District 9 eNews - Thursday, February 4, 2021

 

 
D9 Masthead
Bill Hollander - blue edit 2021

Councilman Bill Hollander
601 W. Jefferson Street
(502) 574-1109
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Kyle Ethridge

Kyle Ethridge
Legislative Assistant
(502) 574-3908
Email Kyle


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In this Issue...


LMPD "In Crisis"

LMPD Review

After a months-long process, Hillard Heintze, a Chicago-based consulting firm that works with police departments across the country, has issued a report finding that the Louisville Metro Police Department (LMPD) and its communities are in crisis, with major changes needed immediately. The problems are described as going back “generations”.

The report, which includes many data points about a variety of issues, including traffic stops, noted that “acting on our key findings will require renewed commitment and holistic follow-through from LMPD and City leaders during the next few years. We hope the community can be open to remediation and reconciliation as the Department demonstrates a willingness to improve and change.”

The report notes that concerns about LMPD’s current performance are widespread in the community, especially in Black neighborhoods.  But concerns were raised in neighborhoods all over Louisville.  In a broad community survey, respondents from the LMPD Fifth Division, which serves most of D9, made significantly more negative than positive comments about LMPD. The report also notes extraordinarily low morale among LMPD officers, with a majority saying they would leave the department if they could.   

LMPD Chief Erika Shields has embraced the report and feels it provides a roadmap for changes needed in the department.   

All of us – residents, police officers and City leaders - must continue to focus on this work.  I am also pleased that we will have an Inspector General and Civilian Review and Accountability Board to monitor the efforts in the future.

You can read the full 155-page report here.


COVID-19 Vaccinations

COVID Vaccinations

Vaccine demand continues to far exceed vaccine supply in Louisville. Under state-imposed rules, non-medical first responders, K-12 educators and individuals 70 and over are prioritized in Phase 1B, and a “LouVax” site at Broadbent Arena is being used for those vaccinations.

PHASE 1B

Louisville’s system for signing up those 70 and over has changed and been confusing.  This is the current advice.  Register for your appointment through one of Metro’s healthcare partners. Check especially on Fridays, when hospitals learn how much vaccine they will receive in the following week. When you register please remember the following:

  1. Do not sign up with multiple providers. Due to available supply, appointments are limited. It may take several weeks to get an appointment.
  2. Individuals without internet access can have a family member or friend register them.  (See below for additional assistance from some student volunteers).
  3. If you have health insurance, including Medicare, you must bring your insurance card. There is no cost to you, regardless of your insurance status. All sites operate by appointment only and will require proof of age (such as a valid state identification) on arrival.

Here are the healthcare partner sites:  

Norton Healthcare (which is creating a waitlist)
UofL Health
Baptist Health

PHASES 1C, 2-4 

Kentuckians ages 60-69 are in Phase 1C, along with many other people.   At Louisville’s current rate of vaccine supply, vaccinating Phase 1B will take through April 2021 and individuals in Phase 1C should not expect to be vaccinated until late April or May.  We are hopeful supply will increase soon!  

To stay informed on vaccine efforts in Louisville, please sign up now for weekly Covid-19 updates.

Until vaccinations are generally available – which is months away – the virus will continue to spread and there will be more illness, hospitalizations and deaths. Please continue doing your part and maintain a six-foot space between you and others, wear your mask when out in public, avoid large groups and stay home as much as possible.    

To see Louisville’s COVID-19 data dashboard, including total number of cases, deaths, testing locations and more, click here

The latest news about COVID-19 in Kentucky is here.

COVID Vaccine Phases

Vaccine Appointment Assistance Available

Students from Sacred Heart Academy are providing a community service of vaccine assistance for individuals over 70 that cannot make their own appointment. Sacred Heart has a team of tech savvy teenagers volunteering their time to assist you with scheduling, transportation and to help you find answers to questions you may have. Contact them at (502) 479-1313 or email VaxConnectKy@gmail.com.

Vaccine appointment assistance

2021 Metro COVID-19 Utility Assistance Available

If you have been impacted by the COVID-19 pandemic, you may qualify for utility assistance.

Requirements:

  • Be a Jefferson County, KY resident
  • Experienced a COVID-related economic hardship
  • Have a past due/delinquent LG&E electric or gas bill, or Louisville Water/MSD utility bill (arrearage must have occurred between March 16 – December 31, 2020).

