Louisville Metro Council District 4 E-News
Councilman Jecorey Arthur | Legislative Assistant Brianna Wright
601 West Jefferson Street, Louisville, KY 40202 | (502)574-1104
This week in committees our shelter review resolution passed committee. It was amended to have 120 days of review instead of 60 to give the Planning Commission more time. We hope their recommendations will make it easier to open shelters. These regulations haven't been changed in 10 years.
We also started our investigation into the Louisville Metro Housing Authority, after passing an order through committee. The next step is to hire an investigator. We need all public housing residents to work with us to make it better.
For more info about legislation we're working on please visit the legislation list below in our newsletter.
Reimagine 9th Street Public Kickoff
What if you could Reimagine 9th Street? Join us for the public kickoff for Reimagine 9th Street, a project bringing together neighborhoods. This event will engage the community in updates on key elements of the project, efforts to date, and ways to get involved going forward. HDR Engineering, the firm leading the redesign of the corridor, and Louisville Metro Government’s Office of Planning will host the event. There will be free parking available onsite as well as light refreshments and hors d'oeuvres served.
Thursday, February 22nd 5-7 PM
Louisville Central Community Centers
1300 W Muhammad Ali Boulevard
Kentucky General Assembly 2024
The Kentucky General Assembly, the state legislature, is in session. To watch their meetings go to ket.org/legislature. You can also find your legislators, check the status of bills, and leave messages about bills by calling numbers here.
District 4 Tele-Town Hall
Tuesday, February 20th 6:00-7:00 PM
Video-In: https://louisvilleky.webex.com/meet/D4
Phone-In: (415)655-0001
Access Code: 180-005-6522 #
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. If no one attends by 6:15, the tele-town hall will end early.
Legislation
- Homeless Shelter Resolution — This resolution will request the Planning Commission to review regulations for homeless shelters to make them more accessible. This will create more shelter space for people experiencing houselessness. To show support, sign the petition here.
- FY24 District 4 Sidewalk Repairs — Louisville Metro Council District 4 has about a million dollars worth of unfunded sidewalk repairs. Councilman Jecorey Arthur is paying for repairs through the Capital Infrastructure Fund (CIF). To review the order of repairs please go here.
- Capital Infrastructure Funds — Councilman Jecorey Arthur is funding new trash cans throughout District 4. Please contact the office for requests.
- Ceasefire Resolution — A resolution urging the United States Congress and President to call for and facilitate a ceasefire in Palestine and Israel. To show support, sign the petition here.
- Louisville Metro Housing Authority Investigation Resolution — A resolution launching an investigation into local public housing issues.
- Amnesty Funds — An ordinance in support of amnesty docket restitution.
- Overdose Action Grant Resolution — This resolution approves $170,000 of funding from the Kentucky Department for Public Health to provide harm reduction services.
Some of the legislation above is drafted but may not have been filed. We welcome input from constituents, experts, and stakeholders. To learn more about what's coming up on Metro Council please go here.
Private Citizens and Metro Youth Cabinet to Recognize Local Youth Who Exemplarily Overcome Adversity and Unique Challenges
Louisville citizens Jim and Claudette Patton and the Louisville Metro Youth Cabinet (MYC) are asking residents from every Jefferson County zip code to nominate youths who have achieved against difficult or unique challenges brought by adversity, such as: the remnants of violence, physical or mental health challenges, unique life situations, and economic disparity. To learn more, click here.
Louisville Metro Air Pollution Control District Notice of Public Comment Period and Hearing
The Louisville Metro Air Pollution Control District (District) is opening a 30-day public comment period starting February 7, 2024, on a proposed Agreed Board Order with American Synthetic Rubber Company to resolve violations of District Regulation 2.16: Title V Operating Permits and District Regulation 1.07: Excess Emissions During Startups, Shutdowns, and Upset Conditions. The District issued Notice of Violation ENF-APCD-23-00005 for these violations. To learn more, click here.
Mayor Greenberg: Algonquin Pool Renovations to Begin
Mayor Craig Greenberg joined Councilwoman Tammy Hawkins of District 1, Councilman Phillip Baker of District 6 and representatives from Louisville Parks and Recreation to announce that renovations for the Algonquin Park pool are officially underway with an estimated competition date of spring 2025. The mayor also announced free public Wi-Fi is being installed in the park, with five total access points expected to be completed by the end of the week. To learn more, click here.
Councilwoman Parrish-Wright Releases Statement on Ceasefire Resolution
Councilwoman Shameka Parrish-Wright (D-3) has issued the following statement in response to a recently filed resolution urging the United States Congress and President to call for and facilitate a ceasefire in Palestine and Israel.
