 This is the first official newsletter in 2025! In lieu of our January newsletter, we complied a look back at 2024. If you missed it, check it out here.
Lots of things happened in the 73 days of January. I kid, but why did it feel like that month went on foreverrrrrrr? Anyways, at the start of the year I was elected as the Vice Chair of the Democratic Caucus. Even though Metro Council went non-partisan at the start of the year, we are still required to have caucuses that align with our party affiliation. Silly, I know. With my new position, I will be able to work alongside the Democratic Caucus Chair Tammy Hawkins on developing a vision and a pathway to get.stuff.done.
A few weeks later, we were given committee assignments. I'm happy to serve on the Public Works and Appropriations committees, and chair a new ad hoc (see: temporary) committee called Efficiency of Boards & Commissions. My colleagues know I have a knack for accuracy and efficiency, so I'm excited to take a comprehensive look at Louisville Metro's ~65 boards and commissions.
In news that's a bit of a bummer...Mayor Greenberg vetoed two resolutions that Metro Council passed late last year. These are resolutions that I introduced to start the landmarking process on Wagner's Pharmacy and Kosair Charities. I have lot to say about this, but we have a lot more newsletter to go, so check out my comments in this video (my comments start around the 52 minute mark). I'm disheartened that my colleagues didn't vote to override the veto, although our work to landmark some of D15's most historically significant spaces continues!
Did you know that Louisville Metro has over 150 different newsletters that you can subscribe to? From Councilperson newsletters to department updates to zoning notices to street cleaning alerts. You can subscribe to as many or as few as you would like! Browse/subscribe to newsletters here.
Here are a few of my favorites department newsletters:
-
Public Works ‘The Works Week’
-
Parks & Recreation ‘The Park Bench’
-
Office of Arts & Creative Industries ‘Louisville Creates’
-
Office of Special Events ‘Around Lou’
Here are a few newsletters that you should sign-up for to be more “in the know”:
-
Street cleaning alerts
-
LENs Alerts
-
Air quality alerts
-
Zoning notices
-
Landmarking notices
Though the D15 office sets the bar high when it comes to newsletters 😉, there are other Districts that also put out great newsletters. I subscribe to all 26 districts—here are some of my favorites:
-
Markus Winkler (D17): Councilman Winkler puts out a weekly newsletter and always has very insightful openers he writes himself.
-
Shameka Parrish-Wright (D3): Councilwoman Parrish-Wright has a lot of custom content, plus D3 shares a huge border with D3, so it's good to know what's going on.
-
Betsy Ruhe (D21): Councilor Ruhe also has a lot of custom content and D21 shares the another large border with D15.
-
Ben Reno-Weber (D8): Councilman Reno-Weber always has a lot of neat things going on in his District and even sprinkles in dad jokes.
-
Andrew Owen (D9): Councilman Owen always has a newsletter chocked full of information not only about his district but also around Lou.
Remember: It’s up to each Council District on whether or not they put out a newsletter and how often (FYI, D15 puts out one newsletter a month). There were a lot of great newsletters in the past (shoutout Brandon Coan and Jecorey Arthur!), and I’m excited to see what our new Councilpeople put together (I'm already digging Councilman Lyninger's!).
Happy subscribing!
 |
|
We loved working with Kylie as an intern so much that we have have welcomed her onto the D15 team as our Legislative Research Assistant.
She'll be working about 10 hours a week in the office throughout the spring semester as she is still a student at UofL. She's already hit the ground running, continuing a lot of the initiatives that she started last semester and taking on new research projects.
Welcome back. Kylie!
|
 |
We held our second BOB initiative in the Third Street area of D15 last fall. We knew this was going to be a challenging BOB because this area is the conglomeration of multiple neighborhoods that don’t have a lot of neighborhood representation. On top of that, it’s an area with high vacancy and low home ownership. Without an organization made up of plugged-in residents to help guide the process, we had to put in a little extra work to build excitement around BOB. We’re so grateful to the wonderful people who worked with us to make an impact. We made so many connections and we’re excited to continue leveraging those connections to build an even more beautiful community for residents.
