In this Issue
Hello Neighbors and Friends,
The Louisville Metro Council takes pride in its commitment to encouraging public input and participation in government affairs and events. To this end we offer various avenues for public engagement during our Metro Council public meetings, including in-person viewing and addresses to the Council, and online viewing through Facebook and broadcast MetroTV. For further interaction with Councilmembers, constituents can submit comments via direct email to councilmembers, call Council offices, send a written letter via the U.S. Postal Service, and attend neighborhood meetings hosted by councilmembers.
Regrettably, the Council meeting on Thursday evening, March 14, 2024, was marred by a series of disruptive and off-topic comments. The comments were entirely unrelated to the Council’s official business or off-subject according to what some participants signed up to discuss during constituent addresses to the Council. In response to this, our Council President issued warnings to the individuals providing these comments, urging them to refocus their remarks on relevant matters, with the caveat that we would proceed to the next public comment if they continued to deviate from the intended discourse. If you tuned in that evening, you witnessed the group of audience participants, in an organized effort to disrupt our public proceedings, protested the Council President’s admonishment by standing up and shouting chants while slowly exiting the chambers. As some made their way out the door, they taunted visiting Jewish patrons and rabbis.
I want to express my concerns regarding civil unrest or civil disobedience. Both have their proper place in society. I support everyone's right to protest - to peacefully assemble, and to petition the government for a redress of grievances – it’s freedom of speech. The First Amendment protects our inalienable right to assemble and express our views through protest. However, it must be peaceful, and citizens must be aware that while hate speech is generally protected by the First Amendment, the government can limit some protected speech by imposing time, place, and manner restrictions. Freedom of speech does not include the right to incite imminent lawless action, threats, race-based harassment, or obscenity.
I also want to emphasize my unwavering commitment to being transparent and accessible. Civic participation is important to democracy, so I hope you've witnessed how I welcome your voices and want to hear your concerns and understand your needs. Continue reaching out to me as needed, and please attend the "Muffins with McCraney" neighborhood meetings I host quarterly. Public participation is essential to holding your elected officials accountable for governance and transparency. However, be aware that we must maintain a safe environment for everyone – City Hall visitors, Councilmembers, staff, and protestors. When people exhibit unruly behavior and deviate from the topic they signed up to speak about, they will be subject to removal from chambers, and in some cases, City Hall. That, then, would stifle voices and do no one any good.
"A man has not everything to do, but something; and because he cannot do everything, it is not necessary that he should do something wrong."
--Henry David Thoreau
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The Louisville Metro Council Women's Caucus hosted its quarterly meeting on Thursday and recognized 10 women who have made significant contributions in shaping our history. We also honored 10 women in our community with kindred spirits to the women in history. These community servants have blazed trails and made an indelible mark on society. The awards ceremony was heartwarming, and members of the community showed up to support these incredible women of today.
Click here to watch the event recording on Facebook and click here to view the photos online.
Congratulations to the 2024 Rosie the Riveter awards recipients:
- Madeline Abramson, Former First Lady of Louisville
- Britainy Beshear, First Lady of Kentucky
- The Honorable Denise Clayton, Judge
- Valerie Combs, Louisville Athletics Hall of Famer
- Hannah Drake, Author, Poet, Storyteller, and Activist
- Caray Grace, WLKY News Anchor
- The Honorable Bobbie Holsclaw, Jefferson County Clerk
- Mattie Jones, Civil Rights Activist
- The Honorable Janice Martin, Judge
- Tori Murden McClure, Explorer; President, Spalding University
The Women's Caucus extends special gratitude to our Mistress of Ceremony, Commonwealth's Attorney Gerina Whethers; our guest songstress, Sharron Sales; my incredible staff, Kristian Dudgeon, Kyle Ethridge, and Jailen Leavell, for their assistance in planning this event; and Mayor Greenberg for recognizing Women's History Month by declaring March 14, 2024 as "Rosie the Riveter" Awards Day.