“Since October 7th we have all witnessed the extreme violence in Palestine. While this is just the most recent instance in a decades long struggle for liberation, the visibility of the unfolding violence cannot be ignored. Because of this, Councilman Jecorey Arthur and I have co-sponsored a ceasefire resolution.
A resolution may not have any enforcement power; however, it is powerful to take a stance on the side of justice and to join over fifty cities calling for an end to the senseless loss of human life. Yes, we have our own safety to address here in Jefferson County but passing a simple resolution does not impede our ability to focus on our own immediate community. As a matter of fact, our struggles for liberation and safety are interlocked. Whether Palestine or Louisville, we all deserve peace and safety.
I would appreciate my colleagues supporting this resolution because it is the right thing to do and everyone who has contacted my office so far has been supportive of this resolution. I stood with Ukraine and was proud when the Louisville Metro Council approved a resolution in 2022 supporting the leaders of Ukraine defending against Russia’s massive military assault on their nation. I would hope this legislation will be given the same consideration and respect as the resolution for Ukraine. I do not see the difference in these resolutions”
- Councilwoman Shameka Parrish-Wright, District 3
Louisville Free Public Library Now Accepting Student Submissions for Annual Cotter Cup Poetry Writing Contest
In 1913, renowned Louisville poet, educator, and community leader Joseph S. Cotter, Sr. started an annual storytelling contest for children at the Western Library – the first public library in the US created for Black people and staffed entirely by Black professionals. The ‘storytelling bee,’ as it was often called, was a way to encourage young children to read and learn through the art of storytelling. A perfect marriage of books, literacy, and libraries, the Cotter Storytelling Contest was held annually from 1913 to 1939 and awarded cash prizes to the winners. The names of the winners were even engraved onto a silver loving cup that became known as the ‘Cotter Cup. To learn more, click here.
Minority Caucus to Meet Thursday, February 8, 2024
The Minority Caucus of the Louisville Metro Council will hold its regular meeting at 3:45 p.m. on Thursday, February 8, 2024 from the 2nd floor Caucus Room within City Hall (601 W. Jefferson Street).
During the meeting members of the Minority Caucus will review upcoming items on committee agendas as well as discuss items that will be heard at next week's full Metro Council Meeting or in committee in the coming weeks.
The Minority Caucus holds its regular meetings on Thursdays in the 2nd floor caucus room of City Hall. The next scheduled meeting of the Minority Caucus is Thursday, February 15, 2024 at 4 p.m.
Mayor Greenberg: The State of Louisville is Strong
Louisville Mayor Craig Greenberg delivered his State of the City Address and confirmed that Louisville is becoming a safer, stronger and healthier city for all those who call it home. To learn more, click here.
Downtown Development Review Overlay (DDRO) District Committee
There has been a notice issued for 115 South 4th Street. To learn more, click here.
There has been a notice issued for 418 East Main Street. To learn more, click here.
Alcoholic Beverage Control
There has been a notice issued for 605 West Main Street. To learn more, click here.
Legal Aid Society Guide to Protections Against Landlord Discrimination
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.
West End Opportunity Partnership
The Partnership is hosting community engagement sessions to gather feedback on the types of community and business development projects needed to grow and sustain our communities. To learn more, click here.
Join Louisville Downtown Partnership for the 2024 State of the Downtown
Join Louisville Downtown Partnership for the 2024 State of the Downtown event. Take a look into Downtown's accomplishments in 2023, a preview of what to expect in 2024, and the official presentation of the Ten-Year Downtown Strategy. To learn more, click here.
Register for the 2024 Cotter Cup | Submissions Close March 14
In 1913, renowned Louisville educator and poet Joseph S. Cotter, Sr. created a storytelling contest for kids at the Western Library that became known as the Cotter Cup. Today, the annual Cotter Cup Storytelling Contest—presented in partnership with the UofL Writing Center—focuses on storytelling through poetry and is open to all Louisville students, grades K-12.
Participation in the contest is free and prizes will be awarded to the winners in three age groups (elementary, middle school, & high school). To be eligible, students must register and submit their wholly original poem online no later than March 14 (one entry per student). Final poems should not exceed 1,000 words.
Students looking for additional help with their writing can stop by Western Library on Wednesdays, 3 to 6 p.m. to meet with tutors from the UofL Writing Center. Tutors are available on a first-come, first-served basis to help students improve their writing skills on school assignments, creative writing projects, and their Cotter Cup entries. To learn more, click here.
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