Columbus growth brings big questions on housing, safety and cybersecurity
Columbus growth brings big questions on housing, safety and cybersecurity
Publish Date: 2026-03-13 17:05:00
Source Domain: abc6onyourside.com
Using an unordered list, summarize the following article with between 4 and 8 key points. COLUMBUS, Ohio (WSYX) — The City of Columbus is growing rapidly and with that growth come big questions from families about housing, public safety, and even cybersecurity.On Friday afternoon, ABC 6 Anchor Rodney Dunigan sat down with Andrew Ginther, mayor of Columbus, to talk about where the city stands on several key issues and what changes residents can expect moving forward.As Columbus continues to expand, city leaders indicate they’re working to keep up with demand especially when it comes to housing. The region is expected to need nearly 200,000 new housing units over the next decade. Columbus voters have already approved a $500 million affordable housing bond aimed at helping address the shortage.Mayor Ginther told ABC 6 the goal is not just building more homes, but making sure those homes are affordable for the people who keep the city running.“We think that people who work hard and play by the rules should, and that work in this community should be able to afford to live. So, we’re talking about cops, firefighters, teachers, nurses, but also seniors and folks on fixed incomes. We believe that they should be able to age in place in the neighborhood of their choice,” said Ginther.Public safety is another key concern for residents. While violent crime has declined in recent months, domestic violence continues to play a role in many homicides across the city.Ginther told ABC 6 that addressing the problem requires a broader community approach, not just law enforcement.“By the time the police are called on a domestic violence situation, that means our other places in the community have failed. So how do we get into courthouses? How do we get into schools? How do we get upstream on some of these issues? And working closer with faith leaders. Using faith leaders in their networks and the work that they do in the community to help educate folks. But solving the issue of domestic violence and intimate partner violence is not a police responsibility. That’s not going to be solved by the police. It’s got to be solved by each and every one of us,” said Ginther.The mayor points to a combination of policing strategies and community-based programs including the city’s Office of Violence Prevention as part of that effort.Meanwhile, after a cyberattack exposed sensitive city data, Ginther told ABC 6 new safeguards are being put in place to better protect residents’ information and strengthen the city’s systems.“Yeah, I think as safe as they can be at this age of a constant threat around cyberattacks and the issue of cybersecurity, I think we have made some very significant, important good faith steps and made some critical investments to better protect the people of Columbus,” said Ginther.As the city grows, Ginther told ABC 6 that the focus remains on keeping Columbus moving forward while maintaining safety, affordability, and trust in city services.The mayor also indicates the city plans to continue investing in violence prevention programs and technology upgrades to better protect residents in the years ahead.
