Councilwoman
Paula McCraney
601 W. Jefferson Street
(502) 574-1107
Click Here to
Visit the District 7 Website
Ben Otten
Legislative Assistant
Contact Ben:
(502) 574-3454
Phone Numbers
of Interest
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
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 When it’s time, join the Webex meeting here:
Meeting number (access code): 180 903 2974
Meeting Password: rRdwG2Rux28
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Go to the Facebook page of Councilwoman Paula McCraney.
It will be broadcast on Facebook Live!
Hello Neighbors and Friends,
December 10th marked the last full Metro Council meeting of the year. As usual, that meeting is one of the longest ones of all. However, unlike last year when we ended the meeting well after midnight, this year's meeting lasted "only" a little over 3 hours, with the Council President gaveling the meeting adjourned at 9:23.
It was a busy agenda, and we managed to close the year out with several key pieces of legislation that will have a huge impact on our community. One of the major discussions and decisions centered around how to spend $26 million in Louisville Metro budget carry-over funds from the last fiscal year end (July 2020).
Here's a recap:
Mayor Fischer and some council members drew up a spending plan for a portion of the funds:
- $1,000,000 for the city’s Clean Collaborative effort, including funds to increase Public Works’ staffing for community clean-ups, street sweeping and graffiti removal, and funding to expand the Downtown Louisville Partnership’s cleanup work.
- $600,000 for the Office of Resilience & Community Services to establish a mobile response team to address issues related to homelessness, and another $250,000 to address areas of need in homeless assistance efforts, as identified by a Louisville Metro Government gap analysis.
- $750,000 to assist with Kentucky Science Center operations due to decreased attendance caused by the pandemic.
- $583,700 for Codes & Regulations to increase vacant lot mowing and graffiti removal.
- $350,000 for the Office for Safe & Healthy Neighborhoods to hire youth outreach specialists and to fund the Group Violence Initiative (GVI), in partnership with the US Attorney’s Office – in an effort to address the racial disparities and inequitable impact of violence in our community.
- $10 million for utility assistance, which was already approved by the committee last week.
During the Council meeting, we unanimously approved $10 million dollars of the CARES Act funds for utility relief to help people struggling to keep the lights on during this pandemic. The Office of Resilience and Community Services will receive the $10 million and divide it between the three major utility companies and their foundations --- LG&E, the Louisville Water Company and MSD.
The Councilmembers who worked with Mayor Fischer proposed the spending plan as an emergency ordinance. Several of us on the Council spoke up against the "rush job" the request seemed to be. In essence, they wanted to present the spending plan in one meeting without giving us an opportunity to review the plan in a committee and discuss and ask detailed questions. Our insistence on being able to debate the plan resulted in the Budget Committee, on which I serve, calling a special meeting at the end of the month. The goal is to get all of Councilmembers questions answered and pass the ordinance out of committee so that it can then be presented for a vote and approval at the January 4, 2021 Council meeting.
I certainly support spending money to assist those among us who are considered the least of these - the homeless, and during this pandemic, those who have lost their jobs due to no fault of their own, business owners who have taken a hard hit or loss their businesses, and those struggling to make ends meet --- keep the lights on, the water running and food on the table. But, when I see requests to spend millions of dollars in the middle of a pandemic to increase hiring, vacant lot grass mowing, remove graffiti and street sweeping, I don't consider those emergencies in the scheme of things when people --- not things --- are suffering.
If my colleagues and the mayor would have asked for the money to assist businesses that are suffering or increase assistance for the homeless, I would not have been so apprehensive about the request. I would have even preferred they recommend saving most of the money for the rainy day that is looming ahead for 2021. With as much uncertainty as 2020 has brought, no government should be eager to spend money simply because it's available. We are not teenagers with an allowance that is burning a hole in our pockets. We are (supposed to be) adults - elected to conduct policy concerning not only the current state of the city we represent, but the future of the city as well. What's the rush to do some of the things the mayor and four of my colleagues proposed? What is such an emergency that you want to circumvent going through a committee where the ordinance can be scrutinized? I am looking forward to attending the special budget meeting. I guarantee you that I will listen closely, ask the hard questions, and make sure that as a collective body we make the right decision for the good of our community.