Here’s BOB: Third Street by-the-numbers:
- 582 doors knocked
- 582 BOB bags stuffed & distributed
- 60 community meals served
- 31 flu shots
- 30 surveys completed from door-knocking
- 28 Resource Fair tables
- 24 gun locks given away
- 20 trees distributed
- 18 blood pressure checks
- 16 rain barrels given-away/installed
- 15 participants in the group bike ride
- 13 placemaking signs installed
- 13 trash/recycle carts repaired or replaced
- 7 smoke alarms installations
- 6 bags of trash picked up
- 5 soil tests
- 3 radon tests
- 3 native plant installations
- 1 home repair
- 1 landmark (Wheelman’s Bench in Wayside Park)
We're so thrilled for the Meriwether-Fort Hill neighborhood to get the BOB treatment this spring!
Alongside Meriwether Fort Hill Neighborhood Association, we'll be bringing services to residents' doorsteps and making improvements throughout the neighborhood. We’re excited to tackle projects in public spaces like Preston Park, and work with great businesses like Dairy Del.
Canvassing for BOB: Meriwether Fort Hill has already begun.
Once door knocking and community planning sessions have concluded, we will host BIG BOB Day on Saturday, May 17th. BIG BOB Day acts as a celebration of the community and a day of service. Stay tuned for more info!
|
There will be two community planning sessions: Tuesday, March 18th from 6pm to 8 pm at 511 E. Burnett Avenue, and Saturday, March 22nd from 10 am to 11:30 am at Preston Park, 413 Augustus Avenue (walking activity through neighborhood). These community planning sessions will help shape the vision and scope of BOB: Meriwether-Fort Hill.
If you are interested in getting involved with BOB: Meriwether-Fort Hill, there are several ways you can get involved, including, but not limited to:
- Leading a specific project
- Organizing a volunteer group or volunteering
- Canvassing the neighborhood
- Providing literature or free give-a-ways
- Sponsoring a table at the event
- Sharing an idea
|
Meriwether-Fort Hill is a neighborhood in central Louisville. Its boundaries are the CSX railroad tracks to the north, Shelby Street to the east, Brandeis Avenue to the south, and I-65 to the west.
The neighborhood contains notable places, such as Shelby Elementary, Preston Park, Dairy Del, and Jubilee Field.
If you live within the neon yellow outlined area on the map, LUCKY YOU!! You’re a part of BOB: Meriwether-Fort Hill!
|
Residents of Meriwether-Fort Hill can select FREE services for their property, such as smoke detector installation, tree plantings, home repairs, mobile doctor visits, and a whole lot more! On our BIG BOB Day (or before!), we will bring these services directly to residents.
We've been going door-to-door with the survey, so you may have gotten a knock on your door or a door hanger left behind. If you missed us, don't worry! Residents can complete for survey online here.
 |
|
In January, I joined Councilwoman Shameka Parrish-Wright and her LA, Ben Harlan, on the District 3 podcast, Powerhouse Podcast. We discuss a myriad of topics from committee assignments to city branding to being a singular voter and so much more.
Watch/listen here.
|
Over the holiday season, the Public Works Electrical Team lit up Louisville with approximately 2,500 decorative lights + thousands of holiday lights downtown.
In January, the Public Works Snow Team jumped into action after a historic amount of snowfall in Louisville, plowing/salting 110 snow routes that span 2,734 two-lane miles. They cleared 10,936 miles in 4 passes during this year’s first two snow events!
Once the ice and snow started to melt, our Public Works Solid Waste Team got down to business, picking up trash and recycling that had delayed due to winter weather.
We are so grateful for their hard work and dedication to our city, and we thank them for keeping our city going even in the most treacherous conditions.
|
 |
|
Stay up to date on everything D15 and see what's happening around the district and in the city.
|
2/11: LMPD 4th Division Advisory Board meeting (6 pm; 1340 S. 4th St)
2/12: Meriwether Fort Hill neighborhood association meeting (6:30 pm; 511 E. Burnett Ave)
2/13: Metro Council meeting (6 pm; 601 W. Jefferson St)
2/17: German-Paristown Neighborhood Association meeting (6 pm; 942 E. Kentucky St)
2/18: Lucky Horseshoe Neighborhood Association meeting (6 pm; 1017 Queen Ave)
2/24: Schnitzelburg Area Community Council meeting (7 pm, 1328 Hickory St)
2/24: Friends of Iroquois Park meeting (6:30 pm; 601 Woodlawn Ave)
2/27: Metro Council meeting (6 pm; 601 W. Jefferson St)
The Meriwether-Fort Hill neighborhood is partnering with Louisville Grows to do a neighborhood tree planting! 🌳
Residents can claim up to three free trees for their property. All trees are native species and will be responsibly planted on your property. All "tree-cipients" have to do is promise to water and love your new tree(s).
