District 7 E-Newsletter

Councilwoman Paula McCraney 601 W. Jefferson Street (502) 574-1107
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Councilwoman 

Paula McCraney
601 W. Jefferson Street

Louisville, KY 40202
(502) 574-1107

 

Click Here to Email Councilwoman McCraney:

Email 

 

Visit the District 7 Website


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To schedule a meeting with Councilwoman McCraney, call:

Logan Fogle

Legislative Assistant

(502) 574-3454


Paula McCraney

Paula McCraney

Paula McCraney

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Paula McCraney


Paula McCraney

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Follow Councilwoman McCraney on Facebook and Twitter:

@PaulaMcCraneyD7


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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In this Issue


Message From McCraney

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Hello Neighbors and Friends,

A 45-foot Christmas tree was installed downtown on Thursday just in time for the Light Up Louisville event. This display of holiday spirit signals to me that it is time for colder weather followed by hot chocolate, pumpkin spice lattes, spiced apple cider and hot toddies. It's that time of year when we pull out the turtleneck sweaters and wool coats, put away the sandals and bring out the gloves, and prepare for feasts with family and friends.

Ah, gatherings with family and friends. Some say it's safe to gather and others are still a bit apprehensive about crowds. People are going to take it at their own pace – and there’s not a right or wrong pace. If having hand sanitizer with you at all times or sticking with curbside grocery pickup makes you feel better and relieves your pandemic anxiety, do that. While not everyone may follow the rules, each person knows what they can do to contribute to the safety of others. Following safety precautions can help us find a level of comfort, and slowly we’ll feel more and more comfortable. But for now, let’s use this Thanksgiving holiday as a time to let go of what we can’t control.

There is no denying that this worldwide pandemic has cost trillions of dollars in lost revenues and thousands of human lives. It has also impacted people's emotional and mental health. So, whatever you choose to do this season, I hope you do it cautiously, and with lots of laughter and love. Our mental health is more important than forcing ourselves to try to get back to normal. Do what you can and don’t worry too much about the future, but rather live for today and be grateful for what is right before us – life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness.

I want to focus on those things for which I am grateful, and the Thanksgiving season is a perfect time to express to you my sincere appreciation. I am appreciative of your friendship and support of democracy, and grateful to you for attending my community meetings, reaching out to me with your questions, concerns, and comments, and sending me words of encouragement from time to time. I am thankful for your confidence in me and your unwavering support through the years. It is a sincere pleasure to represent you on the Metro Council, and there has not been one day of my term that I have taken that (or you) for granted. I am grateful for the opportunity to serve. 

I extend to you my best wishes for a happy and healthy holiday season. May all the good things of life be yours, not only at Thanksgiving but throughout the coming year.



District 7 Community Meeting

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Council Committee Meetings - Bi-Weekly Summary

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Note: When legislation is passed out of committee, it goes to full Council, where it may be discussed further. Legislation becomes law after the full Council passes it and the Mayor signs it.


Equity and Inclusion Committee

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I am sponsoring an ordinance to prevent employers from reviewing an individual’s credit history during the hiring process in Metro Louisville. The ordinance states, “Council intends to stop employers from using consumer credit history when making employment decisions – a practice Council believes to have a disproportionately negative effect on unemployed people, low income communities, communities of color, women, domestic violence survivors, families with children, divorced individuals, and those with student loans and/or medical bills,”. As COVID has shown, financial hardship can strike out of nowhere, forcing individuals to make late payments or miss payments altogether. This legislation would be partially in response to the pandemic to make it easier for individuals to be hired, but also would eliminate an unnecessary hurdle in the employment process for those trying to find work. An individual’s credit history is an unreliable barometer of one’s work ethic and is an irrelevant metric for assessing someone’s ability to perform their duties in many jobs.

Exemptions to this would apply. For example, exempt from this would be a position in which an employee is required to possess security clearance under federal law or the law of any state. Another exemption would be for positions handling or having access to, during the normal course of one’s employment responsibilities, third-party funds or assets valued at $10,000 or more. These are just two exemptions, but more are listed in the ordinance (link below).

The ordinance passed out of Committee on Equity and Inclusion and is now headed to full Council. For a fuller picture of the legislation, including more exemptions, follow the link below to the legislation (under attachments, it is #1).

