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
Lunar New Year is a celebration of the arrival of spring and the beginning of a new year on the lunisolar calendar. This year, the Lunar New Year started on Jan. 22, and will last until February 1, though celebrations last up to 16 days.
I will miss you at Monday’s neighborhood zoning meeting regarding the Lyndon property at 8100 Lyndon Park Lane. I attended the first neighborhood meeting and listened to the presentation. If you live in Lyndon and want to understand this zoning issue, I encourage you to attend (see details below under Neighborhood Meeting). However, if you aren’t interested in that meeting, perhaps you’ll join me as the Metro Council hosts two special Committee of the Whole meetings to interview eligible District 3 and District 6 applicants. District 3 applicants will be interviewed on Monday, January 30th at p.m., and District 6 applicants will be interviewed on Tuesday, January 31st at 4:30 p.m.
To date, there are eight candidates to interview for the District 3 seat and 19 applicants for the District 6 seat. Candidates will attend the meeting in person and be interviewed in the order in which the completed applications were received. Each applicant will have three minutes for an introduction, followed by ten minutes of questions from Council members. Candidates will then have one minute to make final comments.
Because Metro Council Chambers gallery is currently undergoing renovations, the public will not have access to that space. However, you may come to City Hall and view the live proceedings via television on the 3rd floor or at another location in the building. You may also watch the proceedings live from the comfort of your home onMetro TV, Spectrum Cable Channel 184, or UVERSE Channel 99.
As you may recall, former Councilmembers Keisha Dorsey (D-3) and David James (D-6) resigned from their respective seats on January 4th to join the Greenberg Administration. According to the Rules of the Louisville Metro Council, the vacant seats must be filled within 30 days by Metro Council or forfeit the task to the mayor, who, by statute, must appoint a qualified person for the unexpired term.
The Metro Council will vote on candidates from Districts 3 and 6 at the full Council meeting on Thursday, February 2nd. Candidates receiving the majority votes will be declared Council members and sworn in immediately after the vote. Keep in mind, though, that in November 2023, the Jefferson County Democratic Party Legislative District (LD) Chairs are mandated to select a District 3 and District 6 permanent replacement for those seats until the next election in each respective district. The individuals chosen by the Metro Council on Thursday, may or may not be the ones selected by the LD Chairs. Interesting, huh?
On another note, I will announce in the next eNewsletter edition the date, time, and place of the next Muffins with McCraney. I am looking forward to seeing and hearing from you!
Have a great weekend, and a week filled with joy and laughter.
This past week, Metro Council committees met for the first time this year to discuss several noteworthy topics as listed below.
The Planning and Zoning Committee approved several zoning changes and held discussions over the North One Park development at Grinstead and Lexington Road. It will be discussed next at the committee’s February 7th meeting.
The Labor and Economic Development Committee approved incentives for Confluent Health and discussed an ordinance that would require organizations, doing business or receiving any amount over $50,000 with Metro, to report instances of workplace sexual harassment and prohibiting them from entering into non-disclosure agreements. One exception to disclosure is when the victim does not want the information reported. The ordinance is scheduled to be discussed again at the committee’s February 7th meeting.
The Equity, Community Affairs, Housing, Health and Education Committee hosted a discussion with Jefferson County Parent Association for Foster, Adoptive, and Kinship Care, and removed the child stipulation for receiving eviction court assistance.
The Government Oversight/Audit and Appointments Committee approved over a dozen appointments to various boards, commissions, and overlay districts. The committee also discussed a contract with UofL which would study the revenues and appropriations by Jefferson County taxing districts (aka county, fire districts, urban services district, and suburban city taxing districts). The Louisville Metro Comprehensive Review Commission was created by the 2022 General Assembly (HB 314) to study Jefferson County government.
And finally, the Budget Committee discussed prioritizing unspent ARP funds.
Metro Council will meet Thursday, February 2nd at 6:00pm. Committees will meet again February 7th-9th.
To see all meetings on Facebook Live, go to the Metro Council Facebook page by clicking here.
The public can also view all council and committee meetings on Metro TV, Spectrum Cable Channel 184 or on UVERSE at Channel 99. Proceedings are live streamed from the Metro Council Clerk’s Archived Media page here.
To watch the Council meeting and access the agenda and related attachments, click HERE.
If you desire further information on this pre‐application online, use the following link to view the case file assembled and maintained by Louisville Metro Planning & Design Services: Accela Citizen Access
Click on the “Search” tab, then “Planning Applications”. Enter case number in “Record Number” data field, then click “Record Info” tab.
District 7
Building Permit Applications From 1/20/2023 to 1/26/2023:
Mayor Craig Greenberg and community partners have announced the start of free federal and state income tax preparation assistance for eligible residents. The Louisville Asset Building Coalition’s Volunteer Income Tax Assistance program (VITA) provides trained, IRS-certified volunteers who offer free tax services at 11 sites across the city. VITA is available to individuals and families who earned less than $66,000 in 2022.
