In this newsletter:
Plan for Shively!
Louisville Metro, in partnership with the City of Shively, is undertaing a Long Range Plan for the future of Shively. The Plan will provide a proactive tool for our community to shape its own future. We want as many people to be involved as possible! Learn more and get involved at https://www.planforshively.com!
Air Justice Launches!
It’s time to talk about Air Justice. Our coalition of community leaders and scholars are here to listen. What do you know about air pollution? We'd love to hear your story and learn from you through this project.
The Air Justice team wants to amplify the voices of District 3, so we are creating a community website that shares stories related to air pollution and makes the science of air quality easier to understand. A collection of stories highlights the need for local legislation related to environmental justice. If you have a story to share, fill out this contact form: https://bit.ly/3f2G5AP
Register for NAMI Walk - October 15th
Register today! Step forward for mental health walk. Located at the Harbor Lawn, Waterfront Park. You can register at https://www.namilouisville.org, we hope to see you there!
LIHEAP Vendor Solicitation for 2022-23 Season
Vendors wishing to participate in the LIHEAP 2022-2023 program must complete required paperwork and return the appropriate documentation. Vendor Packets can be downloaded from the louisvilleky.gov website by clicking here, or arrangements can be made to pick up in person by calling 502/574-6082.
LIHEAP, the Low-Income Home Energy Assistance Program, is a federally funded program that provides financial assistance to help eligible, low-income households meet their home heating needs. LIHEAP vendors are defined as any business that supplies energy, such as rental facilities where utilities are included in the rent or provides home heating fuel to individuals applying for the LIHEAP program. Examples of home heating fuel include oil, kerosene, propane, bottled gas, wood, electric or natural gas.
Complete the Streets Coalition
Public Works has been actively recruiting for the Complete Streets Coalition, which Metro Council created through an edit to the Complete Streets Ordinance. We have received over 30 applications and plan to appoint 13 people to the coalition’s initial membership. Unfortunately, the applicants do not fully represent the diversity we believe is needed to fully represent Louisville.
We are reaching out to you to ask for your assistance in recruiting individuals from your district. Please reach out to Nathan Keltch, Nathan.keltch@louisvilleky.gov, if you have any questions regarding the application or Complete Streets Coalition. Here is a link to the application: https://arcg.is/aXP4K
Know where to access current air quality conditions and forecasts
Louisville Air Watch provides real-time air quality information for Louisville, including a live map of the air monitoring stations throughout the area. Each site operated by the APCD also has its own page with more detailed monitoring data.
The EPA's AirNow provides live air monitoring and an air quality forecast for a few days ahead of time. There is also an AirNow app that provides the AQI live directly to your phone.
The Air Pollution Control District Twitter and Facebook pages post a daily air quality forecast each morning along with air quality tips, updates, and meeting, hearing, and event announcements.
Get your voice heard! Parks Alliance of Louisville needs your feedback!
Parks For All will collect new data, listen to new voices, share new information, and create a roadmap for equitable and transparent investment in our public parks.
CREATING AN ACTION STRATEGY FOR EQUITABLE INVESTMENT IN OUR PUBLIC PARKS
Take the survey by clicking this link.
Office of the Inspector General
The Office of Inspector General was established in 2020 by Mayor Fischer and Metro Council by Ordinance § 36.78 to increase transparency and oversight of LMPD. Edward Harness was appointed as the city’s first Inspector General because of his unique background in law, law enforcement, and police oversight. The office is an independent agency that investigates complaints against and reviews the practices & policies of Louisville Metro Police Department. Complaints may be submitted online at https://louisvilleky.gov/government/office-inspector-general.
Upon receiving a complaint, the case will be assigned to an investigator who will evaluate the merits of the complaint and conduct an initial screening. The Inspector General then presents recommendations to the Civilian Review and Accountability Board so that they may vote regarding how to proceed with investigating the complaint. The Civilian Review and Accountability Board meets on the 4th Wednesday of each month from 3 – 5 pm in Metro Hall, Room 106. The meetings are open to the public. For more information and meeting summaries, click here.
Once the investigation is concluded, the Inspector General will make recommendations to the Chief of Police, the Mayor, Metro Council, or other appropriate bodies. The Inspector General shall make a final written report available to the public upon the conclusion of each investigation that includes any recommendations.
Councilwoman McCraney’s District Download podcast will be released on Tuesday, September 27 - https://district-download-a-louisville-metro-council-pod.sounder.fm/.
The Know Waste Education Team is Hiring!