Click here for the legislation.

Click here for a story on the legislation.


Labor and Economic Development Committee

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An ordinance was approved out of this committee to create a tax increment financing district (TIF) called the Shelby Street Development Area. If approved, this financing district would eventually include a hotel, housing, retail space, and a parking garage. The legislation places priority on hiring residents of the area, with a $15 an hour wage floor.

Click here for the legislation.

Click here for a story on the legislation.

Labor and Economic Development also unanimously passed local incentives to Piston Automotive LLC. Piston Automotive LLC first opened in Louisville in 2011 and has since invested over $1 million in their current facility. They are moving to a new location in Louisville. As of now, Piston plans to hire an additional 117 full-time employees at an average hourly wage of $22.06.

Click here for the legislation.


Budget Committee

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The Budget Committee unanimously approved the budget and economic improvement plan for the Louisville Downtown Management District (part of the Louisville Downtown Partnership) for 2022. The budget calls for (among many other things) a focus on providing technical assistance to Downtown businesses, establishing partnerships among different business sectors downtown, and ensuring dynamic streetscape design to provide an inviting pedestrian space.

If you go downtown, you will also probably see the neon-green uniformed Ambassadors cleaning and providing friendly hospitality services to guests, workers, and residents Downtown. This budget will continue to fund these services.

Click here for the legislation.


Governor Beshear on COVID-19

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Gov. Beshear Authorizes COVID-19 Vaccination Boosters for All Kentucky Adults

Governor said boosters help address waning vaccine immunity

FRANKFORT, KY (Nov. 17, 2021) – Today, Gov. Andy Beshear signed an executive order that qualifies every person 18 years old or older and living or working in the commonwealth to get a COVID-19 vaccination booster six months after their second dose of the Moderna or Pfizer COVID-19 vaccines, or two months after a single-dose Johnson & Johnson COVID-19 vaccine.

The Governor said Kentucky was seeing declines in COVID-19 case numbers and the test positivity rate for many weeks, but recently those numbers have begun to plateau or even slightly increase.

“We are moving into the amazing holiday season with Thanksgiving, Christmas and other gatherings, which unfortunately are especially risky for COVID-19 being able to spread,” said Gov. Beshear. “Because of that, it’s more important than ever that we get people vaccinated and get people their boosters to push their immunity up to the highest levels, because over time that immunity wanes.”

Gov. Beshear noted that cases are spiking again across Europe, which increases his concern for the trajectory in Kentucky’s case numbers without increased vaccinations and boosters. Until today, based on U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention guidance, Moderna and Pfizer booster shots have been limited to Kentuckians who are over 65, have significant underlying conditions or are exposed to many people through their work.

“Folks, you really need to get vaccinated and get this booster, and now it should be fairly easy. It’s going to make you much safer over the next several months,” said Gov. Beshear. As of Wed., Nov. 17, more than 437,000 Kentuckians had received a booster.

At least five other states so far have taken similar steps to expand eligibility including, Arkansas, California, Colorado, New Mexico and West Virginia. According to reports, the Food and Drug Administration could authorize booster doses of Pfizer-BioNTech’s COVID-19 vaccine for all adults as early as next week.


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Health systems, pharmacies, and providers across the 15-county region are offering same day appointments for boosters. Find a location here and remember to bring your vaccination card to be updated.



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Evolve502 Scholarship Application

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The Evolve502 Scholarship applications are now open for the Jefferson County Public Schools Class of 2022. The scholarships are for students who would like to attend any college in the Kentucky Community & Technical College System, including Jefferson Community & Technical College and Simmons College right here in Louisville. Scholarship recipients can pursue an associate degree, a professional certificate, or take 60 hours of credit tuition-free.

Click here to apply.


Helping our Houseless Neighbors

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Thanksgiving and the holiday season is a good time to reflect on the past year, our lives, and those things for which we are most grateful. Usually what comes to mind are things like family, friends, or fond memories that warm our souls throughout the cold months ahead. Often times, we do not think to be grateful for our most basic of needs, like ready access to a hot shower, heating and air conditioning, or the roof above our head. This is not the case for everybody.

As I wrote in this newsletter last week, Metro Council unanimously passed an ordinance allocating $182 million of ARP funds. Of this $182 million, $89 million went to initiatives to curb homelessness in Louisville, with our eventual goal to completely eradicate it. This is the largest investment ever allotted to the housing crisis our community faces.  