VITA volunteers will also help determine if residents are eligible for the Earned Income Tax Credit (EITC), a refundable federal tax credit for low- and middle-income working individuals and families. Eligibility for the EITC is based on income, the number of family members and other criteria, such as the age of household members. Working families who earn up to $57,400 may be eligible, and the average credit last year was $2,800.
Tax filing season is now officially underway and the deadline to file this year is April 18. VITA sites will prepare in-person free tax filing, by appointment only, at several sites. Most of the sites will provide free tax filing through drop-off services. Click here for local news coverage and links to more information.
Vote for the Waterfront Park
Louisville's Waterfront Park is in the running for USA Today's Best Riverwalk!
Cities across the United States have transformed their riverfront areas into multi-use spaces for recreational purposes, cultural activities, dining and nightlife.
Since 1986, Louisville's frontage along the Ohio River has undergone quite the renaissance with the introduction of the 85-acre Waterfront Park, an expanse of picnic areas, walking paths and sprawling green spaces. Visitors to the riverwalk enjoy picnic areas, playgrounds, boat launches and numerous public art installations.
This is the third consecutive year Waterfront Park has been nominated in the national competition. Last year, the park competed with 19 other riverwalks across the country and placed fourth in the category. This year, we are looking to claim first place – but we need YOUR HELP. Here’s what you can do:
GLI’s Power to Prosper Minority Business Accelerator
Calling all minority- or woman-owned businesses! The third cohort of GLI’s Power to Prosper Minority Business Accelerator is now accepting applications. Learn how to take your business to the next level. Applications are open through February 28, 2023.
This program is free for participants and open to business owners who:
Are minority, woman, LGBTQ+, veteran, or disabled-owned
Employ at least one full-time employee, besides the owner(s)
Have been in business for at least two years
Commit to attend class and complete mandatory assignments and program surveys, as requested
Be-leaf it or not, January is a good time to get gardening. Now is the time to shop seeds, do some routine maintenance, and even sow certain plants.
Spring for Seeds: Peruse seed catalogs and grab those springtime favorites that are so popular they tend to sell out come the thaw. We’re talking seeds like snap peas, radishes, specialty lettuces, and heirloom tomatoes. You can also get your wishlist going for the spring planting of fall bulbs like hostas, gladiolas, and dahlias.
Get Growing: While you’re at the nursery, grab some seeds that you can plant right now (or, at least, very soon). Use this tool to calculate when to sow some of these early-season crops:
Beans
Beets
Broccoli
Cabbage
Kale
Lettuce
Can’t wait for that final frost date? Now is a good time to prep your seed trays. Clean and organize your trays, then sow these plants indoors with a growing light to be moved outdoors when the time is right.
Routine Maintenance: Every green thumb knows that a garden is more than just its plants. Here's your winter checklist:
Trim and tidy - Toss out any plants that didn’t survive last year and start fresh.
Take care of your tools - Sharpen your pruners and clean your trowels or treat yourself to a new tool set.
Test your soil - Apply your compost, but don’t forget to test your soil to make sure you aren’t missing any nutrients. A soil test kit can help you out here.
Prepare for frost - Be prepared for any cold fronts by making sure your watering system is ready for any deep freezes and stocking up on row covers.
Plan your beds - Get out your graph paper and dream up your ideal garden.
Kentucky Kingdom Season Passes On Sale
Season passes to Kentucky Kingdom and Hurricane Bay are now on sale and include a new ticket option called The Diamond Pass. Diamond season passholders get (4) free unrestricted passes to bring a friend and a free tumbler for free soft drinks and slushies. They can also skip the line on some popular attractions and get early access to seating at shows. For more information and to purchase the pass, click here.
Kentucky Oaks Survivors Parade
Churchill Downs has opened submissions for the 2023 Kentucky Oaks Survivors Parade to honor 149 breast and ovarian cancer survivors and fighters. For the first time, this year's Survivors Parade participants will be chosen randomly rather than by public vote to optimize equal opportunity and consideration. If you, or someone you know, has an inspiring story to share about a breast or ovarian cancer diagnosis, and have never participated in the Oaks Survivors Parade before, you can complete a form here.
Bring your friends to join us on Thursday, February 9th from 5-7pm for a Galentine’s Day celebration at Westport Village, 1315 Herr Ln. Enjoy sips with Marigold Mobile Bar in the green space, along with shopping women-owned pop-ups at our boutiques!
Lion Dancing with River Lotus Lion Dancers
Rabbits symbolize peace and relaxation, so we can expect a calm 2023. Cross-cultural communications strategist Dottie L said, "Because of the rabbit's characteristics, we can expect relaxation, fluidity, quietness and contemplation." (See more information under Upcoming Events.)
Bring in the Year of the Rabbit this Sunday, January 29th, starting with brunch and lunch specials at 11 am, then a special performance at 2 pm with fireworks on St. Catherine. River Lotus Lion Dancers perform throughout the market with a full accompaniment of dancers, lions and drums. It was the highlight of the market last year!
This event is free to attend, and is generously sponsored by market prepared food vendor, Fresh Out the Box.
