 Councilwoman
Madonna Flood
Legislative Assistant
Andrea Crider Derouen
City Hall
601 W. Jefferson Street
502-574-1124
Welcome to District 24 E-Newsletter! To learn more about events and services in our district, check out our webpage!
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 Louisville Metro and the State both have websites that have COVID-19 information that is updated as information changes.
The Center for Disease Control Covid-19 site is https://www.cdc.gov/coronavirus/2019-nCoV/index.html
The State site is https://govstatus.egov.com/kycovid19.
The Governor is holding daily briefings again at 4pm. The site is https://www.facebook.com/GovAndyBeshear/videos/613448489581786
The Louisville Metro site is https://louisvilleky.gov/news/what-you-need-know-about-coronavirus
Here’s the link to our new COVID dashboard: https://covid-19-in-jefferson-county-ky-lojic.hub.arcgis.com/.
As always, if you have any questions about where to obtain information, please call our office at 574-1124.
 Absentee Ballots will not be mailed until September 15th.
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Gov. Beshear: https://governor.ky.gov/PublishingImages/Governor-Andy-Beshear.jpg
Sec. Adams: https://governor.ky.gov/PublishingImages/SecretryAdams.jpg
In the midst of a global health pandemic caused by the coronavirus (COVID-19), as a Democratic Governor and a Republican Secretary of State we have proven that we can put partisanship aside to make our elections safer for our people.
We know that working across the aisle to reach a bipartisan agreement, regardless of where you live from Washington, D.C. to Frankfort, Kentucky, during any year, certainly an election year, is all too rare.
We don’t always agree, but we have no disagreement when it comes to protecting the health of Kentuckians during this pandemic, while making sure they are able to exercise their patriotic duty to vote.
On Aug. 14, we announced an agreement to give Kentuckians more options to vote safely leading up to and on Election Day, Nov. 3, 2020.
We put politics aside – there was no political “horse-trading.” We knew we had to get this right for the people of Kentucky.
This was not the first time we’ve worked together for Kentucky’s benefit. Earlier this year when the coronavirus was intensifying in the commonwealth, we jointly delayed party primaries and then quickly reached an agreement to allow those concerned about their health to vote absentee.
The result of our agreement, we had near record turnout. We had the commonwealth’s highest primary turnout in 12 years – with both Democrats and Republicans taking advantage of voting options that helped to keep them safe.
We believe the primary was largely successful because we worked together in a bipartisan fashion. That bipartisanship not only led to a better product, with concerns on both sides accommodated, but it also showed all voters that our new election rules were fair, legitimate and credible.
The plan was not perfect, but we learned from that experience.
Our plan for the general election keeps the best of what worked in the June primary, especially giving voters options to safely cast their votes, and it makes improvements where necessary, including pushing for more in-person voting locations and faster election results.
During this pandemic, Kentuckians will have more than just 12 hours to vote at one polling place on Election Day.
Our plan includes:
Expanded absentee voting – Kentuckians who are concerned about in-person voting due to the coronavirus can request an absentee ballot online at www.GoVoteKy.com or through other methods, all of which require voter identity verification. Voters can return their ballots by mail, or put them in drop boxes we’re distributing, a first for our state.
Early in-person voting – In order to reduce lines and further social distancing, we’re offering three weeks of early in-person voting, including Saturdays, also a first for our state.
Election Day voting – While not every precinct will be open on Election Day, because, for example, some of our regular voting locations are nursing homes, Kentuckians are stepping up to serve as poll workers so that we can open as many locations as possible. Our plan requires every county to have at least one vote center, where anyone from that county can go vote, regardless of his or her precinct – another reform for our state.
Finally, Kentuckians who are unable to get a photo ID to vote due to the pandemic – whether because of risk of exposure to COVID-19, or because their clerk’s office was closed – can sign a document explaining this concern, present non-photo ID and cast their ballots.
We know that there is still a lot of work ahead, including educating Kentuckians on their options and working with local election officials on the implementation.
With all the options available for Kentuckians to vote safely, we are confident that we will see high voter turnout in November, just as we saw in our primary.
