In this Issue
Hello Neighbors and Friends,
It never fails. Every year around this time, I hear the question, “Why do we need Black History Month?” The answer to the question could be the same as the response given to the question: “Why do we need oxygen?”
According to the Center for Science Education, oxygen plays a critical role in respiration, the energy-producing chemistry that drives the metabolism of most living things, the process in which compounds are oxidized to liberate chemical energy. In other words, Black history could be viewed as the critical, liberating, and energy-producing reality that inspires us to learn about the rich history and significant contributions of African Americans to the world we live in today. Lessons from our past can help us avoid making the same old mistakes of days gone by. The purpose of Black History Month is to honor those contributions, sacrifices, and achievements of African Americans who helped shape America. The rich cultural heritage, struggles, and triumphs of Black people are indelible in our nation’s history. Therefore, like metabolism that changes our bodies to energy so that we can do everything from moving, thinking, and growing, embracing the history of Black people causes us to move from misunderstanding to appreciation, from thinking to knowing, and from regress to progress.
President Obama said that "Black History is about the lived, shared experience of all African Americans, high and low, famous and obscure, and how those experiences have shaped, challenged, and ultimately strengthened America." Speaking of U.S. Presidents, fifty years after Carter G. Woodson established Black History Week, President Gerald R. Ford officially recognized Black History Month. According to History.com, President Ford called upon Americans to “seize the opportunity to honor the too-often neglected accomplishments of Black Americans in every area of endeavor throughout our history.”
February is also American Heart Month, during which everyone is encouraged to recognize that cardiovascular disease is the number 1 killer of women. Because heart disease and stroke have taken the lives of so many females, Go Red for Women is asking us to help save a life by: 1. Learning hand-only CPR, 2. Knowing your numbers, 3. Joining Research Goes Red,™ 4. Making well-being work for you, and 5. Raising awareness and donating to WearRedDay.org.
February is an exciting month. From Black History and American Heart Month to Presidents Day, Valentine’s Day, Mardi Gras, National Pizza Day, and Super Bowl Sunday, we have much to take in and enjoy. So, happy February, neighbors!
The first Muffins with McCraney meeting of 2024 is this Saturday! Grab a neighbor, gather your questions, and meet us at the Arterburn on February 10th! We can't wait to see you there!
The Louisville Metro Council held its regularly scheduled Council meeting Thursday, February 1, 2024. Watch this video or read highlights from the meeting below.
Old Business
- O-270-23: an ordinance appropriating District 21 Neighborhood Development Funds (NDF) for the replacement of two electrical poles at the Beechmont Youth Complex.
- O-296-23: an ordinance appropriating NDF funds for costs associated with the 11th Annual Riverview Independence Festival, scheduled for Saturday, June 29, 2024.
- O-297-23: an ordinance relating to the zoning of properties located at 6803 and 6805 Beulah Church Road.
- O-294-23: an ordinance relating to the zoning of properties located at 8816 West Manslick Road.
Special Recognitions and Proclamations
- Councilwoman Hawkins recognized the District 1 page, Samari Giles.
Special Legislation
- R-002-24: a resolution approving the Metro Council Committee Meetings calendar for 2024.
Consent Calendar – all items that passed unanimously.
- O-277-23: an ordinance appropriating District 8 NDF to construct a concrete walkway adjacent to Eastern Parkway.
- O-290-23: an ordinance appropriating NDF from Districts 8 and 9 for graffiti removal.
- O-293-23: an ordinance appropriating District 26 NDF to LMPD’s 6th Division for overtime.
- R-178-23: a resolution accepting $1,999,481 from the U.S. Department of Transportation through the Strengthening Mobility and Revolutionizing Transportation (SMART) grant program for the implementation of intelligent, sensor-based platform that can report real-time data on viaduct flooding.
The Council meeting and attachments may be viewed online here: https://louisvilleky.primegov.com/public/portal, and on the Louisville Metro Council Facebook Page here: https://www.facebook.com/LouisvilleMetroCouncil/.
The next regularly scheduled Council meeting is on Thursday, February 15, 2024, at 6:00 p.m.
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.
These proceedings can also be viewed live on Metro TV, Spectrum Cable Channel 184, or UVERSE Channel 99, or streamed live from Swagit’s page at https://louisvilleky.new.swagit.com/views/506/ (only when live) and on Facebook on the Louisville Metro Council’s page at https://www.facebook.com/LouisvilleMetroCouncil (when live and after the meeting).
The District 7 Office has received many calls and messages about potholes on various roads throughout the area. Potholes become more common during the winter months as a result of cold weather and salt. Help us to keep the roads safe by reporting pothole when you see them. Here is how to do it!
Local Roads
Report potholes to the city in one of the following ways:
- Submit a service request form online by clicking here.
- Call 311 or 574-5000 to report potholes or any other issues.
- You can also send the pothole details to my office (including the address) or call us at 574-1107, and we'll turn it in on your behalf.
Highways & Interstates
To report a pothole on an interstate in Jefferson County, visit the KYTC website. Go to the “Contact Us” dropdown menu and select “Report a Hazard.”
