Councilwoman
Paula McCraney
601 W. Jefferson Street
Louisville, KY 40202
(502) 574-1107
Click Here to
Logan Fogle
Legislative Assistant
(502) 574-3454
Visit the District 7 Website
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
Property Valuation Administration: 502-574-6380
Public Works: 574-5810
Solid Waste Management (SWMS): 574-3571
TARC: 585-1234
Veteran's Affairs: 595-4447
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My heart hurts for the family, friends, acquaintances, and colleagues of Deputy Sheriff Brandon Shirley. Losing someone to senseless and unconscionable violence cuts deep, and no amount of homelessness, poverty, injustice, misunderstandings, or jealousy justifies killing a human being. I’m not suggesting that any of those situations had anything to do with the murder of Deputy Shirley, because we don’t know yet. His death, however, was a random act of foolishness and heartlessness, because according to Chief Shields with LMPD, he was targeted and ambushed.
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When will it stop! Why is Louisville seeing a surge in violent crime, and what are we going to do about it?
I certainly don’t have the answers, but others do. American cities have reported that homicides rose an estimated 30% in 2020, and in 2021, homicides were up another 24% during the first part of the year (click here to read more). The United States is worse than Pakistan, Sudan and Angola in the global murder rate index rankings (find rankings here).
Leaders at LMPD know how to prevent murder, based on decades of empirical data about what works and what doesn’t. Police play an important role in reducing homicides. Research shows that there is less violent crime when the chances of being caught and punished are high (Click here to read more about this). Therefore, criminals must fear the consequences of their actions, and police must improve the quality of homicide investigations and increase their presence in the community. When communities trust law enforcement, they will be more likely to cooperate with police and report crime.
A recent Gallup poll found that 81% of Black Americans want police to spend the same amount or even more time in their area. But, make no mistake, when Black Americans call for more policing, they are not asking for mistreatment, mass incarceration or steeper sentences. They want the same level of protection and justice that is given to other parts of town. There is clear evidence that unfair policing stimulates more crime. Police cannot be effective without building trust with the community. And keep in mind, there is no evidence that stronger punishment – longer prison sentences or the death penalty, prevents murder. What works is strategic enforcement that combines direct punishment threats to high-risk offenders, programs and solutions that give offenders an alternative to violence, and community policing.
According to a story first reported in the Los Angeles Times, preventing homicide is a long game. It can’t be won with law enforcement reform alone. Murder thrives in poverty and the lack of education opportunities. Research analyzing data from 63 countries found a clear link between conditions of poverty and homicide, even when controlling for overall development, inequality, and population size and density. Just consider this fact: One year extra in school reduces murder and assault by 30%. The lesson is simple: True prevention starts with investing in poverty reduction and better education for all.
Listed below is information on what was funded in the fiscal year 2021-2022 budget that should go a long way in preventing violence in our community. I will be monitoring these programs, and I am hopeful that they are all very successful.
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Violence Prevention: 1) $550,000 for Group Violence Intervention (GVI), a program approach that leverages an intentional collaboration among law enforcement, social service providers and community members, who collectively co-sign and deliver an anti-violence message, 2) $600,000 for a new intervention program called National Network for Safe Communities' Truth and Transformation, designed to improve relationships between Louisville Metro Police and the larger community, 3) $500,000 for Reimage, a collaboration with KentuckianaWorks that should help break the cycle of incarceration and recidivism by connecting justice-involved youth to education, training and careers in key fields such as IT, manufacturing, construction and more.
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Homelessness: 1) $279,400 for a program called "Another Way" that offers unhoused individuals a way to earn money, 2) $100,000 to Volunteers of America Unity House, which provides food, housing and safety for houseless individuals.
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Family Safety: 1) $33,100 to Family and Children's Place, 2) $16,500 to Center for Women and Families
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Education: $3 million to Evolve502 for youth scholarships (full ride) to a local community college
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Employment: $1 million to SummerWorks, a youth employment program
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Affordable Housing: $10 million in the Affordable Housing Trust Fund and $3 million in down payment assistance.
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August 7, 2021
Lyndon City Hall
515 Wood Road
10:00 - 11:30 AM
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Please join me tomorrow at Lyndon City Hall for an in-person chit chat. I will come prepared to update you on various subjects of interest about our district, and I have invited several Louisville Metro Government agencies to share with you, too.
Because of the awful pandemic, we have only been able to meet through a computer screen. Now is our time to meet and greet face-to-face, especially before the Delta variant moves in on us more than it already has. (Masks are preferred, but not required.)