In June, we created a national model both for how to enable people to vote safely and for how leaders should work together.
To forge the framework for a safe, successful and historic general election, we have already overcome the largest impediment – partisanship.
– Governor Andy Beshear and Secretary of State Michael Adams
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Transparency is integral to the top-to-bottom review of LMPD. Here's how you can reach out to the consulting firm Hillard Heintze with your concerns, comments or inquiries.
https://louisvilleky.gov/news/public-invited-provide-input-top-bottom-review-lmpd
Find a rewarding career! Serve the Louisville community! We have career opportunities in various fields, including two newly posted positions like Public Works Inspector I & II, and previously announced positions are still available in the fields of engineering, electrician, electrical maintenance supervisor, and heavy equipment operator. Click on the image or the link below and join the Louisville Metro Department of Public Works & Assets Team!! https://www.governmentjobs.com/careers/louisvilleky?department[0]=Public%20Works&sort=PositionTitle%7CAscending
The Cities for Financial Empowerment Fund (CFE) has awarded Bank On Louisville/Louisville Metro Government, in partnership with LHOME, a local Certified Development Financial Institution (CDFI), with an $80,000 grant to support the creation of a Financial Navigator program. The program is designed to help residents deal with the financial impact of the COVID-19 pandemic, by receiving free, remote assistance in navigating critical financial issues and referrals to other social services and financial resources.
“Helping residents who are facing financial challenges due to COVID-19 is a critical part of the city’s frontline response and recovery efforts,” said Mayor Greg Fischer. “The city is proud to partner with LHOME providing this free public service for all of our residents.”
Bank On Louisville - a city-led collaborative that strives to connect residents to safe and affordable financial services - applied for the grant with LHOME, which promotes wealth building by providing financial education and affordable, accessible loans primarily to low-income residents. Bloomberg Philanthropies, the Citi Foundation, Wells Fargo, and JPMorgan Chase support the CFE Fund’s Financial Navigator efforts.
Trained Financial Navigators will provide structured guidance over the phone that will help community members maintain incomes, reduce expenses, and stay securely housed. Financial Navigators will help residents triage financial issues, identify immediate action steps, and receive service referrals. Navigators are not long-term counselors, nor can they provide direct cash assistance.
Financial Navigation services will be delivered over the phone with session lengths ranging from 30 minutes to an hour, depending on the clients’ needs. During the session, Navigators will help clients address their financial concerns with a variety of tactics including:
Managing expenses/prioritizing payments and when to make them, including:
- Guiding negotiations with creditors, including credit card companies, student loan servicers, and personal and business lenders to pause payments without accruing interest;
- Determining if utilities payments can be paused without disruption of service; and
- Considering options to leverage unemployment insurance and/or short-term disability.
Maximizing income:
- Ensuring receipt of potential future federal payments such as the Families First Coronavirus Response Act;
- Providing guidance on enrollment of unemployment insurance, food security benefits, and other available resources; and
- Connecting to Volunteer Income Tax Assistance sites to file taxes and receive tax refunds.
During the session, the Navigator and client will identify next steps to resolve the client’s financial issues; clients will receive a document via email outlining those next steps. If a resident has additional questions, they may call the program again.
”Louisville has terrific financial resources but they are often very difficult for community members to access and put to good use,” said Amy Shir, LHOME’s President and CEO. “We highlighted these local resources in our grant application while acknowledging a tremendous need for Financial Navigators to connect them holistically to Louisvillians struggling financially during the COVID-19 pandemic.”
LHOME and the City of Louisville anticipate launching the service in mid to late September 2020. Visit https://louisvilleky.gov/government/bank-louisville or https://www.lhomeky.org/for regular updates including how to apply and other details.
More about Bank On Louisville Launched in 2010, Bank On Louisville is a collaborative partnership between local government, financial institutions and community organizations that work to improve the financial stability of unbanked and underbanked residents in our Louisville community. To date, Bank On Louisville has helped connect more than 47,000 residents to safe and affordable bank accounts and connected more than 26,500 residents to quality financial education. In 2020, Bank On Louisville is proud to celebrate 10 years of connecting residents to Louisville’s safest accounts. Visit www.bankonlouisville.org for more information.