LG&E Assistance Program

Louisville Water & MSD Assistance Program

LIHEAP Crisis Component

  • Up to $400 in assistance
  • Household income must be 150% of the federal poverty guidelines.
  • Received a brown, disconnection notice from utility service provider or a past due notice; or an eviction notice if utilities included in the rent; or within 10 days of running out of pre-paid electric; or within 4 days of running out of bulk fuel.
  • Use automated scheduler at (502) 991-8391 or louisvilleky.cascheduler.com  
  • No COVID-related delinquency required for this program
COVID-19 Utility Assistance Available

MSD Closures at Frankfort and Story

MSD Closure

MSD has been working on sewer line issues on Story Avenue in Butchertown.  The I-64 eastbound exit ramp to Story Avenue was closed earlier this week but reopened yesterday morning, as sewer line inspection and work at the base of the ramp are complete.

Crews moved yesterday to inspect a similar depression or dip in the pavement on Story Avenue at the intersection with Frankfort Avenue.

Portions of Story and Frankfort Avenues, including the Story Avenue ramp to I-64 westbound, closed to traffic yesterday.  Closures included Story between Frankfort and I-64. Additionally, Frankfort Avenue is closed between Mellwood Avenue and Story.

There is no disruption of the sewer or other utility service in the area. Detours are marked.

MSD Closure

Junk Pick-up in District 9

junk setout

It’s time to clean house and get ready for another large item collection if you live in the 9th District Louisville Metro Urban Services District (USD). You may begin setting out your junk on Friday, February 26, in the afternoon. All junk must be set out by Monday, March 1 at 6:00 a.m. Some items (hazardous materials, construction debris, etc.) are not collected and these guidelines are being strictly followed. For collection guidelines, please click here.

To sign up for large item set out reminders by email and text, or to find out if you are in the collection area,  click here and enter your address. After selecting your address from the list of suggested addresses, you can view collection dates by month, or sign up for reminders.


Know Waste Webinar Series

The Waste Management District is offering another series of informational webinars in February. All webinars will begin at 3:00 p.m.

  • February 4 – How to Recycle Right
  • February 11 – Louisville’s Solid Waste Study
  • February 18 – Household Hazardous Waste
  • February 25 – Backyard Composting

Register for the upcoming Know Waste Webinars at www.KnowWasteLouisville.org/webinars

Know Waste

Multimodal Public Artwork for Clifton Listening Session – February 11

Clifton Multimodal Project

Louisville Visual Art (LVA) invites the public to reserve a virtual ‘seat’ at the second community listening/information session around the Multimodal Public Artwork for Clifton, currently in early phases of development, on Thursday, February 11, from 3:00 – 5:00 p.m. Attendance is free but limited to 40 attendees in order to allow for a productive exchange of ideas in the Zoom format.

To register for your virtual ‘seat’, please visit https://www.louisvillevisualart.org/clifton-project and enter your name, email, and zip code in the registration form. Login info for the meeting will be emailed to registrants prior to the event. You will need Zoom to participate. It can be downloaded here.

This session allows stakeholders in the blind community of Louisville, those connected to the Clifton neighborhood, and any others with an interest, to share priorities, suggestions, and concerns related to the sensory accessible public artwork that will come to Clifton this spring and summer, ahead of an early October unveiling. The LVA will share an overview of the project, as well as a summary of feedback from the first, invitational, listening session. There will be ample time for questions and comments. This robust project aims to meet a number of needs in the community, which is why LVA seeks to gather and incorporate the community’s input as design, site selection, and other activities progress.

A recording of Listening Session 1 is available here.


“Making It Public” Workshop Series

Public Art

Are you interested in Public Art? Making it Public is a five-week workshop designed to provide practical knowledge about the fundamental aspects of public art. The workshop hosts guest speakers, discusses the field, profession, history, and contemporary issues in public art, and presents tactical information about public art processes and funding.  

This workshop will have two tracks:

Track 1: for artists of any discipline who are interested in public art.

Track 2: for those commissioning public art, including developers, commissioners, Metro Council members, planners, landscape architects, arts and culture administrators, neighborhood and/or business associations, etc.

For each track, the workshop will consist of recorded and live sessions [all virtual] over the course of 5 weeks, and will engage local and national public artists, public art admins, and funders in discussions. Workshop content will be presented through an equity lens with a particular emphasis on skills to increase the competitiveness of BIPOC artists. Groups will come together at various points throughout the workshop.