Trees will be planted on Saturday, March 8th.
Claim your free tree(s): https://tinyurl.com/PlantMeriwether2025
If you’re interested in volunteering, please email outreach@louisvillegrows.org.
The South End Community Market will be taking over Foxing Books (1314 Bluegrass Avenue) on Saturday, February 8th from noon to 3 pm. Shop great local makers and bakers at this gem of D15! It's the perfect time to find something for your Valentine (or yourself!)...and get your market fix before it comes back this spring!
All Wool & Yard Wide’s annual "Souper Saturday" fundraiser is Saturday, February 22nd from 4 to 7 pm at the organization’s Clubhouse (1328 Hickory Street). All are welcome!
The Schnitzelburg Area Community Council (SACC) is hosting the first neighborhood meeting of 2025 at All Wool & a Yard Wide Democratic Club (1328 Hickory Street) on Monday, February 24th at 7 pm. They have fantastic guest speakers lined up, and they'll discuss upcoming events for the year.
BTW, this might be the only neighborhood association meeting with a cash bar!
The Friends of Iroquois Park will be meeting on Monday, February 24 at 6:30 pm at the Iroquois Library (601 W. Woodlawn Ave). All are welcome to join in a conversation about making Iroquois Park even better!
Save-the-date for the Annual Black History Month Program, hosted by the Equity, Community Affairs, Housing, Health and Education Committee on Thursday, February 27, 2025.
Tune in as Metro Council honors and celebrates twenty-six outstanding members of the community during a special program at noon at City Hall.
The Neighborhood Institute is a leadership education program designed to equip neighborhood leaders with the skills and resources needed to initiate positive change in the community through their neighborhood, homeowner, and condo associations. Classes meet every Tuesday, 6 pm - 8 pm at Center For Neighborhoods Offices (1126 Berry Blvd. Suite 300), for 11 consecutive weeks (March 11, 2025 – May 27, 2025), with a Graduation Celebration on May 27th. Dinner is provided each week. Attendance is free, but space is limited, and advance registration is required. Applications will be accepted through 5:00 pm on February 27th, 2024.
The Lucille Leggett Neighborhood Institute Spring 2025 is open to all neighborhoods, Metro Council Districts, and the whole community.
To apply for the 12-week program, https://www.surveymonkey.com/r/NISpring2025
For more information: https://centerforneighborhoods.org/neighborhood-institute/ or if you have questions contact Mikal Forbush at mikalf@centerforneighborhoods.org or call (502)589-0343.
Metro Government and the Kentucky Mountain Bike Association (KyMBA) have been hard at work with Pillar Design Studios and PumpTrax USA developing the design plans for Highland Park Bike Park. The mountain bike skills course proposed for a site on Old Park Blvd. under an I-264 overpass will be the first of its kind in Louisville providing a premium park for local riders to enjoy!
The Highland Park Bike Park design team and the Friends of HPBP will have a public meeting on Tuesday, February 11th from 6 to 7 pm at the Beechmont Community Center (205 W. Wellington Ave). This meeting will provide neighbors and cyclists an opportunity to review and respond to the proposed design of the park.
Are you interested in learning more about technology, sharing what you learn with the community, AND earning a $500 stipend? Learn more about the UofL Digital Literacy Train the Trainer program, funded by Metro Council! Join them for one of their FREE information sessions:
We've already had 4 people from District 15 apply to the program and we would love to see the more sign-up!
The Food Literacy Project's Gather for the Garden is set for Thursday, February 20 at Ten 20 Craft Brewery Butchertown! The event includes live music, food and drinks, as well as the opportunity to learn more about our work, celebrate the successes of the past year, and hear what they have planned for 2025. Event and ticket information can be found here.