More about LHOME LHOME stands for The Louisville Housing Opportunities and Micro-Enterprise Community Development Loan Fund, Inc. and is an intentionally inclusive CDFI focused on serving community members and small business owners in Louisville’s low-moderate income neighborhoods. LHOME is committed to combating historic redlining and institutional racism by promoting ownership through accessible, affordable loan products and financial coaching services to its clients, most of whom are people of color living and/or working in West and South Louisville neighborhoods. Visit https://www.lhomeky.org/ or email info@lhomeky.org for more information.
More about the Cities for Financial Empowerment Fund (CFE Fund) The CFE Fund’s mission is to improve the financial stability of households with low and moderate incomes by embedding financial empowerment strategies into local government infrastructure. The CFE Fund is a national nonprofit organization that supports over 80 cities and counties across the country.
In addition to the Financial Navigators initiative, the CFE Fund also helps mayoral administrations in cities across the country with other programs, including: kickstarting municipal financial empowerment efforts through its structured CityStart engagement process; supporting cities in launching Financial Empowerment Centers which offer one-on-one financial counseling as a free public service; expanding the availability of safe, affordable bank and credit union accounts through Bank On; and working with local governments to build out and implement local consumer financial protection offices.
 Louisville Grows’ inaugural PLANT 5K Run & Walk will be held on September 19, 2020. The event will take place at 100 West Riverside Drive, Jeffersonville, Indiana starting at 9am. All proceeds benefit Louisville Grows’ urban forestry
program and their goal of planting 5,000 trees by 2025. PLANT 5K is sponsored by Ale-8-One.
The safety of race participants is the highest priority. Mindful of the COVID-19 pandemic, the race organizing committee has contracted with DC Timing and are following best practices and protocol while monitoring local, state and CDC guidelines to ensure a safe event. Runners may compete in person or register for the virtual option. The race is limited to 150 runners and waves of start times for 25 participants will be spaced 10 minutes apart. Masks will be required, except when running, and proper social distancing will be practiced. Due to health concerns, no water will be provided at the event. Participants are asked to bring
their own water and water bottles.
Participants are encouraged to pick up their racing packets on Friday, September 18, between 4-7pm outside of Mile Wide Beer Co., 636 Barret Ave. All participants will receive a unique PLANT 5K medal, a collapsible, reusable cup with the race logo, and goodies from Rainbow Blossom Natural Food Market and Honey Stinger waffles. The overall male and female winner will receive a customized medal crafted by Drunkwood along with a professional tree planting (minimum 1" caliper, native tree) on their property or on their behalf. The race-organizing team is working towards producing a zero-waste event. Co-op Compost Louisville will assist in the collection of waste and Water Step will be accepting shoe donations. Early registration will cost $30 and $20 for Friends of Louisville Grows. To register for the event, visit www.plant5k.org .
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Founded in 2009, Louisville Grows is an environmental nonprofit organization whose mission is to Grow Greener, Healthier Neighborhoods. Our vision is to foster green, just and sustainable communities in Louisville. We seek to be a leading nonprofit in advocating for health equity through the environmental platforms of urban forestry and urban agriculture. To learn more about Louisville Grows, visit www.louisvillegrows.org .
FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS
Q: How much do tickets cost?
A: Tickets are for an entire vehicle. You only need to purchase one ticket per vehicle and it will allow entry for everyone inside the vehicle.
Cars/SUVs/Minivans: $35
Passenger Vans/Limos: $50
Q: I can’t make it on the day I originally purchased the tickets, can I use them on another night?
A: Yes, you can exchange your ticket by contacting Evvnt Ticket Support. In your email requesting an exchange, please include the email address you used to purchase the ticket, the date that you wish to attend, and a phone number in case there is a need to call.
Q: When does the road close for the night?
