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Members of the Minority Caucus submitted the following article to the Courier Journal to show our support for needed reforms to merged government. House Bill 314, which is sponsored by a number of Louisville based Representatives to the Kentucky General Assembly helps to add accountability and address the needs of constituents by granting people with the ability to chose their governance and improve financial reporting.
House Bill 314 was passed yesterday and the Kentucky State Senate is moving this matter to the Governor for action. I am sharing this article so that you have the opportunity to understand why HB 314 is needed as well as what it will mean for the people of District 18 and our community as a whole.
Investigations of our police, jail, TARC, Animal Services and more. Abuse of children, women, minorities, and animals as well as the improper use of taxpayer funds are all problems the current Mayoral administration has created and, in most cases, refused to acknowledge until the courts or Metro Council uncovered the abuses. The murder rate in our community has skyrocketed more than doubling from 48 a decade ago to the new norm of 188 murdered residents of our community in 2021. A call for change has been voiced by people in just about every corner of our city.
While some on the Metro Council have stood up and demanded accountability, too many have cowered and sought to protect the Mayor. When the state legislature added requirements for additional Metro Council oversight and additional financial reporting for the Metro Budget, the Mayor’s coalition called it a “War on Louisville”. Those very changes helped investigate departments, brought abuses to light, and forced more contracts to be reviewed publicly. These investigations led to overhauls in TARC and LMPD and have continued to highlight the abysmal state of our jail. Those changes protected our citizens from an abusive and negligent government and protected countless persons working within and served by Louisville Metro Government. External pressure has been required to create a will to do better and do what’s right.
Today the state legislature listened to the people of this community and answered their calls. Almost no one, other than Mayor Fischer and his closest Metro Council allies, believe that a third term for such a powerful Mayoral form of government is a good idea, so the legislature is seeking to change that. To answer complaints by residents of southern Jefferson County, the sponsors of this legislation provided residents of Okolona, PRP, Fairdale, Fern Creek and Valley Station the same access to services that are available to residents in the Urban Service District, Jeffersontown and Anchorage. This option is the epitome of local control, versus the opposition by our colleagues that the people in unincorporated parts of this city shouldn’t be trusted with this sort of power.
The fact is Louisville’s Suburban Cities save Louisville Metro millions annually, offer more tailored services and receive high levels of satisfaction from those who live within their borders. Instead of creating false conflicts and using scare tactics of millions in revenues lost, it would be better if our community understood the benefits these democratically elected entities bring to our Metro.
House Bill 314 will be the third change to KRS 67C, which was created and later voted on by residents of Jefferson County in 2000. It adds more accountability to government and gives more authority to the residents of the city. People want more police, fair distribution of funding, and access to basic services no matter where they live.
It is evident to everyone that we must do better. We thank the legislators who understand that change is needed and stand up to offer solutions rather than just sit back and allow our city to continue to fall further behind competitor cities like Indianapolis, Nashville, and Charlotte.
Louisville can thrive. We are committed to being part of the change that is needed to be responsible and accountable to all members of this community. We hope you will join us in supporting new approaches to fight decades of the status quo that have engineered conditions that limit the possibilities in the community we love.
Councilman Kevin Kramer, District 11
Councilman Scott Reed, District 16
Councilwoman Marilyn Parker, District 18
Councilman Anthony Piagentini, District 19
Councilman Stuart Benson, District 20
Councilman Robin Engel, District 22
Councilman James Peden, District 23
Link to CJ OP ED ARTICLE:
https://www.courier-journal.com/story/opinion/2022/03/29/louisville-can-thrive-but-needs-change-hb-314-7-metro-council-members/7201796001/
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