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Dear District 8,
As the year winds down, I wanted to use this last newsletter of 2021 to reflect on the past 12 months. It's hard to believe that it's been almost a full year since I began my term as your Metro Council Representative. In the past twelve months I have built relationships, learned new things, and worked with many of you toward our shared goals. It has been an honor, and I'm excited to continue working with you in the new year.
Legislation
I've been proud to work on several major ordinances that improve our community’s health and wellbeing. These include paid parental leave for Metro employees, a right to counsel for families facing eviction, the health care facility safety zone, parking-protected bike lanes, and zoning changes to incentive childcare facilities. Each ordinance has required building coalitions with my colleagues on council, listening to and learning from advocates on the ground, and building support within our communities. I have learned that advocacy is most powerful when it is community-driven, and that creating change is a team sport.
Constituent Services and Neighborhood Funds
My favorite thing about being your council representative has been the chance to get to know so many of you. Over the past year, our office has responded to over 2,000 constituent contacts. We've hosted town halls on everything from public safety to housing to the Bardstown Road Overlay District. We've talked to dozens of people at Coffees with Cassie. We worked with neighborhood associations, non-profits, and the District 8 Advisory Board on some great projects. We've worked with Metro agencies on things from childcare to infrastructure improvements (photo of some of the youngest District 8 constituents sharing their appreciation for a repaving project in their neighborhood below!)
This year, we spent our neighborhood development funds on the following projects:
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Bardstown Road Street Trees (in partnership with Trees Louisville--shout out to Jackie Cobb and Cindi Sullivan)
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Neighborhood Nights (in partnership with the District 8 Advisory Board and Highland Commerce Guild--special thanks to Bob Atkin, Shawn Reilly, and Aaron Givhan!)
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Shakespeare in Tyler Park
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Graffiti Abatement (in partnership with the Highland Commerce Guild)
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Stone Entrance Steps to Beechwood Park
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Highland Community Ministry's Food Pantry
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Supporting Bardstown Road Aglow (thanks to Highland Commerce Guild for a great event!)
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A Performance of Zaynab’s Night of Destiny at Bloom Elementary
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Supporting Blessings in a Backpack
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Extra ABC Resources for Bardstown Road
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Fast-Track Sidewalk Repairs for a Family with a Child Who Has Quadriplegia
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Permanent Lighting for Existing Intersection Cameras
Gratitude
Now the fun part: thank you's to all of the people who have made this work possible.
My most sincere thanks to:
- District 8 Advisory Board, past and present: Maj. David Allen, Bob Atkin, Kara Augustine, Rebecca Beld, David Brown, Elizabeth Jones Brown, George Burns, Troy Burden, Angie Carlson, Patrick Carrico, Mary Ellen Cassidy, Lisa Causarano, Jason Cissell, Brian Cobb, Wes Cobb, Sherry Cornell, Alison Cromer, Anne Faulls, Lesa Ferguson, Jack Francis, Robynne Gardner, Aaron Givhan, Honi Goldman, Christy Grass, Maj. Jason Grissom, Mark Klein, , Ginger Mehling, Leslie Millar, Nick Morris, Beth Nahinsky, Bob Picken, Shawn Reilly, Jessica Rosenthal, Ginger Wallace, Mary Beth Van Meter, Stan Whetzel, Sarah Wolfe
- Neighborhood Associations and Small Cities representatives and volunteers: Alta Visa Neighborhood Association, Belknap Neighborhood Association, Bonnycastle Homestead Association, Braeview Association, Cherokee Triangle Association, City of Kingsley, City of Seneca Gardens, City of Strathmoor Village, City of Strathmoor Manor, Deer Park Neighborhood Association, Highlands-Douglass Neighborhood Association, Original Highlands, Seneca Vista Neighborhood Association, Tyler Park Neighborhood Association
- Highland Commerce Guild;
- Friends of Bardstown Road;
- Highland Community Ministries;
- Trees Louisville;
- Olmstead Parks Conservancy;
- JCPS;
- And the many residents who reached out to my office. Your participation in government helps to make our community thrive.
There will be plenty of work to continue in the New Year, and I look forward to continuing it together.
With gratitude and best wishes for the holiday season,
Cassie
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