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There’s a great scene at the beginning of Annie Hall where young Alvy Singer tells his doctor why he’s been depressed. “The universe is expanding,” Alvy explains. “The universe is everything, and if it's expanding, someday it will break apart and that would be the end of everything!”
“He stopped doing his homework,” Alvy’s mother cries to Dr. Flicker.
“What’s the point?” Alvy asks, existentially.
“[The universe] won't be expanding for billions of years yet, Alvy,” the doctor reassures, “and we've gotta try to enjoy ourselves while we're here. Uh?”
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Pardon the tortured analogy, but if you’ve been feeling like Alvy lately due to the current state of affairs in Frankfort and Washington, then please allow me to play the role of Dr. Flicker:
There is a cure for what ails you, and it has nothing to do with marching on capitals or contacting your legislators. We’ve gotta try to employ ourselves while we’re here – and by that I mean accepting the reality of the situation (for now) and focusing instead on non-political action to change the things we can for the betterment of our community.
I’m neither a theologian nor a member of Alcoholics Anonymous but I often speak about controlling what we can control here in District 8 and the City of Louisville. For example, at the end of the day there is nothing we can really do to prevent Humana from merging with another company and some of the consequences that may result from that. We can prepare but that’s different… However, if we determine and make it a priority – let’s say – to keep the streets clean as a matter of policy, resource allocation and law enforcement then we can have clean streets. (God, grant us the wisdom to know the difference.)
If you’re a loyal reader of District 8 eNews then you know I’m all about our Strategic Plan. One reason is because while some of our agenda is policy-based, most of it is programmatic – meaning action-oriented, inclusive and, in fact, dependent on volunteer participation to be successful – and, more specifically, things we can control. Dozens of you (almost 100!) have already signed-up to help execute one part of the plan or another, and for the select subset of folks chomping at the bit to get started (ye of the “just checking-in” emails variety), this announcement is especially for you:
We’re ready to take action on four more of our major initiatives:
These data gathering missions are crucial not only to achieving our goals but to doing so in a logical and cost-effective manner. We’ll meet-up each Sunday, 12:30pm at the Douglass Community Center and expect to spend three hours working (not including happy hour after). The more citizen soldiers the merrier, so please feel free to just show up or – even better – let us know you’re coming by emailing brandon.coan@louisvilleky.gov and copying jasmine.masterson@louisvilleky.gov or calling 574-1108. We’ll reach out to those already registered to get involved.
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Taking action isn’t just the right thing to do, it feels good, and for my volunteer time nothing makes me feel better than participating in the Brightside & Passport Health Plan Community-Wide Cleanup. Every year, the Highland Commerce Guild leads spring and fall cleanups along Bardstown Road and Baxter Avenue, and this year we’re expanding to include Barret Avenue and Taylorsville Road. Meet Saturday, April 15, 9am at Mid-City Mall (look for the tie-dye truck) to receive an assignment, bags, gloves and t-shirts, and breakfast courtesy of an upstanding corporate citizen to be determined. If you have a group that’s willing to participate, please contact our office as detailed above – and if your business or organization is not yet a member of the Highland Commerce Guild, please consider joining today to support their great work and start benefiting from all the value they provide.
As is custom, a final plea to share the following link with friends and neighbors to help them get hip to District 8 eNews: https://louisvilleky.gov/government/metro-council-district-8/subscribe-stay-informed – taking action begins with being informed. Thanks very much!
Best Regards,
Councilman Brandon Coan
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