concealed Carry Part 2 – February 8, 2022 (12 minutes)
Union Township Debt Presentation – March 8, 2022 (10 minutes) Slides
Union Township Property Tax Distributions – April 12, 2022 (7 minutes) Slides
Union Township 2021 Financials – May 10, 2022 (14 minutes) Slides
Union Township 2021 Expenses Deep Dive – June 14, 2022 (14 minutes) Slides
Union Township First Half 2022 Financials – July 12, 2022 (13 minutes) Slides
Bond Anticipation Note (BAN) – July 12, 2022 (10 minutes)
UT Concert Series – August 9, 2022 (5 minutes)
Natural Gas Aggregation Discussion – September 13, 2022 (9 minutes)
Cost of 2022 Concert Series and Fireworks – September 13, 2022 (14 minutes)
Medical Marijuana Dispensary Board of Trustees Discussion (38 minutes)
Medical Marijuana Dispensary Public and Board of Trustees Discussion (100 minutes)
Medical Marijuana Six Month Moratorium (12 minutes)
Board Discussion: Meeting Rules (36 minutes)

The Becker Report Video Archives

Becker – Vetted, Tested, and Proven!

“…John Becker, an ‘archconservative’ former state lawmaker from the Cincinnati area…” as described by Cleveland.com (February 2021).
“[State Rep. John Becker,] one of Ohio’s most conservative lawmakers…” proclaimed Cleveland.com (October 2020).
“Clermont County State Rep. John Becker, one of the most conservative members of the Ohio House…” according to Cleveland.com (August 2019).
Becker wins “Sponsor of Liberty” award by the Republican Liberty Caucus of Ohio (October 2018).
“Becker has a legitimate claim as the state’s most conservative legislator,” according to The [Cleveland] Plain Dealer (September 2017).
“Rep. John Becker, suburban Cincinnati Republican… [holds] the unofficial title as the General Assembly’s most conservative lawmaker,” proclaimed the Columbus Dispatch (September 2015).
Becker wins prestigious William Wilberforce Leadership Award (April 2015).
“GOP Ohio House freshman Becker is no shrinking violet,” headlined the Columbus Dispatch (December 2014).
“Becker…is arguably the most conservative member of the Ohio House,” said The Cincinnati Enquirer (January 2014).
Ranked as a top tier “most archconservative” by the Columbus Dispatch (September 2013).

If you prefer to donate online, please click this link or one of my donate buttons at www.BeckerGOP.com.

Introduction (38 seconds)	Second Amendment (36 seconds)
Taxes (49 seconds)	Energy (55 seconds)
Pro-Life (42 seconds)	Creation Science and Evolution (42 sec.)
State Government Spending (45 sec.)	State Government (37 seconds)

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Disclaimer
Nothing in this newsletter constitutes legal advice. I am not an attorney and do not play one on TV. This newsletter is not sanctioned by the GOP, ORP, or any organization, or affiliation. Much of it is simply my opinion. I am fully and solely responsible for my opinion. Although I strive for accuracy, this is not “The Gospel according to John.” Additionally, I don’t necessarily try to be “fair and balanced.” After all, I didn’t get into politics to be a news reporter. My agenda is to influence public policy consistent with Southern Ohio conservative values. For more information on my motivations or how to get involved, see: What is a Central Committee?