I will supply the muffins, coffee and juices for you to enjoy as we sit around city hall and discuss topics that are important to you. Come with your questions, suggestions, recommendations, etc. I will be all ears! I am looking forward to seeing you, and I hope you'll call up a few neighbors and ask them to join us. We have a lot of things going on in District 7, and I can't wait to hear from you and share information with you.
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Councilwoman Paula McCraney:
- Update on the VA Hospital - Coming to District 7
- Update on Providence Point Development - Herr Lane
- Update on Property Located on Westport Road/Washburn
- Update on First Watch Restaurant - Brownsboro Road
- Update on ARP Funding - $340 Million
Metro Government Agencies:
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Sgt. Tulio Tourinho - Louisville Metro Police Department (District 7 Crime | Tips)
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Dirk Gowin - Public Works (D7 Streets and Roads Projects)
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Steve M. Kurowsky - (D7 Sidewalk Projects)
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Brian Davis - Planning & Design-Land Develop. Reform | Accessory Dwelling Units
Wednesday August 11, 7:00PM
Click here to sign up. Get vaccinated. Let's beat this virus!
There is no such thing as a miracle cure for COVID-19. If you see one being marketed for money online, do not fall victim. It is a scam, and you should NOT engage.
Jefferson County Public Schools will return to five days a week, in-person classes on August 11th. Reopening our buildings and classrooms to all students, every school day, will provide a return to normalcy and promote learning in a way that we couldn’t do last school year due to the pandemic.
Most schools are having fun, informative back-to-school events for students and families to get prepared for the return to school. Here’s a list of the schools along with the dates and times for their events. Keep checking this web page for updated dates and times for your school.
For a look at what a typical school day might look like for students, watch this video.
Click here for more information.
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LMPD's Fifth Division has noticed an increase in thefts from garages during the daytime. It reminds all residents to close their garages when not actively using them.
Also, please lock your car doors at night and remember to bring in all valuables or hide them in your vehicle when you leave.
To report suspicious behavior, please contact LMPD dispatch at (502) 574-7111.
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Free computer tune up and repair at the St. Matthews Library, 3940 Grandview Avenue. This service will be offered the first Saturday of each month from 1:00 - 4:00 p.m. This Saturday, August 7th, will be a day to bring in your device. Help will be limited to the first FIVE people to make a reservation by email to taylor_rae@hotmail.com. Participants must bring any additional devices that they may need such as a keyboard, monitor, and mouse for desktops. If participants are bringing a laptop, please bring your battery charger.
For details visit www.computertuneupandrepair.weebly.com.
The Louisville Metro Down Payment Assistance Program provides low-to-moderate income homebuyers with down payment and closing cost assistance for purchasing a home in the Louisville Metro area. Funds can be applied to the purchase of an existing or newly constructed home and are NOT limited to first-time homebuyers.
Down Payment Assistance is in the form of a partially forgivable loan with 0% interest. Homebuyers must occupy the purchased home as their primary residence for a period of 5-15 years, depending upon the amount of assistance received. By the end of that specified period, 50% of the loan shall be forgiven. The remaining balance is not due until the sale of that home.
Section 8 Homeownership clients are encouraged to apply. A major goal of this program is to encourage homeownership throughout Louisville Metro.
Learn more about this program here.
The Long-Stay VIP Champions Program promotes certain dogs and cats that have been in the shelter 30 days or longer. Long-Stay Champions are mostly adults, large breed dogs who are often overlooked by potential adopters in favor of younger and small breed dogs and adult cats.
Adoption fees are waived for approved applicants thanks to the Pay It Forward Free Adoptions Program, which is sponsored by the non-profit, Friends of Metro Animal Services (FOMAS). Spay/neuter surgery, microchipping and vaccinations are included with every adoption. Long-Stay Champion adoptions also include a VIP package worth more than $500 in savings!
Our neighborhood cleanups provide a way for community members to help keep Louisville clean and green all throughout the year. This is a great opportunity to foster civic pride and community engagement. Many groups use this as a team building activity within their place of employment, neighborhoods, place of worship, school and other community or service groups. No group is too small, whether it be one person or one hundred, all of our volunteers make an impact.
If you would like to host a Neighborhood Cleanup registering is easy! Just fill out the Neighborhood Cleanup Registration Form or, if you would prefer to download the form and fax or email it to us, you can do so here – Download Neighborhood Cleanup Registration Form.
Once your cleanup has been registered, you may pick up your requested supplies at the Shelby Park Community Center (600 E Oak Street). Supply pick up is available from 2:00 pm to 4:30 pm any Tuesday or Friday prior to your event (only by appointment in December and January). You can also call our office year round to schedule an appointment to pick up supplies.