Council also passed two resolutions related to police reform. The first urges the city and the Fraternal Order of Police to take steps to require drug and alcohol testing after an officer is involved in a critical incident, such as a shooting. The other is a list of four requests for state legislators. They include allowing subpoena power for the new Office of the Inspector General and amending the open records act to permit all LMPD departments release body camera footage, 911 calls, and other communication after critical incidents. The third request is to change the law to allow city officials to make public comments about incidents before investigations are complete. A final request, asked that a police chief's designee be able to handle disciplinary cases. I voted "yes" on these two resolutions.
Three other subjects dealt with during the meeting, all of which I voted for, include:
1. Approval of a $700,000 allocation to help pay for improvements to the new Middletown Library.
2. A change in ordinance that allows public swimming and water spraying facilities with less than 2,000 square feet of water surface area and fewer than five feet of depth will be exempt from water safety personnel requirements (or lifeguards). There are several key stipulations associated with the change, however, in order to avoid any unintended consequences.
3. A resolution asking the mayor to repair, restore, and reinstall the King Louis statue that was gifted to our community. Upon restoration, the resolution suggests that the statue be returned to the downtown location of 6th and Jefferson. The resolution asks the mayor to advise the Council of any Louisville Metro funds used in the restoration and reinstall, as well as seek philanthropic and federal funding for this project.
Yes, the last Council meeting of the year was long, but it sure was very productive. I'm looking forward to 2021 for so many reasons...
"Get ready to brew a cup of coffee, have a muffin or two handy, and from the comfort of your own home, let’s talk,” says Coucilwoman McCraney.
Representatives of Hagan Properties have been invited to discuss Providence Point, which has been a residential concern due to potential traffic congestion. Participants in the meeting will have an opportunity to ask questions and learn firsthand about the project and proposed timelines.
Chief Gentry, another special guest during this month's virtual meeting, will discuss priorities and changes she has made since becoming chief.
Since stepping into the role as chief, Gentry has made the best environment for the LMPD personnel, both civilian and police officers. Her goal for the public has been for LMPD to provide the best customer service they can provide the community. Come hear about how she's getting things done.
When it’s time, join the Webex meeting here:
Meeting number (access code): 180 903 2974
Meeting Password: rRdwG2Rux28
OR SIMPLY CLICK HERE TO JOIN MEETING:
Tap to join from a mobile device (attendees only) +1-415-655-0001,,1809032974## US Toll Join by phone +1-415-655-0001 US Toll Global call-in numbers Join from a video system or application Dial 1809032974@louisvilleky.webex.com You can also dial 173.243.2.68 and enter your meeting number.
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Mayor Greg Fischer and the Louisville Department of Public Health and Wellness interim Medical Director, Dr. SarahBeth Hartlage, addressed the media Tuesday as the city faced another grim milestone in its fight against COVID-19.
Louisville surpassed 4,000 positive cases as the daily incidence rate increased to 74.6 cases per 100,000 population, a trajectory that Dr. Hartlage said is three times the critical incidence rate threshold of 25 cases.
With the Governor’s restrictions set to expire on Sunday, Mayor Fischer recognized the toll it has taken on the local economy, but added that, while difficult, it was a necessary decision to slow the spread of the virus until health data indicates residents are in a safer position.
“These are painful measures that disrupt what we think is normal, but clearly we are not living in normal times when you see the amount of infections and mortality rates that are taking place,” Mayor Fischer said. “Our businesses, particularly restaurants, are really suffering. I’m asking everyone to push through this as best we can. Let’s keep doing what we know we need to do with mask-wearing, social distancing and staying home as much as possible. Let’s get through the end of the day Sunday when the restrictions lapse and hopefully, we’ll be in a much better place.”
Dr. Hartlage reported that the Department of Public Health and Wellness has adopted new guidelines by the Centers for Disease Control on COVID-19 quarantine and isolation processes that shortens quarantine time from 14 to 7 or 10 days, depending on individual circumstances.
Here are the key COVID-19 data metrics for the week of December 8, 2020:
- There were 4,003 new cases over the previous week.
- Hospitalization data:
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20.4 percent of patients currently hospitalized have COVID-19.
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91 patients in ICU with COVID-19 as of December 8, a slight decrease from 94 the week prior.
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54 COVID-19 patients on ventilators as of December 8, compared to 58 last week.
- COVID-19 cases are in every ZIP code and each of them are in the red.
- Largest increase in cases are in the 20-44-year-old demographic at 42.2 percent.
- We’re seeing a disproportionate amount of cases in our African American and Latinx communities. We continue efforts outreach to provide resources for residents needing to quarantine and increasing testing capacity.
