District 4 Your Voice Matters

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Newbarbaraphoto

Councilwoman Barbara Sexton Smith
601 West Jefferson Street
(502) 574-1104
Email Barbara

 

Committee Assignments: 

  • Budget
  • Public Safety
  • Government Oversight

Wanda Mitchell-Smith

Wanda Mitchell-Smith Legislative Assistant             (502) 574-3453                     Email Wanda


audrey

 Audrey Champelli               Intern

Email Audrey


District LMPD links

1st Division Information

2nd Division Information

4th Division Information

5th Divison Information


The Fourth District includes:

  • Downtown
  • Central Business District
  • NuLu Business District

Neighborhoods:

  • Paristown Pointe
  • Phoenix Hill
  • Shelby Park
  • Smoketown

and portions of these neighborhoods:

  • Butchertown
  • California
  • Germantown
  • Irish Hill
  • Meriwether Fort Hill
  • Original Highlands
  • Portland
  • Russell
  • Schnitzelburg

In this issue...


57th anniversary of the March on Washington

marchonwashington

August 28, 2020 marks the 57th anniversary of the March on Washington for Jobs and Freedom. The March was organized by A. Philip Randolph and Roy Wilkins who felt Martin Luther King Jr. could bring the additional inspiration needed.

It was much more than a speech and much more than a dream. More than 250,000 people gathered and vowed to march together in protest of the nation’s racial inequities. You may be wondering, “How far have we come?” I suggest you begin by studying the radical Martin Luther King Jr. to learn what happened during the twenty years leading up to the 1963 March. “I Have a Dream” was not a planned speech. What began as four minutes of remarks became the greatest 16 minutes of spoken word during our lifetime. Click HERE to learn more.


Beecher Terrace Story - Documentary by Lavel White

Beecher TErrace

This documentary examines the history of the Beecher Terrace public housing community and the role it played in the development of the Russell neighborhood in Louisville. Click HERE to watch


Voting by Mail in Kentucky

Vote early ky

Governor Andy Beshear and Secretary of State Michael Adams reached a non-partisan agreement to give Kentuckians concerned with the threat of COVID-19 expanded options to exercise their right to vote this November.

Kentucky voters can visit govoteky.com to request a mail-in ballot, find a ballot drop-box, find early voting locations, and access additional information about the upcoming election.

click HERE for other dates and information


Metro Council Livestreaming on Facebook Live


Census 2020 - Everyone Counts!

census

Census data will influence the federal support Louisville receives for schools, hospitals, roads, public works and more for the next decade, as well as our representation in Congress. If you call Louisville home you need to be counted.

You have three options to respond to the 2020 Census:

  1. By phone you can call 844-330-2020
  2. By mailing back the paper questionnaire delivered to your home earlier in the year
  3. Online you can respond safely from home by using the online form on the U.S. Census website at my2020census.gov

Additional information can be found at https://louisvilleky.gov/census

Deadline to respond to the Census extended to September 30, due to the COVID-19 pandemic. Jefferson County’s response rate was 69.4% on August 6, which is higher than the national self-response rate at 63%, and 66% for the state.

Please be counted – we really are all in this together!


Ideas for Celebrating Derby from Home

derby

This year, many of us will be watching the Derby virtually from home, but that doesn't mean we can't celebrate! This can be a wonderful opportunity to celebrate all that Kentucky has to offer by listening to some music by local artists and ordering from local restaurants and businesses.

To see a whole list of ideas on how to make your virtual and socially distanced parties special this derby season, click HERE.


River Sweep Revamped for 2020

River Sweep

Because of COVID-19, the 31st Annual River Sweep originally scheduled for September 12 has been changed to a collection of small efforts instead of the traditional large group. You can still be a part of the effort toward safe, clean waterways.

Community members are encouraged to pick up a bag of garbage in their area in honor of the event. Cleaning up gutters and storm drains is a great idea because that litter ends up polluting our waterways.

Groups of 10 or fewer interested in cleaning up their community can contact River Sweep Coordinator Rhonda Crotzer at (502) 548-8409 or email at Rhonda.Crotzer@louisvillemsd.org to pick up supplies and participation T-shirts.


Become an Olmsted Park Steward

Olmsted Parks

Are you passionate about Louisville's Olmsted Parks and looking for a way to give back? Become an Olmsted Parks Conservancy Park Steward! 