Event Location
Logan Street Market, 1001 Logan St., Louisville, KY
Jewish Film Festival
Celebrating 25 years, the Louisville Jewish Film Festival has a long history of presenting movies and short films, and speaking engagements by actors, writers, and producers featured throughout the event. This year's festival will be held February 4-19 at the Trager Family JCC, 3600 Dutchmans Ln., and will showcase a hybrid season with 15 top-rated, thought-provoking films. Click here for more information and tickets.
LFPL Celebrates Black History Month
This February, the Louisville Free Public Library is offering more than thirty free programs in celebration of Black History Month. Programs include book discussions, film screenings, history talks, storytimes, and more, designed to inform, inspire, and engage audiences of all ages. Click here for the complete list of LFPL’s Black History Month programs.
Yo-Yo Ma & Louisville Orchestra in Mammoth Cave
Award-winning cellist Yo-Yo Ma will join the Louisville Orchestra this spring for a pair of shows at Kentucky's Mammoth Cave National Park. The two performances inside the largest known cave system in the world will be on Saturday, April 29 at 11am and 3pm in Rafinesque Hall, a large open room inside the cave. Tickets for the event will be distributed by lottery through Recreation.gov and people may apply for a chance at tickets beginning Monday, January 30. Click here for more information.
Answers are listed at the bottom of this newsletter.
2. When is a door no longer a door? 3. What building has the most stories? 4. What month of the year has 28 days in it? 5. What starts with T, ends with T, and has T in it? 6. What goes all around the world but stays in a corner? 7. What comes at the end of everything? 8. What has three feet but cannot walk? 9. What can you catch but never throw? 10. What has many keys but cannot open a single lock?
Safety Reminder:
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.
Message from the LMPD 8th Division
Please make note of the below tips to help make sure theft doesn't happen to you.
Never leave anything of value in your vehicle; this includes laptops, purses, GPS devices and even loose change.
Do not leave your vehicle running while unattended.
Always lock your vehicle doors.
Remove garage door openers from vehicles when parked outside.
Do not leave your keys in your vehicle, this includes key-fobs.
Do not leave the windows of your vehicle open, or partially open.
Try to park your vehicle in a well-lit area.
Never leave a firearm unprotected in your vehicle.
Immediately report any suspicious person, or vehicle to (502) 574-7111.
On January 1, 2019, a new Comprehensive Plan, called Plan 2040, went into effect. As a resident of District 7 (or any district in Louisville), it is important to review the Comprehensive Plan if you are interested in development that is proposed for the neighborhood. The Comprehensive Plan is the guidepost for all development, and the Planning Commission must use it as one of the guiding principles and tools for making decisions regarding the approval or denial of a neighborhood development project.
The Comprehensive Plan is representative of over 6,000 voices, including Metro staff, an advisory committee, and resident volunteers. The Advisory Committee, made up of diverse representatives from neighborhood and community organizations as well as development and business interests, finalized its recommended goals, objectives, and policies on February 21, 2018.
On April 16, 2018, the Planning Commission recommended the Comprehensive Plan for approval. The document was then reviewed by the Metro Council as well as 12 local municipalities with zoning authority for formal adoption. Those 12 local municipalities are: Anchorage, Douglass Hills, Graymoor-Devondale, Hurstbourne, Indian Hills, Jeffersontown, Lyndon, Middletown, Prospect, Shively, St. Matthews, and St. Regis Park.
Health experts recommend people living in high community-level counties to wear a mask indoors in public, stay up to date on COVID-19 vaccines and get tested if experiencing symptoms. Additional precautions may be needed for people at high risk for severe illness.
If you test positive for COVID, but aren't sure what to do, call the LOU Health COVID-19 Helpline at 502-912-8598. The hotline is available Monday through Sunday from 8 a.m. to 8 p.m., and language translation services are available.
Tossing those unwanted leftovers or unused ingredients into the trash doesn't just hurt your wallet - it also costs the climate. Over one-third of the food produced in the United States is never eaten, and food waste is the single most common material landfilled and incinerated across the nation. The USDA says the best way to reduce food waste "is to not create it in the first place." Click here for small steps you can take at the supermarket and in the kitchen to eat more sustainably - and creatively.
Monkeypox tends to spread through close contact with someone who is infected with the virus. It can spread through prolonged face-to-face contact and intimate physical contact such as kissing, cuddling or sex. The virus can also be spread through materials, like bedding, that has previously touched an infectious rash or bodily fluids.
Louisville Metro Council livestreams all of its regular meetings and committee meetings on Facebook Live.
To see all meetings on Facebook Live, go to the Metro Council Facebook page by clicking here.
The public can also view all council and committee meetings on Metro TV, Spectrum Cable Channel 184 or on UVERSE at Channel 99. Proceedings are live streamed from the Metro Council Clerk’s Archived Media page here.
To watch the Council meeting and access the agenda and related attachments, click HERE.
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 email the District 7 office at paula.mccraney@louisvilleky.gov prior to event attendance.
Answers to the Riddles 1. A carpet 2. When it's ajar 3. A library 4. All of them 5. A teapot 6. A stamp 7. The letter "g" 8. A yardstick 9. A cold 10. A piano