The Know Waste Education team is seeking part-time employees to implement the Recycle Right Program. This program was piloted in three neighborhoods in the Urban Services District to reduce recycling contamination and increase the quality of recycled materials so more new products can be made from them. Unaccepted materials or accepted materials with food and liquid can damage machinery and contaminate the recycling at the Materials Recovery Facility. This program proved to reduce recycling contamination in the Deer Park, Southside, and Shawnee neighborhoods.
The new part-time employees will survey solid waste containers in both the Urban Services District and suburban areas for contamination. Feedback and education will be provided to residents using a “Way to Know!” or “Oops” tag attached to their container. Applicants should be able to spend prolonged periods standing and walking and will work weekday mornings.
|
From the Mayor's desk:
Community call to action against domestic violence
Mayor Fischer was joined by representatives of The Center for Women and Families, La Casita Center and other advocates today in a news conference to call greater attention to the scourge of domestic violence, as well as services available in Louisville to those in need.
Though Louisville is seeing some positive trends resulting from its whole-of-government approach to public safety, it’s also seeing a sharp uptick of domestic violence homicides. Louisville Metro Police statistics show that at this time in 2020, there were two domestic violence homicides in the city; in 2021, there were five; and so far this year, there have been 12. Learn more.
The Center for Women and Families’ 24/7 emergency hotline: Call 1-844-237-2331
The Metro United Way Community Resource Database: Call 211.
Investing in a healthy Louisville
On Tuesday, the Mayor joined Metro Councilmembers to outline an ordinance proposing to spend $87.4 million of the city’s share of federal American Rescue Plan dollars on projects that range from opening two new libraries to investments in childcare and early learning, as well as in parks, pools and public health. Learn more.
Never too late for compassion
Mayor Fischer asks residents to help the annual Give A Day Celebration of Service to a strong finish this week by contributing to community projects, or starting their own. Learn more at mygiveaday.com.
Vaccines work
The Mayor and Louisville Metro Public Health & Wellness reminds residents to stay up-to-date on COVID-19 vaccines. Learn more at louisvilleky.gov/covid19.
The Metro Council has passed zoning changes to increase access to childcare facilities.
Councilwoman Keisha Dorsey and other members of the city council supported this proposal from District 8's Councilwoman Cassie Chambers Armstrong.
Link to the full story!
Louisville Metro reopens applications for Landlord-Tenant Rental Assistance Program
Louisville Metro Government is now accepting applications for its Landlord-Tenant Rental Assistance Program (LTRAP), allowing landlords to request bulk rental assistance on behalf of tenants who are behind on rent due to the COVID-19 pandemic.
The goal of the program is to streamline the process for rental relief and reduce paperwork barriers, including requiring tenants to sign an income and COVID-19 certification rather than providing a paystub.
Tenants can still apply for rental assistance through the state's Healthy at Home Eviction Relief Fund by visiting www.teamkyhherf.ky.gov/Home.aspx or calling 833-597-3687.
Down Payment Assistance | Applications Open
Applications for the Down Payment Assistance Program are open as of July 18, 2022. This program will help access home ownership by covering down payment costs. Learn more at https://www.louisvilleky.gov/government/housing
Utility Assistance through LG&E
Residential Assistance Programs available here.
Free Home Repair - Applications are open as of July 1, 2022
- Councilwoman Dorsey's office is not responsible for the allocation of the funds
- For more information about these and other Housing programs or assistance with the application process, contact the Office of Housing 502.574.5850
- If the number is busy, continue to call!
- Available metro-wide; income restrictions can be found on the Home Repairs Program page here
- Assist single-family homes to correct specific emergency situations in the home that could cause danger or impede the health of occupants in the home
- Repairs/Qualifying Items: Interior Mechanicals (HVAC, A/C, Furnace, Electrical, Plumbing). Roof/Gutters/Repair/Replacement, among other repairs deemed necessary.
- No cosmetic repairs will be permitted (repairs, fencing, tree trimming, finishing basements)
- Projects can be up to $18,000; applicants must be owner and occupants of the property to be assisted and must be less than 80% of the Area Median Income
Free Tax Assistance - May 12th, 2022 to October 13, 2022
Volunteer Income Tax Assistance (VITA)
-
Edison Center
- 701 W. Ormsby, 2nd Floor
- Tuesdays and Wednesday only; call for appointment
-
Louisville Urban League
- 1535 W. Broadway
- Thursdays only; call for appointment
- Appointments only, 502.574.5687
|