The next Park Steward Training program begins on September 8, where volunteers can attend a series of virtual lectures and in-park training to learn more about Park History, Horticultural Techniques, Plant Identification, and Woodlands Management, all while meeting amazing new people and getting the opportunity to exercise ownership over these greenspaces you care about.

The one-time enrollment fee, a $50 donation to Olmsted Parks Conservancy, covers costs to produce the lectures, training, and materials. Scholarships are available for those interested.

Learn more and reserve your spot at https://www.olmstedparks.org/news/park-steward-training-fall-2020/.


Financial Assistance for MSD Customers

MSD

Low-income households may qualify for a 10-percent sewer bill discount under a new Emergency Wastewater Rate Assistance Program (EWRAP) offered by MSD. Aimed at providing relief for households struggling financially during the coronavirus pandemic, the EWRAP discount is effective August 1, 2020. It will run through July 31, 2021.

For eligibility information or to apply online, visit https://louisvillemsd.org/ewrap. Residents may also call 502.540.6000 or email CustomerRelations@LouisvilleMSD.org to request a paper application in the mail.


Help with Louisville Water Bills

Louisville Water

Louisville Water Company has a new program – “Drops of Kindness" - to help people dealing with financial difficulties in the global pandemic. 

Whether you’re a resident or business owner, Drops of Kindness offers a customized approach to help customers resolve unpaid bills and reduce future financial obligations. Drops of Kindness starts with a confidential call with a customer service associate who works to find a bill payment option suitable for a customer’s individual and unique situation. 

Customers are matched with payment options that help them catch up on unpaid bills. This could include:

  • A payment plan on the outstanding balance or other payment options
  • Connecting customers with partners who have funding for help with an unpaid bill. 

Contact Louisville Water by email or call  (502) 583-6610.


metro seal

The Louisville Metro Council is now livestreaming all of its regular meetings and committee meetings on Facebook Live.

To see all meetings on Facebook Live, go to the Metro Council Facebook page by clicking here.

The public can also view all council and committee meetings on Metro TV, Spectrum Cable Channel 184 or on UVERSE at Channel 99.  Proceedings are live streamed from the Metro Council Clerk’s Archived Media page here.

If you would like to see the agenda for any of the Metro Council’s Committee meetings click here.


Learning Chrome Camp for Children

LCCC

Click HERE to Register


KY Science Center's Camp nti

campnti

click HERE to register


Skill Up, Change Up, Badge Up Webinar Series

skillsuo'

Update from Kentucky Manufacturing Career Center

kyworks

Click HERE and complete the online form to enroll or call (502) 276-9711 ext. 4001


Russell Neighborhood Health Center

Russell Neighborhood

Library Expands Curbside Pickup Hours

lfpl curbside

With the majority of Library employees now back at work after a three-month furlough, the Louisville Free Public Library is expanding curbside pick-up hours to include some evenings and Saturdays at all 17 library locations, as it works on plans to open library buildings.  Specific curbside hours vary by branch and can be found online at LFPL.org/curbside, or by calling (502) 574-1611.

To utilize LFPL’s curbside service, you must first place items on hold in the online catalog. Once you receive an email or phone notification that the items are ready for pickup, you must call (502) 574-1611 to schedule a pick-up time. At your scheduled pick-up time, simply follow the directions indicated on signage at your pick up location. To ensure the health and safety of library patrons and staff, LFPL’s curbside service is a no-contact delivery process. Library materials in plastic bags are placed directly in your vehicle by library staff and all workers wear face masks. The Library’s curbside service is contactless for patrons without cars as well. Items are placed on a designated table for pickup.

Borrowed library materials can be returned via the Library’s book drops on days of operation. Returned materials will be quarantined for a minimum of 72 hours before being processed, to ensure they are safe to be shelved or checked out again.

For more information, please visit LFPL.org/curbside.


Applications Regarding Historic Structures

Planning and Design

the following properties are listed or potentially eligible for listing in the National Register of Historic Places

plymouth complex

1626 and 1630 W. Chestnut St. - Plymouth Complex: owner request to designate property as an Individual Landmark (Case No. 20-LANDMARK-0002). The hearing will be held at 9am on 9/10/20

Click HERE to attend online and HERE for more information


Russell Housing Repair Programs

Housing

The Russell Homeownership Incentive Program is an exciting opportunity to be a homeowner in a neighborhood rich with history. Incentives are being offered for individuals and families who already live in Russell and are ready to purchase a home, and to those looking to move into the neighborhood.  If you meet the following criteria, this program is for you!