The Louisville Water Company is warning customers about a scam that is going around the city right now. These door tags are showing up at homes claiming to provide a community water update. The Water Company states that this has nothing to do with the Louisville Water Co. You can always learn more about your water quality here.
Attention all Louisville Gas & Electric (LG&E) customers! According to news posted on the LG&E website and Facebook page, the LG&E/KU billing addresses changed on February 1. The new addresses are:
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LG&E - P.O. Box 7231, St. Louis, MO 63177-1231
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KU/ODP - P.O. Box 771670, St. Louis, MO 63177-1670
There will be a grace period during the transition, so if your current bill is sent to the old billing address in Lehigh Valley, their previous payment processing center will still process it. Your next bill will have the new billing address on it.
For more information about this change, visit lge-ku.com
Last Friday was National Wear Read Day!
The first Friday of American Heart Month is also National Wear Red Day as part of the American Heart Association's (AHA) Go Red for Women initiative. Coast to coast, landmarks, news anchors and neighborhoods go red to raise awareness and support for the fight against heart disease.
Cardiovascular disease ranks as the #1 killer of women. AHA Kentucky said in a Facebook post that it wanted to turn social media timelines RED to make a powerful statement about the importance of women's heart health. So, if you wore red on last Friday, don't forget to showcase your fabulous red attire on social media with the hashtags #WearRedDay and #GoRedKY. Also, tag the American Heart Association in Kentucky (@heartkentucky) on Facebook, Instagram and X to help spread awareness!
The Louisville Free Public Library celebrates Black History Month with programs throughout February
LOUISVILLE, Ky. (January 29, 2024) – This February, the Louisville Free Public Library (LFPL) is offering more than fifty free programs in celebration of Black History Month. Programs include book discussions, film screenings, history talks, storytimes, art activities, and more, designed to inform, inspire, and engage audiences of all ages.
At libraries around the city, a number of authors, professors, local experts, and performers will explore aspects of Black history often overlooked. The Main Library welcomes Peabody Award winning journalist Michele Norris to discuss her newest book Our Hidden Conversations: What Americans Really Think About Race and Identity on Friday, February 16 (7 p.m.). Her book draws on a narrative archive Norris founded using a simple prompt for people to reflect on race in only six words – a prompt that was answered by more than half a million people. This free event is presented by Carmichael’s Bookstore will feature Norris in-conversation with former Kentucky State Representative Charles Booker. Register online at www.LFPL.org/Authors, or call (502) 574-1623.
Local Black History is also front and center this year. On Tuesday, February 20 (6:30 p.m.) at the Main Library, UofL English professor Dr. David Anderson will examine the social contributions and literary legacies of three prominent Black educators in Louisville at the beginning of the twentieth century: Joseph Seamon Cotter, Sr., Nannie Helen Burroughs, and George Marion McClellan. Register online at www.LFPL.org/MyLibraryU.
To read the full release, click here
For a full listing of LFPL Black History Month events, visit lfpl.org
The Louisville Metro Department of Public Health and Wellness (LMPHW) recently launched a new Health Equity Data Dashboard. It provides a current data snapshot of the city's overall health. It includes demographics and data for seven initial health outcomes, with nine more to be added over the coming months.
The seven health outcomes that can currently be viewed on the Health Equity Data Dashboard include:
- Accidents and Injury
- Alzheimer's Disease
- Arthritis
- Birth Outcomes
- Cancer
- Heart Disease
- Homicide
To read more about the dashboard, including the analysis around the root causes that influence each health outcome and a preview of the 2023 Health Equity report, click here.
2024 Public Works construction bidding schedule now available
Louisville Metro Government supports local businesses by providing opportunities to contract for many of its goods and services. The Division of Procurement staff, in partnership with each Louisville Metro Government Department, is responsible for the management of over 1,100 contracts that assist in the programmatic and operational functions of the city.
If you are a business owner that would like to be added to a database used by Louisville Metro Government purchasers when looking for goods and services, please register through Louisville Metro Government’s Procurement Portal. When registering, businesses are strongly encouraged to select their NIGP commodity /service codes in order to receive email notifications from the city of opportunities that match their services.
Click the Metro seal above to learn about the process and be added to the notification system.
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TARC’s Operational Schedule Adherence Program launched last week.
On January 29, TARC debuted the Operational Schedule Adherence Program to improve on-time performance along Routes #4, #10, #23, and #28. When two buses along these lines bunch, the late bus may receive a call from the Control Center to switch to a "Drop Off Only" operation. The bus will no longer stop for pickups until it is told to switch back to standard running or as it drops off passengers.
Passengers can be assured that when a bus switches to "Drop Off Only," the next bus is less than five minutes away. This little one-time delay will mean fewer extensive delays up and down the line.
TARC is implementing this program in response to feedback from our first annual Customer Experience Survey. On-time performance is noted as one of the most important elements of bus service to our customers, and one of the success factors our riders are currently least satisfied with. The Operational Schedule Adherence Program follows the successful pilot program focused only on route #23.
For more information please visit: www.ridetarc.org
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Free Film Series at the Louisville Free Public Library
Registration Requested: Visit www.LFPL.org/BHFilms or call (502) 574-1623
Residents of Greater Louisville and Southern Indiana are invited to celebrate their city and visit local tourist spots in their Downtown.
