For at least the rest of April, staying at home as much as possible and social distancing when we are out for necessities is the best way to stop the spread of COVID-19 – and get things reopened as soon as possible.
In-person gatherings, even of family members that you do not currently live with, threaten efforts to “flatten the curve” and save lives, and therefore cannot happen. How well people adhere to those guidelines, including during Passover, Holy Week and Easter, can significantly affect how many people have COVID-19 and how long closures last.
Before you go out anywhere, remind yourself what six feet of space looks like and commit to stay six feet away from everyone you are not currently living with. Go to the grocery store as infrequently as possible and don’t treat your visits there as social occasions. Stay back in any line (the Clifton Kroger and many other stores have new entrance procedures and are limiting the number of people in the store at any one time) and exercise some responsibility yourself. If you see a crowded aisle, avoid it or wait for people to leave, for example.
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When you are out for a walk, run or bike ride, keep that six feet distance from other people and avoid areas with large crowds. If you head for a walk on Frankfort Avenue or the Crescent Hill Reservoir, for example, and see a crowd, walk somewhere else.
Walking, running and biking in our parks are still allowed but many other activities are prohibited. Here’s a list of what you can – and cannot – currently do in Louisville parks. Note, however, that there are active discussions about closing a limited number of park roads to vehicles to allow even more room for physical exercise. If that happens, we’ll put the news out on our blog and social media pages (see below).
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Social distancing does not mean social isolation. Please keep reaching out by phone, email or other technology to people who are alone.
The Louisville Asset Building Coalition (LABC) that normally prepares taxes in-person has switched to a virtual tax preparation model. The service is free if you earned $66,000 Adjusted Gross Income or less in 2019, or if you qualify for the Earned Income Tax Credit. Clients can make appointments by visiting https://labcservices.org/. You may also click here to view a flyer that fully describes the process. LABC understands that not everyone will be comfortable with this new method, LABC plans to operate in-person tax sites once it’s safe to do so. More information will be provided in the D9 eNews when it’s available. The tax filing deadline has been extended to July 15, 2020.
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A special website has been developed about community and agency actions taken to assist our most vulnerable residents. Among other things, it includes information about emergency feeding sites for children 18 years old or younger established by JCPS, including sites at Breckinridge-Franklin Elementary and St. Matthews Elementary, and locations to pick up frozen meals for seniors. The site is updated daily.
More and more people are needing emergency assistance to help them through this period. You can help by volunteering and contributing to the community ministries in our city. They provide food and emergency assistance to people needing help and are doing it in new ways to maintain social distancing. United Crescent Hill Ministries can be reached at (502) 893-0346 or https://www.uchmlouky.org/. St. Matthews Area Ministries is at (502)-893-0205 or http://stmam.com/. Both sites have information about ways to volunteer, donate or seek help.
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Support local businesses if you can. Many restaurants are providing takeout or delivery options. Call ahead or see their Facebook pages.
The Louisville Independent Business Alliance (LIBA) has developed an online resource and is sharing recommendations to help the community keep our local businesses in mind as we stay safe. Visit www.KeepLouisvilleWeird.com.
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Regular, weekly curbside collection in the Urban Service District was to have resumed this week but it’s been delayed and is now set to resume the week of April 13. For most everyone in the USD District 9, that means the first regular collection will be Friday, April 17. Some collections may occur this week, if requests were made last week, but NO NEW REQUESTS ARE BEING ACCEPTED.
Leave your yard waste at the curb for pickup next week and follow these guidelines in the Urban Service District:
Yard Waste Collection accepts these items:
- Leaves, twigs, straw, pine needles
- Shrubbery trimmings
- Branches and tree trimmings - must be less than 2 inches in diameter and less than 4 feet long
- Wood ash
Yard Waste Collection does NOT accept these items:
- Dirt, rock & gravel
- Litter or trash from yard
- Plastic items - including, but not limited to, flower pots, plant tags, empty mulch and soil bags
- Large limbs & tree stumps - larger than 2 inches diameter and longer than 4 feet
- Wrong containers - material may not be in city garbage or recycling carts OR plastic bags
- Piles not contained or bundled
Live outside the Urban Service District? Collection of garbage, yard waste and recycling outside the Urban Service District varies by location. Residents living in small cities within Jefferson County should contact the city administrator for more information. Residents of unincorporated areas must contract directly with a private waste collection company. Not sure? Use the MyLouisville tool to find out more information about your address.
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Kyle and I are working remotely but we are answering the phone and responding to many emails.
If you see a need or just have a question, let us know. The best way to reach us is at this contact page.
We normally publish the eNews every other week but, at least for awhile, we'll update you more regularly. Also remember to follow the D9 blog, "Councilman Bill Hollander" Facebook page and the @BillHollander Twitter feed for more frequent updates.
Please go online and complete the census. It’s a very simple procedure. You can also call 1-844-330-2020 to complete the survey over the phone as soon as you receive the invitation. The best way to avoid a visit from a census taker is to fill out the 2020 Census questionnaire online, by phone, or by mail as soon as you receive your invitation to participate. We urge you to do so now, to limit person-to-person contact as the coronavirus continues to spread. The census website is here.
You can see how many of your neighbors have completed the census at this site. On March 28, 32.2 % of the neighbors in my census tract had responded. Today it is 52.7%. That’s a little better than Jefferson County’s 50.0% and better than Kentucky’s 46.9%.
We’re getting there but still have a long way to go! Complete the census today!
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Louisville Metro employees and contractors are continuing to complete projects during the pandemic, including a good deal of sidewalk replacement in D9. Trees are also being planted, including more than thirty planted last week along Edith Road between River Road and Mellwood Avenue.
Several of you have asked me about the status of the amendments to the Land Development Code to require more tree preservation and replacement in new developments in the community, an ordinance I am sponsoring. It’s been approved by the Council Planning and Zoning Committee but is being held at the Metro Council as we deal with pandemic-related issues. I hope that will change soon.
As Governor Beshear says, “We’ll get through this, We’ll get through this together.” When we do, we’ll be glad we made ordinance changes to preserve more trees and improve health, by reducing temperatures in our urban heat island.
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We’ve had no calendar for the last several editions, because all gatherings are canceled. But here’s one date to look forward to. The Frankfort Avenue Easter Parade will be April 3, 2021.
Looking forward to better days is one way to take care of yourself, your friends, and your family. Taking care of yourself can help you cope with stress. Helping others cope with their stress can also make your community stronger. More advice about managing stress and anxiety is at the CDC website.
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