Councilwoman 

Paula McCraney
601 W. Jefferson Street
(502) 574-1107

Email Councilwoman McCraney

Links

Visit the District 7 Website

Phone Numbers
of Interest

l Air Pollution: 574-6000

Animal Services: 363-6609
or 361-1318

Anonymous Tipline:
574-LMPD (5673)

Brightside: 574-2613

Jefferson County Clerk's Office: 574-5700

Legal Aid: 584-1254

Metro Call: 311 or 574-5000

Metro Parks: 574-7275

Metro Police: (Non Emergency) 574-7111 or 574-2111

Metro Safe: 572-3460
or 574-7111

MSD: 587-0603

PARC: 569-6222

Poison Control: 589-8222

Public Works: 574-5810

Solid Waste Management (SWMS): 574-3571

TARC: 585-1234

Veteran's Affairs: 595-4447

In this Issue...

• Message From McCraney
• What is a Civilian Review Board?
• Update from the Governor
• Take Care of Your Mental Health During COVID-19
• COVID-19 Resources - Stay Up to Date
• Who Should Get Tested for COVID-19?
• COPING WITH COVID
• Running Essential Errands
• Getting Gasoline
• Banking
• Grocery Shopping
• Food and Delivery
• Louisville Water Co. Launches Drops of Kindness
• Kentucky Science Center Reopens
• Ken-Ducky Derby
• Dogs and Summer Heat
• Know Waste: To Rinse or Not to Rinse?
• 8 Life Hacks to Make Household Chores Easier
• Tune in to View Metro Council Meetings
• State Government Website Information
• Kentucky General Assembly

Message From McCraney

Hello Neighbors and Friends,

A lot has happened since the last e-Newsletter was issued. Civil unrest throughout our community continue, an executive order by the Governor demanding masks be worn in public was issued, a lawsuit by the Attorney General to abolish all executive orders by the Governor was filed, JCPS superintendent announced that schools would open with online instruction for the first six weeks, investigations of the Mayor's Office were authorized, and a protest took place in our very own backyard -- Graymoor-Devondale.  My, my, it's enough to make your head spin!

When I heard on the news about the protest, I rushed out of the house, jumped in my car and headed in that direction.  I wanted to make sure the police were on the scene and the neighbors were okay.  I stood close to a Kentucky State Trooper, watched from afar and took a few pictures.  I couldn't believe what I was witnessing.  The protest was peaceful (as peaceful as over 100 people chanting and refusing to leave someone's lawn could be), but the notion that it took place in District 7, was astonishing.  I was able to speak with a few of the neighbors, who also were astonished by the protest.  As I stood around, though, I felt a sense of community, a psychological connection - a feeling that we all understood that we, together, are part of something much bigger than the protest itself.  We were like a family; we were in this together.

That is what I love most about District 7. We are a community and we matter to one another.  We have a shared feeling that members of our community belong here, work hard to live here, and want to see our neighborhoods remain nice and peaceful. 

I had not heard that Attorney General Daniel Cameron purchased a home in Graymoor-Devondale.  We certainly welcome him and his future bride to District 7, but I suspect this wasn't the last protest we'll see in our neighborhood. In the words of Governor Beshear: We will get through this, and we will get through this together. (By the way, the Governor was a District 7 resident, too, until he was elected and moved his family to Frankfort into the Governor's Mansion.) Whew, with both of them at odds with one another right now, imagine the neighborhood protests that would take place if they were in the same District.

Keep your chin up and your head held high, District 7.  No protest or any other situation will separate us from our sense of community.  We shall not be moved!

LMPD stands guard outside the home of Kentucky Attorney General Daniel Cameron as protestors sit on his lawn. July 14, 2020              Matt Stone/Courier Journal

Around 200 people marched from Ballard High School up Herr Lane to Cameron's home. July 14, 2020 Matt Stone/Courier Journal

As protestors sit on lawn of Attorney General Daniel Cameron, one by one they were arrested and charged with misdemeanors and felonies.  A total of 87 were arrested.

Picture courtesy of the Courier-Journal

What is a Civilian Review Board?

A municipal body composed of citizen representatives charged with the investigation of complaints by members of the public concerning misconduct by police officers. Such bodies may be independent agencies or part of a law enforcement agency.