INVITEES:
- Commonwealth’s Attorney Gerina D. Whethers and team members
- Louisville Metro Police Chief Jacquelyn Gwinn-Villaroel
- Councilwoman Dr. Paula McCraney
- Mayor Rick Tonini
- St. Matthews Police Chief Colonel Barry S. Wilkerson (Tentative)
WHAT: Town Hall Forum for Community Conversations
WHEN: Wednesday, March 20 | 6:30 p.m. start time
WHERE: The Arterburn (Formerly St. Matthews Community Center) | 310 Ten Pin Lane, 40207
WHY: Attorney Whethers will speak regarding her vision and direction for the criminal justice system in our community.
HOW: After an opening period of remarks from Attorney Whethers, invitees may speak if they wish or simply remain on hand. Questions will be taken from the audience in an orderly manner that agency representatives may answer as applicable. The event should run approximately an hour to an hour and a half.
Located in Oxmoor Center, Puttshack offers a family-friendly atmosphere during the day and shifts to an elevated nightlife environment for those 21+ after 8:00 PM. Visit the Puttshack website for more information about their spin on the mini-golf experience.
Opening day is Wednesday March 20, with the official ribbon cutting ceremony taking place on Thursday March 21 at 2:00pm. Meet me there to welcome this new business to the neighborhood!
Meet me there on Friday. March 22nd!
Shakespeare in the Parks will be held again at the Windy Hills Green on Sunday, April 21. Mark your calendar and meet me there!
Be sure to bring a blanket or chair and your family and friends!
The Louisville Metro Council held its regularly scheduled Council meeting Thursday, March 14, 2204
Click the photo below to watch the meeting summary on YouTube.
Metro Council will be on Spring Break from March 25 through April 5. The District 7 Office will be open during its normal hours from 9:00 am - 5:00 pm.
The next Metro Council meeting is Thursday, April 11. 2024, at 6:00 p.m.
To see all meetings on Facebook Live, go to the Metro Council Facebook page by clicking here. Watch the meeting on YouTube here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_E-0FwonqtA
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).
SENATE PROPOSED BUDGETARY MEASURES:
(by Senator Gerald Neal)
The latest budget proposal of House Bill (HB) 1 put forth, amended, and passed by the Senate this week, is our chamber’s proposed appropriation of General Fund dollars for fiscal years 2023-26. The Senate budget as it stands, seeks to direct an unprecedented $3.5 billion from the Budget Reserve Trust Fund into various projects, doubling the initial $1.8 billion proposed by the House. While the ambition behind these investments is undeniable, the focus leans heavily towards infrastructure and one-time expenditures, arguably at the expense of long-term investments in our people—particularly our educators.
The budgetary changes to HB 1 in the Senate outline significant spending on transportation and economic development projects. While initiatives such as the $890 million earmarked for transportation and the $150 million for relocating certain university facilities promise to enhance our infrastructure and economic prospects, there are underlying omissions raising cause for concern. These concerns center around the lack of meaningful support for public education, particularly in terms of direct investment in increasing teachers’ salaries.
Governor Beshear initially called for increasing teacher pay as a means to improve the state's educational system and help retain talent. Neither found footing in the Senate plan. Despite the slight bump in per-pupil funding—from $6.4 billion to $6.5 billion over two years—this adjustment falls short of the transformative investment necessary to elevate Kentucky’s educational standards and adequately compensate our educators.
The strategic choice to prioritize physical infrastructure and one-time projects, while financially prudent, raises questions about the long-term vision for the future of our educational system. Investments in education, particularly in uplifting educators, are investments in the future of our state. They have a multiplier effect, enriching student outcomes and, by extension, the social and economic fabric of our communities. The emphasis on one-time expenditures, as opposed to the recurring costs associated with salary increases, seems to reflect a missed opportunity to make a profound and lasting impact on public education.