Any group who would like to host a cleanup can be provided gloves, trash bags and a limited quantity of brooms, rakes and shovels at no cost. Simply pick a day and a place, round up a few people and get to work! We ask that you provide us with a minimum of TWO WEEKS notice to allow for scheduling trash collection with Solid Waste Management. Cleanups scheduled with less notice will be asked to find alternative means of disposing the collected litter and debris.
Want to help out but not sure where you should clean? Check out our interactive One Bright City Map that shows the results of our latest Community-Wide Cleanliness Assessment to see where our community could use the most help with litter.
Saturday, August 7th from 10 am-5 pm
We're back this summer in Mellwood's largest event space with even more makers! Come shop amazing makers, grab some eats & drinks & enjoy the community of this great city!
Made Market is Louisville's finest curated handmade market, showcasing more than 70 of the best makers from Louisville and the surrounding region. Join us on Saturday, August 7th from 10-5 at Mellwood Art Center (1860 Mellwood Ave) to shop!
We love our city & we can't wait to shop with all of you! Bring all your friends & help us support these hard-working makers. This event is free & open to the public & free parking is available!
We’re proud to feature local vendors who produce unique, handmade items. All of our vendors must apply and be approved to sell at our markets. You can always expect to find the highest quality, on-trend items when you shop with us.
Click here for more information.
After a missed year due to COVID-19, the Louisville Independent Business Alliance (LIBA) is pleased to announce the return of its Annual Buy Local Fair on Saturday, August 14th from 12:00 pm – 5:00 pm at Louisville Water Tower Park, 3005 River Road. Presented by Louisville Water Company with support from Amish Hills Furniture, Louisville Metro Council and many sponsors, admission to the Buy Local Fair is free. Parking is $6 in advance or $8 at the gate, and bicycle parking is free.
The Fair will include booths from local businesses, artists and craftspeople, community organizations and farmers. Guests can also enjoy food vendors in the shaded Four Pegs Smokehouse & Bar Dining tent, local libations in the ValuMarket Craft Beer and Heaven Hill Bourbon Tent, and music provided by the Abbey Road on the River’s Beatlemania DJ Kim Sorise.
Those who can’t attend the fair can still support LIBA by participating in the online silent auction, which opens August 11th and features dozens of packages.
Attendees are encouraged to B.Y.O.B. (bring your own bottle) to fill with free Louisville Pure Tap®. “Trash Talkers” will help guests sort their trash, recycling and compost appropriately to make the fair a green event, thanks to support from Facilities Management Services.
For more information, visit keeplouisvilleweird.com/buylocalfair.
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The Louisville MSD Urban Reforestation Grants Program is now accepting applications for tree planting projects. Grants will pay for trees planted within the MSD Drainage Service area, which includes all of Jefferson County except for the cities of Shively, Jeffersontown, St. Matthews and Anchorage.
Download the application here Urban Reforestation Grant Application or at https://louisvillemsd.org/trees.
The application deadline is Wednesday September 15th at 5pm ET. Please contact Jennifer Kern at Jennifer.Kern@LouisvilleMSD.org or (502) 540‐6241 with any questions.
The MSD Urban Reforestation Program plants 1,000 trees annually by working with local residents, businesses, municipal organizations and neighborhood associations. These trees redirect an average of 1.35 million gallons of stormwater away from the sewer system every year, which decreases sewer overflows into our waterways. By planting more trees, MSD not only absorbs stormwater but also reduces erosion and flooding, provides shade, reduces noise pollution and carbon dioxide in the air, and provides a habitat for nearby wildlife.
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Friday & Saturday, August 13-14
Generations of families and friends have met for many years on a summer weekend in August to play games, listen to music and enjoy the famous fried chicken dinner while showing their support for the kids who call St. Joe’s “home.” This beloved community event has been a local tradition for 172 years. Things will be a little different this year but you can still support St. Joe’s mission of “Giving Children a Home” during this Picnic season. Your support allows St. Joe’s to continue serving nearly 1,500 children and families each year.
Two-Night Live Music Event August 13-14
This year’s 172nd Picnic for the Kids will feature a two-night ticketed, live music event on August 13-14 from 7:00 p.m. to 11:00 p.m. Friday, August 13 features music by Rear View Mirror and Saturday, August 14 features music by LittleBand.
General Admission tickets are on sale now at $10 each per night for the live music event while limited supplies last. Event tickets must be purchased online here. Tickets are REQUIRED for event entry. Children under 18 must be accompanied by an adult age 25 and over. At least one adult is required per every two children.