Generally, the power of a civilian review board is restricted to reviewing an already completed internal police investigation, and commenting on it to the Chief of Police. Citizen review boards have not been very effective at causing reform, as they are often co-opted by the police department whose investigations they are supposed to review, and thus wind up agreeing with the police department in almost all instances.

Some of the newer civilian review board models, however, provide board members with investigatory as well as review authority. Some of these models contemplate that the board will conduct parallel investigations to supplement the internal affairs investigations. In a few localities, the review board has subpoena power and can force a police officer to testify. A few jurisdictions even grant sole investigatory power to their civilian review boards. But it is very rare for a civilian review board to have the final say as to the disposition of an investigation or discipline to be imposed on an officer. These ultimate decisions generally continue to be the province of the chief of police. Nonetheless, all civilian review boards with independent investigatory authority seem to have the power to make recommendations to the chief on disposition and discipline.

As co-chair of the Citizens Review Board Work Group, charged with creating a comprehensive board using a hybrid of three models - Audit, Investigation and Review - I am hopeful that we can encourage state legislators in Frankfort to change the KRS to grant the board with subpoena power.  Currently, the law does not compel a police officer to testify before another agency. With subpoena power, officers will be forced to give testimony during an investigation into his or her misconduct. The good news is, good cops have nothing to hide and they welcome a review board that investigates without bias. The bad news is, the bad cops do not want a citizens review board or any other entity to investigate them. Well, too bad! Good policing is what the community deserves and good police officers deserve the public's respect and support.  In order to gain public respect and support, a review board made up of citizens who want the truth and will seek the truth to exonerate innocent police officers and recommend discipline of guilty officers, is what is needed in our community.  

What are your thoughts about a Citizens Review Board for our community?  Let us hear from you.  Please visit the website of the Work Group to review the documents and models we've studied, read our first summary report, see who is serving on the Work Group to create a review board, and share your thoughts and comments.

To share your thoughts and recommendations for a Civilian Review Board, please click here.  Your input is welcomed! https://louisvilleky.gov/government/mayor-greg-fischer/louisville-civilian-review-board-work-group#materials

Update from the Governor

“What we are seeing across the country is alarming. We are seeing state after state not just facing escalating cases, but facing devastation,” said Gov. Beshear. “As of today, Florida’s hospitals have now run out of ICU beds. This is when people die because the system is overwhelmed. People are going to die who would not otherwise have died. In Arizona and Texas they are bringing in refrigerated trucks because people are dying so fast, there is no room for them in morgues. That ought to convince everybody of the seriousness of the situation we face and what a critical moment right now is.”

Case Information
As of 4 p.m. July 16, Gov. Beshear said there were at least 21,083 coronavirus cases in Kentucky, 413 of which were newly reported Thursday.

The Governor reemphasized that the rising case numbers show the need for everyone to wear a face covering in public or in close quarters with non-immediate family members, as required by his mandate.

“Today, we have a record number of kids under 5 diagnosed with COVID-19. These kids are counting on us to do the right thing,” said Gov. Beshear. “Our new cases come from all types of counties. And remember, deaths follow cases.”

Take Care of Your Mental Health During COVID-19

COVID-19 Resources - Stay Up to Date

• Information from City of Louisville "Build Back Better, Together."
• State of Kentucky's Healthy At Work
• Kentucky Retail Federation's Shop Healthy Kentucky
• Crisis Support Hub

Who Should Get Tested for COVID-19?

COPING WITH COVID

Running Essential Errands

(The following information is provided by the CDC)

• Stay home if sick.
• Use online services when available.
• Wear cloth face coverings in public settings and when around people who don’t live in your household, especially when other social distancing measures are difficult to maintain.
• Use social distancing (stay at least 6 feet away from others).
• Use hand sanitizer after leaving stores.
• Wash your hands with soap and water for at least 20 seconds when you get home.

Getting Gasoline

Use disinfecting wipes on handles

Use disinfecting wipes on handles or buttons

• Use disinfecting wipes on handles and buttons before you touch them (if available).
• After fueling, use a hand sanitizer with at least 60% alcohol. Wash your hands for at least 20 seconds when you get home or somewhere with soap and water.