From the Food Literacy Project:
We spent 2024 getting settled in at our new (to us) farm in southwest Louisville off Paradise Lane, getting to know neighbors and community members, and growing our YCAP crew to include more youth from the neighborhood and surrounding areas. The majority of the youth who are part of our current Youth Community Agriculture Program (YCAP) live in south, west, or southwest Louisville, as our new farm location is located across from PRP High School. However, our YCAP crew have included students from all over the city in recent years – including college students from UofL, Bellarmine, JCTC and high school students from PRP High School, Butler High School, Western High School, Central High School, J-Town High School, Iroquois High School, The Academy @ Shawnee, Presentation Academy, and more.
We also host Field-to-Fork experiences for children of all ages at Portland Elementary, Hazelwood Elementary, and Jacob Elementary as part of our longtime JCPS partnership, and community partners including Backside Learning Center, Play Cousins Collective, Fund for the Arts, and Ridgewood Baptist Church. We plan to expand the club to 2-3 new JCPS elementary schools during the next two years, as well.
 |
The Donate Life Kentucky Trust scholarship opportunity is open to all students in Jefferson County.
The new scholarship program offers students an opportunity to creatively express their passion for organ, eye and tissue donation and inspire others to register as donors. Students can submit projects in various forms, such as:
-
Writing and sharing a song or video about donation on social media.
-
Crafting a persuasive speech for their school about the importance of registering as a donor.
-
Designing a cafeteria display to educate peers about donation and transplantation facts.
Scholarship awardees will be passionate advocates of organ donation who creatively and independently educate their peers about the lifesaving mission of organ donation and promote the need to register as a donor. You may inspire people to join the state registry (www.registermeky.org) or national registry (www.registerme.org) through various outreach initiatives. Please utilize the correct Donate Life brand in your outreach. A toolkit can be provided and questions answered by emailing Scholarship@DonateLifeKY.org.
Up to 20 scholarships will be awarded in Spring of 2025 for $1000 each.
Submissions are due Monday, April 7, 2025.
Learn more and apply here: https://www.donatelifeky.org/community-outreach/
 External Agency Fund (EAF) grants are a critical initiative by Louisville Metro Government to support local organizations that deliver essential services and programs across our community. By providing financial resources to nonprofit agencies, the EAF grants help foster a safer, stronger, more vibrant, and equitable Louisville.
These grants are specifically designed to address critical needs, including social services, youth development, and arts and culture. Each of the three EAF grant programs align with the city’s strategic priorities and reflect our commitment to improving the quality of life for all residents.
For more information about the Fiscal Year 2026 External Agency Fund Grants, click here.
Questions? Email the Louisville Accelerator Team: accelerator@louisvilleky.gov
 |
Need help with utility bills? Applications are now open for Kentucky's Low-Income Home Energy Assistance Program, or LIHEAP.
To qualify, households must fall at or below 150% of the federal poverty guidelines. Applicants will need documents like social security numbers, proof of income and utility bills.
Applications will be accepted on a first-come, first-serve basis through March 15, 2025 with an extension through March 31, 2025 if funding is available.
Eligible residents applying for LIHEAP will have the opportunity to apply for MSD’s Emergency Wastewater Rate Assistance Program (EWRAP).
EWRAP can provide eligible residents in Jefferson County a 30% discount on wastewater charges and the consent decree surcharge. Eligibility includes households at or below 150% of the federal poverty guidelines, with proof of an active utility account with the Louisville Water Company and MSD.
To apply, call the automated scheduler at (502) 991-8391 or visit online at louisvilleky.cascheduler.com. The toll-free automated appointment system is available 24/7 to schedule an in-person appointment at one of seven locations.
MSD clients who are 65 years of age or older with a gross household income of $35,000 or less per year may be eligible for MSD’s Senior Citizen Discount Program. It is recommended you submit your MSD bill with your LIHEAP documentation to see if you qualify for a MSD discount program. For more details about the MSD Discount Programs, visit https://louisvillemsd.org/paymybill.
A toll-free automated appointment system is available 24/7 to schedule an in-person appointment at one of seven locations. The automated scheduler will provide details about these locations as well as eligibility and required documentation.