Making It Public is open to any artist and any administrator/commissioner in the Louisville/Jefferson County area that is interested in attending.

Artists in track 1 who participate in all 5 of the sessions will have the opportunity to apply to a Request for Proposals (RFP) that will be developed as part of the workshop.

When:

February 22 - March 22, 2021. Thirty-minute session recordings will be emailed at the beginning of each week, and hour-long live conversations will happen via Zoom on Thursday evening [track 1] and Friday morning [track 2]. A conference room at Metro Development Center will be available for participants to access the sessions. More information will be sent upon registration.

Registration will close on February 18, 2021 at 6pm EST.

Register online here.

Questions?

Email JenK@ForecastPublicArt.org for more information and registration form.


Café LOUIE 2021 Schedule

Café LOUIE is back in 2021 to connect citizens to their elected representatives. From 9:00 a.m. to 10:00 a.m. most Saturday mornings through March 20, participants can join a virtual meeting.  Elected officials will be given a brief time for prepared remarks and to answer a few pre-selected questions submitted by attendees.  The focus of these meetings is engagement through personal conversations. Every Café LOUIE is open (virtually, this year) to the public. I will be participating at the D9 event on February 20. More information will be posted online at https://www.facebook.com/CafeLOUIE/ and events will stream there, beginning on January 23.

Cafe LOUIE

Understanding Vacant and Abandoned Properties

Neighborhoods in west Louisville have an estimated 5,000 vacant and abandoned properties and lots.  Addressing this issue is critical for our community.

The Metropolitan Housing Coalition will be offering a bi-monthly forum focusing on vacant and abandoned properties in Louisville. This is a free, bi-monthly forum focused on finding solutions in Louisville presented by the Louisville Vacant Properties Campaign.

  • Session 1 – February 16 from 5:30 – 6:30 pm.
  • Session 2 – April 20 from 5:30 – 6:30 p.m.
  • Session 3 – June 15 from 5:30 – 6:30 p.m.
  • Session 4 – August 14 from 5:30 – 6:30 p.m.
  • Session 5 – October 19 from 5:30 – 6:30 p.m.
  • Session 6 – December 21 from 5:30 – 6:30 p.m.

Please see the below graphic for specifics on each session.

Vacant and Abandoned

Virtual Town Hall Meetings on Violence Prevention

Metro seal

The Office for Safe and Healthy Neighborhoods (OSHN) is launching a series of virtual town halls to raise awareness about violence prevention and enhance civic engagement.

The upcoming virtual Violence Prevention Town Hall events include:

  • Trauma-Informed Care: SAMHSA Clinical Services Coordinator, Kelsey Florence, February 9, 1 p.m.
  • Community Building: One Love Youth Implementation Team, Nigel Blackburn, February 25, 6 p.m.
  • Education: Jefferson County Public Schools Chief of Communications and Community Relations, Renee Murphy, March 5, 12:30 p.m.

To attend the Instagram Live events, please visit https://www.instagram.com/safehealthylou/ and to learn more about OSHN and how to get involved, go to https://louisvilleky.gov/government/safe-neighborhoods.


Tax Preparation in the Pandemic

tax prep

The pandemic continues to curtail familiar services in Louisville.  The in-person free tax preparation services provided at United Crescent Hill Ministries (UCHM) through the Louisville Asset Building Coalition’s (LABC) VITA program won’t be taking place as normal this tax season. LABC has announced several in-person drop-off sites beginning on February 1, through their website https://labcservices.org/.

LABC is offering a few online resources through Get Your Refund, beginning in early February. The program is fast, free and online at www.getyourrefund.org. To participate you will need to share information on your household and tax situation, upload your tax documents and share best contact information and then certified IRS tax preparers will take care of the rest!

The other option is to self-file through Turbo Tax or H&R Block through the LABC’s website. Two free self-file programs are available. Turbo Tax is available for individuals who have less than $36,000 in income, are eligible for the Earned Income Tax Credit or are active duty military. Through Turbo Tax you can prepare both your state and tax returns for free. The other self-file option is H&R Block & United Way’s Worldwide My Free Taxes Program. For 2020, there is no income limit to use this software, but there are some limitations on the types of returns it can prepare. Please visit https://labcservices.org/index.php/free-tax-help/do-you-qualify, for more information.