Banking

Bank online whenever possible

• Ask about options for telephone or virtual meetings to use banking services.
• Use drive-thru banking services, automated teller machines (ATM), or mobile banking apps for routine transactions that do not require face-to-face assistance as much as possible.
• Look for any extra prevention practices being implemented by the bank, such as plexiglass barriers for tellers or bankers, staff wearing cloth face coverings, or physical distancing signs in the lobby.
• Wear a cloth face covering when doing any in-person exchanges and unable to stay at least 6 feet apart from other people – and make sure that bank employees and other people inside the bank are also wearing cloth face coverings.
• Use hand sanitizer containing at least 60% alcohol after any deposit, withdrawal, exchange, drive-thru visit, or use of an ATM.
• Wash your hands thoroughly when you arrive home or to your destination where a restroom is available.

Grocery Shopping

Stay home if sick

• Avoid shopping if you are sick or have symptoms of COVID-19, which include a fever, cough, or shortness of breath.

Order online or use curbside pickup

• Order food and other items online for home delivery or curbside pickup (if possible).
• Only visit the grocery store, or other stores selling household essentials, in person when you absolutely need to. This will limit your potential exposure to others and the virus that causes COVID-19.

Protect yourself while shopping

• Stay at least 6 feet away from others while shopping and in lines.
• Cover your mouth and nose with a cloth face covering when you have to go out in public.
• When you do have to visit in person, go during hours when fewer people will be there (for example, early morning or late night).
• If you are at higher risk for severe illness, find out if the store has special hours for people at higher risk. If they do, try to shop during those hours.
• Disinfect the shopping cart, use disinfecting wipes if available.
• Do not touch your eyes, nose, or mouth.
• If possible, use touchless payment (pay without touching money, a card, or a keypad). If you must handle money, a card, or use a keypad, use hand sanitizer right after paying.

Use hand sanitizer

• After leaving the store, use hand sanitizer.

Wash hands at home

• When you get home, wash your hands with soap and water for at least 20 seconds.

• Follow food safety guidelines: clean, separate, cook, chill. There is no evidence that food or food packaging play a significant role in spreading the virus in the United States.

Food and Delivery

Use delivery services when possible

Limit in person contact if possible

• Pay online or on the phone when you order (if possible).
• Accept deliveries without in-person contact whenever possible. Ask for deliveries to be left in a safe spot outside your house (such as your front porch or lobby), with no person-to-person interaction. Otherwise, stay at least 6 feet away from the delivery person.

Wash your hands or use hand sanitizer after accepting deliveries or collecting mail

• After receiving your delivery or bringing home your takeout food, wash your hands with soap and water for 20 seconds. If soap and water are not available, use a hand sanitizer with at least 60% alcohol.
• After collecting mail from a post office or home mailbox, wash your hands with soap and water for at least 20 seconds or use a hand sanitizer with at least 60% alcohol.

Louisville Water Co. Launches Drops of Kindness

Drops of Kindness is Louisville Water’s new customer assistance program for its residential customers and business owners. The program includes new payment options for customers facing financial difficulty and direct bill relief for those who qualify with funds from the Louisville Water Foundation. Since March 13, Louisville Water has not disconnected water service for an unpaid bill as having access to water is critical in fighting the coronavirus. Louisville Water will continue to suspend water shutoffs until the pandemic subsides. 

How Drops of Kindness works: Starting with a confidential call with a customer service representative, customers will work with Louisville Water to identify a payment option that works for their individual and unique situation. 

Visit LouisvilleWater.com/dropsofkindness for more information.

Kentucky Science Center Reopens

Ken-Ducky Derby

Dogs and Summer Heat

Know Waste: To Rinse or Not to Rinse?

When recycling food containers, people often wonder if they should rinse or even wash them first. Our local recycling facility, where all the recycling is sorted and processed, only requires items to be empty. Peanut butter and mayonnaise jars are difficult to clean. If you’ve scraped out as much food as possible, the container is good to go. If the container and lid are both made of plastic, replace the lid before recycling. Glass jars and metal lids should be recycled separately. During the heat of the summer, though, you may want to give some items a rinse to prevent pests and odors while you wait for collection. Rinsing items also helps keep your collection container clean. (Please don’t bag your recyclables!) Interested in more Know Waste Trivia? Take our quiz at KnowWasteLouisville.org! Follow @KnowWasteLou on Facebook or Twitter for our weekly Know Waste Wednesday trivia.