Avoid the ticket line and purchase food and drink tickets here. All food and beverages at the event must be purchased with tickets ONLY. Tickets will also be available for purchase during the event. Each sheet of tickets contains 10 tickets valued at $1 per ticket. Tickets will be available at Will Call for pick up on the day of the event.
Drive-Thru Picnic Event August 14
Join in on Saturday, August 14 from 12:00 p.m. – 5:00 p.m. during a Drive-thru Picnic. Stop by to drop off cash donations and purchase raffle tickets.
Purchase Raffle Tickets for a Chance to Win Great Prizes
You can also visit the online raffle sales page to view this year’s raffle items and purchase tickets. Raffle ticket sales will end at 5:00 PM on August 14th. The drawing for winners will be held at 8:30 PM on August 14th. You can watch the drawing on St. Joe’s Facebook page.
Purchase Picnic Gear or a Handmade Quilt!
Buy a Picnic t-shirt or a handmade quilt or other St. Joe’s merchandise. Visit the online shop for details here.
Waterfront Wednesdays are back with two FREE outdoor concerts a month. The Big Four Lawn at Waterfront Park opens at 5:00 pm for food and drinks and then music at 6 p.m.
For more information, as well as rules and restrictions, please click here.
The Line-up:
August 11: Gary Brewer and the Kentucky Ramblers, Villa Mure, CJ Sparks
August 25: Christone “Kingfish” Ingram, Brooks Ritter, Genevva
September 8: Dawn Richard, Bendigo Fletcher, Kiana & the Sun Kings
September 22: Low Cut Connie, Slothrust, Wombo
August 18th & 21st
The eyes of the domestic and international sports world will be on Lynn Family Stadium Aug. 18 and 21 for The Women's Cup, a first-of-its-kind international competition featuring European soccer powerhouses FC Bayern Munich and Paris Saint-Germain, and NWSL's Racing Louisville FC and Chicago Red Stars.
The Women's Cup is the most important international event our community has hosted since the Breeders' Cup, the Ryder Cup and Cyclocross World Championships. We need your help filling Lynn Family Stadium to reinforce the message that Louisville continues to embrace major events and that our hospitality industry city-wide is open for business.
For tickets and more information click here.
For group tickets call 502-568-2489 and hit option 2.
- Prior to arrival of Europeans, the area where the city is was used as hunting grounds by northern Shawnee and southern Cherokee.
- During the Civil War, Louisville was an important Union base of operations and a major military supply center.
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- Because of companies such as Dupont, the city became the world’s largest producer of synthetic rubber during World War II.
- Joseph E. Seagram and Sons opened the world’s largest distillery in Louisville following the repeal of prohibition.
- Louisville was the first city in the nation to introduce the secret ballot, significantly reducing vote fraud.
- The Old Fashioned is Louisville’s official cocktail, which is not to be confused with the Mint Julep that is the official Kentucky Derby cocktail—where over 100,000 Mint Juleps are served.
- The cheeseburger and high five were invented in Louisville.
- The Belle of Louisville is the oldest operating Mississippi-style steamboat is in Louisville. It is over 100 years old!
- Proximity to the Ohio River and low-lying land make Louisville prone to flooding. The worst flood, in 1937, submerged 60% of the city. Louisville has since installed a 29-mile floodwall system, and it’s credited with preventing widespread damage during ensuing floods.
- Louisville owes its existence to a stretch of rapids along the Ohio River known as the Falls of the Ohio. Located just north of the city, the falls posed a barrier to boat transportation in the late 1700s, requiring travelers to stop and carry cargo further downriver to more navigable waters. Louisville became a stopping point for travelers along the river.
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Metro Louisville now has an interactive map that will allow you to see what is happening in your neighborhood as well as others across the city. The map updates daily and if you choose you can receive alerts for your area by subscribing using the red receive alerts button on the page. Click here to try it out: Interactive Map to Track Crime.
Subscribe to Louisville Metro's Covid-19 e-newsletter for the latest news!
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.
*District 7 Disclaimer: By taking part in District 7 events, you grant Councilwoman Paula McCraney full rights to use the images resulting from photograph/video filming. Councilwoman McCraney will have the right to any reproductions or adaptations of the images for inclusion in her e-Newsletter or other Council publications. This might include, but is not limited to, the right to use them in printed and online materials, social media and news releases.
If you do not wish to be photographed, please inform logan.fogle@louisvilleky.gov prior to event attendance.
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