Volunteer with Metro Parks

Metro Parks

For your safety and the safety of all park users, volunteers are required to wear a mask and practice safe social distancing while volunteering in the parks.

All volunteer opportunities are currently limited to individual outdoor opportunities. 

Help Your Park! Ways to Get Started
With volunteer opportunities currently limited to individuals, now is a great time to learn a new skill, tackle a problem, or make improvements to a park you use and love. 

Volunteers can:

  • Do a litter walk and help keep a park clean
  • Complete a park assessment to identify problems that Parks can fix
  • Weed around tree rings, sidewalks, and sport-courts
  • Clear overgrown plants from fence lines (training required)
  • Remove honeysuckle and other invasive plants (training required)
  • Talk (virtually) with family, friends, and neighbors to plan a park clean-up for the spring

For more information on getting started, ways to serve, and training, please contact Volunteer Coordinator Sarah Flarsheim at sarah.flarsheim@louisvilleky.gov or call/text her at (502) 901-8191.

Volunteer Month Video Editors
Want to get out a film in the parks? Interested in learning editing skills? April is the biggest volunteerism month of the year for Louisville Parks and Recreation, and this year things will look different with COVID-19. Join a group of volunteers and help plan, film, and edit a series of fun, informative videos. This group meets virtually every two weeks at 5:30 pm and the next meeting will be February 9th. 

Sign-up for meetings and join the team through MyImpactPage.com or contact Sarah.Flarsheim@louisvilleky.gov for more information!

The Community Growers
Join a team of passionate gardeners, growers, and community members! Learn about the project and get started. New volunteer meetings will be held virtually on Feb. 11th and 25th from 6:30 pm to 7:00 pm.

Sign-up for meetings or project days through MyImpactPage.com or contact LouisvilleCommunityGrowers@gmail.com for more information.

Make Your Service Count!
Please report your volunteer time through your My Impact Page account (here) the My Impact App, or contact Sarah Flarsheim at sarah.flarsheim@louisvilleky.gov or call/text her at (502) 901-8191.

Your time, commitment, and service to the parks helps us apply for grants and funding to continue to improve our great public spaces. 

Volunteer Orientation
Ready to get started? Join in for an online volunteer orientation! Learn about what volunteers do, ask questions, and learn how to get involved. Sign-up through your MyImpactPage.com account or complete an application here

The February orientation will be on Monday the 22nd from 7-8 p.m. Orientations are held virtually.

Can't make it to a scheduled orientation? Email LMPRvolunteer@louisvilleky.gov to schedule a one-on-one meeting!


Golf Annual Passes Available for Purchase

golf  

Golf passes are now on sale for the 2021 season! You can purchase them by appointment only by calling the Joe Creason Park golf office at (502) 574-7275 or by clicking here. Reminder, courses are currently open and operating with COVID-19 protocols during the winter. And it's never too early to start thinking ahead to the spring!


Help the P-D House Reach Capital Campaign Goal

P-D House Campaign

In 2019, the beloved Peterson-Dumesnil House in Crescent Hill turned 150 years old. That November, the Peterson-Dumesnil House Foundation launched its first ever capital campaign with the goal to raise $325,000 - all of which would be spent on much needed major improvements to the House.

Less than 4 months later, COVID hit. But despite all challenges presented by fundraising during a pandemic, the campaign has successfully raised over $285,000, or 87% of the goal. Now, the community is being asked to help get the organization to the finish line by showing their love for the House. 

Now through the end of February, members of the community are invited to share a story, memory, or sentiment about why they Love the House at petersondumensil.org. Everyone who submits an entry will be entered to win a set of Peterson-Dumesnil House note cards featuring John Nation photos.  

The Foundation is also seeking donations, and everyone who donates $14 or more will receive an “I [heart] the House” button and a chance to win a full set of note cards.

All donations will fund necessary repairs and improvements to the House and grounds, including the full renovation of two second story bathrooms which will greatly enhance the functionality and experience wedding and other rental events. Other major projects funded by the campaign include the redesign and expansion of the outdoor event garden, the repair and painting of the iconic cupola, and updating the boiler systems with energy efficient units.