For a full, detailed report of the Senate budget proposal, I urge you to review the information released by the Kentucky Center for Economic Policy by CLICKING HERE.
Alcohol License Application
Viking Hospitality Solutions, LLC, 3205 West Mount Zion Road, Crestwood, KY 40014, hereby declares intentions to apply for an NQ-4 Retail Malt Beverage Drink License, Special Sunday Retail Drink License, Quota Retail Drink, Caterer's and transitional licenses no later than April 15, 2024. The business to be licensed will be located at 4864 Brownsboro Road, Louisville, KY 40207, doing business as Anoosh Bistro. The members are as follows: David Danielson., Crestwood, KY 40014.
Any person, association, corporation, or body politic may protest the granting of the license by writing the Department of Alcoholic Beverage Control, 500 Mero St 2NE33 Frankfort, Kentucky 40601, fax http://www.abc.ky.gov 40601-8400, within 30 days (KRS 243.430) of the date of this legal publication. March 12 2024 LSBN0071530
For questions, email abc.info@ky.gov
A correction has been made to the PVA flyer that was shared last week. The April 11th community meeting will be held at The Arterburn (formerly St. Matthews Community Center) which is located at 310 Ten Pin Lane.
Click the photo for more information.
The Department of Codes & Regulations has initiated their new Rental Registry program. Property owners must register all their rental units with the city and pay a fee ranging from $25 to $250; failure to register is subject to a fine up to $100 per day per housing unit.
Louisville Metro Government will randomly select properties from the list each year to undergo inspections to ensure the units meet the city code of ordinances. Click here to register your property and learn more.
Property owners/managers may also apply in person with the Department of Codes & Regulations at 444 S. 5th St., Suite 200, Louisville, KY 40202.
Effective April 1, 2024, parking citations currently listed at $25 will increase to $30. PARC will begin issuing notices immediately to current violators of the increase.
This rate increase only impacts drivers who do not comply with parking regulations, including parking at an expired meter or parking in an area that is designated no parking such as no stopping/bus zones or blocking a fire hydrant. In addition, citations will no longer be discounted if paid within seven days. Read the full press release here.
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It's time to register for Louisville Parks and Recreation's Spring Break Camps! These camps are at 12 Louisville Parks and Recreation Community Centers and for ages 6-12. Participants will have the opportunity to participate in indoor and outdoor recreational activities, arts and crafts, go on field trips and much more. Click here for more information and registration.
The deadline has been extended to March 22nd! If you know of a community-serving non-profit that may benefit from this program, spread the word! Click the photo to apply.
For questions, visit the Brightside website or email Elizabeth Gribbins at at elizabeth.gribbins@louisvilleky.gov.
Spring is a great time to clean out a garage or closet. But what do you do with those hard-to-dispose items? Here are 5 tips for spring cleaning:
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- Sell, donate, or offer items to neighbors.
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Learn how to dispose of large items that don't fit in your garbage cart.
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Recycle old electronics.
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Dispose of household hazardous waste properly. Residents can
- Drop off household hazardous waste for free at the HazBin, (7501 Grade Lane). Check the website for accepted items.
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Don't wait till spring to get rid of the small stuff!
- Donate or throw away items as needed so they don't pile up!
If you have questions about waste and recycling, contact the kNOw Waste Louisville education department!
The Next Pop-Up Drop-Off Event is:
LMPD 5th Division
LMPD 8th Division
See if luck is on your side by solving the riddles below. Check your answers at the end of the newsletter.
- Who is St. Patrick's favorite superhero?
- What kind of spells do leprechauns use?
- What do you call a fake Irish stone?
- Why do people wear shamrocks on St. Patrick's Day?
- Why should you never iron a four-leaf clover?
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
- The Green Lantern
- Lucky Charms
- A shamrock
- Because real rocks are too heavy
- You don't want to press your luck!
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