- With high level community spread, interactions with individuals outside the household puts residents at a greater risk of bringing an infection home. Once a member of the household is infected, it is likely to spread to other members.
COVID-19 mass vaccination planning and rollout
According to Paul Kern, Public Health Preparedness Administrator for Metro Health and Wellness and Coordinator of Mass Vaccination Planning, that department is using principles from past large-scale vaccination events such as H1N1 and the 2017 Hepatitis A outbreak in planning for the rollout of COVID-19 vaccines.
“Some of the challenges with this vaccine are the different ones available, that each requires two doses at different intervals, and different storage requirements,” he said.
Kern said a portion of the first allocation of a COVID vaccine in Jefferson County will go to the three health care systems in Louisville, University of Louisville Hospital, Baptist Health and Norton Healthcare to use for their essential frontline healthcare workers. The remainder of the allocation will go to Walgreens and CVS pharmacy to address high-risk groups in long-term care facilities.
Dr. Hartlage said that guidance starts at the federal level setting people into broad categories like frontline workers, critical infrastructure and high-risk adults. Then from the state level, a vaccine allocation group helps the health department place a priority on groups within those categories.
“In critical infrastructure here in Kentucky, we’re placing an emphasis on EMS workers and educators, and at the local level, we help coordinate those groups,” she said. “It’s a multi-tiered approach to make sure we get all the right people into the right groups.”
To see Louisville’s COVID-19 data dashboard, including total number of cases, deaths, testing locations and more, click HERE.
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The Kentucky Transportation Cabinet (KYTC), in partnership with Louisville's Metropolitan Planning Organization – the Kentucky-Indiana Regional Planning and Development Agency (KIPDA) – is conducting a planning study on a corridor of I-65 between I-264 and E. Jefferson Street in Louisville, Kentucky.
Study Objectives
The objective of the I-65 Corridor Planning Study is to identify short-term and long-term improvements that KYTC may use for further development and implementation. The study examines I-65 from I-264 (Watterson Expressway) to East Jefferson Street in downtown Louisville (MP 131 to MP 136). The study activities include, but are not be limited to, an inventory of existing conditions, establishing study objectives and goals, proposing and analyzing improvement concepts, conducting public involvement, prioritizing improvement concepts, and writing a technical report to document the study process and results.
Current Status
Over the past few months, the project team has collected data and cataloged the information. This information consists of items like traffic volumes, traffic travel times, crash or collision data, and environmental concerns in the study area.
On December 1, 2020, a virtual meeting was held for local officials and key stakeholders. This meeting initiated our first public outreach effort. We encourage anyone interested to visit our online I-65 StoryMap. The StoryMap provides study details and the opportunity to share concerns or comments. This outreach effort will continue through January 8, 2021.
Future Activities
A second public outreach effort will occur in the Spring of 2021. During this second outreach effort, we will seek the public's help in evaluating and prioritizing possible improvement strategies for I-65.
From the Metro Meals Program: We regret to inform you that the funding for The Extended Senior Nutrition Program, commonly known as Metro Meals, will end on Wednesday, December 30, 2020.
Metro Meals was launched as an extension of the Senior Nutrition Program, assisting seniors with nutritious meals during the COVID-19 pandemic. The program, which began in May 2020, was originally scheduled to last for five weeks. Five weeks turned into eight months. Many of you have expressed your gratitude that the program, made possible by CARES/COVID Relief Funding, was extended for an additional six months. Sadly, the funding runs out on December 30, 2020.
Metro Government has other opportunities to address the nutritional needs of seniors in our community. The ongoing KIPDA funded Senior Nutrition Program is continuing into the new year.
To be eligible for this Senior Nutrition program you must be 60 years of age or older. There are two ways to be served by this program:
- The first way is for you, a family, friend or support person to make a reservation and go to the distribution site and pick up your box of meals each week. This is the fastest and most seamless transition from the Metro Meals program. Currently there are six sites across Jefferson
- The second option is to apply for the Home Delivered meal service. This application has funding guidelines that require an assessment from a social worker. This process does take some time to complete and demand is higher than normal. If the meals you have been receiving are your primary source of nutrition or you cannot meet your nutritional needs otherwise, then you should inform us of this when you contact
Please call the Senior Nutrition Program at 574-6325. A staff member will explain your options and find the best fit to meet the needs you have at this time.
Please call 574-6494 if you have questions or concerns regarding the end of the Metro Meals Program.
*Funding for the Senior Nutrition Program is by KIPDA through funds awarded by the KY Department for Aging and Independent Living with funds from the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services. Other sources of income include Louisville Metro Government and private donations.