UCHM Food Pantry Donations Needed

UCHM

The United Crescent Hill Ministries (UCHM) food pantry has stayed busy throughout the pandemic as families in the neighborhood continue to face financial hardships. In 2020, UCHM provided food assistance to over 663 families. Many families who utilize the food pantry have been requesting products to help keep their homes clean, such as Clorox wipes, toilet paper, paper towels, soap, and laundry detergent. Any donations of these products are very important and much appreciated! Donations may be dropped off at UCHM, 150 S. State Street. Please call if you have any questions, 893-0346.


St. MAM – Souper Bowl of Caring Drive Through

St. MAM Soup Drive

St. Matthews Area Ministries (St. MAM) is currently collecting for the Souper Bowl of Caring Drive now through Sunday, February 7. St. MAM is collecting soup donations of chunky, gluten free, and/or broth soups to help tackle hunger. Soups can include pea soup, broths, vegetable soups (no meat), creamy soups (cream of mushroom, chicken, broccoli, celery, etc.), and chunky soups (Progresso, Campbell’s, Annie’s/Amy’s Brand Gluten Free Soups).

In addition, St. MAM is in need of the following items:

  • Cereal: Honey Nut Cheerios (*gluten free), Cheerios, Fruit Loops, Cinnamon Life, Frosted Flakes, Honey Bunches of Oats
  • Brown and White Rice. *Brown is important for diabetics
  • Shelf Stable Boxes of Milk
  • Stevia Packets (*diabetics)
  • Glucerna Bars (*diabetics)
  • Boxes of Sugar

Donation can be dropped off Monday, Tuesday or Thursdays between the hours of 9:00 a.m. – 2:00 p.m. at 201 Biltmore Road (located inside Beechwood Baptist Church).


D9 ABC Notifications

ABC Notifications

Any person, association, corporation, or body politic may protest the granting of the license by writing the Dept. of Alcoholic Beverage Control, 1003 Twilight Trail, Frankfort, KY 40601-8400, within 30 days of the date of this legal publication.

Below, please find an Alcoholic Beverage License memo and Courier Journal Legal announcement for a Quota Retail Liquor by the Drink, Quota Retail Liquor by the Package, NQ4 Retail Malt Beverage by the Drink, and NQ Retail Malt Beverage by the Package license(s) being applied for, located at 1900 Mellwood Avenue (dba Ntaba Coffee Haus).  The ad ran in The Courier Journal Wednesday, January 27, 2021.

Below, please find an Alcoholic Beverage License memo and Courier Journal Legal announcement for a Quota Retail Liquor by the Drink Quota Retail Liquor by the Package, NQ4 Retail Malt Beverage by the Drink, NQ Retail Malt Beverage by the Package, and Sunday Liquor Drink license(s) being applied for, located at 2407 Brownsboro Road (dba Ntaba Coffee Haus).  The ad ran in The Courier Journal Wednesday, January 27, 2021.


District 9 Calendar Events

Below are some Ninth District calendar events!  To view a full listing of events, please visit the District 9 Blog at http://district9news.wordpress.com/.  If you would like to submit events to be considered for the blog calendar please email Kyle Ethridge or call 574-1109.

Thursday, February 4: Crescent Hill Community Council (CHCC) virtual monthly board meeting at 7:00 p.m. Contact CHCC for Zoom virtual meeting information. 

Tuesday, February 9: MyLibraryU presents The Harlem Renaissance at 6:00 p.m. To be in Harlem in the 1920s was to be on the forefront of an intellectual and artistic explosion whose effects we still feel a century later. Dr. David Anderson (University of Louisville, Department of English) will reflect on the literature, music, art, and theatre of the Harlem Renaissance in this MyLibraryU Fast Class. This MyLibraryU Fast Class is free and will be streamed to Facebook, but registration is requested. Click here to register or call (502) 574-1623.

Thursday, February 11: Waste Management District Know Waste Webinar Series at 3:00 p.m. featuring Louisville's Solid Waste Study. Staff will break down Louisville's 2018 Solid Waste Study and what it means for ongoing waste management efforts. To register click here.

Friday, February 12: Kentucky School for the Blind Charitable Foundation (KSBCF) will host a virtual trivia night at 6:30 p.m. streaming on Facebook. You can play with your household or create virtual team with some friends. Most people will stream on one device and use Zoom/Skype/FaceTime on a different device or window to collaborate with their team. Scoring is on your honor - KSBCF will provide a link during the quiz where you may submit your final score. 1st place wins a $50 Gift Card to Monnik Beer Co.! Free to play. For more information, please click here.


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