In this Issue
Hello Neighbors and Friends,
Can I talk candidly?
On Thursday at the Metro Council meeting, Councilmembers were asked—yet again—to allow a previously defeated mask ordinance to be brought back before the body, even though our rules clearly state that legislation that has already failed should not be reintroduced during the same Council term unless the Council grants special permission.
I voted no, and I make no apologies for it. However, allow me to explain.
Responsible governing means respecting the rules that govern us. It does not mean repeatedly bringing the same proposal back to the table in hopes that persistence will somehow change the math. At some point, persistence stops being strategy and starts becoming theater. This was the third attempt to use Council Rule 7.03 to revive the same ordinance. All three attempts failed. That alone should tell us something.
Here is another important truth that has been conveniently overlooked: Louisville already has a mask ordinance on the books. It dates back to 1983 and generally prohibits wearing a mask in public to conceal one’s identity, even though it does not specifically name ICE or law enforcement. So rather than stirring up fear or giving vulnerable residents false hope, we should start with honesty. If officers—federal or local—are violating the existing ordinance, then the appropriate response is enforcement, not legislative theatrics.
Inviting residents to Metro Council meetings with signs, petitions, and expectations for legislation that we already know does not have the votes to pass is not leadership. It is misleading. It inflames emotions, divides the community, and wastes time that should be spent addressing real issues affecting our city.
Let me also clear up something that has been misunderstood. My vote was not against the concept of the ordinance itself. In fact:
- I voted yes for the original ordinance.
- I voted no when it was improperly reintroduced in violation of Council rules.
- I voted yes when it was revised to comply with Rule 7.03 and included a commonsense medical exception.
But when the exact same legislation was brought back yet again, knowing the votes were not there to pass it, I drew the line. At that point, it no longer looked like policymaking. It looked like grandstanding. Enough is enough!
If the Council truly wants a stronger policy on mask-wearing, the path forward is simple: update the ordinance we already have, clarify enforcement, and include a reasonable exception for surgical or physician-prescribed masks worn for medical reasons. That is the practical solution I have supported from the beginning.
Good governance is serious work. It is not a game of political endurance where you keep pushing the same proposal until people get tired of voting it down.
The old saying goes, “If at first you don’t succeed, try, try again.” That advice works for learning to ride a bicycle. It does not apply to this legislative procedure in the manner it has been applied regarding the mask ordinance. A better piece of wisdom comes from Lao Tzu, who said, “If you do not change direction, you may end up where you are heading.” Another line often attributed to Henry Ford is, “Failure is simply the opportunity to begin again, this time more intelligently.”
Louisville deserves thoughtful leadership, honest conversations, and solutions that can actually move us forward, not procedural gamesmanship.
Thank you, District 7, for trusting me to represent you with common sense and intellectual honesty. I may not take myself seriously all the time, but I take representing you very seriously. Please let me know if you ever think I am governing in a manner that embarrasses you, does not represent your values, or does nothing to help make Louisville a great place to live, work, play, and raise a family.
In gratitude,
Pictured above: Concerned citizens, some of whom are being misled to believe the mask ordinance being presented by one of my colleagues - in its current form - stands a chance of passing by perseverance and might. Unfortunately, they are not being told about the alternatives --- update and ENFORCE the current mask ordinance from 1983 or wait until January 2027 to re-introduce the mask ordinance that has now been defeated three times. Oh, but if the same ordinance is presented next year --- as is ---- it will fail again. Do the math. Read the room (on both sides of the aisle). Tell the truth to the public! Citizens of Louisville, YOU DESERVE, AND SHOULD DEMAND, BETTER FROM YOUR ELECTED OFFICIALS!
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I was honored to bring greetings at the ribbon cutting and grand opening event for Gather, a fabulous new retail store in Westport Village. Yes, it looks like I was singing, but what you see is me expressing how much I love the items in the store. You must visit this cute boutique that is filled with a nice assortment of home and garden goods, and unique gift items.
SEE, I told you Gather has beautiful items. Gather is located in Westport Village and located near The Comfy Cow and North Lime Coffee & Donuts, who, by the way, kindly supplied donuts and coffee for the special ribbon cutting event. The donuts looked scrumptious, and I can personally attest to the fact that North Lime has some very tasty coffee. Stop by and check them out!
Shout out to the DJ who played music during the event and the many neighbors and friends who stopped by to help celebrate the grand opening of Gather. They are off to a great start!
I'm pictured here with Mr. Shelby Simpson, one of my favorite constituents. He is a great neighbor and very conscientious and caring about our community. He also owns Three Dog Bakery in Westport Village, which is known for its fantastic assortment of all-natural, healthy dog treats, accessories, toys, several brands of premium dog food, and so much more. Pay Three Dog Bakery a visit!
I'm joined here by John Ramsey from Mayor Greenberg's Office and the staff and relatives of Gather for the official ribbon cutting.