8 Life Hacks to Make Household Chores Easier

1. ICE CUBES IN THE DRYER GET OUT WRINKLES.

Put two or three ice cubes in the dryer along with one or two pieces of clothing and place it on the hottest setting. The ice melts and turns to steam, getting the wrinkles out. This trick isn’t as effective with heavier clothing, but it’s a miracle on lighter fabrics. The best part is that you don’t have to set the dryer for longer than 10 minutes or so for it to work.

2. EMBRACE VINEGAR FOR LOTS OF TASKS.

Don’t waste your time scrubbing and scrubbing with traditional soap. A little white vinegar will help get those hard water stains out of cloudy drinking glasses. You can soak them in diluted white vinegar or simply dunk a rag in your vinegar and clean as usual. This trick will also do wonders for your coffee carafe and dirty faucets. If you haven’t cleaned your showerhead in a while, put vinegar in a plastic bag and wrap it tight around the head overnight. In the morning, remove the bag and wipe it down to get it to sparkle.

For dirty blinds, put some vinegar into a bowl and put your hand into an old sock. Dip your fingers into the vinegar and wipe those blinds down with the sock. It’s far easier than taking the entire set of blinds down to clean them, and it does a much better job.

3. PICK UP BROKEN GLASS WITH BREAD.

Put a little bit of water on a piece of bread to make it a bit damp and press it on the floor where the remaining fragments are. The glass will embed in the bread without the danger of cutting your fingers or feet in the process. You’ll likely be able to catch those tiny bits that are otherwise invisible to the naked eye.

4. CLEAN A FOGGY MIRROR WITH SHAVING CREAM.

This is a bit of a two-for-one cleaning tip. If you apply traditional shaving cream to your mirror and wipe it down with a paper towel or rag, not only will you rid the mirror of smudges and streaks, but it’ll also keep it from fogging up during a shower for a few weeks. This trick is also useful for cleaning your glasses and car windows.

5. CLEAN YOUR MICROWAVE WITH LEMON.

Simply squeeze juice from a lemon into about half a cup of water and drop the remaining lemon in. Put the mixture into the microwave for around three minutes—basically long enough to come to a boil.

The mixture, now steamed, will fill your microwave. Once you let it sit for five minutes, you can open the microwave, remove the bowl, and take a cleaning rag or paper towel to the inside.

6. RINSE OUT YOUR BLENDER IN SECONDS.

Instead of disassembling your blender and cleaning those sharp blades by hand, just fill your blender halfway with hot water, throw in some dish soap, secure the lid, and turn it on. The hot water and dish soap will remove the stubborn residue around the blades, and you’ll be able to just rinse it all out when it’s done.

7. NEUTRALIZE ODORS WITH A FEW SIMPLE INGREDIENTS.

Instead of needlessly scrubbing your kitchen from floor to ceiling or spraying air-fresheners every time you cook a little salmon, there are simple solutions to get rid of unwanted cooking smells.

One method is to simmer a pot of half water, half vinegar on the stove. The other is to boil a pot of water with orange and lemon peels thrown in right after you cook. This is a quick and cheap way to get rid of unwanted aromas that linger for days even after you crack a window.

8. CLEAN YOUR BATHTUB WITH GRAPEFRUIT.

Ditch the harsh, expensive chemicals and embrace a more organic way to clean your tub. First, turn the water on and get your tub wet from end to end. Then, simply cut a grapefruit in half, sprinkle a generous amount of salt on the exposed fruit, and begin scrubbing.

The combination of the citrus fruit and salt removes soap stains and other assorted messes while leaving a pleasant smell behind. The same technique can be used on sinks, faucets, and fixtures as well. If you’re looking to switch to easier, more natural cleaning solutions, the grapefruit is a safe bet.

Tune in to View Metro Council Meetings

NOTICE: All Metro Council meetings are carried live on Metro TV, Spectrum Cable Channel 184 and  U-verse Channel 99.

The meetings are also available online at the Metro Council home page at http://louisvilleky.gov/government/metro-council/metro-council-clerk. Click on the“Watch Meetings Online” button.  

OR access prior or current meetings here:

https://louisville.granicus.com/ViewPublisher.php?view_id=2

Agendas for these meetings can be viewed using the following link:

http://louisville.granicus.com/ViewPublisher.php?view_id=2

State Government Website Information

Click Here for State Government Website

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Kentucky General Assembly

Click Here to Visit Website for Laws, State Legislators, Watch Bills, etc

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