Please consider volunteering this holiday season. It takes a village! 

Click here for information on how to get involved.


Grant Funds Available for Sustainability Projects

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At the 8th annual Louisville Sustainability Summit, the Louisville Sustainability Council (LSC) announced the opening of the 2021-22 grant cycle for the Louisville Sustainability Fund. This fund offers grants to support innovative, entrepreneurial projects and programs to plan for the impact of climate change on our most vulnerable citizens, while supporting community equity and resilience. Recipients will receive between $500 and $5,000 toward their project and will have access to LSC events, programs, mentors and the opportunity to present their work at LSC events.

Learn more & apply for the Louisville Sustainability Fund


LIHEAP Fall Subsidy

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The Louisville Metro Office of Resilience and Community Services is accepting appointments for the annual Fall Subsidy Component of the Low Income Home Energy Assistance Program (LIHEAP) now through December 10, 2021, or until funds are depleted.

During LIHEAP Subsidy, individuals or families in Jefferson County at or below 150% of the federal poverty guidelines who are responsible for home energy cost, whether directly or as an undesignated portion of rent, are eligible for assistance.  Residents can apply regardless of the status of their utility bills.

The Subsidy component provides households a one-time benefit based on income levels and housing category. Payments are be made directly to the heating vendor (i.e. LG&E).

For more descriptions about the drop box locations, income eligibility and other instructions, call the automated LIHEAP information line at 991-8391 or visit louisvilleky.cascheduler.com.

Residents may also click here for more details.

Appointments are required in advance to apply.


Long-Range Transportation Vision

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GetThereTogetherKY.org



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Louisville Pizza Week

Pizza Week

Louisville Pizza Week has returned! For seven days (Nov. 15-21), pizza lovers will once again have the opportunity to visit participating Louisville Pizza Week locations to enjoy $9 specialty pizzas. 

District 7 Location:

Boombozz Pizza & Watch Bar at Westport Village

Pizza descriptions and more info available here.


Black Friday at Westport Village

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Enter in-person to win $500 in Westport Village gift cards!

Find the Westport Village tent in the green space are near Tunie’s from 10:00 am – 12:00 pm on Black Friday (November 26, 2021) to enter to win! One winner will be chosen at 11:00 AM and one winner will be chosen at 12:00 PM!

Click here for more information.


At the Library

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St. Matthews Library, 3940 Grandview Avenue

On Tuesday, November 23rd, from 6:30-7:30 pm, the St. Matthews Library will host its Night Owls Book Discussion on News of the World by Paulette Jiles. In the aftermath of the Civil War, an aging itinerant news reader agrees to transport a young captive of the Kiowa back to her people in this exquisitely rendered, morally complex, multilayered novel of historical fiction from the author of Enemy Women that explores the boundaries of family, responsibility, honor, and trust.

Click here for more information.


Tom Sawyer Park

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Paranormal investigators and E.P. "Tom" Sawyer State Park naturalists guide 20-person groups on 2-hour nighttime hikes in the woods.

Only 80 tickets are available for Walk in the Woods: A Haunted History Hike on Saturday, Nov. 20. Four groups of 20 participants will head out on 2-hour guided hikes at 7, 7:30, 8 and 8:30 p.m. All ages are welcome, but ticketholders under age 18 must be accompanied by an adult. Attendees check in at Shelter #3 adjacent to the Sawyer Hayes Community Center. Participants should bring a flashlight or headlamp.

Click here for more information.


Light Up Louisville

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Light Up Louisville returns Friday, Nov. 26th!

Click here for more details: Learn more.



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Life Hacks

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Safety Reminder:

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crime

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.



COVID-19 INFORMATION

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 Subscribe to Louisville Metro's Covid-19 e-newsletter for the latest news!

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GOVERNMENT & POLITICS INFORMATION

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Tune in to View Metro Council Meetings

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NOTICE: All Metro Council meetings are carried live on Metro TV, Spectrum Cable Channel 184 and  U-verse Channel 99.

Proceedings are live streamed from the Metro Council Clerk’s Archived Media page here.

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


State Government Website Information

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Click Here for State Government Website

Click Here to:  View All Agencies


Kentucky General Assembly

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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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