  • Interested in being a homeowner and residing in the Russell Homeownership Incentive Area
  • Committed to keeping the house as your primary residence for five years.
  • Excited about making up to $24,999 in qualified improvements to your home. Participants must be approved prior to repairs being made and any cost over $24,999 will be the responsibility of the homeowner and paid in full prior to Louisville Metro Government (LMG) paying the remaining cost.
  • Willing to complete homeownership counseling, if a first-time homebuyer.
  • Willing to conduct a lead inspection on the property if it was built prior to 1978. LMG can help provide contact information of qualified companies.

The Russell Home Repair program is about revitalizing single-family homes by providing funding for repairs that assist with the stabilization of the home. The homeowner must reside in the Russell Neighborhood and live in the home for more than one year. To qualify, homeowner must also meet income requirements and be current on property taxes and mortgage payments. Repairs that may be addressed in the home includes: Electrical, Heating Systems and Air Conditioning, Plumbing, Roof Repair, Elimination of exterior code violations, etc.

The Russell Rental Rehab program is a partnership with landlords/owners of Russell properties that will assist with increasing the supply of long-term affordable, safe and sanitary rental units for low- and moderate-income residents.

For more information about these programs, contact the Office of Housing at 502-574-5850. For assistance with completing the application, you can visit our office at 444 S. 5th S., 5th Floor.

https://louisvilleky.gov/government/housing/homeowner-resources


Eviction Prevention and Small Business Relief

metro seal

Residents and businesses continue to suffer from the economic shutdowns required by the pandemic. Two programs are helping tenants and businesses in Louisville.

The budget Metro Council passed in June designated up to $21.2 million in federal CARES funding for the Eviction Prevention COVID-19 Relief Fund. The fund is designed to prevent the anticipated wave of new eviction cases and aid low-to-moderate income households that are delinquent on rent payments as a result of the COVID-19 pandemic.

The fund will pay for up to three months of rent for households facing COVID-related delinquencies. Individual households earning at or below 60 percent of the area median income ($45,840 annually for a family of four) are eligible to receive rental assistance. Individual households should CLICK HERE FOR INFORMATION ON HOW TO APPLY.

Our FY21 operating budget also includes up to $21.2 million in federal CARES funding for Small Business COVID-19 Relief Grants. The program will provide eligible businesses with grants up to $50,000 based on demonstrated impact from COVID-19. The Small Business COVID-19 Relief Grants program is designed to help prevent business closures caused by the COVID-19 pandemic and to preserve the hundreds of fun and funky businesses that make Louisville unique. Download a flier with information about the grant program


Household Eviction Prevention Assistance

eviction prevention for households - updated

COVID-19 Resources, Testing, Helpline, and Links


small business relief

https://louisvilleky.gov/government/louisville-forward/small-business-covid-19-relief-grants for more information on what is needed in order to get prepared to apply.


LouCovidHotline

Jefferson County COVID-19 Data Dashboard

coronavirus

COVID-19 in Jefferson County KY

Discover, analyze and download data from COVID-19 in Jefferson County KY. Download in CSV, KML, Zip, GeoJSON, GeoTIFF or PNG. Find API links for GeoServices, WMS, and WFS. Analyze with charts and thematic maps. Take the next step and create storymaps and webmaps.

Louisville COVID-19 Testing Sites

covid testing

Who should get tested for COVID-19? 

  • Anyone who has symptoms: fever, cough, shortness of breath or difficulty breathing, chills, muscle pain, headache, new loss of taste or smell, vomiting or diarrhea, sore throat, congestion or runny nose. Contact your healthcare provider about scheduling a test.
  • Testing for people who do not have symptoms (asymptomatic) including:
    • Persons without symptoms who have been in close contact with someone who has tested positive. Consider getting tested during your 14-day quarantine if you do not develop symptoms. 
    • Healthcare facility workers, workers in congregate living settings, and first responders without symptoms.
    • Residents in long-term care facilities or other congregate living settings, including prisons and shelters, without symptoms
    • People without symptoms who have been in large gatherings where social distancing was difficult, and you do not know if you were in close contact with a positive case.

For more information on the process and testing sites, please click here.


COVID-19 Information from Governor Beshear

kyseal

COVID-19 Testing Expansion
Gov. Beshear reminded Kentuckians to take advantage of the state’s partnership with Kroger, which has brought free drive-through testing across the commonwealth. Information on how to register at more than 200 sites throughout the commonwealth can be found here.