A: Cars will no longer be allowed to enter the line past 11PM on Sunday - Thursday and midnight on Friday and Saturday.
Q: What are the hours?
A. The event opens at dusk, which is about 7:30pm in early October and closer to 7:00pm later in October. We are asking cars to arrive no earlier than 6:45PM. The hours of operation are Dusk – 11 p.m. (Sunday – Thursday) and Dusk – Midnight (Friday & Saturday)
Q: What are the dates for the show?
A. Opening night is Thursday, October 1, 2020. The final day is Sunday, Nov. 1, 2020.
Q: What is the address?
A: The entrance to the event is 4800 New Cut Road at the intersection of New Cut and Southern Parkway.
Q: Will my younger child enjoy it?
A: We have received no reports from younger children and toddlers that the Jack O’ Lantern Spectacular is scary.
Q: Can I order tickets online?
A: Yes: The website for tickets is www.jackolanternlouisville.com. Due to COVID-19, and the fact we anticipate sold out nights, we HIGHLY encourage everyone to buy tickets online. While tickets can be purchased at the gate, this will be a cashless event. Once purchased, you can download the tickets to your phone, or print them off at home and bring them with you to the show.
Q: Can you sell out of tickets?
A: Yes, we will be limiting the numbers of tickets sold each night due to the limited traffic capacity of Iroquois Park.
Q: What form of payments are accepted?
A: Due to COVID-19, this will be a cashless event. Tickets can be purchased online with a major credit card.
Q: What happens if it rains or in the event of severe weather?
A: The show goes on, rain or shine. In the unlikely event the show is delayed or postponed due to dangerous weather conditions, the tickets will be honored on another day.
Q: What happens if I come hungry or thirsty?
A: Due to COVID-19, there will be no concessions served during this year’s Jack O’Lantern Spectacular.
Q: What if I want to purchase tickets for my church, business, or civic organization? Do you offer group rates?
A: Yes. For details please contact our Director of Operations, Lisa Norkus at lnorkus@louisvilleparksfoundation.org. We have partnered with Trolley de’Ville, who will be offering trolley rides for groups. You can contact them at 502-939-3415 or info@trolleydeville.com.
Q: Is there a military discount?
A: Due to our pricing structure this year, there are no military discounts.
Q: I’m looking to avoid the crowds. When is the best time to come?
A: We anticipate the line of cars will be longer on weekend nights.
Q: What about parking?
A: JOLS is a drive-thru event this year so there will be no parking.
Q: I’m from out of town. Are there any hotels nearby?
A: There are plenty of hotels in and around Louisville. For more information, visit www.gotolouisville.com.
Q: Is camping or RV camping permitted?
A: No. Our public parks are not designed for overnight camping. There are nearby camp sites located in the area.
Q: How many pumpkins are there?
A: Somewhere around 5,000 at any one time.
Q: Are the pumpkins real?
A: Most are. The pumpkins in trees are not real.
Q: How long do the pumpkins last?
A: We replace the pumpkins every 3 – 7 days depending on the weather conditions.
Q: Where do the pumpkins come from?
A: 95% of the pumpkins are grown on family farms in the region.
Q: Who do the proceeds benefit?
A: Proceeds benefit the Louisville Parks Foundation, a 501(c)3 dedicated to improving Louisville’s public parks for present and future generations.
Q: Can I take pictures?
A: Yes, but please no flash photography. It ruins your picture, and the experience of other guests.
Q: Do you offer a sensory night?
A: Yes. Sensory night is held on Sunday, November 1. It is designed for those with Autism Spectrum Disorders (ASD) and sensory processing differences, and their families, from 5:00 – 6:00 pm. For guest’s enjoyment, pumpkins will light up the woods, but there will be no music or special effects. Sensory Night at the Louisville Jack O’ Lantern Spectacular, made possible through the generous support of PNC Bank.
Q: Anything else I need to know?
A: Yes. The show is brought to you by Passion For Pumpkins, an organization that got its start in Oxford, Massachusetts in 1988. P4P currently operates two other shows, located in Providence, RI and Minneapolis, MN.
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