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“If I fall, I’ll fall five feet four inches forward in the fight for freedom. I’m not backing off.”
— Fannie Lou Hamer
Neighborhood Advisory Board Meeting
Councilman Jecorey Arthur is starting a District 4 Neighborhood Advisory Board. Thank you to the residents who joined the interest meeting last night. An update will be shared next week.
Louisville Metro Comprehensive Review Commission
During the 2022 Kentucky General Assembly Session, House Bill 314 was passed, changing how Louisville Metro Government works. This bill also created a commission to study the "accomplishments and insufficiencies" of our local government. Councilman Jecorey Arthur was appointed to the commission along with other local and state officials. The commission will be meeting every second Friday at 3:00 PM to make a report due to the state by September 15th 2023. All meetings are open to the public in City Hall. Our office will be organizing an informational meeting about the commission soon.
District 4 Monthly Round Table
Tuesday, November 15th 6-6:30 PM
Video-In:Â https://louisvilleky.webex.com/meet/D4
Phone-In: (415)655-0001
Access Code: 180-005-6522 #
Stream:Â facebook.com/loudistrict4
Note: You do not need to download WebEx to join by video on a computer. Once you press 'cancel' on the link's popup there is an option to join by browser at the bottom of the screen.
Camping Ordinance Amendments
Some amendments to our camping ordinance were introduced. We have been fighting these changes along with dozens of community partners. To view the proposed amendments and revisions please go here.
Budget Equity Reports
In early 2021, the Metro Council passed legislation requiring the mayor's administration to have racial equity goals for their departments attached to the city budget each year. Councilman Jecorey Arthur, Chairman of the Metro Council Committee on Equity and Inclusion, has invited the administration to give a status report about these goals. For the remainder of the calendar year, this committee will hear from various Louisville Metro Government departments. The Committee on Equity and Inclusion meets every other Thursday at 4:00 PM. The remaining committee dates are:
- November 3rd
- November 17th
- December 8th
All equity goals can be viewed here.
Legislation
- Gun Buyback Ordinance — This ordinance will start a pilot program where Louisvillians can sell guns to Louisville Metro Government to be destroyed. We're working with the Office for Safe and Healthy Neighborhoods, LMPD, and other advocacy groups on this effort. We are currently meeting with cities who have similar programs to learn from their experiences before sharing the first draft.
- Historically Black Neighborhoods Ordinance — This ordinance will help prevent displacement by creating a displacement index to be used for new developments in select neighborhoods. A new draft is being finished now.
- Industrial Revenue Bonds Ordinance(s) — These ordinances will approve Louisville Metro Government being the conduit for bonds for proposed developments at 930 Lampton St (Ferncliff Distillery) and 827 Logan St (Trellis Brewing). We are working with the Smoketown Neighborhood Association and Smoketown Originals on community benefits agreements to be executed with the ordinances. A draft can be viewed here.
- Community Benefits Ordinance — This ordinance will require developers to execute community benefits agreements with neighborhoods prior to the approval of financial incentives such as tax increment financing (TIF) or industrial revenue bonds (IRB). We are working with Councilwoman Keisha Dorsey, Louisville Forward, local unions, and several neighborhoods on this.
- Capital Infrastructure Fund (CIF) Trees — This ordinance will allocate approximately $25,000 or less to help increase the tree canopy in our district. We are working with Trees Louisville on this.
- Rental Registry Ordinance — An ordinance regarding the registration of rental housing to include and assign the director of the Louisville Metro Codes and Regulations further administration and enforcement duties regarding the registry of rental housing units. This ordinance is currently tabled in the Public Works Committee.
- Dream Hotel Tax Increment Financing (TIF) Ordinance — This hotel developer has asked our office to sponsor an ordinance offering them a tax break to finish funding their project. We have worked with the Downtown Residents Association on a community benefits agreement. The latest draft can be viewed here. If you are a downtown resident please contact us to take our feedback survey. There will be a public hearing on Tuesday, November 15th at 6:30.
- Fair Chance Ordinance — We are working with councilmembers on an ordinance to increase our government contracts with businesses that hire people who have been convicted of crimes. This in the Labor and Economic Development Committee.
- Capital Infrastructure Fund (CIF) Sidewalk Repairs — Our office is starting to pay for sidewalk repairs backlogged between early 2019 and late 2021. We plan to pay in order of received requests. The backlog can be viewed here. Our first round of spending will be $217,621, repairing sidewalks in Butchertown, California, Clifton Heights, Downtown, Old Louisville, Parkland, Phoenix Hill, Russell, and Smoketown. Approximately $138,000 of this funding is surplus from old District 4 projects.
- Short Term Rental Resolution — We have co-sponsored a resolution with Councilman Markus Winkler that will review how short term rentals work in Louisville. This will support policies recommended from the Butchertown, Phoenix Hill, and NuLu neighborhood plan.
- Homeownership ARP Ordinance — We are working with Councilman Keisha Dorsey to set aside funding to help with homeownership in formerly redlined neighborhoods.
- Alberta Jones Park Resolution — This resolution will name the new Maple Street Park in California after Alberta Odell Jones (November 12, 1930 – August 5, 1965), a Black American attorney and civil rights icon, who was one of the first Black women to pass the Kentucky bar and the first woman appointed city attorney in Jefferson County.