Jefferson County residents meeting eligibility can call the automated scheduler at 502-991-8391 or visit online at louisvilleky.cascheduler.com
 |
|
The Office of Arts & Creative Industries is planning some pop up office hours to engage with the community about the Comprehensive Cultural Plan. In an effort to reach as many constituents as possible, the pop ups have been scheduled at four different locations:
- 2/6 @ Jtown Library
- 2/8 @ Shawnee Library
- 2/15 @ South Central Regional Library
- 2/19 @ Southwest Regional Library
All office hours begin at 10:30 am.
This is your opportunity to help shape the future of art in Louisville!
|
The Metropolitan Housing Coalition is currently working on the 2025 Analysis of Impediments (AI) to Fair Housing Choice for Louisville/Jefferson County, and want your input. The brief survey includes a quiz to test your knowledge of Louisville’s Fair Housing rules and regulations and provides an opportunity to share your thoughts on the state of Louisville's fair housing. Your feedback will help shape the focus of what fair housing work should be.
All responses will remain anonymous and will be included in the upcoming 2025 Analysis of Impediments to Fair Housing Choice Report, which will guide the development of a more impactful action plan. This report is published every five years and will also inform Louisville Metro Government's decisions for the five-year Consolidated Plan, as well as subsequent Action Plans and city housing goals. Thank you for contributing to this important work!
Take the survey.
The survey will close at the end of February 2025.
Since the amount of yard waste generated is far less in the winter, the schedule is adjusted for a more efficient collection. From mid-January to mid-March yard waste will be collected EVERY OTHER WEEK on the opposite week of recycling. Use our Recycle Coach app to view the collection calendar and set reminders.
Residents may drop off bundled or contained yard waste at the Waste Reduction Center for free during the weeks there is no curbside collection.
Yard waste must be bundled according to curbside rules. Businesses with yard waste and loads that are not bundled correctly will have to pay the normal fee.
Guidelines:
-
Leaves, twigs, straw, pine needles
-
Shrubbery trimmings
-
Branches and tree trimmings - must be less than 2 inches in diameter and less than 4 feet long
-
Wood ash
-
Christmas trees (seasonally) - remove all decorations, no bag or container needed
-
Acceptable items in paper bags.
-
Acceptable items in durable metal or plastic containers, 20-40 gallon capacity, with handles, weighing no more than 60 pounds
Yard waste meeting guidelines can be dropped off February 4-8, 18-22, and March 4-8 only. Jefferson County residents only. Businesses must pay the normal fee.
The Waste Reduction Center is located at 636 Meriwether Avenue and is open Tuesday – Friday, 8 a.m. – 5 p.m. and Saturdays, 8 a.m. – 3 p.m.
Louisville Metro recently announced a new program to create affordable housing by forgiving code enforcement liens. This initiative aims to renovate vacant homes, promote homeownership for low-to-moderate income families, and revitalize neighborhoods.
The program will:
-
Create homeownership opportunities for low-to-moderate income families.
-
Revitalize neighborhoods with vacant and abandoned properties.
-
Help residents unlock the value of inherited homes.
-
Prevent out-of-state developers from buying these properties.
Applicants must be Kentucky residents or businesses, settle all other debts, have a rehab plan, and meet specific criteria. The program launches on December 2 and will include approximately 100 homes.
For more information, visit the Office of Housing and Community Development’s website.
Louisville Metro Office of Resilience & Community Services has launched a Landlord Incentive Program with the intention of incentivizing local landlords to rent their properties to formerly houseless clients of our Housing and Support Division.
The Landlord Incentive Program offers up to $2,000 to landlords who agree to rent their properties for 12 months to clients of the Housing and Support Division, which aims to connect houseless people in Louisville to housing. By participating in this program, property owners can help provide stable housing for families in need while also receiving financial support and on-site supportive services.
Participants will receive $1,000 once they’ve met with Housing and Support staff and agreed to rent their property to a client, and they will receive another $1,000 upon completion of a 12-month lease.
This incentive program is in addition to federal subsidies that provide on-going rental assistance during the period of the lease. Supportive services, including on-site visits, are also provided as part of the program.
By partnering with the Housing and Support Division, local landlords will contribute to a solution that ensures more families have access to safe and affordable housing.
|