More Information
Read about other key updates, actions and information from Gov. Beshear and his administration at governor.ky.govkycovid19.ky.gov and the Governor’s official social media accounts FacebookTwitter and YouTube.

Kentuckians can also access translated COVID-19 information and daily summaries of the Governor’s news conference at tinyurl.com/kygovespanol (Spanish) and tinyurl.com/kygovtranslations (more than 20 additional languages).


COVID-19 Safety Reporting Hotline

kyseal

Safety Reporting Hotline

Gov. Beshear reminded Kentuckians that the COVID-19 reporting hotline is available to help keep everyone safe.

People who witness dangerous non-compliance with coronavirus mandates, including requirements for mask wearing, social distancing and sanitation, at Kentucky businesses are encouraged to call the COVID-19 reporting hotline at 833-KY SAFER (833-597-2337). 

Labor Cabinet personnel will monitor the hotline from 7:30 a.m. to 9 p.m. EDT. To file a complaint online, click here


How To Prevent COVID-19

UPDATE!

Councilwoman Sexton Smith has created a special information page about the COVID 19 virus and its impact on Louisville Metro. To get information on basic needs, food distribution, small business assistance from local, statewide and JCPS programs designed to keep you safe and give assistance during this crisis,

CLICK HERE


COVID-19 - Important Links

HELP WITH UNEMPLOYMENT AND SMALL BUSINESSES

NEED HELP OR WANT TO HELP OTHERS?


Neighborhood Associations

Butchertown - butchertownpres@gmail.com 1st Tuesday @ 6:00 pm 

Germantown Paristown - 1094 E. Kentucky St. 396-4836 judithmagrem28@gmail.com 3rd Monday @ 6:00 pm

Irish Hill Neighborhood Association - For more information info@irishhillneighbors.org 

Original Highlands - 1228 E. Breckenridge St 287-3938 driddle121@yahoo.com 3rd Monday @ 6:00 pm 

Paristown Pointe - For more information contact Shannon Musselman at sphiggins69@me.com 

Phoenix Hill -  phoenixhillna@gmail.com  4th Monday @ 5:30 pm 

Portland Now - 2503 Montgomery St. 438-0189 larry.stoess@gmail.com 1st Tuesday @ 6:30 pm 

Russell Neighborhood - 604 S. 10th Street at Western Library, (502) 389-7004 or email  Jackie Floyd, 4th Tuesday every month @ 6:00pm

Schnitzelburg Area Community Council - St Elizabeth's 1020 E Burnett Schnitzelburg.org

Shelby Park - 600 E. Oak Street 417-5336 Shelby Park on Facebook 2nd Thursday @ 6:00 pm 

Smoketown - 325 E. Kentucky Street 836-7661 666@webberconsulting.org 3rd Monday @ 6:30 pm

South Fourth Street - Jim Reskin, President

Meriwether Fort Hill Neighborhood Association - 3rd Tuesday at 6:30 at Shelby Traditional. Jess Brown 270-227-9123


Important Numbers

Metro311: 311 or (502) 574-5000
Air Pollution: (502) 574-6000
Animal Services: (502) 363-6609 or (502) 361-1318
Louisville Forward/Economic Development: (502) 574-4140
Planning & Design Services: (502) 574-6230
Community Services & Revitalization: (502) 574-4377
Public Works: (502) 574-5810
Property Valuation Administrator (PVA): (502) 574-6380.

TARC: (502) 585-1234
PARC: (502) 569-6222
Legal Aid: (502) 584-1254
IPL (Code Enforcement): (502) 574-3321
Solid Waste Management (SWMS): (502) 574-3571
Metro Parks: (502) 456-8100
Metro Police: (Non Emergency) (502) 574-7111 or (502) 574-2111
LMPD 1st Division: (502) 574-7167
LMPD 2nd Division: (502) 574-2478
LMPD 4th Division: (502) 574-7010
LMPD 5th Division: (502) 574-7636
Anonymous Tipline: (502) 574-LMPD (5673)
Metro Safe: (502) 572-3460 or (502) 574-7111
Vacant & Public Property Administration: (502) 574-4016
Brightside: (502) 574-2613
Master Commissioner Jefferson Circuit Court (Foreclosure Sales): (502) 753-4888

Your State Representative or State Senator: http://www.lrc.ky.gov 

Congressman John Yarmuth: (502) 582-5129


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