- Emergency Home Repairs Neighborhood Development Fund (NDF) Grant — We are working with the Office of Housing and Community Development to appropriate money to help with emergency home repairs for District 4 homeowners before winter.
- Winter Shelter Neighborhood Development Fund (NDF) Grant — We are working with the Homeless Services Division to appropriate money to give people shelter during winter emergencies. This appropriation may be added to the regular city budget during our mid-year adjustment.
Some of the legislation above is drafted but may not have been filed. All our sponsored and co-sponsored legislation can be viewed here. We welcome input from constituents, experts, and stakeholders.
Louisville Zoo Announces New “School’s Out Safari” Discount Days
The Louisville Zoo is excited to announce its NEW School’s Out Safari discount to help provide our community with fun, safe and educational experiences at the Zoo this fall and winter. Guests can receive one free child admission (ages 3 – 11) when they buy one adult general admission ticket. To learn more, click here.
Best Buy Opens Kentucky’s First Teen Tech Center in West Louisville
A new opportunity to let young people access technology in Louisville is now available. The Best Buy Teen Tech Center aims to provide an innovative learning environment for underserved teens. The center came together through a partnership with YMCA and the GE Appliances. It will provide access to technology, mentorship, training opportunities and post secondary resources. It’s an effort to prepare young people for careers in tech related fields. To learn more, click here.
Baptist Health, Encompass Health to Create 42 Jobs With $40 Million-Plus Inpatient Rehabilitation Hospital
Baptist Health and Encompass Health Corp. are moving forward with plans for Rehabilitation Hospital of Louisville LLC, a proposed inpatient rehabilitation hospital and joint venture, which includes a $40 million-plus investment that will create 42 well-paying jobs in Jefferson County. To learn more, click here.
Mayor’s Week of Valor, Including Veterans Day Parade, Honors Louisville Veterans and Active-Duty Service Members
Mayor Greg Fischer and the Veterans Community Alliance of Louisville (VCAL) announced the ninth annual Mayor’s Week of Valor – a series of events to honor and celebrate the contributions and sacrifices of active-duty military, veterans and their families. To learn more, click here.
Councilwoman Dorsey Announces Proposed Ordinance to Support Businesses Which Hire Persons Convicted of a Crime
Councilwoman Keisha Dorsey (D-3) was joined by Rob Moore, Chaplain of Goodwill Industries of Kentucky, Michelle James, Co-Owner of NTC Safety and Verna Goatley, Director of the Human Relations Commission to announce a proposed ordinance amending Chapter 37 of the Louisville/Jefferson County Metro Code of Ordinances to support businesses which hire persons convicted of a crime by requiring a good faith effort to increase procurement from those second chance businesses. To learn more, click here.
Legal Aid Society Guide to Protections Against Landlord DiscriminationÂ
Please view the short legal guide to protections against landlord discrimination based on lawful source of income. To learn more, click here.
Land Development Code Reform
The Land Development Code (LDC) is a set of rules and laws that defines how land can be used, how a development such as a new shopping mall or apartment must be designed, and the procedures for approval. The LDC Reform is an equity focused approach to revise the LDC consistently with Plan 2040 to allow for increased housing choices and opportunities in new and existing neighborhoods, to create procedures and regulations that are easier to use, and increase the quality of life by reducing the concentration of environmental hazards near housing.
Work to reform the LDC began in the summer of 2020. Initial recommendations, including accessory dwelling units, notification procedures, and urban agriculture were all adopted within the first year. The work continues and we encourage you to participate!
To learn about the currently proposed amendments to the LDC, please click HERE to view the content or copy the following link into the address bar of your web browser: https://arcg.is/05LCLX0.
Please contact Joel Dock, Planning Coordinator at 502-574-5860 or send an email to ldcreform@louisvilleky.gov with any questions or comments.
Norton Healthcare Community Update
On November 3, Norton Healthcare is hosting a community engagement opportunity for West Louisville residents to learn more about the new hospital coming to the corner of 28th Street and Broadway. To learn more, click here.
Louisville Free Public Library Events
Aging Successfully with Neurologist Dr. Robert Friedland |Â November 7, 6:30 PM
Aging is a subject of concern to many that is often misunderstood. However, it presents a wonderful opportunity to make informed choices and live to our potential. Robert Friedland, MD will help you learn the steps to take in your activities, diet, and mental outlook, in order to grasp that opportunity. To learn more, click here.
Nutcracker Storytimes with Louisville Ballet return to six libraries, November 15 - December 1
Children of all ages and their families are invited to a special Nutcracker Family Storytime at six library locations -- Iroquois, Main, Northeast, St. Matthews, South Central, and Southwest. These free events feature a Louisville Ballet dancer reading the classic holiday story The Nutcracker, followed by Nutcracker-inspired dancing and crafts. Plus, enter to win 4 tickets to see the Louisville Ballet’s production of The Brown-Forman Nutcracker. For dates and times, click here.Â
Alcoholic Beverage Control
There has been a notice issued for 540 East Gray Street. To learn more, click here.
There has been a notice issued for 812 East Market Street. To learn more, click here.
There has been a notice issued for 1300 W. Muhammad Ali Blvd. To learn more, click here.
Invitation to Neighborhood Informational Meeting
There has been a notice issued for 111 North Wenzel Street. To learn more, click here.
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