The Downtown Hometown Tourism Celebration will take place February 1-11, 2024, and will allow anyone with a valid Kentucky or Indiana ID, local college ID, or military ID to receive half-off a regular admission tickets to participating Downtown venues.
Whether it’s visiting a favorite museum, stopping by one of our local bourbon experiences, or celebrating what makes our community unique, our Downtown is packed with experiences that benefit both residents and visitors alike.
Click here to purchase tickets.
Join the American Bar Association on Friday, February 2nd from 2-4 p.m. at Metro United Way for a discussion on Safety, Community and Gender-Based Violence. The event is free and open to the public, and childcare will be provided.
Click here for more information and to RSVP.
This event is coordinated by the Office for Women and will feature speakers from the Office of Equity, La Casita Center, AMPED, Zora’s Cradle and Play Cousins Collective.
Engineering is everywhere: from rockets flying to Mars to systems filtering the water you drink. Build your own engineering skills and meet the professionals who imagine, design, and create the world around us at Engineering Days – all free with your Kentucky Science Center admission.
When: February 16-17 2024
Where: KY Science Center (727 W Main Street, Louisville, KY 40202)
For more information and tickets, visit KYScienceCenter.org
After much anticipation, the 2024 Bourbon & Beyond lineup has officially been announced! Passes are now available for sale.
Click the image below for more information.
Mardi Gras Bar Crawl - February 10th, at Fourth Street Live!
Spin - February 24th, at TEN20 Craft Brewery
Tailspin Ale Fest - March 2nd, at Historic Bowman Field
St. Patrick's Parade - March 9th, on Bardstown Road
NuLu Bock Fest - March 23rd, in NuLu East Market District
Paristown Garden Show - April 6th, at Paristown
Solve the sodoku puzzle above. For a little added fun, time yourself!
Check your answers at the end of the newsletter.
Having issues with high grass, illegal parking, street repairs, or other Code Enforcement concerns in the community? Contact 311!
Metro311 Service Request Information
- Submit a Service Request in the online system.
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Only service requests for the past 30 days will be accessible in the system. If you need information on an older request, please call Metro 311 for status.
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To receive email notifications of the status of your service request you must have an account and you must have included your email address when you created your account. You can create a new account and report a new issue.
- Not all issues you put a service request in for require you to login. Some issues may be submitted anonymously, such as reporting a pothole and property maintenance cases, for instance. But having an account will allow you to track the progress and status of the request.
- The outlined or highlighted area on the map indicates the area which is serviced by Louisville Metro Government.
If you do not see a category which corresponds to your issue, please call Metro311 at 311.
For all the details you need regarding the new drivers license please click the link below:
To read about the most recent VA Medical Center construction events, go to: https://www.va.gov/louisville-health-care/programs/new-robley-rex-va-medical-center
To request weekly updates about the construction events, send an email requesting updates to: LOUVAMCCONSTRUCTION@USACE.ARMY.MIL
For ALL construction-related inquiries, please email: LOUVAMCCONSTRUCTION@USACE.ARMY.MIL
Check us out on social media:
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.
Click here to Subscribe to the 5th Division E-Newsletter
District Resource Officers (DRO's)
After more than 3 years the 5th Division is happy to announce we have 2 DRO's! DRO's are the "Jack of all Trades" for the community. They are our problem solvers, ambassadors, community representatives and anything else you can think of. Congratulations to Officers John Keeling and Brad Steller, your 5th Division DRO's.
They can be contacted at the links below.
Officer John Keeling
Officer Brad Steller
Need support now?
If you or someone you know is struggling or in crisis, help is available.
Are you thinking of hurting yourself or ending your life? Text LOU to 741741
Community mental health resources:
Metro United Way's Community Resource Directory can connect you mental health and crisis intervention resources. Or call 211.
Need to dispose of unwanted bulk items? Click the link below for details regarding Pop-Up Drop-Off event dates around Louisville. Click HERE
Accepted Items:
- Up to 3 electronic items (recycled)
- Metal & appliances - no refrigerators, freezers, dehumidifiers or any items containing Freon (recycled)
- Up to 4 passenger tires (recycled)
- Household recyclables, follow curbside rules (recycled)
- Yard waste, follow curbside rules, wooden pallets (composted)
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Large household items (landfilled)
- Documents for shredding (recycled)
Prescription medication (disposed properly)
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Stay aware of new development in your area! Sign up for Gov Delivery notifications at:
https://public.govdelivery.com/accounts/KYLOUISVILLE/subscriber/new
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.
Read The Comprehensive Plan (Plan 2040)
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.
Plan 2040 Survey Findings
Plan 2040 Demographic and Economic Projections
Plan 2040 Core Graphics
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.
Click Here to: View All Agencies
Click Here to Visit Website for Laws, State Legislators, Watch Bills, etc.
Click here for more info.
Click below to read the social media policy of the Louisville Metro Council:
https://louisvilleky.gov/government/metro-council/louisville-metro-council-social-media-public-comment-policy.
Just for Fun Answers
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