Saturday, December 12th, is Gingerbread House Day, and since everyone is supposed to be staying home, we think it's a great opportunity to gather the immediate family and make a gingerbread house.
Several craft stores sell undecorated gingerbread houses and most of the goodies to decorate the house with. If you are over the top during the Christmas holidays, why not find a good gingerbread house recipe and make one from scratch?
Here Comes Santa Claus! The city is sending Santa out into the community. Santa and his caravan will travel through several neighborhoods, selected through nominations from area residents, from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. on Dec. 12 and 19. Christmas music will be playing, and a large mobile video screen will play highlights from previous Light Up Louisville events as Santa’s caravan drives through the selected neighborhoods. Follow this link to nominate your neighborhood for a Santa stop.
Mayor Fischer urges people to share their photos from this alternative Light Up Louisville on social media using the hashtag #AroundLou. For more information, go to www.lightuplouisville.org.
Letting a car idle for 10 minutes will get the engine up to normal operating temperature but accomplish little else. Driving the car for several miles wakes up the transmission, brakes, suspension, power steering, climate system (including the air conditioner) and all the fluids, seals and gaskets for those components that have been on a long snooze.
To avoid a dead battery, you can start your car once a week and let it run for about 5-10 minutes. (If your car is parked in a garage, be sure to do this with the garage door open to ensure proper ventilation for exhaust fumes.)
https://lifehacker.com/why-you-still-need-to-drive-your-car-a-little-if-youre-1842560487
Make your own Lysol wipes:
Cut paper towel in half
Put into a container w/1c of water
2T of white vinegar
4 squirts of dish soap
Pour in so that the paper towel
Absorbs all the liquid…
Instant Lysol wipes!
To view the Governor’s recent executive orders, click here: https://kentucky.gov/Pages/Activity-stream.aspx?n=GovernorBeshear&prId=475
In August 2016 Louisville Metro Emergency Services teamed up with Bullitt County, Oldham County, and Washington County to create a regional emergency notification system – Louisville Emergency Notification System (LENSAlert). Its enhanced capabilities include using all communications modes to send alerts – mobile phones, landlines, email, text, social media, IPAWS-OPEN. Take another step in being prepared for disasters and sign up for LENSAlert today.
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In addition to receiving notifications, individuals can create a Safety Profile for themselves and their household that can include any information they want 9-1-1 and first responders to have in the event of an emergency. When individuals make an emergency call, their Safety Profile is automatically displayed to the 9-1-1 call taker, allowing them to send the right responders to the right location with the right information. Information about medical history, allergies to medication, number of residents in a home and even a picture of the family dog can all be added to a Safety Profile.
Click Here for Frequently Asked Questions About Smart911
Are you looking for a public place to exchange items you've sold online? Do you share custody of a child and are looking for somewhere to exchange custody?
The Louisville Metro Police Department is providing MetroSWAP Zones outside of some Division offices.
There is 24 hour video surveillance. LMPD recommends:
- Agree to meet the person ONLY at a MetroSWAP station.
- Meet only during daylight hours.
- Tell someone you trust where you are meeting and at what time.
- Meet in the parking lot at two designate areas of each location.
- Make the interaction brief and to the point.
MetroSWAP Zones are at:
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Visit http://www.louisvilleky.gov/MetroPolice/Patrol+Divisions/ to sign up to receive the LMPD’s new crime alert update for your neighborhood. Simply select your LMPD division number and click "Subscribe to Crime Alerts by Beat" to begin receiving the update.
- Division 5, please call dispatch at 502-574-7111
- Division 8, please call dispatch at 502-574-2111
Fifth Division - This division covers the area including the Highlands, Clifton and Cherokee and Seneca Parks.
Eighth Division - This division covers the area including Middletown, Lyndon, Oxmoor and the Ford Truck Plant.
Interactive Crime Mapping
You can now map crime in Louisville using the interactive mapping tool.
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 here and click on the “Watch Meetings Online” button.)
OR access prior or current meetings here:
http://louisville.granicus.com/ViewPublisher.php?view_id=2.
TO ACCESS MEETINGS THROUGH FACEBOOK: CLICK HERE
Agendas for these meetings can be viewed using the following link:
http://louisville.granicus.com/ViewPublisher.php?view_id=2
Click Here to: View All Agencies
Click Here to Visit Website for Laws, State Legislators, Watch Bills, etc
Click here for more info.
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