Take a look at the sidewalk projects below where I have invested thousands of dollars to help make District 7 neighborhoods safer, more beautiful, and more enjoyable places to walk with your family or pets.
Tax dollars well spent: A $100,000 investment match and partnership with the City of Graymoor-Devondale (on Girard Drive).
This $167,000 sidewalk project at US 42 and Hubbards Lane was long overdue. It is part of a broader investment of more than $600,000 in improvements to the Brownsboro Road/Hubbards Lane area—an initiative that has been on my priority list for several years. Construction is well underway, and the results already look beautiful.
I would like to extend my sincere thanks to St. Matthews Fire & EMS Chief Nick Clark and the Board of Trustees for signing the memorandum that granted Public Works permission to encroach on the department’s easement, helping make this project possible.
I also want to thank the residents of Windy Hills—especially those in Coach Gate, and particularly Mr. Simpson—who have long advocated for this sidewalk and patiently supported the effort to bring it to fruition. Your encouragement and support for investing in this project were invaluable.
Seeing this project through to completion is one of my proudest accomplishments. For years to come, residents will enjoy walking these sidewalks while taking in the beautiful scenery of the neighborhood.
I attended the annual meeting of the Jefferson County League of Cities (JCLC) several weeks ago and witnessed the swearing-in of officers and executive board members. Congratulations to these leaders!
The president of JCLC is District 7's very own Mayor Brent Hagan, City of Lyndon (3rd from right). Two other District 7 mayors who are active on the JCLC board are Mayor Rick Watkins, City of Westwood (3rd from the left), and Mayor Mike Brown, City of Woodlawn Park (Not pictured).
The purpose of the Jefferson County League of Cities is to preserve the sovereignty of Home Rule Cities in Jefferson County that provides a wide range of services with latitude to its citizens and to ensure the sustainability of the Home Rule Cities in Jefferson County through relationship building, leadership support, and professional development opportunities.
Monthly Meeting Times & Location
JCLC meetings are held the third Thursday in January, February, March, April, May, June, September, October
Time: 5:30 PM Board Meeting - Board meetings are open to representatives of Home Rule Cities.
Time: 7:00 PM Monthly Member Meeting - Monthly Member Meetings are open to all Home Rule Cities and the general public.
Location: City of Lyndon City Hall, 515 Wood Road, Louisville, KY
The Louisville Metro Council held its regularly scheduled Council meeting Thursday, March 12, 2026.
These were two top items on the agenda that were approved:
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R-018-26: Council Review Binding Element - Requested the Planning Commission include the Council Review Binding Element when requested by the district Councilmember - I was a co-sponsor of this legislation
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R-014-26: Restoration of King Louie Statue - Approved a $205,000 contract with Wiebold Studio to clean and treat
Click here for a video recap of Thursday's Metro Council meeting.
The next Metro Council meeting is Thursday, March 26, at 6:00 p.m.
To watch the Council meeting and access the agenda and related attachments, click HERE.
To see all meetings on Facebook Live, go to the Metro Council Facebook page by clicking here. To watch Metro Council Meetings live on YouTube, you can visit the LouisvilleMetroTV channel 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.
For additional information or questions, you can reach the Metro Council Clerk’s Office at (502) 574-3902.
Celebrate Women's History Month
with Louisville Parks and Recreation
Join Louisville Parks and Recreation and the Office for Women in celebrating Women’s History Month. Visit any two parks or sites named after remarkable women from Louisville, snap a photo, and share it on social media to receive a special prize bundle!
Learn more about the women our sites are named after here.
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It will be a hopping good time when the Easter Bunny visits the Louisville Zoo ahead of the big day
Louisville Mayor Craig Greenberg and the Louisville Zoo are pleased to announce that the Bunny Hop is returning this month as part of the Meet Me at the Zoo series. Guests can meet the Easter Bunny, snap seasonal photos, and participate in the Safari EGGventure virtual scavenger hunt. Guests can take their own photos, free of charge, with the Easter Bunny or may opt to purchase a photo package offered on-site. The Bunny Hop takes place March 28 and 29 from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. and is free with Zoo admission.
Safari EGGventure
Guests may choose to join in a scavenger hunt to find zoo-themed eggs, answer trivia questions and compete in some EGGstra special challenges while they are exploring the Zoo. This free-to-play, app-based game can be played from March 14 to April 12. Guests can choose to play for fun or compete for prizes by obtaining a minimum score. To learn how to play, and to see a full list of rules and prizes, visit louisvillezoo.org/series/safari-eggventure.
Ticket information
The Bunny Hop and Safari EGGventure are free with Zoo admission or Louisville Zoo membership.
Do you see a hippo potato? If you found this on your kitchen counter, would you eat it or save it as a souvenir? (Things that make you go..."Hmm") If you don't see "hippo," what is the image to you?
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